This week’s Pizza Friday features arguably the greatest of them all—Delaney’s Irish Pub.
Delaney’s, of course, is a true Laurel legend; and while I’ve posted briefly about it in the past, there’s so much more to be said about its time at Montpelier Plaza, including its very untimely (and unfair) fiery demise—which we’ll save for a later date. But for now, just think of that wonderful, thin crust pizza. Suffice it to say, there hasn’t been another like it since.
Photo: Teresa Delaney Porrino (Facebook)
Lost Laurel 
Great blog Richard; I remember Delaney’s well; had that pizza and sat at that bar many a nights; remember the murals on the green walls ? They used to occasionally have a midget walking around. Many great memories of days long past
Haha! To this day, I haven’t found a better pizza… OR, as you pointed out, another place that occasionally had a midget walking around. 🙂
Thanks so much!
thank you for remembering. the pub and the employee’s from the first day of its opening will always be remembered. the man behind the idea would have been so proud of this remarkaable place. it’s sad to think of so many sad events happened since it’s founding.
Pat Delaney Cote
Hello,
I recently found this site and it’s great to see so many people with similar memories of the best pizza place I’ve ever known. I was a kid growing up in Montpelier in the 70’s. My family, friends, and their families were there often. We loved it. I always hoped there would be some way to have the pizza again. Are you still making it? Do you know of anyone that is still making it? Would you be able to share any insights into the recipe? I would love to try to recreate it at home.
Thank you.
Jason Kadar
I think it was 82-85 that I frequently found myself sitting at the bar. For those who remember the matchbook, there was a bar, the Green Dolphin in Tucson listed behind
Delaney’s. I drove those guys up a wall by leaving a matchbook a week. My question now is where do I find the recipe or the crust???
Sully
Tucson
I grew up in the 70’s.on Delaney’s Pizza! Every Sunday after mass my mother would take us there for that amazing thin crust pizza with pepperoni. It was like having a pizza on a giant cracker! The midget (leprechaun) was Sammy Ross, an actor who played along side of people like Charlton Heston, and did that gig for 20 years. Last time I was there, sometime in 1993 maybe, the pizza sadly wasn’t as good. It seemed like they must have gotten cheap and used frozen pre-made crusts.
By 1993, it was under different management, Marcus. Still a good pizza, but not as good as it was during Delaney’s tenure.
Hey yall, Teresa and I worked at Ranch house on 198 she got me a job at the pub never got to say thanks. well thanks Teresa ! And Deb ! Bin soooo long its good to see a picture. cooked a million pizzas there. God Bless
Hey Ray – I want to replicate a Delaney’s Pizza so I can try to explain the magic to my wife and kids. If you made a million pizzas can you share anything you remember about how to make them? Strange btw that I probably stood peering over the count to watch you make a few of them back in the day. Erin go braugh!
Don’t forget the amazing subs made there! I worked there ’72-’73 as a waitress
Hi Mike,
Did you ever get any insights into the recipe? I also want to try to recreate the pizza.
Thanks,
Jason
wow! worked there 1971- 1978. My first job. Met my husband there and my some of my best friends,best and bad times,and will never forget the music from the juke box!
sheila
One of the pipers was Tom O’Connor and another was Bob Heina. I was a waitress there in 1972. Fun place to work, but only $1.00/hr! Good tips though!
my wife and I both loved Delaney’s pizza Pub we had our first date there before we got married it is a shame that such a wonderful place is no longer there we were talking about a reunion visit to go back there and eat but it looks like that will never happen now
Does anyone remember Royce Ball and Kurt Rathbone as “A Touch of Two? We played there +/- ’71 and ’72. I didn’t realize Delaney’s was still there. I remember Patty, Theresa, Sammy Ross and Gene Johnson on guitar. Bill McCrory played with me originally and his sister waited tables. Delaney’s was my first gig! royceball@mac.com
Spent many hours with my teammates from MOBLAS 4, 6, 7 and 8 after tracking satellites.
We sang “THATS AMORE” louder and better the the Giant food guys
Still miss Debbie Delayney, Ivy, little suzi and the others…. Great times!
Is there any way to find the pizza recipe? For the dough and the sauce? Anyone have any ideas? I would love to recreate it. It was the best pizza ever. I last ate at Delaney’s in 1997/98. It was still awesome.
Jason, there are a few former employees who have the recipe (not to mention Jack Delaney’s own daughter, whom I’m sure has perfected it). But I’m told that unless you have a comparable brick oven to bake it in, it just won’t be the same. In the meantime, I recommend Pizza Oven in Riverdale. They’ve been in business in the same location since 1957, and still make what I think is the closest to that wonderful old Delaney’s/Pal Jack’s taste.
Hi Richard, thanks for the reply. I don’t have a brick oven at home but would still love to try it nonetheless. I’ve been dreaming of finding the “holy grail” recipe and making my own version of Delaney’s masterpiece for several years. Are you in contact with any of the former employees? I see a few older posts from some of them here. I’ll try reaching out to them. Thanks also for the Pizza Oven in Riverdale suggestion. I look forward to trying their pizza.
It would be the best thing EVER to find the original Delaney’s Irish Pizza recipe!!!! I’ve done internet search’s quite a few times and been unsuccessful. Maybe *fingers crossed* one day it will surface.
I waitressed there in 1972 – best pizza n subs!