While most people have never heard of the place, there are actually quite a few things the small town of Winneconne is known for. The most interesting is the fact that the city seceded from Wisconsin after being left off a state map in 1967. The secession was basically a big joke and only lasted one day, but they still hold a Sovereign State Days festival every year. There’s also the restaurant shaped like a steamboat that seems to draw a lot of people even though it kind of sucks. But if you’re looking for some real Winneconne pizza, look no further than the Village Pub.

A few of my friends were raving about the Village Pub’s frozen pizzas, and I told them they were in for a surprise when they finally went to the real Village Pub. Don’t get me wrong, they always had good frozen pizzas (I’m not sure if that’s still the case; I heard Cranky Pat’s bought the rights to their frozen line and changed the recipe), but the real deal was a million times better. Now maybe I’m a little biased since I spent the first 20 or so years of my life in Winneconne, but I’d say they’ve got some of the best pizza I’ve ever had. The square-cut pizzas feature extremely generous portions of cheese, toppings and sauce; possibly the most cheese I’ve ever seen on a pizza.

The Pub doesn’t just serve pizza; they also feature a full bar and the menu features a variety of burgers, sandwiches and fish dinners. There’s also a game room in the back that always kept me entertained as a kid. But the pizza will definitely be the thing that will keep you coming back to this rustic establishment.

THE GOOD: They seriously load up their ‘zas here. I don’t know if I’ve ever been to another pizza joint that had as much cheese, sauce and toppings as the Village Pub. The crust is thin and crispy, but with thicker edges to allow a better hold. The sauce is pretty much perfect. They have a large banquet area that can be rented out for private events and a game room to occupy the kids after dinner.

Skee Ball not included.

THE BAD: The game room is not what it used to be. When I visited the V.P. last weekend I was disappointed to see that they no longer had skee ball. The above picture is one I found on the web, and I don’t remember there being foosball either. And I vaguely remember a pool table once upon a time, and that was definitely not there anymore. Also, due to the square slices, the middle ones can get a little messy since there are so many toppings and you don’t have an edge to hang on to. But it’s worth the mess, so that’s not really an issue.

TRY: If you’re a fan of garlic sauce pizzas, I’d recommend trying one of those, but you really can’t go wrong with any of the pizzas. After that, try finding something else to do in that small-ass town. There’s not much, so good luck with that.

I feel pretty lucky to have grown up with this as the only real pizza place in town (I think there is another one now). Maybe it’s a nostalgia thing for me, but everyone I’ve ever gone there with has agreed that the pizza was amazing. I know I’ll continue to stop in for some slices whenever I’m in town.

RATING: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start

Fox Valley, game room, Village Pub, Winneconne