Carlucci’s Pizzeria – Spiciest Dish in Columbus Series

Sometimes you find a hole in the wall in a plaza that has multiple pizza shops, and sometimes it’s delicious.

We’d driven past Carlucci’s Pizzeria many times before venturing in and now we’ve been back many times. Initially, it was for their pizza and Chicken Parm. Each time we try something slightly new and haven’t been displeased so far.

Sporting the Columbus-classic cracker crust and roughly cut into rectangles, Carlucci’s has 11, 13, 15, and 17-inch pizzas ranging from the classics to Chicken Bacon Ranch, Lotta Meat, and a “Hot Boss” pizza that leverages Le Jefe hot sauce from local sauce maker Sauce Boss Gang.

Outside of the pizza, Carlucci’s has common apps and sandwiches, along with strombolis and a few different pasta dishes. But, we’re not here to talk about those, we’re here for the wings! Seven wings for $8.50 is one of the better deals in Columbus right now and with 11 sauces to choose from, you’ll be happy with the Jumbo Wings you receive. Now, an important question.

Have you ever put your mouth on a cast iron skillet that’s been sitting on the stove for 20 minutes? This could be as close to that experience as you get.

Wandering down the capsaicin corridor of Smokey Row, I stumbled into Carlucci’s Pizzeria, a quiet slinger of ‘za, wings, and subs (that Chicken Parm tho). A certain sauce had caught my eye, the Super Hot Buffalo. Opening the box of seven wings, I was greeted with the familiar slap of vinegar, smoothed out by butter and another peppery ingredient. Overcome by the need to test the sauce, I neglected to give it a good shake to cover all wings evenly, instead opting for a dredging method in the pool of sauce that lay beneath.

Holding the first wing aloft, I let the light glean off of the wet chicken, wondering what evil awaited. Plunging in, I was greeted with the familiar buffalo sauce flavor, tangy, with a hint of spice. A wonderful buffalo sauce with a light…..

My thoughts trailed off. All became quiet. The noise of the television became muffled and I heard a deep voice say “sup.” Whirling about my living kitchen, chicken in hand, I gazed into the temporal void that had cracked open. Though I couldn’t see exactly what existed on the other side I could feel it. Pain. Creeping, back of the tongue, side of the mouth, allll over the lips pain. Another bite into the drum split the tear further.

Three wings in, demon chicken emerging from the rip of fabric, snot uncontrollably leaking out of my head, all I could do was stare into the vast nothingness. Each bite triggered another addictive wave of heat, gently guided by a growing sense of euphoria. The demon chicken drifted off, leaving me to see all of space and time. More pain, more tingle, more absence of form.

On the seventh wing, the void rested, leaving me to wallow in the lazy tears forming at the corners of my eyes. Cheeks flushed, I ceased to exist. Would this be the dish that ended me? The La Nova buffalo base continued to tease, like a saucy shoulder rub to relax me, just before blasting me with the Carolina Reaper powder lovingly mixed into the Super Hot Buffalo. Eyes wide, I finished the final wing. My mouth felt like it was going to explode. As the rift closed, I caught a final glimpse of the demon chicken, winking as it faded into the darkness.

Hearing slowly returning, my body still not in control, I began to dip slices of pizza into the remainder of the sauce. WHAT WAS I DOING?! The room began to shake, coaxing the tear to return, but the sauce was gone. The shaking stopped, my head began to clear, and I was left mouth-breathing and blowing my nose. What a ride.

Props to Carlucci’s Pizzeria for this sleeper sauce, I was definitely NOT expecting that, and just two doors down from another Top 10 Spiciest Dish. Intensity, linger, and pain considered, we’re saucing Carlucci’s in at #9.

You can find Carlucci’s Pizzeria at one of two locations:

5923 Karric Square Drive in Dublin or 8757 Smoky Row Rd in Powell.

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