October is National Pizza Month and the only reason October was chosen is because it was the month that the magazine, Pizza Today, debuted and since the magazine’s publisher was the person who came up with the idea of National Pizza Day, he got to choose! Many of us think pizza should be honored more regularly – at least weekly given the number of Pizza Friday and Pizza Sunday posts that pop up on social media. There are all kinds of lists for best pizza towns in the U.S. and there are some towns that consistently make every list, so we thought they deserved a look. Celebrate Pizza Month at some of these pizza places around the country – it’s sure to be a real slice!
- Chicago: Of course, isn’t this the place where deep dish was invented? For the best deep dish pizza, check out Uno Pizzeria and Grill which appears on almost every must-see list for visitors to Chicago. Pequod’s Pizza is another pizza legend known for creating the “caramelized crust” back in the 1970s. They have a cult following for this delicious pie.
- San Francisco: There is definitely a pizza popularity in the City by the Bay and the most popular, and award-winning, pie is that of Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, founded by Tony Gemignani, who is a 13-time World Pizza Champion and two-time Food Network gold medalist. There’s also Flour + Water, which mixes Old World Italy with a Cali-style for their wood-fired pizza, and they’re known for their interesting toppings.
- Las Vegas: With a city that has replicas of the Eiffel Tower, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, and the Statue of Liberty, it’s no wonder they can replicate a pretty good pizza. Metro Pizza, which was started by two New York transplants in 1980, is a consistent award winner offering both deep dish and thin crust pies. And if you’ve experienced the afore-mentioned Tony’s Pizza in San Francisco, you’ll be happy to know that when in Vegas a similar treat can be found at Pizza Rock, which is part-owned by Tony Gemignani. Pizza Rock’s offerings include gluten free pies and the special square pizzas, made famous in Detroit.
- Philadelphia: Forget about the Philly Cheese Steak, try some Philly-style pizza when visiting Philadelphia. Of course, being one of the oldest cities in the country, there has always been pizza here but now the City of Brotherly Love is making headlines and best lists for their love of pizza. Pizzeria Beddia got a nod from Bon Appetit magazine as the Best Pizza in America in 2015. Without going into detail, the owner and pizza master, Joe Beddia, is known as the Pizza Jesus! Tacconelli’s, which has been serving up pizza in Philadelphia for five generations is another great PA choice for pizza pie – it’s all about the brick oven here!
- Portland (OR): If someone from New York says Portland has the best pizza, you gotta believe it. International Pizza Consultant (sounds like a great job) Anthony Falco, who hails from Brooklyn and knows a thing or two about pizza, made the statement during a visit back in 2018. Falco said it has to do with the ingredients and apparently, many of Portland’s pizzerias used Pacific Northwest high quality milled grains, which makes the difference. So, where can you sample some of Portland’s best? Try Apizza Scholls, Pizzeria Otto, and Baby Doll Pizza – which are consistent list makers.
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