Newest Pizzeria in Rochester Hills Was Inspired By Detroit's Eastern Market

Fresh, New York-style thin crust pizza has arrived on the western side of Rochester Hills, and it has a distinct Eastern Market flair.

112 Pizzeria Bistro, located in the Adams Marketplace Plaza between Meijer and Walmart, may have opened only months ago, but owner Jimmy Younan has been experimenting with pizza for seven years.

"I was inspired by a guy at Eastern Market," Younan said. "I consider him one of the greatest pizzamakers around."

After perfecting his dough, Younan, "a lifelong food-service guy," looked for a place to open his pizzeria, named for his son's birthday, January 12. 

This area of Rochester Hills and, specifically, Adams Marketplace Plaza appealed to Younan because it is still developing, is anchored by two national franchises and is close to home. 

In June, Younan and his business partner and sister-in-law, Katie Corrington, opened the doors.

May I introduce you to Bugsy Siegel?

The menu at 112 Pizzeria is not huge, but it's rather brilliant in its focus. It offers pizza — build-your-own New York-style and six specialties — three pasta dishes, one salad and cheesy breadsticks. 

Pizzas come in two sizes, 12-inch and 18-inch, or you can buy by the slice. Slices are offered in cheese ($2.25), pepperoni ($2.75) or the slice of the day ($3.25).

On the day I dined at 112 Pizzeria, the Bugsy Siegel was the slice of the day. Bugsy has garlic, mozzarella, havarti, slow-baked ham, cherry peppers and fresh basil. It was fantastic. It's really that slow-baked ham that sets it apart — that and the sweet, soft cloves of garlic. 

While the slices were plenty big, we decided to split the house salad also. The house salad is fresh mixed greens with red onion, cherry tomato, red cabbage, feta cheese and kalamata olives. You can top the salad with your choice of the house garlic and parmesan or buttermilk ranch dressing.

The salad is $5, and even split between two, we could not quite finish it all. It was certainly not for a lack of trying: the garlic and parmesan dressing is spectacular. (I might have been willing to eat my Patch notepad if it was topped with this dressing.)

St. Aubin and the other Eastern Market connection

Younan's favorite pie on the menu is the St. Aubin. It's one of the three specialty pizzas with sauce, and it's topped with fresh and regular mozzarella, pepperoni, Italian sausage and parmigiana. A 12-inch is $12 and the 18-inch is $17.50.

St. Aubin is named for the street in Eastern Market where Detroit Sausage Company is located. The sausage company provides Younan with the meat for its namesake pie.

The Corrington was named after its creator, sister-in-law and partner Katie, and is topped with mozzarella, pepperoni and fresh basil then drizzled with black truffle oil. It is $11.50 for a 12-inch and $17 for an 18-inch.

(Bugsy, if you're curious, got its name on a whim.)

There are also three specialty pizzas without sauce. I can't wait to return to try the Showstopper. It includes two of my favorite toppings — artichokes and chevre — along with garlic, mozzarella, tomato and basil, then drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. 

Pasta, pasta, pasta

112 Pizzeria also offers three pastas. The fresh pasta is made locally and the sauces — palomino, alfredo and bolognese— are housemade. 

The Tagliatelle alla Bolognese is Younan's favorite and he's still waiting for Rochester Hills to discover it. 

"I'm surprised no one has tapped into this one yet," he said. "It's our take of a documented version from northern Italy."

Perhaps the pizza is just too good?

The Bolognese is $12.50 and the pasta palomino and fettuccine Alfredo are $9 each.

For beverages 112 Pizzeria offers Coca-Cola products and San Pellegrino.

112 Pizzeria Bistro is located at 2528 S. Adams Road in the Adams Marketplace Plaza. It is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. They do deliver after 3 p.m. For questions call 248-289-6164.