About Pizza Mike's

The Man Behind the Pizza

Meet Pizza Mike

Michael Evans's love for Italian cooking came very early as he watched his Grandfather, Guiseppe "Joe" Collura, prepare Sunday dinners for their large Sicilian family. Every Sunday, the whole family would gather and Grandpa Joe would cook for hours — the aromas of fresh sauce, hand-stretched dough, and slow-cooked meats filling the house.

That passion never left Mike. He spent years perfecting those same recipes, learning the art of the dough, the balance of the sauce, and the importance of only the freshest ingredients — the same principles that would one day earn him international recognition.

In 1995, Mike opened Michael's Pizza on Maize Road in Columbus, Ohio. By 2003 it had grown into Michael's Italian Kitchen — a full-service restaurant serving the authentic recipes passed down from Grandpa Joe.

2001 — Salsomaggiore, Italy

Best in the USA at the World Pizza Championship

In 2001, Pizza Mike traveled to Salsomaggiore, Italy — the birthplace of pizza — to compete at the World Pizza Championship. Representing the United States, his Signature Pizza "Michael's Traditional" was awarded Best in the USA.

Competing against the world's finest pizzaiolos on their home turf and winning is a testament to the authenticity and quality of Grandpa Joe's recipe — elevated by Mike's own decades of mastery and dedication.

Food Network

The Great Food Truck Race — Season 3

Pizza Mike's competed on Food Network's hit show The Great Food Truck Race, Season 3, hosted by Tyler Florence. The show brought Pizza Mike's authentic Italian recipes to a national audience — and introduced the country to what Columbus, Ohio already knew.

Pizza Mike and his team brought the heat, the heart, and the handmade dough all the way across America.