Mountain Mike's Pizza: A Favorite West Coast Pizza Chain Since 1978

The History of Mountain Mike's Pizza

Mountain Mike's Pizza is a popular pizza chain based in California that has been serving up delicious pizzas since 1978. The very first Mountain Mike's Pizza opened in Palo Alto under founder Mike Lambros. Lambros wanted to bring an authentic East Coast-style pizza to the West Coast, using high-quality ingredients to create pizzas with the perfect balance of crust, sauce, and toppings.

The restaurant concept was a success, and throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Mountain Mike's Pizza expanded rapidly throughout California. There are now over 200 Mountain Mike's Pizza locations across California, Oregon, Utah, and Arizona. While Mountain Mike's has grown into a large chain, each restaurant aims to retain that welcoming, friendly neighborhood pizzeria feel.

What Makes Mountain Mike's Pizza Unique

There are several key features that make Mountain Mike's stand out from other pizza chains:

• East coast-style pizzas - Mountain Mike's bakes authentic East Coast pizzas, with thin, foldable New York-style crusts.
• Fresh, quality ingredients - All ingredients at Mountain Mike's are fresh, natural, and free of fillers and preservatives. The veggies are hand-cut daily in each restaurant.
• Signature red sauce - The tomato sauce at Mountain Mike's is sweet and tangy with the perfect blend of herbs and spices. It's often called the "Mountain's Secret Sauce."
• Wide variety - The menu features a wide selection of specialty pizzas, plus you can build your own pizza with a choice of over 30 toppings.
• Dough made fresh daily - The pizza dough is made fresh in each restaurant daily and proofed for 24 hours to develop complex flavors.
• Family-friendly dining - Mountain Mike's restaurants have a casual, family-friendly atmosphere that's great for dine-in or take-out.

Mountain Mike's Pizza Menu

The Mountain Mike's menu features a great selection of specialty pizzas, wings, salads, garlic bread, and desserts. Some customer favorites include:

• The Mountain - This meaty pizza is loaded with pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, bacon, ham, and extra cheese. It's the ultimate meat lover's pizza.
• BBQ Chicken - Shredded chicken breast with tangy BBQ sauce, red onions, and cilantro.
• Hawaiian - Classic combo of ham, pineapple, and bacon on a sweet tomato sauce.
• Veggie Works - Mushrooms, green peppers, onions, black olives, tomatoes, and extra cheese make this a veggie delight.
• Wings - Jumbo wings with your choice of sauce like Buffalo, BBQ, garlic Parmesan, mango habanero, and more.
• Chocolate Chip Pizzokie - A mouthwatering dessert of a fresh baked cookie topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips, and caramel sauce.

There are so many pizza topping combinations possible at Mountain Mike's. You can build your own pizza with over 30 toppings to create a masterpiece. There are also gluten-free crusts available for those with dietary needs.

The Mountain Mike's Pizza Experience

From the friendly staff to the laidback family atmosphere, everything about the Mountain Mike's experience is designed to feel like your neighborhood pizzeria. A few things that make it stand out:

The Restaurant Design

Mountain Mike's restaurants feature a signature black and white checkerboard tile floor and red vinyl booths that ooze classic pizzeria style. Large windows upfront allow you to peek in and see your pizza being freshly prepared. The dining rooms are spacious and comfortable, with plenty of seating for large groups.

Freshly Prepared

You can watch your pizza being made fresh right before your eyes at Mountain Mike's. The dough is prepared daily in-house and hand stretched. Fresh veggies are sliced and meats are prepared in each restaurant's kitchen. You can be assured your pizza is made with quality ingredients and care.

Dine-In or Take-Out

Mountain Mike's offers the choice of dining in or taking your food to-go. If dining in, you'll find a comfortable, welcoming environment perfect for enjoying pizza with family or friends. The restaurant also does a brisk take-out business, so you can grab your food to-go and enjoy Mountain Mike's pizza wherever you please.

Online Ordering

For extra convenience, Mountain Mike's offers online ordering on their website or mobile app. Build your perfect pizza online and select a pickup time. Your fresh pizza will be ready right when you are. Online ordering makes grabbing a Mountain Mike's pizza faster and more convenient than ever.

Delivery

Mountain Mike's also offers delivery within a certain radius of each restaurant. Having a hot Mountain Mike's pizza delivered right to your door is a great option for days when you don't want to head out. Order online or give your local Mountain Mike's a call to arrange delivery.

Catering

Need to feed a crowd? Mountain Mike's provides catering for large groups, office events, birthdays, game days, and more. You can order a selection of large pizzas, wings, salads, desserts, and drinks. Custom party platters are available too. Catering from Mountain Mike's is the perfect easy way to feed a crowd with fresh, delicious pizza.

Why Mountain Mike's Pizza Stands Out

When it comes to pizza chains, Mountain Mike's manages to stand out from the crowd thanks to their commitment to quality. Here are some of the factors that keep customers coming back for more Mountain Mike's pizza again and again:

Fresh Never Frozen Ingredients

Mountain Mike's prides itself on using fresh, natural ingredients that are never frozen. The fresh vegetables are prepped daily in each restaurant, cheese is shredded daily, meats are sliced daily, and dough is made fresh. You can taste the freshness in every bite.

East Coast Pizza Style

As an East Coast style pizza company, Mountain Mike's makes pizzas with thin, foldable crusts that provide the perfect crispy-chewy texture and an authentic pizzeria taste. The large thin slices layered with toppings are a signature of NY-style pizza.

Specialty Pizzas

In addition to DIY custom pizzas, Mountain Mike's has an extensive menu of tempting specialty pizzas with creative flavors and combinations you won't find elsewhere. The BBQ Chicken Pizza, Hawaiian Pizza, and Veggie Works Pizza are long-time favorites customers crave.

Quality Gluten-Free Option

Mountain Mike's understands people with dietary restrictions don't want to miss out on enjoying pizza. They offer a gluten-free pizza crust that tastes great. People with gluten intolerance can now enjoy Mountain Mike's pizza just like everyone else.

Kid-Friendly Dining

Mountain Mike's restaurants provide a welcoming, family-oriented environment perfect for enjoying a pizza dinner with kids. The menu is sure to satisfy even picky young eaters, and parents will appreciate the ability to dine-in or grab food to-go.

Partnerships with Local Teams, Schools, Churches

Mountain Mike's enjoys building partnerships within every community they serve. They sponsor local sports teams, schools, churches, and more. These community connections help each restaurant become woven into the fabric of the neighborhood.

Mountain Mike's Pizza Sets the Standard

For over 40 years, Mountain Mike's Pizza has been serving high-quality pizzas made with the freshest ingredients. They've maintained a commitment to excellent food and superior customer service every step of the way. That dedication shines through in every pizza and every dining experience at Mountain Mike's.

The welcoming family-friendly restaurants provide the perfect place to enjoy an authentic New York-style pizza in a comfortable neighborhood setting. Whether dining in, picking up a pizza to-go, or ordering delivery, Mountain Mike's offers outstanding value and convenience.

Mountain Mike's has earned its reputation as a go-to pizza choice for Californians and food lovers across the West. With 200+ locations throughout the Western states, Mountain Mike's is sure to satisfy your pizza craving wherever your travels take you. The next time you're in the area, stop by your local Mountain Mike's restaurant or order online to see for yourself why people have loved this pizza chain for over four decades.

FAQs

What types of pizza does Mountain Mike's offer?

Mountain Mike's is known for its East Coast-style pizzas. They offer thin and crispy New York-style pizzas as well as a variety of specialty pizzas like BBQ Chicken, Hawaiian, Veggie Works, and more. You can also build your own custom pizza with over 30 fresh toppings.

Does Mountain Mike's have gluten-free options?

Yes, Mountain Mike's has gluten-free pizza available. They offer gluten-free crusts so guests with gluten intolerance can also enjoy their delicious pizzas.

How can I order from Mountain Mike's?

You have a few options for ordering Mountain Mike's pizza - dine-in, carry-out, delivery, or online ordering. Place a delivery or pickup order online, over the phone, or in person at a Mountain Mike's location.

Does Mountain Mike's offer any deals or discounts?

Mountain Mike's offers regular special deals and discounts. These include online ordering discounts, lunch specials on weekdays, all-day Tuesday specials, and happy hour specials. Sign up for their rewards program to earn points towards free pizzas.

Where are Mountain Mike's locations found?

Mountain Mike's has over 200 locations, mostly found throughout California. They also have restaurants in Oregon, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. Check their website for a locator to find the nearest Mountain Mike's.