Jerry’s Pizza Is Bringing Tavern-Style Pizza To Portland, Oregon And We Couldn’t Be More Excited

Portland is widely known for its food scene: next-level donuts? Crave-worthy street food? Killer Korean teriyaki? Check, check, and check. And very soon, PDX can add "tavern-style pizza" to its culinary résumé. Jerry's Pizza is bringing tavern-style pizza to Portland, and we couldn't be more excited.

There's your standard pizza, and then there's tavern-style pizza.

There are two distinct characteristics to the tavern-style 'za: crust and cut. The crust is thin and firm enough to have a noticeable crunch.

This variety of pizza is also cut into squares, as opposed to your typical, triangular wedges.

And, true to its namesake, the tavern-style pizza is indeed a fixture at pubs and bars, with its iconic, sausage-topped squares serving as the perfect happy hour appetizer.

The tavern-style pie originated in the Windy City; and in fact, this regional favorite is more authentically "Chicago" than the ubiquitous deep-dish pie, which locals argue is reserved for tourists and specific occasions.

Jerry Benedetto knows all about tavern-style pizza. The Chicago transplant is on a mission to bring true, tavern-style pizza to Portland.

Benedetto is definitely #TeamTavern, telling Willamette Week, “Deep dish is not something I grew up eating [...] That’s not what we eat in Chicago.”

And, like so many, Benedetto found comfort in his kitchen in 2020, looking to recreate the magic of his nonna's homemade pasta sauce, making his own spicy sausage, and eventually moving on to the most crucial component: the crust.

He started sharing photos of his pies on Instagram and quickly attracted quite a following of Portlanders who wanted to try Benedetto's square-cut creations.

Almost overnight, Benedetto outgrew his home kitchen. And then came the exciting news: Benedetto had found a home at Portland's iconic Bear Paw Inn.

Bear Paw Inn on Milwaukie Avenue is your classic neighborhood bar, with a mellow vibe that's so totally Portland -- and perfect for Jerry's.

Jerry will be setting up shop inside this tavern, a pub-and-pizza coexistence that's as natural a fit as peanut butter and jelly.

And on the topic of perfect pairings, of course, Benedetto will be selling two-liter bottles of RC Cola, pizza's ultimate soft drink accompaniment.

Portlanders know it's hip to be square. And Benedetto is out to create a sea change in Oregon, one square-cut slice at a time.

Welcome to Portland, Jerry's! Be sure to follow Jerry's Pizza on Instagram to stay in the know on opening dates and other pertinent, pizza-related news.