Paradise Pizza & Deli

For a small town, hole in the wall, mom and pop place, it’s pretty good pizza.
Located in the middle of Orleans, right across from the «park» along US 37, the building is nestled in the old section of downtown. The carpet store a few doors down features a sign which reads «Air Conditioned Showroom!» Fear not, Paradise had both AC running, and a gas heater attached to the wall in the dining area, should one of Indiana’s freak fall snowstorms appear on the horizon.
Paradise on the inside is kitschy and in need of a décor overhaul. But, that’s part of the charm of hole-​in-​the-​wall places. The parrots (although they’re nailed to their perches, they’re fake, not deceased) hang above the ordering counter, while a well used gas-​fired metal pizza oven, with real brick cooking surface stand in the small kitchen. No pliers to grab the moving pans off the conveyor belts, these pies are cooked the real way! Pizza paddles slide under each pie to give it a spin, or remove it for cutting.
Drinks are self-​serve, with a fountain in the back, right across from a window where you can see the oven. The manager proudly told me they make their dough fresh each day.
Wife and I tried a standard fare pizza with Pepperoni and Sausage (our normal choice) along with the full order of the Cheesy Pepperoni Breadsticks. They only come in a full order. You might want to share with the table next to you, if you’re trying to lose weight… or go off the diet for a day. Every time you get them.
The cheezy pepperoni sticks are more of a long flat sandwich of cheese and roni’s stuffed between two layers of dough and baked. Comes with marinara sauce. Either plain or dripping the red stuff they were yummy.
The pizza itself was brought fresh to our table in about 10 minutes (we were there with only one other table full, so it wasn’t a rush time). If the manager hadn’t volunteered that the dough is fresh and rolled (or tossed depending on who’s in the kitchen) to order, I was going to ask. Too many mom and pop places have gone to pre-​made, pull from the bag and smear sauce on it, frozen crusts. I expected that here, and was delighted to not find such. It tasted fresh.
Other than the need for a facelift on the inside of the establishment (disguise the ceiling, and the glue marks at the top of the 30 foot walls where the old acoustical tiles were formerly attached) and a new «order here» counter, and I’ll live with the parrots and the tiki-​bar look to everything else. If you’re going to go tiki-​bar — go FULL tiki bar. Own the theme. Right now, they’re not quite to that point.
If we’re back in the area (Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell IN is about 10 minutes away) — we’ll be back.

Only been here once and that was enough for me… Food took a while to arrive… And just before my first bite a gigantic cock roach ran across the top of our table… Haven’t been back since and I don’t suggest anyone trying it… I can’t give an honest review on the food because I walked out when I saw the roach… Lucky for them we paid when we ordered!