Black Dog Pizzeria’s garlic knots took second place in the America’s Best Breadsticks/Garlic Knots competition at Pizza Expo Columbus.
Chef Brayden Miller earned the runner-up spot in the America's Best Breadsticks/Garlic Knots category at Pizza Expo Columbus, held Sunday, Oct. 11, and Monday, Oct. 12, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 614Now reported. The finish follows a first-place win in the same category in 2025, giving the Karric Square shop back-to-back podium results on a national stage.
Pizza Expo Columbus is a Midwest trade show produced by Pizza Today and International Pizza Expo. The 2026 event drew more than 180 suppliers and featured the Great American Pizza Challenge across seven divisions, according to Hoodline.
Co-owner Jessica Hellaine told 614Now the recognition means a lot to a small independent shop.
"It's very validating, to know that what we are doing measures up to what the great pizzaiolos are doing across the country," Hellaine said.
Hellaine credited the knots' consistency to owner Nick MacDonald and Miller, whom she said are "very particular" about texture. The goal: perfectly soft inside with the right amount of crunch on the outside, plus heavy seasoning so flavor carries through to the center. She called the recipe the product of "years of trial and error."
The garlic knots are hand-tied, tossed in garlic butter and served with red sauce, according to the shop's menu.
Black Dog has also won Best Pizza in Dublin three consecutive years, 2023 through 2025, through Visit Dublin's Voters' Choice Awards. The shop took Favorite Slice at the Franklin County Fair's Pizza + Brew competition in both 2025 and 2026, according to the pizzeria's awards page.
The shop is at 5923 Karric Square Drive, near the Tuttle Mall area. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 4–9 p.m.; Friday, 4–10 p.m.; Saturday, 2–10 p.m.; and Sunday, 2–8 p.m.
