If you’re chasing the kind of pizza that keeps people talking for over a century, Racine, Wisconsin has your answer.
Wells Brothers Restaurant — a fourth-generation, family-owned gem tucked into a historic Racine neighborhood — has been serving up its legendary thin-crust pizza since 1921, and it shows absolutely zero signs of slowing down. 🍕
With a loyal following of locals and food pilgrims alike who make the trip just to get a taste, this hole-in-the-wall pizza spot has cemented itself as one of the most beloved independent restaurants in the entire Midwest.
How Wells Brothers Restaurant Won Racine’s Hearts
When James and Dominic Wells opened the doors back in 1921, they built their kitchen around one simple promise — fresh, quality ingredients and recipes that would never be compromised.
Today, every single dish served comes from those same time-honored, generational recipes passed down through four generations of the Wells family, and Racine has never forgotten it.
In 1967, two fires completely destroyed the interior of the restaurant, but the family rebuilt it to the very appearance it holds today — which, coincidentally, only added to the beloved charm that keeps diners coming back. 🔥
Over the years, Wells Brothers racked up some serious hardware: voted Top Pizza in Racine throughout the 1980s, ’90s, and up through 2018, named Top Independent Business in the USA in both the 1990s and 2005, and even ranked #6 pizza in the entire nation.
National media eventually caught up, too — the restaurant was featured on Discover Wisconsin in 2012 and Around the Corner with John McGivern in 2016, introducing this neighborhood treasure to audiences far beyond Racine’s city limits. 📺
The secret weapon? A cracker-thin crust so impossibly crispy it borders on architectural genius — party-cut into squares, loaded with salty, perfectly toasted cheese, and layered over a bold, simmered-down tomato sauce.
The family-owned pizza tradition carried on by current owner Bill Rivers — alongside his daughters, who represent the restaurant’s fourth generation — brings an authenticity to every table that no chain can manufacture.
Food Highlights
- Sausage, Mushroom & Onion Pizza: The go-to combination praised by both locals and out-of-town pizza enthusiasts alike — the house-made sausage, earthy mushrooms, and caramelized onions sit beautifully on that impossibly thin crust. 🌿
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Pepperoni, Onion & Black Olive Pizza: A fan-favorite combination that showcases how well Wells Brothers balances toppings.
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Chicken Spinach Artichoke Pizza: A specialty pie featuring Alfredo sauce, grilled chicken, spinach, artichokes, and mozzarella cheese. 🧀
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The Calabrese Pizza: One of Wells Brothers’ most distinctive specialty pizzas — olive oil base, ricotta cheese, soppressata, figs, and a balsamic drizzle—a sweet-savory combination. 🍷
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The Classic Thin Crust Cheese Pizza: The foundation of the Wells Brothers legend — an ultra-thin, cracker-style crust with a generous layer of sauce and cheese, baked until golden and perfectly crisp.
- Meatlovers Pizza: Loaded with Italian sausage, pepperoni, hamburger, bacon, Canadian bacon, and ham.
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The Brat Pizza: Only in Wisconsin will you find stadium sauce, brat, pickles, sauerkraut, and mozzarella on a pizza, topped with raw onions — a hyper-local specialty. 🧆
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Jalapeño Popper Pizza: Seasoned cream cheese, bacon, jalapeños, and a blend of cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. 🌶️
Atmosphere
Wells Brothers feels less like a restaurant and more like your favorite relative’s dining room — and that is entirely the point. 🏠
The vintage interior, untouched since the brothers rebuilt after the 1967 fires, gives the space a warm, lived-in character that no amount of modern renovation could replicate.
Guests describe it as small, cozy, and always packed, with a bar area uniquely designed for pizza-eating — featuring a two-tiered surface, one level for drinks and one for your pie.
Bottom Line
Wells Brothers is a 100-year-old Racine institution with a legendary thin-crust pizza. Here’s why you need to go:
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Four generations of family ownership and unchanged, award-winning recipes
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Nationally acclaimed thin-crust pizza — one of the best in the Midwest
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Unique specialty pies you won’t find anywhere else (hello, Brat Pizza 🧆)
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A vintage, cozy atmosphere that is authentic and irreplaceable
Address:
2148 Mead St, Racine, WI 53403
📞 (262) 632-4408
🕔 Open Tue-Thurs 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Fri-Sat 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM | Closed Sun-Mon