There’s nothing quite like a list of pizza rankings that will gin up spirited debate. Perhaps that’s what the Washington Post is aiming for in releasing its new list of pizza rankings, broken down into five separate regions: New York, New Haven, Chicago, Detroit, and California Neapolitan.
The rankings, released Thursday, are based on reviews of more than 85,000 independent and small-chain restaurants. The Post says it worked with Yelp to segment regional styles of pizza rather than simply where the pizza place was located and only considered pizzerias with 100 or more online reviews. The publication also used expert analysis from its own food critics and writers to offer a less democratic perspective.
“We set out to find the country’s best pizzas, from slice shops in New York City to fancy California-inspired pizzas, gathering favorites from experts, historians and pros around the country,” the Post wrote. “For a more populist view, Washington Post data columnist Andrew Van Dam analyzed 7.5 million Yelp reviews of pizzerias to see which regional-style restaurants attract the most and highest ratings.”
Here’s how the rankings broke down by region.
New York
Expert Picks
–Joe’s Pizza, 7 Carmine St., New York, NY
–John’s of Bleecker Street, 278 Bleecker St., New York, NY
–Brooklyn DOP, 237 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn, NY
Top-rated on Yelp
–Lombardi’s Pizza, 32 Spring St., New York, NY
–Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, 1 Front St., Brooklyn, NY
–NY Pizza Suprema, 413 Eighth Ave., New York, NY
–Joe’s Pizza, 7 Carmine St., New York, NY
–Bleecker Street Pizza, 69 Seventh Ave. South, New York, NY
Chicago
Expert Picks
–Lou Malnati’s, 6649 Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood, IL
–My Pi, 2010 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL
–Kim’s Uncle, 207 N. Cass Ave., Westmont, IL
Top-rated on Yelp
–Lou Malnati’s, 6649 Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood, IL
–Pequod’s, 2207 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago, IL
–Giordano’s, 130 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL
–Milly’s Pizza in the Pan, 1005 W. Argyle St., Chicago, IL
–Gino’s East, 162 E. Superior St., Chicago, IL
Detroit
Expert Picks
–Buddy’s, 17125 Conant St., Detroit, MI
–Loui’s, 23141 Dequindre Rd., Hazel Park, MI
–Grandma Bob’s, 2135 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI
Top-rated on Yelp
–Loui’s, 23141 Dequindre Rd., Hazel Park, MI
–Buddy’s, 17125 Conant St., Detroit, MI
–Palazzo Di Pizza, 1222 E. Eleven Mile Rd., Royal Oak, MI
–Grandma Bob’s, 2135 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI
–Cloverleaf Bar & Restaurant, 24443 Gratiot Ave., Eastpointe, MI
New Haven
Expert Picks
–Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, 157 Wooster St., New Haven, CT
–Ernie’s, 1279 Whalley Ave., New Haven, CT
–Next Door, 175 Humphrey St., New Haven, CT
Top-rated on Yelp
–Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, 157 Wooster St., New Haven, CT
–Modern Apizza, 874 State St., New Haven, CT
–Bar, 254 Crown St., New Haven, CT
–Da Legna x Nolo, 687 State St., New Haven, CT
–Next Door, 175 Humphrey St., New Haven, CT
California Neapolitan
Expert Picks
–Speak Cheezy, 3950 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, CA
–Lovely’s Fifty Fifty, 4039 N. Mississippi Ave., Portland, OR
–Pizzeria Bianco, 623 E. Adams St., Phoenix, AZ
Top-rated on Yelp
–Antico Pizza Napoletana, 1093 Hemphill Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA
–Pizzeria Bianco, 623 E. Adams St., Phoenix, AZ
–Fuoco Pizzeria Napoletana, 101 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, CA
–Pupatella, 5104 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA
–Fat Olives, 2308 E. Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ
The rankings contain an interactive map where users can look through the top-rated independent pizzerias in each state, for example, and have more resources for pizza chefs as well.
