Great Northern Pizza Kitchens

See Gone, But Not Forgotten

Great Northern Pizza Kitchen was a local pizzeria in Upper Mount Hope. They had an interesting selection of pies, leaning towards more offbeat items like Baked Eggplant & Roasted Red Peppers or Black Bean Taco. Catering also available.

Great Northern used to be a local chain. Brothers Rob and Chris Desino opened their first shop at 1918 Monroe Avenue in Brighton in 1999 under the name Rocky Mountain Pizza Kitchen, with additional locations on Ridge Road in Greece and in the Pittsford Village opening a short time later. Trade mark concerns, which would prevent expansion of the chain, led to the name change. In 2005 the Desino's sold the business to the local franchisee Bruegger's. Several additional rochester area shops would open and the chain would eventually expand to the Buffalo and Syracuse areas, as well. In 2008, they opened a Marketplace Square store in Henrietta, which closed in late 2014. In March 2010 the Pittsford store closed. In December 2013 the Bushnell's Basin store closed. The original location at on Monroe Avenue closed in September 2015. Their remaining location, across the street from College Town and inside Bruegger's, opened on October 13, 2014. This location closed in June 2016, ending the chain for good.

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2008-01-24 22:36:04   I've given this place a shot a couple of times. There's something a little off about the sauce though (too much sugar?) . . .can't put my finger on it. Anyway, good idea, good varieties of toppings but something in the taste is just a little off.

The one thing I can say is that they're not up against particularly strong competition (e.g., Pontillos) —JohnCocktosten

2008-01-25 18:45:39   I agree with John, the sauce is too sweet for my taste. I'm not a big fan of the crust either. When you want a slice of something different, it will do, but I couldn't order a whole pie. —WestSideB

2008-01-25 19:54:16   I'm not a fan of the red sauce at most pizza places, so GN is great because there are so many non-red-sauce options. Potato skin pie, chicken artichoke pesto, buffalo wing, etc. I love the crust, but the breadsticks are the exact same stuff, so they're kind of pointless - they should make them more light and flaky with some parmesan and garlic on top, for some contrast to the heavy basil/oregano crust. It baffles me when people order cheese or pepperoni - I want to grab them and shake them, screaming, "Why are you here? You're missing the point!" —McgMatt

2008-05-16 12:52:35   Some of the best pizza in the Rochester, NY area. LOVE GNP. —MrRochester

2008-05-16 19:25:03   I really love their pizza, for something different. It's gourmet pizza at its finest. The staff have all been very friendly, even delivering out of their way. When I made a kind complaint once, because of a minor mistake, my husband and I received a coupon and a letter from the corporate office! I haven't seen customer service like that in a LONG time! These people really want your business and they work hard to make sure they keep you as a satisfied customer! Kudos to Great Northern! —jramey

2008-07-20 18:50:46   Maybe my memory is failing me - but what happened to Great Northern Pizza?

At Syracuse U, a few of us would drive out to the Fayetteville location. The slices were piled high (I loved the Sauced Up Buffalo, Macaroni and Cheese, and Sky High Meat Pie). Two slices was the most anyone could eat.

On a recent visit to the Twelve Corners location, I only found slices that were flat and small, the sauce was saccharine-sweet, and one slice had a limp, pita-like wheat crust.

It may have been an off-night (I am willing to go back), but I fear my tastes have matured. —ZachSmalt

2008-11-16 17:47:48   I love the variety of pizza slices and their lobster bisque is pretty wonderful too. It's hard to drive by a location and not stop! —RocDiner

2008-11-29 22:50:53   Ever since the founding brothers sold the company, it feels like their recipes have changed. I ate at the Jefferson Road location today and while the service was friendlier and faster than the Ridge Road location ever was (think Starbucks cheery), the Fresh Mozzarella tasted, for lack of a better word, tired. The Saucy Buffalo Chicken was good, but definitely felt toned down from the older recipe. (Or perhaps I've become increasingly desensitized to heat?) The crust was rather uninspired though and good crust is essential to good pizza, in my opinion. —DaveMahon

2008-12-07 20:33:10   Good soup and salad. Pizza is ok. —MrPhil

2009-01-21 20:57:31   We love their Chicken Ceasar Salads...big salads at a good price. —PeteB

2009-06-13 00:44:55   (Comment on Village of Pittsford location) The staff are friendly. The locale is comfortable. The sandwiches are very satisfying. The pizza is at times flawed (their innovations with 'healthy' bread are not welcome). Their soups are inconsistent. Also, I once encountered a strong bacterial odor in the restaurant, which suggests that the staff are not trained in proper sanitary procedures. —Giffen

2009-08-14 17:41:41   I work at a hotel very close to the henrietta location. Often times our guests order pizzas and for every ten times we recommend great northern, they reward us with a complimentary pizza. We just recieved our pizza and lets just say that we did not eat it, will not eat it, and will never recommend Great Northern again. The pizza arrived cold, undercooked and mushy! Not to mention that the pizza looks as if the delivery driver kicked it down Jefferson Rd! It was a huge mess, and the few pieces that we were able to try tasted AWFUL!!!!! DO NOT EAT AT GREAT NORTHERN!!! EVER!!! —cynthiab

2009-08-31 14:47:20   this place is nothing spectacular. just mediocre. —limeylimer

2009-09-06 19:29:06   Over-priced. Some of their food, like the salads and soups, are good. But they are not worth five dollars a slice. —KRDoyle

2010-07-18 13:18:06   If you like eating pure tomato paste, this place is for you! They dont seem to mix their sauce with anything. I think this pizza is complete garbage. —MetalFrost

2010-10-27 00:49:53   Not bad. Don't go here looking for traditional pizza since the fundamentals (crust/sauce/cheese) simply aren't very good, especially for the cost. Some of the specialty slices are pretty good though, if you're in the mood for something different. —SargtGrumbles

2011-05-27 15:44:54   Brighton 12 Corners location has good pizza but very poor customer service, the people there seemed like they don't want to be there and not very friendly to customers.

—JoeBernardino