Polk City is just a short drive from Des Moines, and even shorter for us, living in the greater Slater neighborhood. Papa's Pizzeria is located right on the Polk City square, at 214 Van Dorn Street, and it's been serving up pizza pies since 1998.
Boaters, campers, and locals alike have all enjoyed the food and drink at Papa's Pizzeria. It's a nice big dining space with a varied menu and friendly service.
The menu features several specialty pizzas (I've heard the Taco Pizza is a favorite of many), some pasta dishes, sandwiches, and salads. We've enjoyed the Super Papa pizza here many times. They also have some great beers on tap and feature local wines. On our last visit we ordered a bottle of Snus Hill Ditchweed to sip on with our pizza.
We started with a dinner salad with Creamy Parmesan dressing. Topped with tomatoes, black olives, and cheese, the salad is served in a cold metal bowl that really keeps the greens crisp.
We ordered an 'Amy's Favorite,' which is not a specialty pizza on the menu yet, but it should be. Just kidding, it's a Canadian Bacon, Hamburger, and Onion pizza, which is a delicious combo. The toppings at Papa's are very generous and there's plenty of cheese.
We ordered a thin crust, but they do offer a pan crust, as well. The crust is nice and crispy, and holds up well with lots of toppings.
There's even some interesting artwork in the dining room!
So if you find yourself on a leisurely drive around Saylorville or finishing up a bike ride on the trails around Big Creek, stop in at Papa's Pizzeria for some great pizza - it's a wonderful small town pizzeria that really treats the customer right.
Papa's Pizzeria
214 Van Dorn Street (on the square)
Polk City, Iowa 50226
515.984.6361
Hours
Sunday - Thursday 11am - 9pm
Friday - Saturday 11am - 10pm
Catering services are also available. Check out their Facebook page here.