The Best Pizzas in America

[Ben]

They might all be good, but the only one that actually looks like a pizza is #2. I'd be almost more inclined to grab a "take and bake" from Costco (which I often do, adding extra cheese and toppings before I throw it in my oven).

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/09/24/best-pizzas-in-america-2014/?intcmp=obmod_ffo&intcmp=obnetwork

[Perd Hapley]

I'd give 2, 5, and 8 a try. And Margherita (sp?) is not my thing, but I will give it props for starting the whole, delicious genre. Leave it to the Americans to perfect what the Italians started.

I used to be a stickler for the super- thin crust, but I am really loving the thick crust from Jets, these days.

[Ben]

Some of the best pizza I ever had was some by-the-slice stuff in Boston. I can't remember what the place is called, but there's a giant building/mall that is all food shops of one sort or another. I got it in one of the Italian places there.

[makattak]

Not a single Chicago style on the list, therefore it's crap.

[vaskidmark]

Some of the best pizza I ever had was some by-the-slice stuff in Boston. I can't remember what the place is called, but there's a giant building/mall that is all food shops of one sort or another. I got it in one of the Italian places there.

Faniuel Hall Market?  Or the old Haymarket Farmer's Mart?

As for all of those pictured - they appear to be some sort of baked soft cracker with "stuff" on them, but not one looks like a proper pizza.

And yes, there is much good to be said for a Chicago-style deep dish casserole but it is not the be-all and end-all of the genre.  As an example, the best pizza on this side of the river that runs through River City is to be found at a hole in the wall Chinese food place.  Which may also be a comment on the quality of pizza available.

stay safe.

[brimic]

Not a single Chicago style on the list, therefore it's crap.

Correct. Another elitist author who doesn't understand culture exists beyobd the coasts.

[Hawkmoon]

"There are only three pizza places on the planet: Sally's, Pepe, andModern, all in New Haven,” confided director Gorman Bechard, who is working on a pizza documentary Pizza, A Love Story.

I have eaten at all three. They are all so good that people drive from NYC to New Haven for pizza at one of these three -- that's a 75 mile drive that takes a minimum of an hour and a half. They're good, but I have to admit that I prefer Pizza Hut to any of them.

The second worst pizza I ever had was in Rome (Italy, not NY or ME). The worst was in a small town on the coast of CA, somewhere about midway between LA and SF.

[Hawkmoon]

Some of the best pizza I ever had was some by-the-slice stuff in Boston. I can't remember what the place is called, but there's a giant building/mall that is all food shops of one sort or another. I got it in one of the Italian places there.

Old brick building? Faniuel Hall Market?

[Dannyboy]

Not a single Chicago style on the list, therefore it's crap.

I thought the exact opposite. Chicago style "pizza" isn't pizza. Had they included any then the list would have been flawed.

[brimic]

I have eaten at all three. They are all so good that people drive from NYC to New Haven for pizza at one of these three -- that's a 75 mile drive that takes a minimum of an hour and a half. They're good, but I have to admit that I prefer Pizza Hut to any of them.

The second worst pizza I ever had was in Rome (Italy, not NY or ME). The worst was in a small town on the coast of CA, somewhere about midway between LA and SF.

I completely get local hype, there's a lot of a mix of pt barnum and the emperor's new clothes involved. I took my wife to a local overhyped steak house once, $200+ later we walked out, both deciding that Texas Roadhouse has much better food, at 1/5 the price.

[Regolith]

I thought the exact opposite. Chicago style "pizza" isn't pizza.

Yup. More like a casserole.

[Pharmacology]

>not including HomeSlice  in austin  as #1  - 10 on the list

[Jamisjockey]

NY style is my favorite. Hands down.  And finding a good NY style pizza is hard.  And I refuse to go to NY to find out if it's authentic.   

[Ben]

Faniuel Hall Market?  Or the old Haymarket Farmer's Mart?

Old brick building? Faniuel Hall Market?

Yup, that's it! Faniiuel Hall.

[roo_ster]

I like most the various sorts of pizza: NY, Chicago, Greek, etc, etc. when well-executed.

But that list looks like a one-note tune.  They all look the same.  Bo-ring.

Probably my favorite is a Greek-style pizza I found down in Florida, south of Tarpon Springs.  Good and sloppy.  With a Greek salad as accompaniment, you're talkin some good eats.

[MechAg94]

NY style is my favorite. Hands down.  And finding a good NY style pizza is hard.  And I refuse to go to NY to find out if it's authentic.   

There is a small italian resurant around here that does a good thin crust pizza, but I have never been to NY so I have no idea if it tastes like that. 

[MechAg94]

#5 is the only one that looks like I might want to actually eat it.  What is the basis for judging this stuff?  I think appearance is playing too big a role.

Maybe it is just working in chemical plants with working guys and blue collar guys, but when I see pizza ordered for a group, no one eats all that fancy crap.  EVERYONE likes meats.  Get pepperoni, meat lovers, etc.  A lot people say they like all the fancy veggie topings, but they get one of those then 3 pieces of the meat pizzas.  


I worked at a Mr Gatti's in high school.  I still like their pizza best.  They have a ground breakfast sausage toping that is really good.

[erictank]

I ***LOVED*** Mr. Gatti's. Lived in the Austin/Round Rock area for 10 years, and have never had a pizza I liked better. There used to be one here in VA, out in Harrisonburg just off I-81, but they closed several years ago.  And they weren't all that great the few times I went by there, sadly. Haven't been back to TX for a long time now, so no basis for comparison anymore.

I'd love to find a little local pizza place that does great regular-crust pizza (I detest deep-dish). Royal Pizza in MD is really pretty good, and close to my work. Down near home, I'm sure there's SOMETHING (there's tons of restaurants in and around the Capitol Beltway area), but I haven't found it yet. For mass-market pizza, I'd buy Papa John's over Domino's or Pizza Hut (though Domino's is leaps and bounds better than when I was a kid). Ledo's (another regional chain) is better than those, but they're not close to my house, and I don't like their pepperoni slices as much as the rest of the pizza. Above any of them, though, is a take-and-bake from Safeway. That's some good pizza there.

[makattak]

I thought the exact opposite. Chicago style "pizza" isn't pizza. Had they included any then the list would have been flawed.

Well, you're as wrong as those that say thin crust isn't pizza.

I enjoy all types though I think Chicago is best.

In fact one of the things I miss about Northern Virginia is a little Greek restaurant with amazing pizza.  Their most surprising pizza was the arugula pizza. I'd have never ordered it but my mother did and I tried it out of curiosity.  Wow. Who could have guessed salad tastes good on a pizza?

In any case, this list is far too limited to be taken seriously.

[HankB]

I grew up in Chicago, and unless they've all closed since I left, I've no doubt there are plenty of pizzerias there which would shame this so-called "top 10 list" and some of the disgusting (yes, I said disgusting) examples cited.

Thin crust, thick crust, stuffed - Chicago had it all.

[MechAg94]

I ***LOVED*** Mr. Gatti's. Lived in the Austin/Round Rock area for 10 years, and have never had a pizza I liked better. There used to be one here in VA, out in Harrisonburg just off I-81, but they closed several years ago.  And they weren't all that great the few times I went by there, sadly. Haven't been back to TX for a long time now, so no basis for comparison anymore.

I'd love to find a little local pizza place that does great regular-crust pizza (I detest deep-dish). Royal Pizza in MD is really pretty good, and close to my work. Down near home, I'm sure there's SOMETHING (there's tons of restaurants in and around the Capitol Beltway area), but I haven't found it yet. For mass-market pizza, I'd buy Papa John's over Domino's or Pizza Hut (though Domino's is leaps and bounds better than when I was a kid). Ledo's (another regional chain) is better than those, but they're not close to my house, and I don't like their pepperoni slices as much as the rest of the pizza. Above any of them, though, is a take-and-bake from Safeway. That's some good pizza there.

There are not that many Mr Gatti's left down here either, but there are a few. 

[Dannyboy]

Well, you're as wrong as those that say thin crust isn't pizza.

Am I?

[never_retreat]

My favorite near where I used to live, a bit of a hike now but I always go there when in the area.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g46730-d852328-Reviews-Nicolosi_s_Pizza-Phillipsburg_New_Jersey.html
This is my second favorite. Near where I work now.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/angelos-ii-pizzeria-and-restaurant-hillsborough

Both are in NJ of course. I won't eat pizza out of this area.

[Dannyboy]

I've got lots of family in the Pburg/Alpha area. I might have to hit Nicolosi's next time I make it up that way.

[Ben]

In any case, this list is far too limited to be taken seriously.

Daily meal does the same with almost all their "top ten" lists. I saw their "top ten hamburgers" list the other day, and most of them had stuff I'd never heard of added to them and seemed to be more of a novelty item made by some $200 a plate fancy restaurant.