Wilkeson is a tiny town in Pierce County, with a population of just 516 people. This is a place most people simply drive through on their way to visit Mt. Rainier -- but should you happen to find yourself there, we sincerely hope you're hungry when you do. The Carlson Block is an absolute hidden gem of a pizzeria, and you'll be surprised by the deliciousness you discover inside.
Wilkeson was founded on coal and sandstone mining well over a century ago, and most of the remaining buildings are historic, including this one.
The Carlson Block is the only pizza joint in town, so it's impossible to miss. It sits right on Church Street in the town's tiny downtown area.
The Carlson Block building was originally constructed in 1910.
Back then, it was known as the Carlson Hotel and had 16 pristine guest rooms for weary travelers. And for the last 4.5 years, it has been home to some of the best pizza on the planet.
Step inside and you'll see plenty of historic touches with a modern flair.
The owners have done a great job of preserving the building while keeping it contemporary.
There's really no better way to describe this pizza than "absolute perfection."
The dough is made fresh daily from a decade-old starter, the sauce is made in-house, and the mozzarella is as fresh as it gets. It's also made in-house using curd sourced from Ferndale Farmstead.
The pizza here is wood-fired, which makes a world of difference in the way it tastes.
The only "secret" to this pizza is that it's made entirely from fresh, quality ingredients that are made from scratch whenever possible.
It's quite a labor of love to make this pizza, but it's clearly worth it. Read the online reviews and you'll find hundreds of people declaring that it's the best pizza in the entire PNW.
While the pizza is obviously the star of the show here, we highly recommend staying for dessert.
The cheesecake here is out of this world.
This beautiful building is owned by chef Ian Galbraith and his wife Ashley, who own and operate the pizzeria and even live on the second floor with their daughter.
They spent six years renovating the building and creating the business, and clearly, their efforts have paid off.
Have you ever heard of The Carlson Block? Check out their full menu here.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!
