VISIT HISTORY: 4.5/5 - Last visit: This past Friday (prime date night chaos hour). they only do pizza Tues-Friday (?? gatekeeping carbs but okay), and sandwiches are a weekend-only personality - Frequency: First time, will plot plotting return - Visit again? Yes, but only when emotionally prepared to wait and physically prepared to eat like a linebacker FOO(D)RINK: 4.5/5 - Overall: If you are in the mood for Detroit-style pizza, this is a mostly hard yes. Not a casual yes but not a "cancel your other plans" yes. - Chicago pizza: came with 6 slices for 2 people. Tapped out at 4.5 and entered a mild food coma so we went for a walk afterwards. I was starving going in (like thinking-about-food-for-2-hours starving) and still got humbled. This pizza is THICCKK. Chicago with green pepper = elite decision, an unexpected vegetable moment that felt almost...responsible. Mid-slice meh. Corner slice = main character energy, crispy edges, structurally superior, spiritually fulfilling. - The "green on green on green" salad surprisingly huge portion - chips and dip: literally chips. lots of chips. dip was fine. idk if i would order again. VIB(E)XPERIENCE: 4/5 - Design: Casual, lots of wood, indoor and outdoor seating, slightly "we care but not too much" aesthetic. Bonus: saw a dog outside - Staff: Friendly, t-shirt casual, zero pretense. exactly the energy you want when being served brick-sized pizza slices. - Noise level: Medium. Seinfeld playing in the background which somehow became the main character. Music? Unclear. Don't remember. - Wait time for foo(d)rink arrival: less than 15 minutes - Wait time for our check: staff and i immediately made eye contact. You pay at the front where everyone is also waiting, so less "wait time" but I felt squished due to limited space read more

My Friend Derek's - Tiny TV playing Seinfeld. Beer. Bar seat. Cozy. - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My Friend Derek's is definitely worth checking out if you're in Seattle and craving pizza as it is one of the top rated restaurants for pizza. We ended up ordering vegetarian pizzas and were pleasantly surprised by how flavorful and satisfying they were. They tend to rotate different pizzas but have a couple that are set where you can order them anytime. The place was packed on a Tuesday night, which is always a good sign. We grabbed a table outside and enjoyed the atmosphere while people-watching. The prices are a little on the high side, but the quality of the pizza made it worth it. Great crust, fresh ingredients, and overall a really solid pie. Even as someone who doesn't usually order vegetarian pizza, I'd happily get it again. read more

My Friend Derek's - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Pizza was good (the crusts a little too burnt) but if you like thick square pizza (Detroit style kinda), you'll like this. It is a bit pricy, but you can honestly split one pizza three ways and then it feels affordable! Waiting takes forever tho, even getting a pizza roti takes like an hour of wait time. Go for a meal, not a quick bite. read more

My Friend Derek's - P - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

TLDR: 3 stars overall NOT BC THE FOOD DIDNT TASTE GOOD but bc overall it's a unique spot. Tough parking, sells out bc they're so popular, online ordering usually cuts off at 5p. On a Friday at 6p , my friends and I waited about 45 minutes for a table. Limited amount of seating indoors and outdoor seating is available. Its warm and cozy inside with a bustling kitchen and unique staff with other bars nearby to wait and grab drinks. I've never had a Caesar salad with goldfish on it and full anchovy pieces. It's great if you like an full-flavored Caesar dressing. It's also made with kale, giving it a chewier bite. The pizza was saucy and garlicky. Personally I wanted it to be cheesier. The hot honey was my preferred sauce. The ranch has LOTS of dill so tastes like pickles but somehow isn't sour... Overall, I recommend coming early or on a weekend if you aren't down to wait. read more

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Great Detroit style pizza but make sure to come early to get a seat. Case salad was unique and I was a fan read more

My Friend Derek's - Caesar salad - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Oh Lord, this pizza lives up to the hype! I can't do dairy so ordered a pepperoni with vegan cheese and I'm still thinking about it. It lasted three meals and was even better cold for breakfast the next day. I see why they're so busy! Order the day before if you have the foresight. read more

After sooo many years since I had these, it stayed consistent. I had their pizza before when they were still doing pop ups and this is my first time trying as a restaurant. I didn't like their online ordering system since I tried ordering a pizza and the next possible pick up was on Tuesday (it was a Friday). So not sure if they don't do same day ordering or not, and there's no phone number so we couldnt call. We ended up ordering at the restaurant and had to wait 40 minutes... The pizza was pretty good. I had the same feedback where if you eat it right away, everything would just come off the pizza, and makes a big mess. If you wait for it to cool down, it was better. We even saved a couple of slices to eat as cold pizza the next day and it was probably one of the better cold pizza we had in a really long time. The corner crust was good and soft and crispy, but the middle ones were soggy and moist from all of the toppings. Pepperoni was a little salty for me but it was good with the olives. Overall, good pizza place read more

My Friend Derek's - Customized: mushroom, sausage and cheese - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We finally decided to brave the line at Derek's. We heard that when they first opened the waitlist could be hours long, so we decided to drop by when we thought it would be less busy - at 4:15PM on Friday. Unfortunately the guests before us had just taken the last seats and we were relegated to the online waitlist, becoming first in line, with a promised wait of 35-40 minutes. We were seated by 4:45 and the pizza took about 20 minutes to arrive. Taken from another of my reviews: there are several characteristics that define Detroit-style. Firstly, the base must be a focaccia dough-like crust, pillowy and chewy on the interior and with a crispness on the bottom and sides that are somewhat greasy but not overladen*. There must be flavorful Wisconsin brick cheese, buttery and tangy, melted on top and spread until it spills over the sides of the crust, creating a crisp caramelized frico ring surrounding the pie. The pepperoni must be underneath the cheese**, and the flavorful tomato sauce, typically a large spoonful in two or three wide lines, is spread on top of the cheese. The crust must remain crisp without becoming soggy with moisture and there must not be too many toppings to prevent the crust from compressing and ruining the texture. *Note 1: The fat/grease is very important, both to allow the crust to crisp up and to act as a hydrophobic layer to prevent sogginess. **Note 2: This is the one trait I dislike about traditional Detroit-style, since it makes the pepperoni limp and soaked with grease. Any place that moves the pepperoni to the top is okay in my book. Your Fav, Pepperoni ($26) - As always, I start with the most basic pepperoni pizza. This is a 4-square sized pizza cut into 6ths, similar to the more modern pizza joints in Detroit. We actually saw larger 8-square sized pans around and confirmed with the waitress that they just started offering their family size pizza again (with a $10 premium). Starting with the crust - it's fantastic. It's honestly better than a lot of establishments in Detroit. It has the requisite caramelized cheese crust, crisp and salty, and the fermentation and rise are also stellar. The bottom retains a golden brown crisp, is greasy but isn't too overladen. Unlike other places where the grease literally soaks through the cardboard pizza boxes, this one doesn't even leave a mark on the paper plate we ate it on. The interior is similarly excellent, being exceptionally pillowy and fluffy. Just look at my photos for the excellent crumb structure. The crust is layered with shredded cheese on top. They don't put nearly enough as compared to places in Detroit, like maybe 1/2 or even 1/3 the amount typically used. There's basically no cheese stretch and it's very bland compared to the flavor profile of cubed brick cheese. I don't even think it's a cheese blend - it might be only mozzarella given the lack of flavor. The cheese is the most disappointing part of the pizza. Sauce is ladled on top, which I found to be deliciously garlicky, pairing exquisitely with the perfectly balanced piquant and sweet flavors of the tomatoes. They don't seem to add as many dried herbs as other pizza places, so it tastes quite fresh in comparison. They then scatter a giant handful of pepperoni on top. They crisp up and cup in the oven nicely, but the amount added is too much for my tastes, causing the entire pizza as a whole to become a giant sodium bomb. After finishing the jug of water at the table, I went home and had to drink another two glasses of water to desalinate. A traditional eight square pizza in Detroit has around 30 slices of pepperoni, hand placed so they don't overlap. This four square has 45, flung on top with no regard to distribution, including many stacked on top of each other, further increasing the saltiness. In the future, I will be picking off slices of pepperoni and saving them for later. (4.5/5) Even with all my complaints, I found this to be a very good pizza. It might be a bit too much of an ask to get them to switch over to brick cheese but I'd like to see the amount of cheese adjusted upwards. We were so impressed with the crust that we revisited the following day for one of their weekend focaccias. Weekend Focaccia ($10) - This is slightly different in texture vs. the pizza crust but still excellent. It's extremely light and airy on the interior, plenty soft from the high hydration dough. It's baked in a thin layer of fat causing an oily sheen to develop and a light crisp texture. It's salted just enough. The exterior tastes of fried bread, while the interior is still somewhat floury in taste. PS: Detroit-style pizza but no Detroit-style antipasto salad makes the Detroiter in me sad :( The fact that I visited two days in a row says a lot. I will definitely be back in the future. Bathrooms - One unisex room through the black door in the back. read more

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What an unassuming location for a great pizza place. We ordered the salad and the vodka pizza. The salad was great and quite fun with the goldfish topping. The vodka pizza was great, but nothing that blew my mind. The servers were all kind and attentive. I would definitely go back here if in the area. read more

My Friend Derek's - Vodka pizza - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Been here for the sandwiches on the weekend, and more recently, pizza on a weekday. The sandwiches I had were mortadella and Italian. I generally LOVE mortadella, and the sandwich was great, especially the jam, but it needed something more saucy to tie it together. The Italian sandwich was altogether wonderful. Then I tried a custom pizza during the week... mushroom, sausage and red onion. The flavor of the sauce, and texture and slight tang in the crust were incredible!! However, I wish the ingredients were more evenly distributed among the pizza. The delicious sauce needed to be spread out more, some of the edge pieces barely had any. The toppings were a bit too bunched into sections. Also, there was barely any sausage. I've only gotten my orders to go, so the service was decent at the register but I can't say much more about it. And again, I didn't stay, but the ambiance seemed quaint with seating at the bar, and maybe a few tables, but there wasn't a lot of space inside. I definitely would come back, maybe to dine in next time! read more

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I came on the weekend to try their sandwiches and these are some of the best sandwiches in Seattle, hands down. The service was quick and friendly and I love that there's outdoor seating as well - very warm and neighborhoody vibes. I'll be back for sure. read more

My Friend Derek's - Weekend sandwiches are incredible - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Had heard so much about this place, was excited to try it! We came early on a weeknight and got a seat at the bar right away. Super cute neighborhood vibe and friendly service. Food was great!! We got the Jake's Fave pizza and wow it had FLAVOR (almost too much??). It was very tasty but a couple slices was plenty. I really enjoyed the green on green on green salad as well - fun flavor combos and very fresh. Prices were reasonable for everything but the pizza - I thought it was a little high but it's their signature so it makes sense! read more

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Decided to give this place a try finally as I've been wanting good pizza. The place was busy with takeout and dine in patrons. We waited over 20 minutes which was okay as the place smelled tasty and seemed promising. Once seated we ordered a soda and chose a more simple pizza as I'm basic and like pepperoni. Our pizza had olives, sausage, and pepperoni. The pizza takes time and they let you know that. Once we got that pizza it was devoured quickly it was so dang delicious. The cheesy hard crust was my fav part and I love they gave plenty of oily pepperoni slices. The ambiance was loud and crowded as there were many groups of friends chatting over pizza. Overall a very lively place with delicious pizza! I would definitely return and do take out or pick up next time :) read more

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I heard how good their Detroit style pizza was and I had to try it. I went online to order their Pizza King (pepperoni and mushroom) for take away on a Wednesday night. Ordering online and selecting my pick up time was easy and seamless. I arrived at my pick up time, but I had to drive around the neighborhood to find parking. If I were meeting my friends, then I would definitely get there earlier to find a parking spot. The restaurant was filled with people with a few open 2-tops and plenty of counter seating. The vibe was chill and inviting. The hostess greeted me warmly and handed my pizza to me! When I got home, the pizza was still warm. The topping had a lot of tomato sauce and mushrooms, but I didn't see the diced pepperoni. After I took my first bite, I could taste the pepperoni, the sauce and mushrooms! The crispy crust was amazing! Combined with the toppings, it was delicious - probably the best Detroit style pizza I've had. I ate two slices, but I could have easily eaten another one. I saved the rest and my partner ate two slices the next day. I had to hide the remaining two so he wouldn't eat it. I would definitely come back and dine in with friends! Great pizza!! read more

My Friend Derek's - Pizza King (pepperoni and mushroom) - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I wanted to love this place because Detroit style pizza is my favorite style and I've been seeing this place all over social media. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the food was just ok. It was good but not as good as I was expecting, and there were some aspects that I didn't really enjoy. We started off with the Fishy Caesar which was fun and different. It was full of anchovy and parm flavor which I loved, and the use of goldfish crackers as croutons was unique and playful. I didn't really enjoy the toughness of the kale compared to other greens though but that's probably just a me problem. Then we got the Secret Spot pizza and I have mixed feelings about it. The crust was really good with a crunchy bottom and pillowy interior. The major problem I had was that the chimichurri on top of the pizza had way too much vinegar and it soaked into and made the crust soggy. The pizza as a whole was also a bit bland. The mozzarella tasted unsalted and the other toppings didn't seem to have much seasoning either. Overall, I didn't like this place that much but I would come back to try a different pizza. Maybe something with pepperoni or sausage that has more salt and can season the pizza a bit better. The service was friendly though and I liked the hole in the wall vibe. read more

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Wow! This place was hopping. It's a really cool set up, but seating is limited. We walked up and were given the option to be seated at the counter overlooking the kitchen. The restaurant is really cool. It's completely open with counter seating, a large table (all within the kitchen area) and several booths outside. On the counter we were treated to a retro tv that just showed Seinfeld reruns! The guy that seated us and took our order was friendly and helpful. He even passed over a handful of Hi-Chews! We ordered the Arugula Sour salad and the Summer Friends (with added pepperoni) pizza. The salad was a huge bed of arugula covered in feta, sunflower seeds, and some amazing lemony dressing. It was creamy, sour, and I'm drooling just remembering it. The Summer Friends was loaded with tomatoes, cheese, basil, pesto, and pepperoni. The pizza was full of fresh flavors. I think the tomatoes released a lot of moisture making the crust a little soggy, taking from the crunchiness. Regardless, the crust was buttery and tasty. I loved that the staff were really excited about the food and their offerings. They all genuinely seem to love the products they were serving. read more

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Having heard about My Friend Derek's from a few neighbors and having been on the hunt for good pizza that is at least on par with Northeast coast pizza I think I finally found a contender. Modestly referring to themselves as "some pretty good Detroit-style pizza in Seattle" I tried on a couple occasions to come only for the crowd to be a lot for the time I had and another time I was told they ran out of some ingredients! So now my interest is high. I came here with a buddy and found out they actually have a waiting list which to be fair, they should make that a bit more known. They'll take your number and text you, so I dropped my number and went for a couple pints at Leny's nearby. After about 30 minutes got a text, made our way over for some eats. My buddy and I shared a "Vodka Pep" pie, squared as Detroit is and shareable, 3 slices a piece. Sufficiently cheesy, hot and good taste all around. They have $3 'Douglas' beers that don't hit, but not a bad deal. To start he wanted to get the 'Onion dip' appetizer which was basically seasoned ruffles chips with onion dip. It was alright but I'd skip it next time. The Pizza though is legit. Make Derek your friend too and try this pizza! read more

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Quaint but CRAZY busy pizza joint in Seattle. We got four pizzas to share between 9 people so that we could each try a flavor or two. My favorite was the Sir John, which had sausage, peppers, and fresh mozzarella. Staff were sweet but my only reason for a 3 star rating is that something neeeeds to be done about the line management. We got there around 6:30 pm and were offered a table but would have to wait 2.5 hours. We opted to do takeout, which would also take about 1.5 hours. When we came back to get our pizzas, we overheard them announcing that certain pizzas were sold out and that they had closed their seating line. I wonder if we'd waited the extra time to get seated if we'd have had all the pizza options left Definitely would appreciate a better system, like having some sort of reservation or waitlist method in advance! read more

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Love this place! Hidden in a cute little neighborhood, they were actually sold out of their pizza or just not selling it when we went at 12:30PM. We instead tried two of their focaccia sandwiches which blew us away, almost on par with Hushy's in our opinion. It's nice that you can get a half instead of a full too, since they're pretty big. Lovely place but it is on the smaller side. Priced reasonably. Service was friendly and didn't have any problems. Would recommend and go back to try the pizza (which is what they're known for)! read more

My Friend Derek's - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My Friend Derek's, in my opinion serves the best Detroit style pizza in the Seattle area, and in general some of the best pizza in the city as well. I ordered "Derek's Fav" in person at their little spot in Tangletown and it was ready in about 40 minutes. I was highly impressed from the first bite from the light, airy and crunchy crust, a very fresh and bright tomato sauce, a good helping of cheese and cupped pepperoni, and most surprisingly green olives which complimented the pizza perfectly (and that is from someone who doesn't typically like olives on pizza at all). Also to note they make a pretty tasty garlicy ranch which pairs nicely with their pizza. Their pizzas are probably big enough to feed two, but if you're very hungry like I was, it's a very filling serving for one. I will definitely be back to try more of their pies! read more

My Friend Derek's - "Derek's Fav" - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Went on a weekend and tried their sandwich -- it was really good and a great value. I definitely need to go back and try their pizza next time. Just a heads up that they only serve sandwiches on weekends during lunch. Love Tangletown, and parking was easy. Highly recommend! read more

My Friend Derek's - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Taste: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Unfortunately this place is worth the hype. These pizzas were amazing! Be ready to potentially wait a bit for a seat since seating is on the smaller end. Parking in the area may also be a but competitive. The pepperoni is a must try and make sure to look at the seasonal pizza read more

My Friend Derek's - Pepperoni - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Truly delectable. Needed revival post-biking-all-the-way-up-Stoneway-and-beyond, and Vodka Pepp brought me back to life. We did get there maybe at 6ish on a Friday and it was PACKED almost beyond relief. It was a beautiful day and the patio seating was full, the inside was full, and the wait line was full LOL. We didn't bother waiting for a table and just put our name down for a pizza to go, which was still a 50ish minute wait. We walked around the neighborhood and (PROTIP) sat on this tranquil bench outside the bagel shop around the corner to wait. Way better than baking in the sun in the heatwave and you can easily check up the status of your pizza. Vodka Pepp brought- pepperoni cups were delectable, perfect amount of them to go along with sauce. Vodka sauce was truly an amazing pizza sauce choice! Definitely a new favorite for me. One pizza is a great meal for two. Will definitely be getting here early next time. read more

My Friend Derek's - Vodka Pepp - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I really enjoyed my experience here. I stopped by a little after 4pm with my friends. The indoor space is a little on the smaller end, but fortunately they had a table for us. Service was very friendly and welcoming. I decided to order Derek's Fav but without the pepperoni. The pizza was excellent. It had six slices with a generous amount of castelvetrano olives! I particularly enjoyed the sauce, which was so flavorful. The edges of the pizza were crispy. I highly recommend this spot and will definitely come back in the future. read more

My Friend Derek's - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

It's understandable why this place is so well loved. Pizza and salad delish. The pizza is up to the hype! Salty, crunchy, and satisfyingly gooey. Salad was HUGE and flavorful. Service was friendly and prompt. We did have to wait outside for 30-45min because we arrived around 6:30pm on a weeknight after work. Luckily they had outdoor seating in the cold and did have a bowl of candy. Ambiance was fun and cheery. There are limited tables at the location and it was warm and a little loud. I know older folks in my life wouldn't enjoy it but it looked like most people there were millennials and Gen X. Definitely will be back- read more

My Friend Derek's - Vodka marinara pizza - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Upon arriving, the first interesting thing I found out about Derek's is their affinity for Taylor Swift music. It was a noteworthy curated playlist. Probably changes from day to day operations but it definitely set the tone for this outing. Continuing on, after me and my party got seated. My group of 4 decided to order one of every pizza available, so 4 pizzas in total not including the build your own. Which in hindsight was kind of a good strategy because we each got to try 1 slice from each pizza as well as decide which two slices we wanted to take home. Since we didn't know how many slices each pizza was cut into. We assumed it was going to be 4 slices minimum, but luckily each was cut into 6 pieces.We also ordered the Fish-y Caesar salad Fish-y Caesar: kale, anchovy, gold fish crackers, grated cheese This is what I hope Caesar salads taste like when I order them. Big fan of the anchovies on top, the use of kale that kept its structure. Dressing not overly saturating with a bold enough flavor profile. Mind you, I like anchovies so if it's not your thing just push them to the side, but honestly not intrusively fishy/salty to me. PIZZAS (Detroit style) ranked from top to bottom in regards to my preferences. Vodka Pepp: vodka sauce, pepp, red onion, ricotta -I usually gauge a pizza spot based on either their pepperoni pizza, or their margherita pizza. I can say that their vodka pepp passed with flying colors. It was a good ratio of toppings and didn't get monotonous. Btw, I ordered one to go. Talk about self love. Am I right? White Lotus: mushroos, leeks, and more -great vegetarian option. Tons of Umami and depth to the cream sauce on top. I commented that you could take everything they put on this pizza and turn it into a pasta. It would be amazing. Hot fella: braised pork, ají verde, red onion, pineapple -You know I enjoyed this pizza, but a part of it was a little lackluster. Maybe it was because I expecting so much flavor from this due to all the ingredients in it. It just didn't punch me in the face. It was cool though because our server asked us for criticism and prefaced that something is missing that they can't put their finger on it. Please don't let myopinion sway you from trying it though. Derek's Fav: pepp, castelvetranos -you know I also enjoyed this and maybe I ranked it at the bottom because it just had a tough act to follow in comparing it to the vodka pepp. All in all Its a solid pizza and if you like olives, you'd like it even more. Sorry for this extensively long review, but I promise I'm almost done. To wrap up. The experience was great and I don't regret any of the orders. A tip, get there early because the crowd shows up in no time and there is no guarantee they won't sell out later on the day. Lastly, they may quote you an ETA of when the food will be ready, but based off my experience today. The food always came earlier than expected. Anyways happy dining and eat well. read more

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Came by around 3:50PM on a Wednesday to beat the crowd and was first in line! Pizzas took about 30 minutes to be done so definitely plan to spend some time here. Parking was pretty easy and staff was really nice! They're definitely still getting ramped so please be patient! Now for the pizza review! We got one Derek's Fav (pepperoni, castelvetranos, grana) and a Pizza Helper John (italian sausage, mama lils, parm, no red onion). Both were phenomenal! My favorite part was the crunchy crust! Normally I don't eat crust (I know, I know) but this one hit different. 11/10! Can't wait to come back to try more and sit outside in the shaded booths. read more

My Friend Derek's - Top: Pizza Helper John (hot-ish italian sausage, mama lils, parm, no red onion), bottom: Derek's fav (pepp, castelvetranos, grana). - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I can't say enough good things about My Friend Derek's! We were lucky to get a table right away after hearing there is often a wait and indeed by the time we finished our meal there was a long line. I'm gluten free so was happy to hear they still had gluten free dough available for pizzas that day (and it's freshly made!) and it was not only amazing dough but one of the best deep dish pizzas I've ever had. We ordered the Vodka Pepp and a seasonal salad to share. Both were delicious and we had plenty of pizza to take home as leftovers for the next day. We liked their wine and beer selections and were very happy with their recommendations based on our tastes. The service was great and we enjoyed the vibe of the small space. We will definitely be back when we're next in Seattle - and I'll be dreaming of their pizza until then! read more

Wow, what an awesome meal! The wife and I were feeling pizza and have heard great things about this spot. In a very cute little neighborhood with easy street parking. We luckily got there early enough to sit at the bar right as we walked in, but given the small dinining area, there was a waitlist. We went with the Hot Hawaiian pizza and the Fall Arugula salad. Both exceeded expectations. The pizza was thick and saucy with incredible dough and toppings. The salad was refreshing and a great appetizer. All washed down with a Mexican Coca Cola. Great vibes in the restaurant itself. Very kind staff. Cool shirts for sale as well. Will get one next time I go! read more

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I had a really uncomfortable and disappointing experience here. I've been here before and was told to seat myself outside, so I did the same today while waiting solo. There were plenty of open spots on the communal bench, so I took a corner seat. A male server greeted me kindly and offered water. Then a different staff member came over and told me there was a waitlist I needed to join. I hadn't been approached while standing around, so I had no idea. I apologized and got on the list, and she told me I could stay seated. I see the staff talking and looking at me from inside and the male server did not bring me water like he said he would. It was so awkward. About 10 minutes later, she came back and abruptly told me I had to get up and move. The whole interaction felt disjointed and uncomfortable especially since she said I could stay, then changed her mind, and did so with a weird held back smile that came off very passive-aggressive. Then three minutes later, I got a text to say my table was ready. It was all so frustrating and unnecessarily awkward. The communication and organization really need improvement. I left feeling embarrassed and unwelcomed, which is unfortunate because I had enjoyed my last visit. They really need to rethink how they manage the waitlist and outdoor seating. Since the waitlist is accessed through a QR code, maybe post that somewhere more visible? read more

How I heard of this place: Neighborhood friends recommended this off-the-beaten-path, in-home pizza shop that claims to have Seattle's best pizza. We were so curious, we couldn't pass it up. Type of cuisine: Detroit style pizza, served in a rectangular box. Limited toppings. Limited sides. Ambiance: Given that Derek's home is the venue, the space is quite large and welcoming. Enter at the ground floor corner of what appears to be an apartment, and you're greeted with a couch immediately to your right, a very large, square-shaped (two large rectangles) table in the center, and your boxes of pizza waiting for you at the bottom right corner at your designated pick-up time. Beyond this expansive table, Derek works in the kitchen, behind stacks and stacks of boxes and offset baking pans full of pizza dough at the ready. He's quiet and minds his business while he works. A set of stairs to the far right and leading up over the kitchen area, may lead to a loft style bedroom, flowing curtains covering the view. What I ordered: We selected two pepperoni pizzas, one with mushrooms & black olives as well, and one with red onion atop. What I loved: I loved the strange and conspicuous experience of finding street parking and randomly walking up to a stranger's home to pick up pizza. Why I loved it: The pizza was, in fact, excellent. The flavors, the dough, the melty goodness. We all loved it! And it was SO abundant and satisfying that we easily had a second meal of it the following day. Cost: High ($39 per pizza, plus tax & tip) read more

Derek does it again! We dropped in on a Wednesday night at around 5:30. Still available seating indoors, though it filled up within 15 min of our arrival. Service was casual and friendly, we got big spritz's with Derek's favorite (Amante) and they were sizable and tasty. The ceaser salad was a great warm up as well while we awaited our pizza. We got Derek's fave, I'm not usually an olive person but this pizza totally changed my mind, they weren't too briney and paired perfectly with the pepperoni and heaviness of the pizza. A winner! read more

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This is hands down one of the best pizzas I've ever had. I have relatives in Michigan and Illinois and this blows those states out of the water! The sauce is so flavorful. The pepperoni is generous and tasty. The sausage pairs well. But the edges of the pizza. That crust. It's magical. Better than grilled cheese that crisps up on the press. read more

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Ordered a pepperoni and jalapeño pizza. Had to order it for pick up to avoid the waitlist. Also ordered the green on green on green. Pizza was pretty good. Good ingredients used. Cheese pull was amazing. Pepperoni was light and we liked it. The marinara used was good too: it was well balanced. A little on the slight slight sweet side but well balanced! I preferred the middle (and I'm a crust person) bc the crust was too salty. Noticeably saltier than the rest of the pizza so sort of ended the great pizza experience into a mediocre experience at the end. Also, the crust was too burnt on top of it being too salty. The salad was good. I think the chili crisp is a good touch. Would add more cucumbers rather than the shavings as the oils and crisp overpowers the cucumber and makes it limper than it needs to be. Maybe thicker slices? Ranch was more dill than garlic but pretty solid overall. Nice service with friendly staff. Wouldn't wait super long for this meal but worth picking up and just happily eating it in my car. read more

Wow! I couldn't beleive the chewiness and consistency of the dough. I tried 4 pies and the flavor profile on each one was so balanced. I honestly could just eat the dough plain it was this good. It reminded me of a focaccia that London Plains once made. The sauce was also a standout in the pies. I like deconstructing my pizza in my mind. As I took each bite I could taste so many flavors that all came together. Their pepperoni pizza was really delicious and the pizza with olives had a nice kick to it with some chili flakes. Really good pizza spot to keep Seattle on its toes and I was born in Rome. read more

I tried several times to order a pizza online without success. On weekends they sellout time slots for placing an order. Finally Derek himself responded to my email request for help and we were able to order for pickup at 5:45 on a Wednesday. Arriving at the restaurant, which is hidden by outside street side eating area, we found the place already packed. Our pizza was ready. Sausages, mushrooms and red onion. It smelled fantastic on the ride home. And it was delicious. It's not a very large pizza. $32 with tip. My wife would have liked more sausage. Still very tasty. I will return. I highly recommend you try My Friend Derek's. read more

Visited on Friday night and had to wait for 30 mins before getting seated. It was well worth it though. We ordered the Vodka Pepp, which came with crispy edges that tasted like nicely charred cheese. The dough itself was kinda like focaccia in texture, pillowy and chewy. I'd come back in a heartbeat! read more

My Friend Derek's - Vodka Pepp - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Even though this was only my second time at Derek's, it was fantastic again. The first time I was there, I had a couple of glasses of red wine and Derek's favorite pizza, which was pepperoni and green olives. That pie was amazing, and then the pie I had this evening with pepperoni was equally amazing. They also have a great beer and wine selection. Even though this is not a large space, there seem to be enough tables to keep the customers happy. There are tables inside as well as a bar at the kitchen and then a bar at the space between indoors and outdoors. Also, there are the tables outside undercover pergolas. The service is definitely worth mentioning as well. The staff is friendly, helpful, funny, kind, and caring, and that is of course Derek; was just one of the nicest people I've ever met. I would highly recommend Derek's if you want a terrific Detroit style deep dish pizza with an amazing caramelized crust. I've committed to becoming a regular. : ) read more

My new favorite Detroit-style pizza in town. The place was buzzing early on a recent Friday evening, but somehow got a table for 2 with no wait. The vibe inside is nicer than I'd expected (apparently the space used to be an Ethan Stowell joint), with light wood and an open kitchen. The pizza itself was excellent, crust that had a pillowy interior and a nice, crispy, motor city exterior. The tomato sauce stood out to me as particularly sweet and delicious as well. We enjoyed both of our pizzas: Derek's Fav, with crispy peoperoni cups and green olives and a seasonal asperagus pie with lemon, ricotta, and black garlic. We ordered a salad, which was decent, but not as good as the salad I recently had at Tivoli. But that's not the reason you're here. Overall, great addition to the Seattle pizza scene. read more

Food was really tasty and came out fresh! It also didn't take too long despite ordering three pizzas. I would say the salads are quite small. There wasn't a lot of seating so had to sit outside in the cold which also made the food go cold pretty quickly. read more

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