Detroit-style pizza should not work this far south. The rectangular pan, the cheese that caramelizes against the edges, the sauce pooled across the top like it has somewhere better to be, none of it belongs in a state that runs on gumbo.
Yet here I sat, pulling a slice from a tray that looked like it came straight out of a Midwestern kitchen, plus I could not stop eating.
The crust had that thick, airy chew you only get from a proper pan bake, while the cheese formed a blackened lace along the edges that I kept peeling off and eating separately.
My server said they do not even try to localize it, they just follow the Detroit playbook and trust the results. Adopting another region’s pizza without apologizing tells you how seriously Louisiana takes food, plus the fact that it works so well proves confidence beats tradition every time.
Start With The Signature Detroit-Style Dough
The crust may look heavy at first, but its airy center tells a different story. Reginelli’s uses a thick, double-proofed dough for its Detroit-style pan pizza, creating a sturdy base with a tender interior and a crisp underside.
Pay attention to the side of the first slice before taking a bite. Small air pockets reveal how the dough rose, while the browned bottom shows what the hot pan accomplished.
That contrast gives the pizza substance without making every mouthful feel dense.
For the clearest taste, begin near the center and work toward the edge. The middle highlights the chew and softness; the outer section adds toasted cheese and extra crunch.
Eating it in that order makes the changing texture easier to notice. A slice is filling, so pause before ordering more, especially during a quick Lakeside shopping break.
Veterans Boulevard Leads Straight To The Food Court
Reginelli’s Pizzeria sits inside Lakeside Shopping Center at 3301 Veterans Boulevard, Suite 78H, in Metairie, Louisiana. Veterans Memorial Boulevard brings you directly to the mall, which stands at the Causeway Boulevard intersection.
Once on the property, aim for the food court side of Lakeside rather than circling the entire shopping center. Reginelli’s is inside the food court next to Smoothie King, making that section of the mall the most useful target for the final approach.
For the shortest walk, use the JCPenney parking garage, which Lakeside specifically recommends for Reginelli’s because it is located by the food court. Park there, enter the mall from that side, and continue into the food court to reach Suite 78H.
Save A Crispy Brick Cheese Edge
That dark, craggy border is not a burnt mistake. Brick cheese melts against the pan while the pizza bakes, forming a caramelized rim that tastes saltier, toastier, and more intense than the softer cheese across the top.
Corner pieces offer the greatest amount of this prized edge, making them a smart pick when slices are available. An inside piece still provides the fluffy dough and toppings, but it cannot deliver quite the same crackle.
If sharing a whole pie, decide early how the corners will be divided.
Let a hot slice rest briefly before biting the rim because melted cheese can hold surprising heat. Waiting also allows the crisp border to firm slightly instead of pulling away at once.
Pair each crunchy edge bite with some tender center crust for balance. The contrast is the signature pleasure here, part pizza and part savory cheese crisp.
Notice Why The Sauce Sits On Top
Bright red sauce appearing above the cheese can seem backward if round pizza is your usual order. For Detroit-style pizza, however, that placement is an important part of the design rather than a kitchen mix-up.
Adding the blended marinara over the cheese helps keep tomato flavor clear and lively. It also limits how much moisture reaches the thick dough, allowing the crust to retain its structure and crisp bottom.
Rich cheese, savory toppings, and fresh-tasting sauce arrive in separate waves instead of blending into one uniform layer.
Try one bite that includes a visible patch of sauce, followed by a bite from a cheesier section. The first should taste brighter, while the next emphasizes dairy and toasted edges.
Anyone who enjoys extra tomato flavor can ask what sauce options are currently offered, but tasting the standard build first provides the best introduction to Reginelli’s approach.
Look For The Pepperoni Cups
Little pepperoni cups make the surface look almost like a field of tiny bowls. Heat curls their edges upward, creating crisp rims while the centers hold flavorful rendered juices.
Texture makes them especially effective on a thick pan pizza. The crunchy lip echoes the browned cheese border, while the softer center matches the tender crumb beneath it.
Their concentrated savory flavor also stands up well against bright marinara and a substantial layer of cheese.
Choose a slice where the pepperoni appears evenly spread, since every bite will have better balance. Blotting the cups removes some richness, although it also takes away part of their characteristic flavor, so taste one first.
A knife and fork can help with the opening bites when the slice is extremely hot. Once it cools enough to hold, eating by hand makes the crisp bottom easier to appreciate.
Give The Pizza A Brief Rest
Fresh pan pizza carries heat like a small brick oven, especially beneath its cheese and sauce. Waiting a few minutes protects your mouth and gives the slice time to settle without sacrificing the pleasure of a warm meal.
Resting has a useful texture benefit too. Melted cheese firms enough to stay attached, toppings become less likely to slide, and the bottom crust keeps its crisp character when lifted from the tray.
The aroma remains plenty inviting while patience does its quiet work.
Use the pause to gather napkins, find a table, and check that the order matches what you requested. At a shopping center location, that small bit of organization prevents a rushed first bite among bags and packages.
Avoid sealing a very hot takeout pizza for longer than necessary, since trapped steam can soften the crust. Reheating later works best with dry heat rather than a microwave.
Try The Pepperoni And Sausage Pairing
Serious hunger calls for a topping combination with a little more muscle. Reginelli’s pepperoni and sausage Detroit-style pizza joins curled pepperoni with crumbled sausage, giving the thick crust enough bold flavor to match its size.
Pepperoni contributes crisp edges and concentrated savoriness, while sausage adds a softer crumble and another layer of seasoning. Marinara placed above the cheese supplies needed brightness, preventing the meat and caramelized rim from tasting flat or overly rich.
Order this version when sharing with diners who prefer familiar toppings but still want to explore a different pizza style. Because the slices are substantial, begin with one before deciding whether another is necessary.
A plain side or simple vegetable accompaniment can make the meal feel more balanced if those options are available. For takeout, keep the box level while crossing the shopping center so the sauce and toppings remain where the kitchen placed them.
Explore The Ricotta And Pesto Option
Creamy ricotta changes the mood of this square pizza without hiding its crisp foundation. Reginelli’s ricotta Detroit-style version combines ricotta, Kalamata olives, roasted tomatoes, house-made pesto, and honey for a layered alternative to the meat-topped choices.
Each ingredient plays a separate role. Olives bring briny depth, roasted tomatoes add sweetness, pesto supplies herbal flavor, and ricotta softens the sharper notes.
Honey provides another sweet accent, so the overall result moves between salty, creamy, tangy, and gently sweet.
This option suits diners who like contrast more than straightforward heat or meatiness. Spread a little ricotta across the crust with each bite instead of eating an entire dollop at once.
That simple move distributes the creaminess and keeps the olives from dominating. Menu availability can change, so confirm the current build at the counter, particularly if an ingredient matters because of preference or dietary needs.
Study What The Industrial Pan Does
The rectangular pan does more than give the pizza its tidy geometry. Its hot surface supports the thick dough, crisps the underside, and creates direct contact where cheese meets metal along the sides.
That contact explains the deeply browned perimeter that makes Detroit-style pizza easy to recognize. Even heat also helps the double-proofed dough rise into a tall, airy base rather than spreading into a thin disk.
Shape, texture, and flavor all trace back to the baking vessel.
Turn a slice slightly and inspect the bottom before eating. A properly crisp base should look evenly browned and feel firm enough to support the toppings.
Corner slices reveal the pan’s influence most clearly because two edges receive caramelized cheese. If taking pizza home from Lakeside, reheat it on a preheated sheet pan or in a skillet to restore that lower crunch without drying the soft center.
Ask About Pizza By The Slice
A whole pan is not required when curiosity is bigger than appetite. The Lakeside location has offered Detroit-style pizza by the slice, making the format approachable during lunch, an errand break, or a quick snack between stores.
Ask which varieties are available before choosing, since slice selection can depend on the day and current service. A corner piece brings two caramelized edges, an outer piece offers one, and an interior cut puts greater focus on soft dough, cheese, and sauce.
None is wrong, but they produce noticeably different experiences.
Ordering one slice first is also a practical way to judge portion size. Detroit-style crust is thicker and more filling than a typical thin wedge, so appearances can mislead.
If freshness and maximum crispness are priorities, ask when the displayed pizza was baked or whether a fresh option is coming soon. A short wait may reward you with stronger texture.
Use The Casual Setting Wisely
Shopping centers rarely encourage slow meals, yet a thick pan slice deserves more attention than a hurried bite while walking. Reginelli’s Lakeside location provides a casual setting where diners can sit, reset, and let the pizza cool to a comfortable temperature.
Choose a table with enough room for the tray, napkins, and shopping bags. Keeping purchases off the eating surface makes the meal calmer and protects them from sauce or cheese.
Families may find it easier to divide a full pizza after everyone is seated rather than juggling slices near the counter.
The restaurant is located at 3301 Veterans Boulevard, Suite 78H, inside Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie. Check the shopping center directory and current business hours before making a special trip, as access and schedules may change.
Calling the listed restaurant number, (504) 313-3240, can also help confirm menu availability, takeout timing, or slice choices.
Appreciate The Local Pizzeria Pedigree
Behind the Lakeside counter sits a Louisiana pizza story that began well before this shopping center location. Darryl Reginelli and Bruce Erhardt opened the first Reginelli’s in New Orleans in 1996, building the company around specialty pizzas and a casual dining style.
Pizza Today Magazine named Reginelli’s Independent Pizzeria of the Year in 2007. That recognition predates the Lakeside shop, yet it provides useful context for a menu willing to move beyond standard round pies and explore a Detroit-style format.
History alone cannot determine what lands on your tray, so focus on the details in front of you: an airy interior, a crisp base, caramelized cheese, and balanced toppings. Those signs say more about the immediate slice than an old award.
Still, knowing the background makes this Metairie stop feel less like an anonymous mall counter and more like another chapter in a long-running local business.