"Jeff Smokevitch carried a world pan-pizza title into a Colorado box canyon; his Detroit squares are Telluride's surest post-ski table — go early."
The verdict
In March 2013, Jeff Smokevitch carried the first-place trophy out of the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas — World Champion in the pan division, the number-one pan pizza in a field of hundreds — and the winning pie went straight onto the menu of a pizzeria at 8,750 feet in a Colorado box canyon. Brown Dog Pizza sits at 110 E Colorado Avenue, on Telluride's single main street, and it is the town's most dependable table once the lifts stop turning. It is the surest casual room in our Telluride dining guide.
The Kitchen
Detroit-style pizza is a specific thing, not a marketing word. It was born at Buddy's Rotunda Bar in 1946, baked in blue-steel automotive drip trays, the dough pressed into the corners and brick cheese laid all the way to the pan wall so it scorches into a lacquered, chewy edge. Smokevitch learned the discipline at Tony Gemignani's International School of Pizza and competes with the World Pizza Champions, the sport's top team, so his squares honour the form: a thick, open crumb, the cheese caramelised dark where it meets the steel, the sauce striped on top in the Motor City manner rather than buried under it.
The signature Mountaintop carries the house sauce, two cuts of pepperoni, sauteed white button mushrooms and Sicilian oregano; the championship pan pie that took Las Vegas in 2013 is on the menu too. Round pies, wings, salads, subs and a long beer list fill out the rest, and you eat well for roughly $20 to $30 a head. For what separates a kitchen worth the bill, see our guide to the signs of a great restaurant.
The Room
The room is a loud, wood-tabled mountain-town pizzeria: screens running whatever game matters, a busy bar, and a roar that builds the moment the gondola empties. Lighting is bright, tables sit close, service is quick and unfussy, and there is no dress code beyond ski socks. At peak season the wait runs long. This is a place you pile into with a group, not a room for a quiet conversation across the table.
Best for a post-ski group dinner or an easy family night
Book the big table for a post-ski team dinner or a relaxed birthday, because the squares are built to share, the pricing keeps a crowd painless, and the energy carries a full chalet. Order a couple of Mountaintops and the championship pan pie and let them land in the middle of the table; the low-pressure mood also makes it an easy first date.
Not for
Skip it for a quiet, candlelit dinner — this is a loud, sports-on, after-ski pizzeria with close tables and a busy bar, not a hushed evening.
Frequently Asked
Is Brown Dog Pizza worth it?
Yes, if you want the best pizza in Telluride and a sociable, low-key night. Chef-owner Jeff Smokevitch won the world pan-pizza title in Las Vegas in 2013, and that championship pie is on the menu beside the Detroit-style Mountaintop. It is not fine dining and does not pretend to be; it is a serious pizzaiolo's kitchen inside a casual ski-town room. For a refined dinner, look elsewhere in our Telluride dining guide.
What should I order at Brown Dog Pizza?
Order a Detroit-style square. The Mountaintop, with the house sauce, two cuts of pepperoni, white button mushrooms and Sicilian oregano, is the signature. Add the championship pan pizza that won Jeff Smokevitch first place in Las Vegas in 2013, since it is the reason the kitchen has its reputation. Wings, a salad and something off the long beer list round out a group order nicely.
What has Brown Dog Pizza won?
Chef-owner Jeff Smokevitch won first place, World Champion in the pan division, at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas in March 2013, and Brown Dog repeated in the traditional division in 2014. Smokevitch trained under Tony Gemignani at the International School of Pizza and competes with the World Pizza Champions, the sport's leading team.
How much does Brown Dog Pizza cost?
Expect roughly $20 to $30 per person for a casual meal with a pizza and a drink, which makes it one of Telluride's better-value tables. Square and round pizzas anchor the menu, with wings, salads and subs alongside and a deep beer list. There is no tasting menu and no white tablecloth; you pay pizzeria prices for world-champion pizza.
Is Brown Dog Pizza good for groups?
Very. The lively room, shareable Detroit squares and casual pricing make it one of Telluride's easiest tables for a post-ski team dinner, a birthday or a family meal. It runs loud and fills fast at peak ski-season hours, so arrive early or call ahead for a big party.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Brown Dog Pizza
Walk-ins welcome; expect a wait at peak ski-season hours, and call ahead for big groups.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address110 E Colorado Ave, Telluride, CO 81435
NeighbourhoodColorado Avenue, downtown Telluride
CuisinePizza · Detroit-style
Price$$ · ~$20–30 per person
ChefJeff 'Smoke' Smokevitch (chef-owner)
Recognition1st place, World Champion (pan division), International Pizza Expo, Las Vegas 2013; repeat win 2014
SignatureThe Mountaintop · Detroit-style square pizza
