Droptop Pizza is the new kid on the block of downtown restaurants in Saline. The restaurant, which is co-owned by Jason Branham and Joe Maino, moved into the space formerly occupied by Smokehouse 52 at Michigan Avenue, with a grand opening in October. It instantly created buzz in the community, with gushing online reviews and recommendations from happy patrons.
As locals, we tried to visit the restaurant on two occasions, but the long wait and line out the door had us putting it off for another day. A busy restaurant is a sign of something good. We persisted.
We finally had our opportunity on a recent Friday night, arriving early (before 6) only to find there was still a wait. We put our name in with the hostess and huddled with others by the door. But thankfully, co-owner Jason Branham announced an opening for two at the bar, and we snagged it.
Our server, Melissa, was friendly and attentive. She explained the drink options and took our orders while we perused the menu. The bar offers red, rose and white sangria, as well as a rotating seasonal sangria. The seasonal Blood Orange sangria was very good, with a nice balance of fruity flavors and wine.
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Droptop Pizza has made a name for itself with three popular menu items: Detroit-style pizzas, smash burgers and shakes. We decided that this night would be our pizza night. We ordered the Mushrooms Are Fun.gi pizza and the Queen Margherita pizza.
Our pizzas came quickly, and they were delicious.
The Queen Margherita pizza featured a pesto drizzle, with a perfectly crispy-edged and chewy crust.
Owner Branham checked on us, and informed us that the fresh mozzarella featured on the Queen Margherita pizza was house-made.
As wonderful as the Queen Margherita pizza was, the Mushrooms Are Fun.gi pizza was even better. The combination of mushrooms, caramelized onions, and feta is brightened with a surprising lemon zest. The topping of micro greens and Parmesan cream took it over the top.
Our neighbors at the bar had ordered the chicken smash burger specials and informed us that they were amazing. They had previously been to the restaurant to sample the pizzas and made a vow to come back for the burgers. They recommended asking for the special lemon aioli seasoning on the waffle fries.
Melissa, our server, asked if we’d saved room for dessert. Yes, please! She informed us that the shakes were special, noting that the vanilla ice cream came from Calder Dairy. It was hard to pick which one to try, but we decided to share the Mackinac Island Fudge. With chunks of chocolate fudge and a swirled hot fudge sauce, it was the perfect ending to a delicious dinner. Every shake has a recommended boozy pairing to turn the dessert into a nightcap.
I have to confess. I am not a person that eats pizza frequently because, well, carbs. Could I eat pizza every day? Absolutely. Should I eat pizza every day? Probably not. When I do eat pizza, though, I want it to be special. And Droptop Pizza is special. This will definitely be a new favorite in our family’s restaurant rotation.
Droptop Pizza. 107 W.Michigan Ave., Saline. Open Mon.-Wed., 4-9pm, Thurs.-Sat., 4-10pm. Closed Sunday. 734-460-1345.
