When the owners of Old Town Food Tour, Justin and Tricia, moved to Fort Collins in 2014, one of the first questions they had was, "who has the best pizza in town?" Growing up in the northeast, pizza is a staple on every city corner, and it has to be done just right. This was when we were introduced to Slyce Pizza, located at 163 W Mountain Avenue (corner of Mountain and Mason).
Slyce Pizza opened up in August 2014 and has been a favorite of locals and visitors for not just the taste of their pizza (which is a home run with every slice) but also the selection of pizzas they have. If you're looking for just a slice of cheese or pepperoni, Slyce Pizza will hook you up. However, suppose you are looking to try something different like the Spin-Art, a sautéed spinach artichoke pizza with Gruyere cheese on a cream sauce base. In that case, you can venture into that realm as well!
No matter what you are craving, Slyce Pizza knows how to create the best pizza that you can buy by the slice, or you can take a whole pizza home for the entire family.
Old Town Food Tour's Justin Clapp had a chance to talk with Slyce Pizza co-owner (and #1 lover of all things pizza) Jeremy Tand about how Slyce Pizza was created, the unique pizzas that they offer, and the impact of being part of the Fort Collins community. Don't forget to buy your Old Town Food Tour tickets to have a chance to enjoy a generous sample of their pizzas which will make you want to come back to order a slice (or two...or three...or eight!) for yourself, family, and friends!
Slyce Pizza co-owner Jeremy Tand
Tell us about Slyce Pizza and what inspired you to launch in 2014?
Well, this is a long story. Basically, I love pizza, like all things pizza. And I have been working in the industry since 2004, but I moved to Colorado to combine my love for pizza with a better life balance situation for myself. Basically, if you are going to work hard at something you love, why not live somewhere you love as well. I love everything about Colorado and everything about pizza, so it made sense to try and work where I wanted to live.
What makes Slyce Pizza different and unique from other pizza restaurants in the area?
What I think makes Slyce unique is our commitment to selling pizza by the slice. It gives us the freedom and flexibility to be creative with what kinds of slices we make. We don't necessarily have to stick to a set menu like a regular restaurant. We have our primary creations, but we might just try something else that inspires us on any given day. Having that kind of freedom is unique in any restaurant, but our willingness to throw out the rules of what a pizza should or should not make us unique.
What is the most uncommon/unique specialty pizza you've ever made at Slyce?
This is a tough question. Obviously, our monthly specials push the boundaries of what can be expected on a pizza, from chicken and waffles to a peach habanero, cilantro lime chicken slice. We definitely do not have a #1 that sticks out. Our most popular slice by far is our Mac N Cheese, and I think that speaks for what might seem uncommon or unique seems quite normal for us.
Tell us about the support you've received from the Fort Collins community since you first opened, and how has that continued throughout the past year during the pandemic?
The support of the community has been one of the most rewarding parts of operating Slyce. Just having the community support by continuing to be customers and have them step up and support us even more during the ever-shifting and challenging times during Covid. It has been just such a feeling to know that our food and work mean so much to everyone in the area.
What are some of the most popular pizzas you sell at Slyce?
So the most popular is our Mac N Cheese. But others range from our Philly cheesesteak to our spinach feta with diced tomatoes. There are so many popular ones to mention, but we feel there is a slice out there for everyone.
You team up with Fort Collins Pickle Company for the latest pickle pizza, which sounds delicious! How important is it for you to integrate local ingredients when you can do so, and the recipe calls for it?
This is hugely important to us. To either team up with another local company or use local ingredients whenever possible is always a top priority. We feel there are so many amazing companies in our small community, and collaborating makes things so much more fun. We have worked with Fort Collins Donut Company, the Pickle Company, and many others. We will continue to find ways to do so in the future. Combining and celebrating local is what makes our community great, and we are happy to be a part of it.
If someone is new to Fort Collins or is visiting the area, why should Slyce Pizza be on their bucket list as a must-try?
If you like pizza and want to try something outside the box, we will love to share our unique spin on things. We absolutely love pizza over here at Slyce and think pizza should be enjoyed by all, so it is our unofficial goal to find a pizza or a slice for everyone. We love the look on the faces of satisfied pizza lovers. So that's why if you like pizza, you should come to share that passion with us.
We know it takes a team to put forth such fantastic pizza. How important and vital is your staff to you and the product you put out to the public each day?
Without our staff, we could not do what we do. We have an amazing team and have been blessed with low turnover in our industry. We go out of our way to treat our staff with the same care we treat our high expectations for food quality. But it can not be said enough. Our culture and everything we do could not be done without the amazing individual effort that each team member brings forward each day.
Slyce Pizza is key to the personality, the success, and the foodie scene of Old Town Fort Collins. You can try Slyce Pizza and other restaurants throughout Old Town by participating in an Old Town Food Tour! We offer a 2 1/2 - 3 hour guided walking tour of some of the best restaurants that the city has to offer. Tickets are available now as we look forward to re-engaging the local community, and introducing visitors, to one of the best food scenes in the country!