Universally adored by pretty much everyone, pizza is a pretty interesting topic. Everyone has their own toppings that they order time and time again, along with tasty side dishes and decadent desserts. Having just recently moved here, I just had to know: what is the best pizza place in or near Adrian?

My method of polling was very simplistic. I passed out little questionnaires to peers in three of my classes asking for the favored pizza place, what they usually ordered, and what it was they specifically liked about the experience. It was a close call, with four votes for Basil Boys, four votes for Little Caesar’s, and three for Jet’s and Sauce.

However, there was one that narrowly won first place with five votes: The Pizza Bucket.

While the feedback on each of the questionnaires was very good, The Pizza Bucket had a lot of feedback from each of its voters attesting to how good it was. Every single vote had, “the food is amazing,” or “the food is good” written on the bottom. One person said, “The food is just so good, and it’s even better cold. The perfect set up if I hadn’t planned lunch for the next day.”

This got me very excited to try things out for myself.

Two of the votes recommended the pepperoni pizza, so, of course, I had to get that. I also sides of chicken tenders and mini tacos, another voter’s favorite side dish. The waiting time between ordering the pizza and picking it up was quite nice, with only a 25-minute wait. The location is perhaps one of the best qualities of the pizza parlor, as it is located in the heart of downtown Adrian. A voter noted, “Location- right in Adrian, reminds me of home.”

While the establishment itself is a little dingy and small, I’ve found that it’s usually the homey eateries that have the best food. I got home after picking up my order and immediately dug in. That day, I had a class at 8 a.m., and worked until 9 p.m. I was exhausted, and I was craving fatty and indulgent pizza like crazy.

Let me tell you, this pizza hit the spot.

If I am being completely honest, I can’t remember ever having pizza this amazing. When you pull a slice out, the thick cheese clings to the remaining pieces in the box. It’s so flavorful and greasy, something that I think all pizza aspire to be. The crust wasn’t too thick or too thin. There was an even layer of sauce used.

I had to pull myself away from the pizza for just a moment to try the sides as well, and was equally as impressed. The mini tacos arrived coated in melted cheese and shredded lettuce on top. I ordered the little chicken tenders with honey mustard, what The Pizza Bucket recommended as a sauce. All of it was so delicious, it made my long day of school and work completely worth it.

I absolutely loved the food from The Pizza Bucket. If it can make me instantly happy and content after a long stressful day, then I know that other college students would enjoy it as well. I can see why everyone thought so highly of it. I will definitely become a regular customer after this experience.