After more than 13 years in downtown Ortonville, Papa Bella’s Pizza has become a fixture for local residents who crave pizza, subs, and salads.
Owners Joe D’Anna and Mark Bell operate the restaurant, located at 425 Mill St. in Ortonville. D’Anna has 30 years experience in the pizza business, while Bell brings 27 years of experience to the table.
Papa Bella’s has made several changes in their menu during the past year, introducing the following items: chicken club pizza, barbecue chicken pizzas topped with pineapple or red onions, roast beef sub, barbecue chicken sub, chicken club sub, and tossed salad topped with chicken.
D’Anna and Bell say what makes Papa Bella’s stand out from the competition is the fact they use fresh all white chicken breast and cook their own Italian sausage, ground beef and bacon weekly. In addition, they use brick ovens rather than conveyor-ovens to cook their pizzas.
‘We make our pizzas the way they did 30 years ago,? said Mark Bell. ‘Many of the big pizza companies get their ingredients pre-processed’we make everything from scratch.?
Papa Bella’s strives for consistency and makes pizzas any way the customer wants them ? thin crust, light sauce, well done, extra sauce or one of hundreds of combinations.
As far as long-term plans are concerned, D’Anna and Bell said they may possibly expand to another location.
‘This community is growing and an additional store is necessary to meet the future demands,? added Bell.
Hours: Monday- Wednesdays 4-10 p.m.; Thursdays noon-10 p.m.; Fridays noon-11 p.m.; Saturdays 2-11 p.m.; Sundays 2-9 p.m.
Details: (248) 627-4941.