I have picked up a Shield’s pizza a time or three to bring home and have always thoroughly enjoyed the warmish pizza at my own kitchen table, dutifully resisting the urge to break it out on the drive home.
But to give Shield’s a completely fair shake, I had to go in and have the entire dining experience.
Shield’s Pizza Detroit Location
Shields of Southfield
25101 Telegraph Rd.
Southfield, MI 48076
248-356-2720
Other locations are in Macomb Township, Rochester Hills, and Troy.
Shield’s has several locations around Metro Detroit – four to be precise – and the one I’ve been going to is in Southfield. I’ve always appreciated the ambiance of the attached bar as I’ve gone in to pick up my pizza at the takeaway counter. It seems darkish – the right lighting for a bar, in my opinion – and somehow cozy and intimate, like a place where you can hang with your friends and make new ones.
The thing I like the most is that there’s plenty of Detroit pride on display, with Old English Ds and proud Red Wings emblems (a far cry from the brightly lit Pizza Papalis bar that wants to be in Chicago). Don’t go here thinking you’ll have a quiet, romantic evening. These bars are for hanging out and catching the game.
But the dining room is another story. Very family-friendly. In fact, there was a clown on duty that night, and I spent much of the evening dreading that it might come near my table and make me a balloon animal. But I think it sensed my clown aversion (and age inappropriateness) and thankfully stayed away.
A Highlight on the Shield’s Pizza
On to the pizza: as I’ve mentioned, the pies I’ve brought home were always darn good – more than adequate with that characteristic Detroit-Sicilian square shape that produces those delectable carmelized cheese edges (that I’ve tried to capture on film here).
In the past, we’ve enjoyed our perennial make-your-own favorite – sausage, onion, and mushroom – as well as their oh-so-delicious Shield’s Super specialty pizza (pepperoni, brick cheese, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and ham). But this time, we went for the Gold Medal: brick and Romano cheeses, Italian banana peppers, sweet red bell peppers, topped with Italian pear tomatoes sautéed in garlic.
And as if this were not enough to make you swoon: add the optional (but recommended!) Italian sausage, and you’ve got a truly amazing pie, as everyone at the table agreed!
I would be remiss in my blogger-informant duties if I did not mention that Shield’s also has a fairly extensive non-pizza menu – including a better-than-average kid’s menu. I can not yet vouch for any of these items, but I have to say that the pasta and sub sandwiches on other people’s tables were looking mighty appetizing.
Bottom line: Shield’s pizza truly rocks and is an excellent specimen of the Detroit Pizza style.
I have to stop short of saying that this pizza is better than Buddy’s – there is something about Buddy’s crust that is so far unparalleled in my pizza adventuring – but it is certainly on par with Buddy’s and without a doubt worth coming back for. Shield’s deserves all the praise it gets and all the business you can give it. Bring the kids.
