I’ve updated this list for the first time since the original version went up three years ago, and again, I expect this will start quite a few debates.
I adore all kinds of pizza – New York-style, Neapolitan-style (thin crust, wet center), Roman-style (also thin-crust but with a cracker-like crust), Sicilian, coal-fired, wood-fired, whatever. Except “deep dish,” which is just a bread casserole and which I actively dislike. I try to find good artisan pizzerias everywhere I travel, and I’ve hit just about all of the most highly-regarded places in Manhattan and Brooklyn too. I grew up on Long Island, eating by the slice and folding as I did so, but a couple of trips to Italy convinced me of the merits of those very thin crusts and superior toppings. We’re the beneficiaries of a huge boom in high-end pizza joints in this country, and while I haven’t tried all of the good ones, I’ve been to enough to put together a ranking of the 55 best that I’ve tried. There is, I admit, a bias to this list – I’ve tried more places in greater Phoenix than any other metro area other than New York – and I’m sure I’ll get some yelling over where I put di Fara or Paulie Gee’s, but with all of that out of the way, here’s how I rank ’em.
(I’ve removed two entries that closed since the last ranking, but if I missed another one, please put it in the comments.)
1. Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix
2. Kesté, New York
3. Motorino, New York
4. Roberta’s, Brooklyn
5. Una Pizza Napoletana, New York (relocated from San Francisco)
6. Pizzeria Vetri/Osteria, Philadelphia
7. Frank Pepe’s, New Haven
8. del Popolo, San Francisco
9. Garage Bar, Louisville
10. Pizzeria Mozza, Los Angeles
11. Pizzeria Lola, Minneapolis
12. cibo, Phoenix
13. Lucali, Brooklyn
14. Forcella, New York
15. Pizzeria Stella, Philadelphia
16. Spacca Napoli, Chicago
17. Paulie Gee’s, Brooklyn
18. Don Antonio by Starita, New York
19. Pizzaiolo, Oakland
20. ‘Pomo, Phoenix
21. Brigantessa, Philadelphia
22. Marta, New York
23. Ribalta, New York
24. flour + water, San Francisco
25. Totonno’s, Brooklyn
26. Federal Pizza, Phoenix
27. La Piazza al Forno, Glendale, AZ
28. Via Tribunali, New York/Seatte
29. Il Cane Rosso, Dallas
30. Antico, Atlanta
31. Ravanesi, Concordville, PA
32. City House, Nashville
33. Tarry Lodge, Port Chester, New York
34. Desano, Nashville
35. Grimaldi’s, Phoenix
36. Jon & Vinny’s, Los Angeles
37. Timber Pizza, Washington, DC
38. Di Fara, Brooklyn
39. All-Purpose, Washington, DC
40. Il Bosco, Scottsdale, AZ
41. Co., New York (closed February 2018)
42. Rubirosa, New York
43. Punch Pizza, St. Paul
44. Toro, Durham
45. Craft 64, Scottsdale, AZ
46. Harry’s Bar, Miami, FL
47. 800 Degrees, Los Angeles
48. Firestarter, Dennis, MA
49. Forno 301, Phoenix
50. Dolce Vita, Houston
51. Stella Rosa, Santa Monica
52. Grimaldi’s, Brooklyn
53. Basic, San Diego
54. Nicoletta, New York (closed as of 1/2019)
55. Taconelli, Philadelphia
There’s a long list of pizzerias I still need (okay, want, but where I’m concerned pizza is a need) to try, so they’re not on the list: Razza in Jersey City, Apizza Scholls in Portland, Area Four near Boston, 2 Amy’s in DC (temporarily closed), Menomale in DC, Sottocasa in Brooklyn, al Forno in Providence, Mani Osteria in Ann Arbor, Vero in Cleveland, Iggie’s in Baltimore, and more. It’s a good time to be a pizza lover, and unless you have to be gluten-free, how could you not love pizza?
Surpised Via Napoli in EPCOT didn’t make your list! Also a big fan of John’s of Bleecker in NYC.
I didn’t consider Via Napoli because you need a park ticket to get to it. And even considering that, it’d still be the most expensive place on the list just based on the food prices themselves.
John’s is pretty overrated. Brooklyn born and bred and a lifelong NYC resident – John’s is nothing more than a decent street slice getting by on reputation vs. quality. I personally think DiFara is too low, but you can make a similar (if not as strong) argument akin to John’s. Keith, make a jaunt to Mariella on 70th and Lex when you next have a chance. As good a classic street slice as you’ll find.
Love this list. Thanks for adding 15 pounds to my 2019.
Buona Forchetta in San Diego is great. Located in the South Park neighborhood, 10 minute drive from Petco Park
I think the Modern and Sally’s over Pepe’s take in New Haven is simply a contrarian one–neither are as good, though they are excellent. But Pepe’s is the 500 foot pie in the area, and everyone likes to take their shots at it.
Bar is great too, but not as good as Pepe’s.
Modern is better, Pepe’s has gone downhill over the past few years. BAR is my go to, it’s not as good but damn close and easier to get into.
If you’re ever in Milwaukee try San Giorgio. It’s a Neapolitan style place (website says “in accordance with the strict standards of the authentic Vera Pizza Napolenta”). The chef is from Italy.
I went to Bianco for the first (and only) time last fall. And while the pizza was very good—the margherita was excellent, the onion and sausage very good—I didn’t have my socks knocked off either. And I don’t think it’s because Bianco has slipped (though it may have for all I know), but rather because so many places are doing pizza like this in nearly every corner of the US. I’m in Chicago, and there’s a local places near me (Craft Pizza, Spacca Napoli, Coalfire, Piece, maybe Bonci not to mention the dozen other great pizza places in Chicago) which are all very good to great. Maybe not as good as Bianco, but they hold their own to Bianco in their own way (I’m also comparing non-Neapolitan places to Bianco fwiw).
Bianco has been around for 20 years now, and I’m sure at the time it was other-worldly because it was one of the few, if not only, place making pizza like this in America. But now it’s one of many, and while it is great; it isn’t unique. Which in a way is too bad. Anyway, my two cents.
Most Chicagoans eat tavern style pizza, not deep dish, fwiw. Vito and Nick’s being one of the most famous spots: http://vitoandnicks.com/index.php
*There’s also a Quad Cities style pizza, which isn’t half bad https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quad_City-style_pizza
When you make it to Apizza Scholls in PDX, make sure you leave time to hit Ken’s Pizza as well (http://kensartisan.com/). It’s also on the East Side, and not too far away. There is something of a local “discussion” about which is superior, though they are aiming at different targets. Both are amazing. There’s a slew of great pizza in Portland—and basically any other food category/type/designation—so I’m sure you’ll eat well when you get out there. One more thing: based your recent e-mail updates, I’d leave some time to hit Rum Club too. It’s my favorite bar on the planet.
I’m from the Bay Area but I still can’t agree with your slagging of Chicago style pizza. Done right, it’s delicious (like every other style of pizza)
I didn’t see Gino Sorbillo’s new restaurant on Bowery in Manhattan on the list. I was there a few months ago and it was just as good as the pies available at his restaurant on Via dei Tribunali in Napoli (although three times as expensive, of course). If you haven’t been there yet, you should give it a try next time you’re in the city.
Just looked up #28 (Via Tribunali) and learned that the New York location has closed. Apparently, they couldn’t get a full liquor license and decided that not having access to the increased revenue from full liquor service was impossible to survive without, so they closed up shop.
Etto in DC is also great if you haven’t been there yet. Very similar to All-Purpose
http://ettodc.com/
Sally’s is right next to Pepe’s, and they’re brothers. Have you been there?
I haven’t. I’ve been to New Haven once in the last 12 years, and that was to go to the original Pepe’s.
Where is papa johns? Do they get extra points for intangibles like clutch racism?
If you ever come to Pittsburgh, there’s at least three you could try: FIori’s, Mineo’s, and Beto’s.
I lived in Shadyside during grad school. Mineo’s doesn’t compare to places on this list. It’s a typical local pizzeria, but nothing special.
I live in the Twin Cities, last year took a trip to Portland and serendipitously stumbled into Ken’s Artisan and probably the best pizza I’ve had. Its certainly on par with Lola (and Young Joni) in Minneapolis. One other lesser known Neapolitan-style place in Minneapolis is Element Pizza, which I would personally slot between Lola and Punch.