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. Forcella, New York
18. Frank Pepe’s, New Haven (New Haven style)
19. Atmosphere, Sarasota
20. A Dopo, Knoxville
21. Pizzeria Vetri/Osteria, Philadelphia
22. Pizzeria Stella, Philadelphia
23. Spacca Napoli, Chicago
24. Paulie Gee’s, Brooklyn
25. Don Antonio by Starita, New York
26. Pizzaiolo, Oakland
27. Ribalta, New York
28. flour + water, San Francisco
29. 2 Amy’s, Washington
30. Federal Pizza, Phoenix
31. Antico, Atlanta
32. Totonno’s, Brooklyn
33. La Piazza al Forno, Glendale, AZ
34. Via Tribunali, Seattle
35. Bricco, Haddon Township, New Jersey
36. ‘Pomo, Phoenix
37. Settebello, Las Vegas
38. Pizza Rock, Las Vegas
39. Pizzeria Virtu, Scottsdale
40. Pizzeria Beddia, Philadelphia
41. Il Cane Rosso, Dallas & Metroplex
42. Ravanesi, Concordville, PA
43. City House, Nashville
44. Tarry Lodge, Port Chester, New York (closed)
45. Desano, Nashville
46. Jon & Vinny’s, Los Angeles
47. Di Fara, Brooklyn (Sicilian)
48. All-Purpose, Washington, DC
49. Renzo, Charleston
50. Rubirosa, New York
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)
Durham, NC: Pizzeria Toro
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)
Portland, Oregon: Apizza Scholls
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.
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!).