The Oven has been voted Owensboro-Daviess County’s favorite pizza restaurant in the Owensboro Times Eat Down the Street contest. The Oven now moves on to the championship week of the voting competition. For a full breakdown of the entire contest, including our list of restaurants and categories, click here.
Even as the reigning champions of the Eat Down the Street pizza category, owners James Harlen and Shelly Marshall were surprised to win the competition.
For the last two years, the 1012 E. 4th Street pizzeria has been dedicated to ensuring they still provide the freshest food while growing the menu.
They have introduced more variety to their menu to provide the best experience for their customers, including a buffet bar and soft-serve ice cream. They also added more options to their menu with specialty pizzas, like their spicy meatball and taco pizzas.
The win also comes right after their fifth anniversary of opening.
With a dedicated history in retail, the owners strive to provide the best customer service for their customers and treat them like family, whether a regular or a first-time customer.
“I love to meet new people. I try to treat everybody like they’re family. We have several great regulars, too,” Marshall said.
In the past, the two have explored the idea of opening a second location on the west side of town that would enable more parking and better serve folks from that area. While those plans are still in the works, they say they want to ensure it’s at the right time for them as a business.
But as for what keeps people flocking to the restaurant throughout the week, they say it ultimately boils down to the food they serve, whether it be from the buffet, the subs, or the pizza itself.
With five years behind them, Harlen said he looks to the next five and hopes for more flourishing in the business with another location and a more expansive menu.
“I see us trending in the right direction. In five years, we’ve gone from nothing to one of the best pizza places in town,” he said.
