The pizza decision is done. Everyone agreed on toppings, the order is almost ready, and then someone at the table asks, “Should we get anything else?” That moment is where the best sides earn their place.
A well-chosen side can change the whole feel of a pizza night, adding crunch, extra cheese, something heartier, or a sweet finish that makes the meal feel complete. This blog walks through every side and dessert add-on that deserves its spot on your order, from French fries and garlic bread to crispy pizza appetizers and baklava, so the next order is easy to build.
Why the Best Sides Make Pizza Night Better
Sides do real work at the table. They add variety in texture, give people something to snack on while the pizza is still hot, and make the meal more shareable.
For a group order, a late-night delivery, a family dinner, or an office lunch, the best sides solve a specific problem: more crunch, more cheese, something to dip, or a sweet note to close things out.
Our menu goes well beyond pizza. Across Washington, DC, and nearby Maryland communities, including 14th St NW, Wisconsin Ave, and Bethesda, the full menu includes sides and desserts that can round out an order, whether it is carryout, delivery, or a text-to-order pickup.
Fries That Bring the Crunch
When the order needs something crispy and easy to share, fries are the natural answer. The right pizza sides depend on the group and the craving, and fries offer a range of options from simple to more loaded.
French Fries
French Fries are the low-risk, crowd-pleasing pizza sides that work for almost every order. They work for picky eaters, kids, and group tables because they are simple, familiar, and easy to share.
Pair them with a cheese pizza, a pepperoni pie, a sub, a burger, or chicken tenders, and the combination just works. They are crispy, familiar, and never a wrong call.
Cheese Fries
Cheese Fries are one of the best sides to reach for when the order needs a more indulgent edge. They work best alongside a simpler pizza, so the meal does not feel too heavy in one direction.
Think of them as the comfort-food upgrade, warm, cheesy, and satisfying in a way that plain fries cannot match.
Greek Fries
Greek Fries bring a Greek-inspired option into the pizza sides lineup. When a regular order of fries feels too plain, these bring more flavor to the table. They are the right call for anyone who wants something a step above the classic and a nod to the menu’s Greek and Italian side.
Pizza Fries
Pizza Fries land squarely in the pizza-appetizer category, bringing pizza flavor to the table in a crispy, snackable format. They are a fun add-on for groups because they feel familiar yet different from other slices. It keeps the pizza energy going in a crispy, snackable form.
Fries make the order feel complete, adding the crunch, comfort, and shareable bite that pairs naturally with pizza.
Bread and Cheese Sides Built for Sharing
Bread and cheese sides are the natural companions to a pizza order. They are warm, easy to split, and perfect for dipping. For anyone searching for what sides or pizza appetizers go with pizza, this is the section that answers that question.
Garlic Bread
Garlic bread is the classic pizza-night side for a reason. It adds a warm, garlicky flavor without competing with the pizza, and it disappears from the table faster than expected.
We offer Garlic Bread as a side, and House Specialties that include garlic bread too, which makes it feel connected to the broader menu rather than like an afterthought. It is simple, reliable, and always welcome.
Garlic Bread With Cheese
Garlic bread with cheese is the more indulgent version, with a melty top and easy to tear apart and share. It pairs well with vegetable-heavy pizzas, classic pepperoni, or a simple cheese pie. When the table wants something warm and cheesy before the main order arrives, this is the natural pick.
Bread Sticks With Cheese
Bread sticks with cheese work as pizza appetizers for the whole group. They are easy to grab, easy to pass around, and easy to dip. For a family dinner, a game night, or an office lunch where people eat at different paces, a shareable starter like this keeps everyone happy while the pizza finishes baking.
Fried Mozzarella
Fried Mozzarella is the pizza appetizer pick for anyone who wants the side to feel like a real appetizer. Crispy on the outside, melty in the center, and ready for dipping, it brings the kind of texture contrast that makes an order feel more complete. Cheese lovers will not leave any behind.
Ravioli Bites
Ravioli Bites are a more unexpected entry in the pizza appetizer lineup, bringing pasta comfort into a snackable, shareable format. They are a great pick for anyone who usually gravitates toward pasta dishes but wants something that works at the table alongside a pizza order without needing a fork.
Bread and cheese sides bring the kind of warm, shareable comfort that makes a pizza order feel fuller, easier to enjoy, and built for the whole table.
Crispy Sides for Bigger Appetites
Some orders need more than pizza alone. The best sides for bigger appetites are the ones that turn a pizza dinner into a full, satisfying spread. These work especially well for mixed groups where not everyone wants to stop at one or two slices.
Onion Rings
Onion Rings are a bolder, crunchier take on pizza sides. They pair well with subs, burgers, and topping-heavy pizzas, and they bring a savory crispness that fries alone do not always deliver. Easy to share, easy to enjoy, and simple to add to a crowded table.
Chicken Tenders
Chicken Tenders are the pizza appetizer option that can double as a meal add-on. They work for kids, picky eaters, and anyone in the group who wants something more substantial to go with the pizza.
Pair them with a dipping sauce from the menu, and they hold their own as a full course.
The Sweet Side: Baklava After Pizza
Baklava sits in the desserts section of the menu, but it fits naturally into the full ordering journey this blog covers. After a salty, cheesy, savory pizza order, a sweet finish brings balance to the meal. Keeping the dessert add-on simple is usually the right call.
Baklava
Baklava is the sweet, flaky finish that connects to the menu’s broader Greek and Italian identity. It is one of the best add-ons when the table wants dessert without overthinking it. Flaky, sweet, and a natural end to a comfort-food order, it gives the meal a finish that feels different from the usual pizza-only order.
Cannoli
Cannoli is another sweet add-on for anyone who wants a classic dessert to close out the meal. Simple, familiar, and satisfying after pizza, pasta, or a round of crispy sides, it is a reliable sweet option listed on the official dessert menu for good reason.
A sweet finish like baklava or cannoli gives the order one last easy win, rounding out the pizza, sides, and appetizers with something simple and satisfying.
How to Choose the Right Side for Your Order
Picking pizza sides does not need to be complicated. Use this quick guide to match the side to the craving:
- Want classic? Garlic Bread or French Fries.
- Want cheesy? Garlic Bread with Cheese, Bread Sticks with Cheese, or Fried Mozzarella.
- Want crispy? Onion Rings, French Fries, or Ravioli Bites.
- Want heartier? Chicken Tenders.
- Want sweet? Baklava or Cannoli.
To avoid over-ordering, pick one crunchy side, one cheesy side, or one dessert based on group size. A table of two does not need every category. A larger group can usually justify two or three. Keeping it focused means everything gets finished and nothing goes to waste.
FAQs
What are the best sides to order with pizza?
Garlic bread, fries, fried mozzarella, onion rings, chicken tenders, and a sweet finish like baklava all work well with pizza.
Does Manny and Olga’s offer garlic bread?
Yes, we offer Garlic Bread and Garlic Bread with Cheese.
What pizza appetizers are good for groups?
Bread Sticks with Cheese, Fried Mozzarella, Ravioli Bites, Onion Rings, and Chicken Tenders are easy to share.
Are fries a good side with pizza?
Yes, fries add crunch and work especially well for group orders, casual dinners, and late-night meals.
Can you order dessert with pizza at Manny and Olga’s?
Yes, we offer desserts including Baklava, Cannoli, Chocolate Cake, Carrot Cake, and Cheesecake.
Build a Better Pizza Night With Manny and Olga’s
Pizza is the centerpiece, but the best sides are what make the order feel like a real meal. Manny and Olga’s offers pizza, sides, desserts, delivery, carryout, online ordering, and text-to-order across its Washington, DC, and Maryland locations, so building a full order is straightforward from wherever you are.
Next time you order pizza, give the sides their moment too. Add garlic bread, fries, a crispy appetizer, or baklava to your Manny and Olga’s order and build the kind of pizza night everyone actually remembers.