By Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Aug 31, 2010 at 10:37 AM

When Bay View's now extremely popular Classic Slice restaurant opened in 2007, it was based on a concept so simple -- pizza available by the slice -- yet surprisingly absent of late in Milwaukee.

While we certainly were not suffering from a pizza shortage, our city didn't mirror other large bustling metropolitan areas where grab-and-go slices were a common midday staple for many a businessman and woman.

Perhaps it filled a gaping hole in our market, or maybe it was because it was so darn delicious, but Classic Slice quickly exploded with success and, whether by coincidence or design, prompted several other businesses to follow suit.

Cranky Al's opened that same year in Wauwatosa; Brick 3 a year or so later on Old World 3rd Street. Crisp Pizzabar & Lounge followed on Brady Street and Ian's made its way to Milwaukee earlier this year.

There have been others as well, but the newest restaurant to offer pizza by the slice is Lee's Pizza, which opened July 8 at 770 N. Jefferson St. Open daily at 11 a.m., Lee's offers no-frills pizzas with a slew of standard toppings at reasonable prices -- from $4.99 to $10.99 for one topping.

Appetizers, pasta and salads round out the simple menu. A variety of lunch specials, including $2 slices of pizza, is available 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays.

Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com

OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.

As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”