Bremen, Indiana is one of those small towns you’ve never heard of that are sprinkled all over the state. If you find yourself there and ask a local what to eat, they’ll probably say, “Try The Wooden Peel.” It’s the town’s cozy pizza joint, and “popular” is an understatement. Locals don’t blink at a long wait for their favorite slice. There’s even a town rumor about something with scales living in the basement.
Award-Winning Pizzas and More
The Wooden Peel was voted best pizza in northern Indiana back in 2015, and it has been a regional favorite ever since. The signature “garbage pizza” is the must-try: sausage, ham, pepperoni, green peppers, mushrooms, and black and green olives piled high. You can also build your own from more than 25 toppings. Not a pizza person? There are sandwiches, salads, and a munchies menu with breaded mushrooms, pickle chips, and stuffed breadsticks.
50 Years in Bremen
John Sullivan opened The Wooden Peel in 1975, and in 2025 current owners Saylor Carrico and Becky Carlson marked the pizzeria’s 50th anniversary in style. They bought the building next door, the former Mean Bean at 110 W Plymouth, and reopened the old archway between the two to expand the dining room. Fifty years in, it’s still very much a hometown place.
Low-Key and Loved
The Wooden Peel keeps that hometown feel. It doesn’t take reservations, so if you call on a weekend, bring some patience. People happily wait for these pizzas, and it wouldn’t be a hidden gem if it weren’t worth the wait.
Plan Your Visit
The Wooden Peel is at 108 W Plymouth Street in Bremen. It’s closed Mondays, open Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check their Facebook page for the latest trivia night, then grab some friends for a pizza and a beer.
A Small-Town Gem Worth the Visit
What’s a small-town institution without a local mystery? Rumor has it there’s an alligator in the basement of the Peel. Guess you’ll have to stop in to find out.
