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Pizza never sounds like a bad idea, especially when it is from the newest pizza restaurant in Des Moines: DeMo Pizza. DeMo Pizza Company is a quick-serve pizza restaurant located in downtown Des Moines on 604 Locust St. The interior and exterior design was made to look like the many delicious pizza restaurants in the Chicago and New York.   

DeMo Pizza was created by three men from different backgrounds: Chris Johanson on the DeMo crew is from a diverse neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. Johanson’s experiences contributed to his creative influences on many of his pizza recipes. This is why many of their recipes and creations are so different from any other pizza place in the metro area.   

When visiting DeMo Pizza Company, I was instantly intrigued by the atmosphere. From the moment I walked in everything seemed so simple. The employees were very friendly and explained to me all of my options, which seemed endless. I personally am a pretty “plain Jane” pizza eater. I typically would go for a slice of pepperoni or sausage pizza, but at DeMo, I felt encouraged to try something new. I decided on to try the “King Porker,” which has a variety of meats, sauce and spicy peppers. This is far from my element but I still enjoyed it. It was fresh and unlike anything I have tried before. 

During my visit to DeMo, I got the opportunity to meet Johanson and get his take on what he thinks separates DeMo Pizza Company from the other pizza restaurants. 

“We do things differently than many traditional pizza restaurants,” he said, “We wanted to add a ‘new age’ twist to our pizzas and be a little bit off the wall and creative.”  

Demo Pizza Company tries its best to stand out from other pizza establishments.  

“We use many things on our pizzas that a lot of other places wouldn’t dare to,” he said, “Our ingredients are extremely fresh and we like to take pride in that. There are no shortcuts with us.”  

If you are not a traditional pizza lover like me, DeMo Pizza is the place. They make unique pizzas that any foodie can enjoy. They even have vegetarian options to order by the slice or a choice of a small, medium or large pizza. The “Veggie” would be a great option when deciding to go the green route. For toppings, it has spinach, red onion, black olives, mushrooms and tomatoes. Looking for a  great way to branch out and get a little crazy with a choice in pizza? DeMo has everyone’s back. One of the hottest commodities at DeMo is the MAC Attack pizza. The MAC attack is known for its loaded amount of sauce, fresh cheese, onion, hamburger, lettuce, pickle and tomatoes on top. 

Brady Brandsfield, a first-time customer at DeMo Pizza, said that restaurant serves many things that he has never before seen on pizza.  

“I ordered the MAC Attack and I am now a huge fan. The only thing I could compare it to is Mesa Pizza, in Iowa City,” Brandsfield said, “Next time, I might order myself a whole pizza.”  

If pizza isn’t your style, DeMo Pizza Company offers a variety of other options on its menu. Their “Fresh Eats” section includes appetizers like cheese bread and “knotty bites” which are freshly made garlic knots. They even have a variety of salads, portions of pasta, desserts and “not pizza”  items like calzones and stromboli. 

 If you are struggling with where to go on your next lunch hour, DeMo Pizza company is worth a visit.