That'sa Pizza!

The Westside location of That'sa Pizza is just around the corner from me. I'm a lucky guy!

The summer has arrived in Traverse City. The Great Wakes Festival is in full swing, the weather is lovely, the beaches are bustling and sunburns abound. While Traverse City is home to some amazing places to nosh, many folks need that ever elusive easy solution to dining that so many towns lack. Thankfully for those folk, Traverse City has three amazing options for the sun exhausted boater, the beached out towel jockey, the shopped-til-they-dropped downtown divas and all the rest! And they deliver beer.

Yeah. You heard me. They deliver beer.

What is this perfect beach house dining solution? Traverse City's That'sa Pizza!

Not just a take-out joint! That'sa Pizza is chock full of atmosphere, great for dining in!

Yeah, the possibilities for delivery are endless here. There is nothing more satisfying at the end of long hard day of play here in Northern Michigan than returning to that perfect house, hotel, motel, cabin, condo or campsite and being able to kick back and let someone else worry about lunch or dinner......or breakfast, for the college kids.

BUT! Let's not discount the dining in options! Do you love some old school Pacman? Well! Are you in luck! That'sa Pizza has it! Do you love a local brew? Again, lucky you! That'sa Pizza has some!

And, do you love a genuinely awesome pizza? Oh, do I have a place for you! That'sa Pizza. What? What place did you think I was going to say?

That'sa Pizza not only has some grand nosh options, they have an equally inviting atmosphere. At their various locations about town you'll find comfy seats, a lovely bar and amazing staff. These joints are great for a wee little date or a family outing.



With the better half or the family, That'sa Pizza is a great place to be in TC! (Nice rhyme!)

Let's talk a bit about the food, shall we?

During my college days (not so very long ago), I held a favorite pizza joint or two. When visiting friends at other colleges throughout Michigan, we would inevitably end up at some great local, neighborhood pizza joint tossing back a few brews and chowing down on some truly amazing slices. The art of pizza making has been severely bastardized by the likes of Pizza Hut, Little Ceasars, BC Pizza, etc. There is a stigma attached to pizza nowadays that says that anyone can do it, anyone does do it and everyone sucks. While this stigma is mostly true, there are some glaring examples of pizza perfection out there. Traverse City's answer to the perfect local pizza joint question is That'sa Pizza. Need proof? Then order some food!

Obviously, they have a grand selection of "build your own" type fare here, as any self respecting pizza joint worth its pepperoni would. They also have a wide selection of house creations. The prices for these range from $13.99 for 12 inch pizzas to $24 for some of the 16 inchers.

Highlights of that house creation menu include the Mellow Mushroom (no sauce, olive oil, fresh garlic, fresh button and portobella mushrooms and Parmesan cheese), the Idaho (no sauce, mashed potatoes, bacon and cheddar cheese) and the Hawaiian (always a favorite of mine). Many other selections grace that section of the menu if your taste is not akin to mine, no worries.

Other menu sections include grilled sandwiches ($6-$6.50, try the Sicilian, yum!), grilled wraps ($5.50-$6.25, try the chicken and black bean wrap, wowza!), salads ($3.25-$6.25, try the Eastside House Salad, oh my gawd!) and odds and ends (consisting of things like cheesy breadsticks, BBQ wings, etc.....the wings are awesome, by the way, 20 pieces for $15.50).

That'sa Pizza has a grand bar. Awesome.

As I said before, That'sa Pizza has some grand brew selections, always featuring a Sam Adams, a Bells and a Right Brain (my favorite local brewery, soon to make an appearance on this very blog!). They also have some great bottles and the usual suspects as well. Spirits and wine can be had here too. This really is the perfect all-around pizza joint, take my word for it!



The food at That'sa Pizza is as good as it looks!

While the brews and vinos are certainly tops on the drinks list for this guy, they are not the only game in town by any means! Folks, if you get the chance, do not miss out on That'sa Pizza's 100% real fruit smoothies! Talk about heaven in a glass! Yes, I really did just say that. I guess, technically I wrote it, but whatever. They're awesome.

Yup. Yum!

Lastly on the menu are the calzones. Basically, you choose three toppings, they throw it into that yummy crusted creation and you experience a food orgasm. It really is wonderful to slay one's hunger with such a convincing beast!

That'sa Pizza also has a take-n-bake option that rocks. Taking the boat over to the beach house? Snag a take-n-bake. Heading home after a long weekend? Grab a take-n-bake. See what I mean? So versatile!

Here sits a summer tradition: Bells' Oberon from the That'sa Pizza taps.

I know what you're thinking. Questions are seeping into your mind. Questions like: "Did the 'local only' guy just review a chain?" No. I did not. That'sa Pizza is uniquely, fiercely Traverse City. "Why is this guy reviewing a pizza joint?" Because I love good food and That'sa Pizza is good food! Plus, it is summer and easy, transportable food.....or food that comes to you in a summer drunken stupor or other state of "I shouldn't go anywhere", is tops on people's minds right now.

Yeah, there's an eclectic mix of eateries on this blog. Why? Because I'm an eclectic kinda guy! You might find me here for lunch, dropping $20 on a slice, a brew and a salad and meet up with me at The Cook's House for dinner, where I'll gladly drop $150. Amazing food knows no name, no boundaries, no shape, no incarnation. Any menu within any establishment has the potential to be outstanding. I have had supremely amazing nosh in a dirty Guatemalan parking lot, sitting atop a broken plastic stool, eating from a paper plate. Judge not, folks.

If you seek delicious vacation food, simply walk through the doors of That'sa Pizza!

The Filling Station Microbrewery

Outdoor seating lines the patio at the Filling Station Microbrewery in Traverse City during the warmer months.

Welcome to the Filling Station Microbrewery of Traverse City. No longer are the trains rumbling through or screeching to a steam or diesel spewing stop at this historic depot. Nowadays, the only rumbling comes from the brew house, the only smoke from the wood fired stone pizza oven. If you're a fan of artisan pizzas fresh from the flame's tender licking and handcrafted brews, then the Filling Station Microbrewery is the place for you!

One of Traverse City's newest breweries is receiving some rave reviews.

Located near Traverse City's public library off of Woodmere Avenue, this microbrewery focuses, first and foremost, on their beer selection. That selection is partnered well with some very creative and tasty artisan pizza offerings.

You'll notice that the urban minimalist atmosphere mixes well with the menu offerings and the slowly evolving industrial surroundings of this former home to numerous Traverse City rail based enterprises. Again, this joint doesn't need to tease your senses with any sort of flash or sparkle in the decor. They know why you're there, for brews! That's where they focus their dazzle! 

Urban and open, the decor at the Filling Station Microbrewery only adds to its offerings.

Despite the fact that the depot that houses the Filling Station Microbrewery was the epicenter of a hard working area, the views from the Filling Station's dining areas are perfect for a slice and a pint. The Boardman Lake is just a few steps away and the people watching is spectacular during the warmer months, what with one of Traverse City's many parks running adjacent to Boardman Lake's shores just beyond this eatery's windows, the TART trail cutting through that park, the library next door and a small marina and sailing school nearby as well.

The Filling Station Microbrewery near Traverse City's public library is a great place to meet and unwind.

We'll begin with the food! As stated, this eatery features wood fired pizzas and a lovely salad option. Some of the highlights of the menu include:

Cock O' The Walk for $14. This pizza features house made basil oil, oven roasted chicken, artichokes, oven roasted tomatoes and mozzarella.

Burlington Northern for $14. This pizza features garlic oil, roasted garlic, red onions, fresh pears, prosciutto, brie and a balsamic reduction.

Three Rivers for $12. This pizza features marinara, fresh basil, roma tomatoes and mozzarella.

As I said before, there is also a fun and tasty salad as well as a dessert pizza (for guys like me who can not live without dessert) that features Nutella, graham crackers, marshmallow and more. Yum!

The taps are magical at the Filling Station Microbrewery.

Now, on to the reason that this place exists! The beer! (also Yum!)

Each brew is listed under a track number, tracks 1-9. These tracks do change from time to time, so the beers listed below may not be the exact same as the ones offered during your visit. Be sure to check out their site for updates on small craft brews, etc.

Having said that, their current menu offers some tasty, fun examples of craft brewing, definitely worth a look and sip on your next trip to Traverse City!

Out of the 9 available treats, I'll list three, two from my set of favs, one from my lovely Lisa's preferred drinking style.

First (as always), my lovely Lisa.

Track 4 carries a Dublin Stout. 4.3% ABV for you tickers out there. It is described as a nice session stout.

My two picks are these:

Track 3 features a Bacharach Golden Ale, 4.4% ABV. It's a nice malty ale with a subtle bittering.

Track 5 is a Denver Brown Ale, 4% ABV. It has a higher finishing gravity, which gives body and sweetness to this mild ale.

Arriving on every track, some scrumptious brews!

Obviously, my tastes are my own. If you don't see something that tickles your fancy in the items that I have chosen to highlight, don't let that stop you from visiting this brand spanking new TC brewery! There are plenty of other options available on both their pizza and beer menus.

An ancient art conjures up some tasty fare at the Filling Station Microbrewery!

Traverse City is hoppin', literally. The number of breweries springing up throughout TC and beyond is astounding. Another brewery is slated to take up residence within the depot district very soon. Life is good here in the Grand Traverse region for lovers of both the hop and the vine. And, luckily enough for us all, local and visitor alike, these amazing concoctions are being paired with some superb culinary offerings.

Whether it be the fun, urban atmosphere of the Filling Station Microbrewery or any of the other outstanding dining experiences here in Traverse City and the surrounding regions, you will be hard pressed (hard cider pun, that's also a very popular and growing industry here in the Grand Traverse region. Aren't I just da bomb at these innuendos and sly transitions??) to find any other city or town that can rival Traverse City in culinary prowess, options of amazing local brews and vints (my own word, that).

I encourage you to keep an eye on this blog for some amazing "do not miss" dining experiences here in Northern Michigan! Pass the word around! And hit up the Filling Station! It's easy to miss joints like this if you're new to the TC area or don't really get out too much. It is my aim here to make a resource for those that want to be "in the know" to actually have a constantly updated, actionable way to truly be in the know! Thanks for reading!

(All photos by Brooks Vanderbush)