By the Slice Gourmet Pizzeria, commonly known today as The Slice, is a longtime locally owned pizza restaurant located at 2011 Lincoln Avenue in Evansville, Indiana, near the University of Evansville.

Founded in 1994 by Eric Weber, the restaurant developed from a business plan Weber created while completing his master’s degree in professional studies at Cornell University. The concept centered on serving gourmet pizza by the individual slice, allowing customers to choose among different varieties without purchasing an entire pizza.

By the Slice became particularly well known for its thin, crispy New York-style pizza and wide variety of toppings. Over the years, offerings have included traditional cheese, sausage and pepperoni alongside more unusual varieties such as spinach and feta, potato, taco, BLT and other rotating specialty pizzas.

Its location directly across Lincoln Avenue from the University of Evansville helped make the small restaurant a familiar destination for generations of UE students, faculty members and neighborhood residents.

The restaurant has also been known simply as The Slice, although many longtime Evansville residents continue to remember it as By the Slice.

In 2023, the restaurant entered a new era under owner Tom Rehl, while retaining the pizza-by-the-slice concept and much of the character that made the restaurant a neighborhood institution.

After more than three decades, The Slice remains in operation at its longtime Lincoln Avenue location and is one of Evansville’s enduring independent pizza restaurants.

Quick Facts

Original name: By the Slice Gourmet Pizzeria
Current name: The Slice
Founded: 1994
Founder: Eric Weber
Address: 2011 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, Indiana
Known for: Gourmet pizza sold by the slice
Pizza style: Thin, crispy / New York-style
Neighborhood: University of Evansville area
Category: Evansville Pizza Places