Pizza is a nationally adored food in America. Cities like Detroit, New York, and Chicago have each developed their own regional twists on this Italian staple dish. Thousands of restaurants offer unique and delicious “pies”, making it hard to decide which spot is the best.
January 9 through 16 is National Pizza Week, so we’re ranking America’s best pizza restaurants to mark the occasion. These hot spots will convince you to treat yourself to a delicious cheesy slice.
10. Artichoke Basille’s Pizza (New York, New York)
Astonished critics, chefs, and fans can’t stop talking about Artichoke Basille’s Pizza. The pizza shop’s signature Artichoke Slice combines cream sauce, spinach, mozzarella, pecorino romano cheese and artichoke hearts, creating a melt-in-your-mouth experience. With irresistible menu items, it’s no surprise that Artichoke Basille’s Pizza has lines that wrap around the block.
Artichoke Basille’s Pizza first set up shop in New York City’s East Village in 2008. Francis Garcia and Sal Basille, the masterminds behind Artichoke Basille’s Pizza, are fourth-generation restaurateurs from the East Village. Today, business is still booming. The hot pizza spot has 12 successful locations across the nation, including Berkeley, California and Newington, Connecticut.
9. Del Popolo (San Francisco, California)
In May 2012, Jon Darsky transformed a 20-foot shipping container into a mobile pizzeria. One of Del Popolo’s biggest attractions is a handmade wood-burning oven that creates masterworks, like the legendary White Pie. If that doesn’t convince you to grab a slice, the pizzeria’s famous Margherita di Bufala may win you over.
Del Popolo launched a cozy brick-and-mortar restaurant in November 2015, so their devoted fans can enjoy a delicious pie with wine or beer in a chair. Locals say Del Popolo is their go-to spot every time a pizza craving hits. To avoid a long wait at this popular pizzeria, Yelp reviewers suggest arriving early for dinner or making reservations.
8. The Original Tacconelli’s Pizzeria (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
The Original Tacconelli’s Pizzeria keeps customers coming with its hit Tomato Pies with minimal cheese. Since 1946, Italian immigrant Giovanni Tacconelli has used the same recipe at his pizzeria. The majority of fans swoon over Tacconelli’s White Pizza, a gem that combines cheese, black pepper, and loads of garlic.
The wait may be long, but that doesn’t stop fans who want to devour a slice of pizza with fresh ingredients and flavors that pop. The Original Tacconelli’s Pizzeria website even states, “Please keep in mind we are a one-man, one-oven operation. Waiting time may vary. Please be assured each pie is made fresh and to order.”
7. Cane Rosso (Dallas, Texas)
Believe it or not, you can find more than just BBQ in Texas. In fact, one of the best pizza restaurants in the country is located in Dallas. Cane Rosso went from slinging pizza from a vehicle to becoming one of the highest-rated pizzerias in the country.
Owner Jay Jerrier is no stranger to media attention. Jerrier has been featured in D Magazine, The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and the Houston Press. He’s also received unusual attention after displaying a ranch bottle with a $1,000 price tag as a joke. Jerrier says ranch lovers took the stunt seriously and believed that Cane Rosso tried to tell people to stop eating pizza with ranch or pay the price. According to Eater, Jerrier made another joke about ranch and posted a sign on the restaurant’s door that said, “Absolutely no outside ranch dressing allowed!!!!!”
6. Serious Pie (Seattle, Washington)
With fresh ingredients and handmade dough, who could resist a slice from Serious Pie? Serious Pie’s dough takes multiple days to make. Using their stone-encased apple wood-burning oven, the chefs lightly brown the crusts at 600 degrees. This ensures that the crust stays crispy, yet chewy, at the same time.
The heart of the pizza is then topped with delicious ingredients like house-made charcuterie, foraged mushrooms, and imported cheeses. Customers can’t get enough of the Sweet Fennel Sausage pie, which includes roasted red pepper and provolone cheese.
5. Santarpio’s (Boston, Massachusetts)
For more than a century, Santarpio’s has served Boston with praise-worthy pies, including their signature sausage and garlic pie. Many customers call Santarpio’s an “old school” joint, with walls covered in pictures of famous boxers. It could also have something to do with the restaurant only accepting cash.
Santarpio’s is also known for its simple, yet powerful ingredients. Besides Santarpio’s signature pie, customers highly recommend “The Works”; a hot, fresh, and crispy pizza with the perfect balance of mushrooms, onions, peppers, garlic, sausage, pepperoni, lots of cheese, and anchovies.
4. Al Forno (Providence, Rhode Island)
What’s a better way to bring people together than over their appreciation of pizza? Fans crowd around Al Forno to taste their must-have pies, including the signature Margherita Pizza covered in Pomodoro, fresh herbs, two kinds of cheese, and extra virgin olive oil.
Al Forno owners Johanne Killeen and George Germon opened the pizzeria in January 1980, serving Providence with heavenly grilled pizzas. While most pizzerias toss their pies in burning ovens, Al Forno has perfected the art of making pizzas on grills over hardwood charcoal fire.
3. Pequod’s (Chicago, Illinois)
You can’t go wrong with any of the amazing pies from Pequod’s. Many fans give glowing reviews to Pequod’s Deep-Dish Pizza with a thick layer of cheese, caramelized crust, and crispy, blackened edges. It’s basically the ultimate casserole of melted cheese.
According to Food Network, Pequod’s has turned out delicious deep-dish pizza since the 1970s. And pizza from Pequod’s continues to be in popular demand. Many people use a rideshare application just to get there. In 2017, Lyft dubbed Pequod’s as “the most visited restaurant in Chicago.”
2. Buddy’s Pizza (Detroit, Michigan)
Buddy’s Pizza specializes in square pizzas with crisp, thick crust, best known as the original Detroit-style pizza. Since 1946, the restaurant has served hungry Detroit natives and tourists outstanding pies using the finest ingredients and “an acute attention to detail.”
Today, business is still booming. Buddy’s Pizza has 13 locations in Michigan, including Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Bloomfield, and Dearborn. The Detroit-style pizza shop plans to open even more locations in Detroit and Plymouth. Now, more people can attest to the beautiful square pies from Buddy’s Pizza.
2. Razza Pizza Artigianale (Jersey City, New Jersey)
Razza Pizza Artigianale commits to making the best pizzas for its customers (and it shows). Based in Jersey City, the pizza joint only uses the freshest and finest ingredients, down to the salt. Razza Pizza Artigianale bakes all of its pies with a wood-burning oven.
The New York Times, Thrillist, and frequent customers have nothing but good things to say about the food from Razza Pizza Artigianale. Thrillist notes, “Razza even charges $4 for bread and butter, which sure, is totally ludicrous, but you better believe you haven’t had butter this delicious and fresh since you went to Amish country on an elementary school field trip.”
1. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana (New Haven, Connecticut)
Some pizza enthusiasts say you don’t know how much you love pizza until you’ve tried Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana. Opened by Frank Pepe in 1925, USA Today and The Daily Meal rank Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana as the No. 1 pizza restaurant in the country.
Frank Pepe initially baked two types of pizza at the restaurant: a tomato pie with grated cheese, garlic, oregano, and olive oil and another with anchovies. Today, the Original Tomato Pie is still on the menu. However, the most popular pie is the White Clam Pizza, which is a delight for pizza lovers and seafood fans.
