After the Bell: Mr. Battista Reviews Pepp's March Pizza Lineup

March 5, 2026

From potstickers to Philly cheesesteaks to a St. Paddy's Day Reuben, March at Pepp's Pizzeria in Urbandale has something for everyone.

This month, we're welcoming Mark Battista to the tasting table. Mark is an ELL (English Language Learner) Teacher at Samuelson Elementary School in the Des Moines metro area, and he's currently in his 18th year of teaching.

We sat him down, handed him a plate, and let the pizzas do the talking. Here's what he thought of each one:

Barbecue (BBQ) chicken pizza at Pepp's Pizzeria

PotSticker (Mar. 2-7)

We took everything you love about a potsticker: the savory pork, the crunch, the dipping sauce, and put it all on our 24-hour cold fermented dough. And yes, it absolutely works.

"Very good, I love the crust. The meat is delicious, and the crispiness on top adds a lot. The Alfredo base is something I'm not really used to on pizza, so I enjoy it a lot."

Pro tip from the teacher himself: don't skip the sweet Thai chili dipping sauce. It ties the whole thing together.

Grade:
Grade B
Meatball pizza at Pepp's pizzeria

Philly (Mar. 9-14)

Pepp's took the Philly cheesesteak and figured out how to make it even better. Cheese sauce base, Philly steak, onions, green bell peppers, and a sriracha mayo drizzle on our signature crust.

"Looking delicious, it has lots of cheese, I'm liking all these toppings. I'm giving this one a definite A. I'm a big fan of a Philly, and that one just hit it out of the park. I really like that one."

Grade:
Grade B+
Elote pizza at Pepp's pizzeria

Reuben (Mar. 16-21)

If you're celebrating St. Paddy's Day in Des Moines this year, this is the pizza to pair with it! Garlic butter base, pastrami, saurkraut, drizzled with thousand island sauce, and topped with caraway seeds. It's a deli classic reimagined on our signature Pepp's crust.

"I'm liking that pastrami a lot. And that garlic base really comes out towards the end there. Another solid pizza. I’ll give this one a B+. Something a little unique, but still excellent."

Grade:
Grade A
Thanksgiving pizza at Pepp's Pizzeria

Cuban (Mar. 23-28)

Pulled pork, ham, pickles, and a drizzle of dijon aioli all on a garlic butter base. Pepp's built a Cuban sandwich, then put it on a pizza. Because why not?

"This one is packed with lots of toppings, definitely some that I'm not used to on pizza. It's got pickle on here and some mustard. It's a bit of a different flavor combination for me, but still a really good pizza. If you're a pickle person, you're gonna absolutely love this pizza."

Full disclosure: Mr. Battista is not a pickle guy. If you are, bump that grade up yourself and get in here.

Grade:
Grade A+

🌟 The Gold Star Winner... The Philly Cheesesteak Pizza!

"So I just got done eating some delicious pizza. And after some tough, tough deliberation, the Philly cheesesteak pizza is getting my gold star! The reason I picked the Philly as my #1 was that the amount of cheese on it was great, I loved the toppings on it, and again, the crust here is awesome."

Big cheese, bold toppings, and that Pepp's crust. The Philly earns it.

🍕 Try the March Pizza Specials at Pepp's Pizzeria in Urbandale, Iowa

All four limited-time pizza specials are available this month at Pepp's Pizzeria, located at 4640 86th Street in Urbandale, Iowa. Or explore our full menu and see why we’re a go-to spot for some of the best pizza in Des Moines! Order online and use code 10BATTISTA to get 10% off your order throughout March.

NEW: Monthly Specials Now Available by the Slice!

Big news, Urbandale pizza lovers: Pepp's is now offering monthly specials by the slice! Stop in and try one (or all) of March's pizzas without committing to a full pie. Slices are available in-person only, while supplies last — no call-ahead orders. Each special is still available as a personal or whole pizza too, so you've got options.

Nominate a Teacher You Love!

Huge thanks to Mr. Battista for joining us this month! At Pepp's, we're proud to support local educators across the Des Moines area who show up for their students every single day. Each month, we treat one deserving teacher to a FREE pizza party.

Help us choose the next winner — submit your nomination today!

Pepp’s Pizzeria – Urbandale’s Home for Crust You Dream About (and Pizza You Brag About)

📍 4640 86th Street, Urbandale, IA (Open Monday-Saturday from 11 am-8:30 pm)

❤️ Serving up local flavor, creative monthly specials, and a side of Iowa Nice.

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