Got the Munchies? Blast Off to Planet Pizza in Downtown Orlando

Ask most people in the downtown area of Orlando where they go for a slice of heaven, and you will hear the name Planet Pizza. Located on the corner of Washington and Orange Ave, this small, unassuming pizza place is in the heart of downtown. Walking distance from most of the major downtown companies, Planet pizza draws a respectable lunch crowd, but the real action happens after dark. Planet Pizza is most notably known by late-night bar and club goes -- it is open late, has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, and is the ideal comfort food for young hipsters looking to fill up and sober up.

The decor is nothing flashy or fancy. Peeling wallpaper, a less than sparkling bathroom, shaky tables -- yet I've never seen anyone complain. The employees are genuine and humorous, often cracking jokes or (good natured) yelling at each other between warming your slice. Speaking of the pizza, it is fantastic. Although you can order an entire pizza, the bulk of their late night business comes from pizza by the slice. For anywhere around $3 (or a bit more depending on your toppings and type of pizza) you will get a hot, gooey, huge slice of handmade goodness that rivals any competitors and puts the chain pizza delivery shops to shame.

The crust is hand-tossed, the toppings are always fresh, the cheese melted and just slightly golden to perfection, and the sauce tastes like homemade (whether it is or not!) Although pizza by the slice is the most popular option by folks winding down after a night on the town, Planet Pizza offers other classic options for those seeking a heftier meal -- calzones, stromboli, garlic bread, and sausage rolls also meet Planet Pizza's standards of excellent Italian American fare.

This lunch-time treat, take-out treasure, and late-night nosh is everything you want and expect from a small-town, authentic, hole-in-the-wall pizza joint with the convenience of a central downtown location -- great pizza, huge slices, old-school jars of shaker cheese, garlic, and crushed pepper on the tables, and a lively staff. The patrons are even friendly to each other, talking and laughing as they wait for their slices to come out of the hot oven. The energy is electric, sometimes hectic, with so much going on at once -- but it is a good kind of hectic, like a big family dinner. The next time you are in Orlando, or even if you are local that hasn't stumbled across this gem yet, check out Planet Pizza -- I bet you won't stop at one slice!