Volcano Pizza — Restaurant in Battle Creek

I've been living in Battle Creek for over 22 years and have found the pizza chains here disappointing. I'm from Brooklyn, N.Y. and we take PIZZA seriously! Fuhgeddaboudit! I used to pass by Volcano Pizza and it was never open. Recently I found out it was under new management and decided to give it a try. As a self proclaimed pizza snob, I had my doubts, but was more than pleasantly surprised to find pizza in Battle Creek that was made with good fresh ingredients, sauce that didn't give me "aggita"after eating it, plus great flavor! This is "Tavern Style" pizza, thin crust, not the Neopolitan Style I'm more used to. Served cut in long rectangles, so I can't say "Yo, slice!"like Tony Manero in the movie Saturday Night Fever, but one bite and I'm transported back to a neighborhood bar in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn eating a first rate Tavern Pie. What's not to like with it's cozy homey atmosphere, friendly service and delicious thin crust pizza? Yeah, It costs more than those chain joints, but" Whaddya want ? Cheap "abetz" that'll give ya heartburn? Or the...

The first pizza I ever had was from Volcano's. It was a pepperoni pizza. I still remember that magical childhood moment, sometime in the Nineteen-Sixties. It was amazing, it was a revelation. Until then, I thought food was something you ate, but Volcano taught me that food was also to be tasted. Well, perhaps I am getting a little carried away, because I also remember enjoying Sullivan's ice cream when I was a child. Still, that pepperoni pizza from Volcano's made a powerful impression. The picture of an erupting volcano on the box surely also played a part!

As the years went on, my mother learned that she favored anchovies, and I learned that I did, too. I’ve enjoyed revisiting Volcano’s and renewing my appreciation for their pizzas. I have occasionally run into other Battle Creek expatriates, and we always talk about Volcano's....

These are the most inconsiderate business owners I have ever met. First we were not told they do not accept any form of payment other than cash when we called to order, so we drove out of our way to arrive to find out we couldn’t pay. We drove half a mile and got cash and came back (p.s. $40 for 2 14” plain pizzas is a joke) and by the time we got there, my six year old daughter needed the restroom. This place has a dining area with tables and public looking restrooms. I asked if she could use the restroom and they said yes. We tried and the doors were locked. Came back up to the counter and told them it was locked and they just said, “THE RESTROOMS ARE CLOSED.” To my child who was now crying because she couldn’t hold it. It’s unfortunate, I like to support local businesses, but I won’t give such mean people...