Danny's Pizza Place — Restaurant in Lake Township

If there was ever a restaurant that could double as a neighborhood community center, Danny's is that place. There's always a crowd which has every square foot of space purposed for serving customers. Because of that, you can find yourself seated in some awkwardly hidden or uncomfortable spaces.

I feel this place would benefit from a space use study. The combination hosting booth and bar wraps around two walls. The kitchen serving and staffing/bussing center wrap into a third wall where large family booths are situated. The overall effect is a large U shaped area of constant operations activity leaving an archipelago of differently sized tables in the center. The overall effect creates an atmosphere of vulnerability-while-you-dine as you try to connect with your party in an always less than intimate space. The only intimate space is the wall of forgotten souls along the Archer avenue tables. I was seated there once with a small party where the server rarely came around and surprised myself with serious thoughts of calling DoorDash to order my food and having them walk across the room for drop off.

While a better organization of space use and operations activity could be tweaked, the star of Danny's is their food and group engagement. Modelled as a sports-focused joint 6 days a week with TVs on every wall, they take a break on Wednesdays to show a variety of game shows for a family fun night. Tuesdays there's bingo night and I'll go back on a Thursday to see if that's trivia night.

Props to the chef for bringing everyone together with a creative menu with their great tasting staples of tavern style pizza and craft burgers. They have a chef's egg roll that'll rival any London pub's signature app, as well as a monthly rotating menu of specials to keep people coming back. The area where they need a little more work is in the offering of fried-alternative foods, perhaps someday in a broiled chicken tender format with ice-cold raw vegetables as a side car? The chef has a knack for trying out different sauces and something like chicken bites and crudites supports his tasting laboratory efforts. Or maybe a Mediterranean spread? Any cost additions in vegetables can cross the aisle into the bar with creative weekend afternoon micheladas or bloody Marys.

Until then, I'll keep coming back to this funky fresh neighborhood center. I think the trick is to get there immediately after work to get the good seats and watch the other locals pour in steadily for their home away from home fun...

Update 4/2021- second time here. I had a sleeping toddler in the car, so I opted for the curbside pick up this time around. We ordered a giant pretzel with cheese, tater tots and a large deep dish with pepperoni & sausage at 5:50pm and immediately received a text that said: click on this link when you arrive. We arrived about 10 minutes before our order would be ready (6:30 according to the confirmation), so I didn't click on the link right away, to allow them enough time to get the order together and because we ordered a deep dish and I know that those take longer to make. I clicked on the text about 20 minutes after arrival but the webpage that I was redirected to, kept saying: We're still preparing your order, you can check the status here. Five minutes before your order is ready, you'll be able to check in here. We waited and waited. My daughter finally woke up after waiting for close to an hour, so we walked into the restaurant to use the restroom and checked on our order on the way out. The order was finally ready and maybe the order had been ready at the time I was originally provided, but the webpage never updated. In fact, I checked it one last time when we arrived at home at 7:51and it was still showing the same message. I shouldn't have relied on the webpage and will not be doing so moving forward. Other than that, the food was GREAT and I'll be back since I'm pretty positive that the website is updated via computer software and is something that is beyond the restaurant's control.

2019 - Our first time here - Had the Southside sampler with Italian Beef egg rolls, and the bare wings with mango habanero sauce & the sweet Cajun sauce on the side. We also ordered a sausage pizza. The appetizer was good and the pizza was REALLY good. The crust was crunchy, just the way I like it! The service was GREAT. I can't stress enough how friendly & attentive our waitress was (Mia). Will definitely be back to try other items...

During my recent visit to Danny's Pizza Place, I had the pleasure of experiencing their culinary delights and let me tell you, it was a spicy pizza extravaganza that left me craving more! The ambiance of the restaurant was cozy and inviting, with comfortable seating and a casual vibe. It was the perfect spot to enjoy a delicious meal with friends or family. The prices were reasonable, considering the quality and portion sizes, making it a fantastic value for the experience. I decided to go for their specialty, the spicy pepperoni thin crust pizza, and I was blown away by its incredible flavors. The thin crust was beautifully crispy, providing the ideal foundation for the mouthwatering toppings. Each bite was a burst of spicy goodness, with the pepperoni delivering a satisfying kick that tantalized my taste buds. The perfect amount of cheese and sauce complemented the flavors, creating a harmonious blend that kept me reaching for slice after slice. To accompany my pizza, I also ordered the loaded potato wedges, and they were an absolute game-changer. The wedges were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, topped generously with melted cheese, bacon bits, and a dollop of sour cream. The combination of flavors and textures was simply divine, making it a heavenly side dish that perfectly complemented the pizza. Danny's Pizza Place truly exceeded my expectations. It's a must-visit destination for pizza enthusiasts looking to satisfy their cravings for bold and flavorful combinations. If you're searching for a pizza haven that delivers on both taste and service, look no further than Danny's Pizza Place. Their spicy pepperoni thin crust pizza and loaded potato wedges are a match made in culinary heaven. I can't wait to return and indulge in their other enticing...