The Pizza Palace in Oklahoma City: Classic New York Slice and Thick Grandma Pies
The Pizza Palace is a counter-service pizzeria in Oklahoma City that makes New York-style and Sicilian-style pies, focusing on hand-tossed dough and traditional Italian toppings rather than fusion or gourmet experimentation. It operates as a walk-up, order-at-counter model suited to lunch crowds and casual dinner traffic, with a small dining area and a strong carryout presence.
What The Pizza Palace Actually Is
The shop specializes in two distinct styles. The New York slice is thin-crust, folded, and sold by the piece or whole pie, while the Sicilian option uses a thicker, airier dough stretched into a rectangular pan and cut into square portions. Both rely on a tomato sauce that reads as straightforward and slightly acidic, the kind that does not overpower the crust. The operation does not attempt wood-fired ovens, coal decks, or extended fermentation; it aims for consistency and speed without pretending to Neapolitan authenticity.
Menu and Pricing
A single slice of New York pizza runs $2.50 to $3.25 depending on toppings, with a whole 16-inch pie priced between $12 and $18. Sicilian slices cost slightly more, $3 to $3.75 per piece, and a full pan-cut Sicilian sits around $15 to $20. Specialty pies (pepperoni, sausage and peppers, vegetarian) follow the same structure. A two-liter bottle of soda runs $2.50; bottled water is $1. Pricing can shift seasonally; confirm current rates by phone or visit.
The dough is made in-house daily. Toppings include standard meats (pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon), fresh vegetables (onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, olives), and light dairy (mozzarella and ricotta on select pies). Dietary requests for light cheese or no cheese are accommodated without fuss.
How It Compares to Other Oklahoma City Pizza
The Pizza Palace occupies a middle ground between neighborhood tavern pizzerias and newer artisanal spots. Compared to Hideaway Pizza, which emphasizes thick crust, sourdough fermentation, and a sit-down bar atmosphere with beer selection, The Pizza Palace skews faster and leaner. Where Hideaway charges $16 to $24 for a whole pie and encourages lingering, The Pizza Palace moves slices across a counter at a pace suited to people ordering lunch between errands.
Against younger counter-serve shops that offer Detroit-style rectangular pans or Sicilian hybrids with burrata and prosciutto, The Pizza Palace stays plainly Italian-American in its execution and ingredient list. Its Sicilian pie sits closer to the Midwestern-tavern grandma style than to Instagram-optimized modern variants. Compared to chain outlets in the metro area, it maintains distinct dough flavor and sauce balance; the hand-tossed technique and daily prep set it apart from frozen or pre-portioned bases.
Who It Suits and Who It Does Not
This location works well for people seeking a quick, affordable lunch slice, families ordering a whole pie for dinner without spending $22, and anyone craving straightforward pizza without elaborate toppings or beverage programs. The counter service and minimal decor suit the takeout-minded. The speed of service matches daytime office workers and after-school pickups.
It does not suit diners seeking a full-service restaurant experience, craft beverage pairing, or a sit-down atmosphere for a date. Those wanting Detroit-style automotive aesthetics, deep-dish Chicago thickness, or toppings that stray into gourmet territory will find other Oklahoma City options better aligned with those preferences.
What the First Visit Involves
Walk in, scan the menu board or ask what specials are running. Order by the slice or request a whole pie; whole orders typically require 12 to 15 minutes if you are waiting, so carryout and call-ahead are practical. Pay at the counter, in cash or card. Slices are boxed hot and handed over immediately. If eating in, grab a seat at one of the few tables, which fill quickly during lunch. Expect no tableside service, napkins and parmesan shakers sit on the counter.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
The Pizza Palace is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. Verify these hours before a special occasion visit, as holiday closures occasionally shift the schedule. The storefront has a small lot or street parking nearby; bike-friendliness depends on the exact neighborhood location. The shop is not set up for large group orders or catering.
The Pizza Palace holds its ground in Oklahoma City by doing one thing reliably: delivering an uncomplicated slice at a price that does not require justification.
