[Windsor Star – Dalson Chen] It’s been decided. When you’ve got the munchies for pizza, the best pie in the city comes from … Sam’s Pizzeria & Cantina.

The longtime west-end pizza place has been declared the ultimate winner of Pizza Fest — the contest held by downtown cannabis lounge Higher Limitsto crown the top pizza in Windsor.

Monthly brackets have been held since September. The last round took place Monday night, with Sam’s Pizzeria (2215 Wyandotte St. West) emerging victorious over co-finalists Armando’s and Gino’s.

A dozen Windsor pizza businesses took part in the contest.

The Original Gino’s Pizzawon the first bracket in September, beating out Arcata, Riviera, and Cheese Wheelz. Sam’s Pizzeriatook the second bracket in October, beating Davinci’s, Dominos, and Slices & Squares. In November, the third bracket belonged to Armando’s, who were chosen over Primo, Angelo’s, and Mj’s Pizza & Wings.

Sam’s, Gino’s, and Armando’s then went against each other in the final bracket — with the champion decided by a combination of public votes and picks by a panel of four judges.

Sam’s Pizzeria & Cantina has been in business for more than 70 years. Current owner Raffaele Mattano is the sixth proprietor in a line that stretches back to 1946.

Employees Brock Warren and Nick Wilson made and delivered the restaurant’s submissions to the contest.

“We were pretty confident in our product,” Wilson said. “The last round was kind of scary. But it’s good publicity.”

Asked what he thinks gave their pies the edge, Wilson said Sam’s is about “great all-around” pizza. “Our sauce, cheese from Galati, even the presentation.”

As for any worries about being associated with cannabis consumption (Higher Limits being Windsor’s first and largest medical marijuana lounge), Wilson said it wasn’t a concern.

“It doesn’t bother us, in particular,” he said. “It was nice to get out and do something different.”

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