People Come From Miles Around To Taste The Unique Pizza At Rocket Inn In Small-Town Nebraska
By Delana Lefevers|Published March 16, 2019
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Delana Lefevers
Author
As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
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There’s always something a little magical about the pizza you grew up eating. It will always seem like the best ever, thanks to the memories that come flooding back with each bite. If you’re from the Indianola, Nebraska area, you may be right on target thinking that your hometown pizza is the best. The Rocket Inn has been serving the region’s favorite pizza for more than 70 years, and it’s just as delicious as ever.
Indianola is a tiny central Nebraska town with fewer than 600 residents. On a weekend night, though, you might think there were far more.
That would be thanks to the gaggle of cars always parked outside of the Rocket Inn. This classic pizza joint has been a regional favorite since the 1940s, which is a pretty solid history for a small-town restaurant.
The interior is pretty much what you'd expect: formica tabletops, kitschy decor on the walls, a pool table, and a small bar serving a selection of beers.
But what makes the Rocket Inn so special is their pizza. It's likely the most distinctive, delicious pie you'll ever taste, and its history goes all the way back to Italy.
In 1946, local soldier Bob Blume returned home with his new bride, Fiorella. She brought with her several family recipes that would become the basis of the Rocket Inn's success.
The little town had never experienced pizza like this, and the new restaurant quickly became a favorite. In fact, the Blums started out making pizza only twice a week but soon had to expand the offering to the rest of the week as well.
Fiorella's secret recipes include those for the restaurant's pizza sauce, crust, and homemade hot sauce. They all add up to some of the most memorable pizza in the state, and the recipes have remained closely-guarded secrets for decades. To further emphasize the uniqueness of this delectable pie, it's baked in a rectangle shape and served right in the pan.
If you're really going for the authentic Rocket experience, get your pizza with sauerkraut either baked in with the other toppings or on the side. It may sound odd, but ask anyone who's tried it and they'll confirm that it just works somehow.
You can enjoy enjoy the Rocket taste at home with a take-and-bake pizza. Sure, you don't get the cozy hometown environment of the restaurant, but the pizza is just as delicious no matter where you eat it.
There are plenty of selections on the menu that aren't pizza, and they're all reportedly yummy as well. But if you're in the area and just stopping in for one visit, get the pizza. It's an iconic part of the area cuisine, one that folks even drive in from Colorado and Kansas to enjoy. Say to anyone around Indianola "I'm going to get a Rocket" and they'll immediately know what you mean.
The Rocket Inn is located at 117 N 4th St, Indianola, NE. You can check the hours and keep up with specials and news on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
If you’re in the mood for finding some of Nebraska’s most beautiful places, check out this article from the archives.
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