Good Enough to Eat Again

Detroit-style Chain Jet's Pizza Delivers a surprisingly good slice

Jet’s Pizza launched in 1978 in Michigan, copying a style pan pizzas cooked up in bars and taverns around Detroit. Eugene Jetts and his brother John built the first shop in a former party store in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Jett’s began franchising in 1990, growing steadily to the 425 locations today. The chain earned something of a cult following in the midwest, but that’s never been a ringing endorsement of a pizza for folks from the East coast.

Public perception of Detroit-style pizza changed in 2012 though when pizza maker Shawn Randazzo became the 2012 World Champion Pizza Maker at Pizza Expo. He helped popularize the Detroit Square as a distinct style, crafting an image of authenticity. And that’s when New York City started seeing the motor city’s signature style popping up.

The first Jet’s Pizza only arrived in New York City in 2019, opening first in Chelsea. Brooklyn’s first location arrived three years later, which is how I ended up tasting this little guy.

I had been out at a friends birthday drinking a few beers and headed home toward the subway when I came across the Jet’s Pizza on Flatbush Avenue. This was basically the optimal conditions to get me into Jet’s — the local pizzerias were closed, I was a bit buzzed, and definitely hungry. It was close enough to closing time that there wasn’t that much pizza remaining, but I snagged this pepperoni slice, and to my surprised, I liked it.

It was greasy, salty, and little crunchy. It sort of reminded me of elementary school cafeteria pizza, but in a nostalgic kind of way. I don’t think it was a great slice, but it was absolutely perfect at 1 am.

Pizza should be contextualized. I would absolutely prefer a great slice of pie from a local shop, but the reality is that late night you might not get a great slice, and Jet’s Pizza served up something that was hot and tasty right when I needed it. Context matters, and I would definitely eat this slice again.

Jet’s Pizza

• 305 Flatbush Ave

• Brooklyn, NY 11217