FEATURED STORY FROM THE Best of BG – 2015 ISSUE
Pagliai’s Pizza
Any student who looks across the train tracks from campus will see the restaurant famous for its breadsticks. . . Campus Polleyes. It’s been there since the late 1970s and received its current name in the 1980s.
But few students may realize that the “original” Pagliai’s Pizza opened in 1967 on South Main Street under the pizza genius of George Nicholson, who had trained under the original Pagliai brothers and was working in Iowa City, Iowa, before moving to Bowling Green. And it’s still there on that end of town. His early success with Pagliai’s Pizza saw it grow into its current location at 945 S. Main St, across the street from the founding location. And while Campus Polleyes, now under the ownership of George’s son, Bob, is known for its premo breadsticks,
South Main Pagliai’s Pizza is known for much more than just pizza. The all-you-can-eat buffet is a big favorite of the community and that runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Plus spaghetti and lasagna adorn the menu as well as a pizza an sub menu. But the atmosphere is a lot different than the campus location.
“It’s a sit down restaurant, so it’s a lot different experience for guests,” Nicholson said. “Pagliai’s is a unique place to go with friends or family.” And it is a family business and have one of the best pizzas because everything is made from scratch, he said.
“In the very beginning, we came here in 1967 for the students, but we are still here because of the community,” he said. That community extends to those who work for George Nicholson. Server Jared James is a student of the University and has been with Pagliai’s for four years. “It’s enjoyable to work here,” James said. It’s more of a family oriented place to eat, they don’t serve alcohol at Pagliai’s, he said.
James said the salads are made fresh every morning and the soups are made in-house. “We also have three different types of crust styles that people like to choose from,” he said. Another unique feature of Pagliai’s is there billboard sign in front of their restaurant. If someone wishes to have their birthday, anniversary or any other special event advertised, they can call Pagliai’s. They will post the event on their sign so everyone can see it driving by.
One reason that James thinks Pagliai’s is special is because of the price. “If you go to other restaurants, they will usually have to pay more than $10 to eat a little dinner,” he said. “Here, you can eat as much as you want with the buffet and for quality food, which is really good after eating a bunch of college food.”
Pagliai’s also tries hard to be involved with the community. “We work hard to work with the college and town,” George said. “We work with Boy Scouts or other businesses in town and give them good deals.”
AN ADDITIONAL FEATURED STORY ABOUT PAGLIAI’S PIZZA CAN BE FOUND IN THE Best of BG – 2014 ISSUE