Pizza in Saint Helens

Bellagios Pizza, locally owned and operated since 1996, brews ripe batches of tomato sauce and tosses fresh disks of dough daily at their Wilsonville location, while crews at each restaurant sprinkle pies with delicious toppings to create a menu loaded with pizzas, grinders, and calzones. Heaps of spinach, artichokes, and juicy tomatoes guide wandering bellies out of the desert with the Oasis pizza ($10–$19.99), while the Butcher Block throws a crust-top party of salami, pepperoni, canadian bacon, and italian sausage ($10–$19.99), coming together in hearty harmony like a chorus of lumberjacks. Diners interested in a wider variety of toppings or in teaching children about medieval class structure can opt for a pie cleanly divided down the middle, such as a half-cheese, half-pepperoni pizza ($8–$17.99). Slathered with pizza sauce and adorned with meaty toppings, the Bellagio grinder ($5.99) competes with a host of calzones ($10.99) for the silver medal to the pizza menu's gold.

Garlic Jim's menu was handcrafted with nothing more than a dream and an incredible reserve of pizza-making expertise. Open an order with some gourmet chicken wings, available in barbecue, garlic, and hot, before moving on to pizza territory. Put an end to eating Legos by piecing together a custom pie. Choose from the hand-thrown thick, garlic thin, or gluten-free crusts, slathered in one of seven sauces (from classic red to zesty chipotle pesto), and then slap on any of 15 standard and 11 gourmet toppings (14-inch large pizzas start at $11.99, extra-large $14.99; each additional topping for a large is $1.50). To achieve customization without the stress of having to choose, turn to one of the pre-determined specialties. Meat-maul hunger with the Hercules (salami, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, beef, spicy Italian sausage, and bacon; $18.99 for large, $21.99 for extra-large), or discover the secret of pizza-temperature fusion in your head with Jim's bacon-cheeseburger pizza (beef, bacon, red onions, tomatoes, mozzarella, and cheddar; $18.99 for large, $21.99 for extra-large).

Pizza Schmizza Salmon Creek offers its signature pizzas by the slice or as whole pies. Mexican-style roasted chicken and pasta tops the Yucateco Garlic Noodle pizza, and the Foo Foo's marinated artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta are ideal for bopping dining companions on the head. The menu also includes steak-strip alfredo, the "Caesar Schmaesar" salad, and other hearty entrees, as well as drinks from a fully stocked beer cooler and 12 microbrews on tap, such as Ninkasi Brewery varieties. Kids' drinks include 84 old-school favorites such as Pop Shoppe sodas, Bubble Up, and Virgil's root beer. In between bites, diners can turn their attention to televisions broadcasting the NFL Sunday lineup and other popular programs, such as the emergency broadcast test.

At Brix Tavern, executive chef Kevin Kennedy stamps his unique fingerprint on American comfort food favorites, including brick-oven-fired artisan pizzas, local and fresh salads, and sandwiches. Like the cuisine, speciality cocktails are made with locally sourced ingredients, such as seasonal Oregon berries mixed with fresh lime and tequila. "You call it" martinis and wine specials are available during lunch service. According to Portland Monthly, the tavern stocks more than 30 canned beers in addition to a healthy selection on tap.

Patrons can enjoy the expansive exposed brick dining area or build a nest in the elevated living room loft, complete with comfy couches and leather chairs. Brix delivers on entertainment with flat-screen TVs, live musicians Thursdays, DJ sets on weekends, pool, and retro arcade games.

DeNicola's Italian Restaurant sprung up more than 30 years ago and leverages culinary experience to piece together appetizing Neapolitan- and Little Italy–inspired platters engineered from authentic Italian recipes. Instead of using their expertise to help children cheat on quizzes about the international wheat market, DeNicola’s chefs revolutionize humdrum pastas such as linguine by inventing a Linguine by the Sea tossed with seven sautéed prawns and seasoned with garlic, romano cheese, and lemon pepper. On the dessert menu, chocolate seduction cakes lure tongues into a sultry tango with its three layers of malleable sweetness.

The pie slingers at Pizanos Pizza toss, roll, and bake fresh dough into crispy disks, creating the perfect thin-crust canvas for traditional and adventurous pizza permutations. They mingle 100% mozzarella, made with whole milk directly from the mythical shores of Wisconsin, with their own tomato sauce recipe to create classic, specialty, and supreme pies. Customers can stroll in for a quick slice or have their chosen comestible delivered. The eatery also offers a slew of less Euclidean options, including salads, pasta, and sandwiches, and plays host to fundraisers and community events.