Pizza Restaurant · South Riverdale

Descendant Detroit Style Pizza

Updated July 22, 2026

Type
Pizza Restaurant
Price
$$ · Moderate
Google rating
4.7 / 5
3,629 reviews
Area
South Riverdale
A rectangular Detroit-style pizza topped with mushrooms, cheese, and white sauce, served in a cardboard box on a wooden table next to a Descendant Detroit Style Pizza sign.

The short version

Why it stands out

Descendant Detroit Style Pizza has earned a loyal following as Toronto's first-ever Detroit-style pizzeria. Located in Leslieville, this cozy spot caters to pizza enthusiasts and adventurous diners seeking authentic, thick-crust square pies. The kitchen utilizes a meticulous 48-hour cold fermentation process and bakes each pizza in traditional blue-steel pans. This technique ensures a fluffy, chewy Sicilian-style dough with a perfectly crispy, cheese-to-the-edge crust.

The menu features creative topping combinations that elevate the comfort food experience. Guests can choose from two sizes, an 8 by 10-inch small or a 10 by 14-inch large, with options ranging from classic pepperoni to inventive pies like the Jaffna, which features kothu roti and mango chutney. Diners frequently praise the crunchy, flavorful dough and the friendly, accommodating staff who are happy to guide first-timers through the unique menu.

While the restaurant offers dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering from Tuesday through Sunday, the physical space is quite compact. With only about 22 seats in a distressed-chic dining room, seating can fill up quickly during peak hours, and high demand for both takeout and dine-in can sometimes lead to longer wait times. Still, for those craving a deeply satisfying, caramelized crust, the wait is well worth it.

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