"Tobin’s has been really popular for a long time. My dad went to ISU in the 1960’s and he remembers it, so clearly they’re doing something right."
- Matt Spialek,
Tobin's customer
The smell of marinara sauce and crispy crust fills the air as you walk in the door. While waiting to be seated you glance around at all the pictures on the walls and at the customers enjoying their food. Your stomach is rumbling, your mouth is watering. Suddenly your gaze becomes interrupted as a smiling face greets you, “Welcome to Tobin’s!”
Located at 1513 N. Main St., just a quick drive from Illinois State University’s campus, is Tobin’s Pizza. If you’ve never been there before and are driving down the street, just look for a big white sign above a blue building that pictures a chubby pizza maker urging you to come in and try his pizza.
Many ISU students have not followed this chubby man’s advice and are unaware of the goodness that is baked into every bite. Too many students choose to dine at Pizza Hut, Papa John’s or even a simple Subway pizza because of the proximity to their dorm or apartment.
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| Anna Christianson, a Tobin's Pizza enthusiast, enjoys a piece of their famous pizza on Saturday night with her friends. (Photo by Rhiannon Jipp / Staff Photographer) |
Fortunately, the community recognizes Tobin’s greatness, as well as critics from all over. Tobin’s Pizza was voted #1 Pizza in McLean County by Business to Business magazine. This isn’t just any ordinary pizza, and this pizza place is definitely not going anywhere anytime soon.
Established in 1963, this restaurant has been going strong in Bloomington for over 40 years. “Tobin’s has been really popular for a long time. My dad went to ISU in the 1960’s and he remembers it, so clearly they’re doing something right,” Matt Spialek said.
J.B. Newmister, coordinator for the College of Business MBA program, also recommends Tobin’s Pizza and says that if you like Chicago pizza, you’d really enjoy Tobin’s pizza too.
One of the more popular pizza choices is Mama Teresa’s Pan Pizza, Hawaiian Delight. So what makes their pizza so different from other pizza places?
“Probably the sauce,” Janea Reed, a waitress at Tobin’s Pizza, said. “It’s the one big difference that stands out from other pizza places. We don’t layer our pan pizza with marinara sauce; we use cooked tomatoes instead.”
Shannon Bolstad, Bloomington area resident, has tried many different creations at Tobin’s and prefers something else on her pizza besides tomatoes.
“Their pizza is delicious and I think adding BBQ to the sauce makes it ten times better. Three generations of my family have really enjoyed their pizza,” Bolstad said.
While customers rave about their pan pizza, Tobin’s does also make a thin crust pizza that customers equally love.
“My favorite dish here would be the thin crust pizza, cheese only,” Reed said.
From cheese to pineapple pan crust to thin crust, Tobin’s offers more than just #1 tasting pizza. They have chicken, pasta, shrimp, salads, sandwiches, meatballs and great garlic bread.
Although their menu won’t break the bank, pulling out a credit card to pay the bill can be embarrassing when the waitress informs customers that Tobin’s Pizza only accepts cash or check. Luckily for those who don’t care cash, an ATM is located in the restaurant.
As customers walk back to their car with the smell of pizza still faint in the distance, they can be satisfied in knowing their money was well spent and they got to eat some good pizza.