October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, special features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food. Bon appetit!

It's no surprise that Classic Slice agreed to be a part of OnMilwaukee.com's "Slice of Milwaukee" pizza contest. After all, we're talking about a staff that's not afraid to get creative with their 'za recipes, like the carnivorous Meat-tallica or the Bangkok Chicken Sriracha.

"The options can get pretty crazy, but they're always good," says Denise Gerou, Classic Slice manager and pizza thrower.

The Slice of Milwaukee pizza contest requires the four participating restaurants to create a pie that's a tribute to Brew City, something Classic Slice has done before. Well, sort of.

"We made the Baconizer in honor of the Cedar Block / Francis Bacon exhibit at the art museum and the Free Ride honoring Harley-Davidson's 105th, but never anything just for Milwaukee," says Classic Slice owner, Marisa Lang.

Classic Slice opened two years ago, pioneering the way for additional quality pizza joints like Marchese's Olive Pit, 1100 S. 1st St., and Transfer Pizzeria Café, 101 W. Mitchell St.

Classic Slice features a mix of traditional and gourmet pizzas, including vegan options and pesto or Alfredo sauces for customers who prefer white to red sauce.

Classic Slice pizza is available by the pie or the slice, but their slices aren't skinny floppies or for those with a sparrow's appetite. Instead, a Classic Slice slice is a hearty wedge piled with ingredients.

"We get as many fresh ingredients as we can," says Gerou.

The slices cost between $3.75 and $5.50, and the 16-inch, 20-inch and 26-inch pies range from $13.75 to $26.

Lang says the most popular pizzas on the menu are the The Dolce (fresh garlic, tomatoes, mozzarella and basil), the sausage / mushroom / onion and the Anne Curry (curry sauce, spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, tomatoes and homemade tofu.)

Classic Slice feature a "Slice of the Week," a recipe invented by an employee. Previous concoctions include the "Olive Oyl."

Classic Slice offers salads and desserts, along with beer and wine.

Interestingly, the Bay View pizzeria is almost pizza slice-shaped, and features an open, clean, comfy atmosphere. Lang describes it as a "nice community hang out (and) very Milwaukee -- comfortable, easy, but also a little New York style, a little kitschy."

Pizza Man, 1800 E. North Ave., Zaffiro's, 1724 N. Farwell Ave., and Balistreri's, 6501 W. Bluemound Rd., are participants in the Slice of Milwaukee pizza contest, along with Classic Slice.

In mid-October, the OnMilwaukee.com editors will sample each of the Milwaukee pizzas and choose the winner. All of the recipes will be in an OnMilwaukee.com article on Oct. 30. The article will also announce the winner of the contest.