Davenport’s Pizza Palace

My wife and I took a little daytrip to Birmingham to visit some bookstores, the museum, and just spend the day together. For lunch I wanted to go back to Davenport’s since I hadn’t been in many years and remembered their pizza was really good. It was very noisy when we got there, but the pizza was still pretty good, even if it was brought to the table by a rather surly young lady. Then it got a whole lot worse. The place was full of families with groups of kids with apparently no interest in controlling all of their screaming brats. Children were literally screaming at the tops of their lungs, and neither the parents or the management showed any concern for the remaining restaurant-​full of non-​screaming, paying customers trying to enjoy a meal. At the register, my wife tried to talk to the older man behind the counter about the issue, and his response was something to the effect of «you have to expect a certain type of atmosphere at Davenport’s.» My wife said that she certainly didn’t expect that children would be allowed to just sit and scream, and he said that «yeah, it’s amazing to me that parents just let their kids behave any way they want,» like it’s not something the owners/​managers couldn’t control. I guess we didn’t see the «Chuck E Cheese» franchise sign when we came in. Suffice it to say that we won’t be going back. I give two stars only for the food. The atmosphere is a big zero.

Ok… let me start by saying that I am Italian and I like to think that I know a thing or two about good pizzas. Davenports pizza is such a treat!
We had the meat lovers pizza and the meat was so fresh and great quality! The cut their pizzas in little squares which is so rare! it makes for great sharing if you are with a group of people!
We split the large and I thought it would not be enough from my friend and I… There still may be leftovers in my fridge somewhere!
The interior décor isn’t that great but don’t let that fool you, the pizza here is great!

This is a good pizza place. I ordered a sausage pie. The sausage, cheese and sauce were great. The crust tasted good but reminded me of cardboard. I would give this place four starts but service was scarce we had to ask for our server three times before she brought our refills. Love the old arcade games. Definitely will return and order a specialty pie.

Davenports is one of my comfort foods. I love their thin pizza. I think it is best plain or with mushrooms. Too many toppings makes it too heavy and some of the meats will make it too greasy. But anyway you have it it is delicious! Just as good reheated for left overs!

Consistently awesome pizza. I get the Jim Special every time. Love Davenport’s! That’s all I have to say.

Love the ambience and the pizza! My first experience here was via a work night project where one of my teammates brought pizza from here for us to snack on. I loved it and decided to check out the restaurant itself with my date.
The ambience is a mixture of neighborhood friends, romance (depends on where you sit) and family fun. Kids can check out the staff prepare the pizzas. It’s noisy and bustling but that adds to the charm.
Our pizza is always delicious and the little square slices add to the coolness of the place. I think you can order it regularly sliced but why bother? The little squares are uniquely Davenport ‘s. You can get regular slices anywhere .
If you’ve never been, shame on you. You just don’t know what you’re missing!

Always a great go to when I’m in Birmingham. Nothing fancy, just great pizza. Nice place for kids to play as well.

We got Davenport’s for dinner to-​go last night and, while the pizza was pretty tasty, had a few complaints.
First, getting the pizza in the first place was a pain. There was a crowd of middle aged men standing around the door (both inside and outside of the restaurant) drinking beer and being belligerent. Not Davenport’s fault but be prepared if you come here; it’s not a place for date night.
For 1 small and 1 medium pizza we ended up paying $ 35. Not completely unreasonable if the pizza was really as good as everyone here claims it is.
Unfortunately, it’s really not that good. I’m amazed this place has such high reviews, honestly. It’s better than delivery but not nearly as good as Post Office Pies, Bottega Café, Bettola, or even Rocky’s (all of which are at this same price point or even cheaper).
Whoever cut both of our pizzas did a terrible job; they barely sliced through the cheese and didn’t even touch the crust. The vegetables were clearly frozen and the mushrooms were out of a can. Considering how few options for toppings were even offered, this is embarrassing.
If you’re going to drop decent money on pizza in Birmingham, do it somewhere else.

They hit it out of the park this is some of the best pizza I’ve had. The place is busy that tells you something. Well worth the wait don’t miss this place if you are in the area. This place should be on Triple Ds list of places
Mike

I’m giving this one star to balance all the bullshit reviews about how great this place is. At most it deserves 2. First off, We ordered two salads and a large pizza. The phone quoted total was $ 37. Which seemed high but, whatever. Then I got there to pick it up (not under warmer but lukewarm on the counter. It must have been done earlier than estimated. So then, the total came to 43.80. A $ 6 increase for no reason? The poor, slow girl behind the counter couldn’t explain. Fuck it. $ 43. Fine. It’s great pizza right? And great salads? Everyone is raving about it after all. Nope. Rotting Iceberg core with one olive and one pepper. Carrots. Low quality dressing served in packets.
The pizza? Clearly frozen crust, sparse ingredients, not cut fully.
Worst experience with a 4 star pizza place, literally ever. Ugh. Wish I’d saved that $ 40 and eaten anything else.

I have been coming to this restaurant since 1984, but never again. After being seated for my sister in laws birthday party. The manager came out and told me that I couldn’t sit where the waitress just seated us. So they stuck me and my 2 yr old daughter in a booth by ourselves. I was obviously upset with the situation and the way I was talk to (considering that I had come there to visit with my family). I told him that I was not coming back, and he said that’s fine if that is your decision. Great customer service! Seat somebody with the family and then move themselves. It’s just pizza! I will go to mafiaosas where they treat customers respectfully. Never seen this manager, been coming here for lunch and dinner for 31 years. Just found out his name is Brent. No apology from him. He doesn’t care if my family of 12 ever come back.

My husband and I checked out Davenports on a day where we were both having a major pizza craving. We got the Davenport’s Special (I think that’s what it was called). I was a little shocked when it came out cut into little squares. I will definitely try the pie cut next time! The pizza was hot and the ingredients were okay. It was obvious that the mushrooms were canned, and I would have liked to have more cheese than toppings, but I know that’s a personal preference and others will like that. We got the smallest size and had enough to take home. It was extremely affordable and a classic pizzeria atmosphere. He and I will definitely go back!

Wow! This place is fantastic. Pizza is just the way I like it. Greasy, paperthin and tasty. Probably deserves a 4.5 star rating. Staff was very friendly as well. Only downside to me is that they don’t deliver.

Great pizza! I am in on business from out of state and wanted to try a local place. Service was very friendly and attentive. Pizza was prepared well and tasted great at a very reasonable price. I would recommend.

Never disappointing.
Had a bad experience trying lunch at a new spot so we left without eating.
Made it to old faithful Davenports and felt at home. Love this place!

Outstanding pizza! There’s a reason they have been around for over 50 years.

It reminds me of the pizza you used to get in middle school. Not in a nostalgic way.
They use canned vegetables. Canned mushrooms. They put the vegetables underneath the cheese, which means the cheese doesn’t stick to the pieces.
Papa John’s is better pizza.

This place is great! Homemade pizza at its finest! The crust is super thin and crunchy, which is nothing short of amazing and the toppings are fresh and cooked to perfection! We ordered a veggie pizza with like 5 toppings per side, and the pizza was cooked perfectly! It wasn’t raw in the middle and the pizza was crunchy!
I’ve read a lot of reviews that advise to get the «pie cut,» which is the traditional triangle slices, but I honestly don’t think it’s necessary. I heard the pie cut has a thicker crust, so if you aren’t a fan of thin crust then you may like this better. However, the thin crust is beyond amazing!!! Our waitress Lace has been working here for 10 years and is super sweet and attentive! This place is always packed and they even take to go orders, and you can watch them make the pizzas while you wait for your table!!! New favorite pizza place!!!

It is interesting, my first reaction at my first pizza there was… widely disappointed. Not because the pizza wasn’t good, but it was bcz it was too different from the others!
Considering that the place is close by home, I ended up there SO many times, and every time I went back their pizza started to taste better and better.
The trick was… customization!
First of the first of all, DO NOT let them cut the pizza in their default «puzzle cut».
Yes, for some reason they believe that pizza has to be but in 2×2 [inch²] chops, that make the pizza look and taste terrible. I would define that cut style «pizza mutilation»!
Fix this by ASKING for a «PIE CUT»! This is a strict requirement
Second, try to get there on Mondays or Tuesdays when they offer a discount on their large pizzas, and get the base with an addiction of olives and mushrooms.
That’s my personal favorite, and I invite you to try this combination.
Third, ASK for the PIE CUT!
Be aware that their plates are tiny. I mean, tiny! They dimensioned their plates to their «flake» sized pizza chomps, but try not to get too upset about it.
Service is great. Beer selection is good enough and they are all good.
Great place, great location, good pizza, but remember to ask for the pie cut!
Great for take away too

I love how polite and friendly the staff is here. When you enter the restaurant, you get a full-​on clear view of their tiny kitchen to your right. I decided to be a creeper and watch them the entire time as they made pizza.
I don’t like comparing in a review but I just have to. If Devinci’s pizza was the kbest oozing piece of layered cheesy goodness, Davenport’s is the skinny, soggy, and floppy equivalent. If I wanted to be fat and lardy with a smile on my face, I’d go to Devinci’s but if I were to make any futile attempts at dieting, Davenport’s would be the place. Their pizza is more on the salty side but it’s exactly what I was looking for and it definitely hits the spot.
I love that they cut their pizza in squares. One of the guys in the kitchen made fun of me for instagram-​ing my pizza in front of them. Of course I had to!
Refrigerator Test: After a few days, the pizza gets a little stiffer. However, everything is still soft and cheesy.