If you’re like me, you love pizza. If you’re like me, you love local pizza. So I thought a good way to start off this three part series would be a comparison of two great pizza places in Kalamazoo: Bimbo’s and Bilbo’s. The purpose of this series is not to determine the superiority of one aspect of Kalamazoo to another, but rather to give our readers the kind of help they need in varying their morning, afternoon, or evening experiences in the city. Kalamazoo has a lot to offer; let’s check it out.
Bimbo's Modest Storefront
Bimbo’s Pizza is downtown at 338 East Michigan. If you’ve ever walked past Olde Peninsula, you’ll see that Kalamazoo has plenty of restaurants the further east you go, including Coney Island, Ouzos’, and Monaco Bay. Bimbo’s menu sports very little other than pizza; under “sandwiches” are listings like “ham” and “turkey,” so I imagine that the non-pizza foodstuffs aren’t their strong suit. Despite that, the pizza, if a little pricey, is excellent. The soft, thin crust and fresh toppings are good, but don’t really compare to the sauce, which is clearly homemade and deserving of some kind of reward (if only the Kosmo gave out awards…). The aesthetic of the restaurant’s interior is great too. There are some old fashioned high-booths with large tables in the middle, always crowded on Friday and Saturday nights. Bimbo’s also boasts their superiority in a storefront preparation area, where employees toss dough back and forth and make their sauce by the gallon. The whole establishment is understated. My only complaints are that Bimbo’s is cash-only (there’s an ATM inside) and that they don’t deliver.
Bilbo’s, unlike its downtown counterpart, is a little bit out of the way at 3307 Stadium Drive. While this may deter the unadventurous college student, worry not, Bilbo’s will deliver your pizza to you at no charge (other than the expectation of a tip for the driver). Also unlike Bimbo’s, Bilbo’s doesn’t pretend to be anything but a pizza joint: if there’s something other than pizza on their menu, they supplement it with pizza (pizza sandwiches, stuffed pizza, etc.). Bilbo’s sports some very thick crust, fluffy and filled with air, rather than the thin, concise crust at Bimbo’s. Here, you can choose between white and whole wheat crust; I chose wheat because I’ve never had such an option before; truly delicious! Bilbo’s is also a little pricier than some of the mainstream joints and you get a little less (quantity, not quality) than you do for a comparable Bimbo’s price. Despite that, there’s certainly a reason why Bilbo’s had the money to expand to a second location at 6202 South Westnedge in Portage.
Me, I’m a thin crust guy, and I’d rather walk to get my pizza than have it delivered to me. So for my buck I’d choose Bimbo’s, but the whole wheat crust and free delivery charge from Bilbo’s makes it a difficult decision. In the end I feel good supporting either establishment, since both are locally owned and operated. It all boils down to how you’re feeling the next time you’ve got some extra cash and a rumbling stomach.
Check out Kalamazoo Comparisons, Part 2: Downtown Drink Deals next week.
