Jeez, it’s been seven years since the last time I ranked pizzerias; the pandemic really just took the wind right out of my sails on this one, and then I kept putting it off because it seemed like a way bigger undertaking than it actually was. I’ve been to around two dozen more Neapolitan or Neapolitan-adjacent pizzerias in that span, excluding ones I’d already tried and have revisited. Fitting them into the old ranking was tricky just because of the time elapsed here – there are places on this list I haven’t visited in a decade, and some I went to within the last year. I’ve also included two spots on the top 50 that serve something other than Neapolitan-style pizza, but which I thought belonged here for the sake of completeness.
Links go to the blog post where I originally reviewed each place. As far as I can tell, all of these places are still open, but please throw a comment in if you see I’ve included any spots that closed. We lost a few off the last update, including Co. and Nicoletta in Manhattan, plus the New York location of Via Tribunali.
1. Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix
2. Kesté, New York
3. Pizzeria Sei, Los Angeles
4. Mission Pizzeria Napoletana, Winston-Salem
5. Motorino, New York
6. Roberta’s, Brooklyn
7. Una Pizza Napoletana, New York
8. Delancey, Seattle
9. Razza, Jersey City
10. Garage Bar, Louisville
11. del Popolo, San Francisco
12. San Matteo, New York
13. Pizzeria Mozza, Los Angeles
14. Pizzeria Lola, Minneapolis
15. cibo, Phoenix
16. Lucali, Brooklyn
17. Frank Pepe’s, New Haven (New Haven style)
18. Atmosphere, Sarasota
19. A Dopo, Knoxville
20. Pizzeria Vetri, Philadelphia
21. Pizzeria Stella, Philadelphia
22. Spacca Napoli, Chicago
23. Paulie Gee’s, Brooklyn
24. Don Antonio by Starita, New York
25. Pizzaiolo, Oakland
26. Ribalta, New York
27. flour + water, San Francisco
28. 2 Amy’s, Washington
29. Federal Pizza, Phoenix
30. Antico, Atlanta
31. Totonno’s, Brooklyn
32. La Piazza al Forno, Glendale, AZ
33. Via Tribunali, Seattle
34. Bricco, Haddon Township, New Jersey
35. ‘Pomo, Phoenix
36. Settebello, Las Vegas
37. Pizza Rock, Las Vegas
38. Pizzeria Virtu, Scottsdale
39. Pizzeria Beddia, Philadelphia
40. Il Cane Rosso, Dallas & Metroplex
41. Ravanesi, Concordville, PA
42. City House, Nashville
43. Desano, Nashville
44. Jon & Vinny’s, Los Angeles
45. Di Fara, Brooklyn (Sicilian)
46. All-Purpose, Washington, DC
47. Renzo, Charleston
48. Rubirosa, New York
49. Apizza Scholls, Portland, OR
50. Toro, Durham
Some honorable mentions, all places I’d recommend but that just didn’t make the cut, by location:
Austin: The Backspace
Charlotte: Inizio
Chicago: Piece (New Haven style), Pequod’s (deep dish … I’m not a fan of the style but this is the best I’ve had)
Los Angeles: Stella Bara
Northern New Jersey: Emilio’s (Nutley)
New York: Zero Otto Nove (Bronx & Westchester), Joe’s (NY style, various locations in the city)
Orlando: Pizza Bruno
Philadelphia: Barbuzzo, Stina
Phoenix & environs: Fabio on Fire (Peoria), Craft 64 (Scottsdale), Il Bosco (Scottsdale), Forno 301 (Phoenix), Grimaldi’s (Brooklyn coal-fired)
San Juan: Verace
Wilmington, DE: DiMeo’s (NY style)
Bianco being one is good and correct. People pretend it’s not good or the best but objectively they are wrong. It’s not only delicious it’s culturally significant in what he did to create a movement in gourmet pizza.
The wait at the original location is awful tho
There are a couple of new places that opened in New York in the last few years that I think you should put on your list for your next visit. Happy to share if you’re planning on a trip.
Lucali to me is a bit low (relative to the other NY spots), but it’s also a PITA to go to. I’m lucky to live nearby and it’s still effort.
I’m always open to suggestions. NYC can be a spur of the moment trip and it’s usually not work-related anyway.
Ohh, Pequod’s made “Also receiving votes”. What about it made you change your mind towards deep dish, at least for this one? Ingredients, dough, burnt cheese on the crust?
I’d still never choose deep dish over other styles but wanted to include that as the best one I’ve tried. Hoping to go to Robert’s next time I’m in Chicago.
Please try Tribute Pizza next time you are in San Diego!
Seconded. I’m far from a pizza aficionado, but that’s good eatin
Osteria Mozza recently opened here in DC. Check it out next time you’re in town.
For some reason the reply button doesn’t show up on my browser, but I would recommend: Mama’s Too (two locations), L’industrie (same), Baby Luc’s (Lucali’s slice shop, their main focus is actually square slices), and F&F Pizza. F&F has a slice shop and a sit down restaurant if you wanted to go that route.
Baby Luc’s and F&F are right down the street from each other, so you can even double up.
None of those are Neapolitan, which I think you favor, but they’re all very damn good!
And actually L’industrie and Mama’s Too have locations next to each other in the West Village.
Sadly the Il Cane Rosso in Austin was a COVID victim a few years ago.
As a current Chicagoan: Pequod’s is absolutely the correct choice for best deep dish. Have you had any tavern-style? Doesn’t seem like your type of thing either, but there a number of places doing excellent takes on it these days. I’d also be curious for your take on the pizza at Bungalow by Middle Brow next time you’re here.
As a former Washingtonian: still waiting for you to get to Menomale, which remains my personal favorite to this day (as someone who has been to many, many fewer pizzerias in many, many fewer cities than you!).