Winner: Memphis Pizza Cafe

When Memphis Pizza Cafe owner Gary Garlington makes his own pizza, it’s all about the jalapenos. “Ham and jalapeno,” says Garlington, although he’s always trying new combinations of toppings. “That’s how I don’t get burned out on pizza.”

After 14 years as a local favorite, readers haven’t become burned out on Memphis Pizza Café’s offerings, which include a spicy Cajun chicken supreme with blackened chicken, and the crowd favorite, which combines barbeque chicken with cheese and barbeque sauce for a real Memphis-style slice of heaven.

“We’ve got such a base in Memphis,” says Garlington. “In barbeque, people have a lot of local choices. In pizza, not so much.”

Five locations, including Midtown, East Memphis, Germantown, Collierville and Southaven. All open 11 am – 10 pm daily during the summer, with shorter hours during the school year. For menus and locations, go to memphispizzacafe.com or call 726-5343.

Finalists: Pizza Hut, Garibaldi’s