It’s hard to believe that Yelp is 20 years old. Since 2004, the site has given diners an opportunity to review their favorite (and least favorite) restaurants. While those reviews can sometimes be a thorn in the side of independent restaurant operators, they have also undoubtedly helped many businesses grow their reputation and brand.
The site puts out an annual Top 100 Places To Eat list. The 2024 version was released this week, and it features seven different pizzerias from around the U.S. How were these pizzerias chosen? In short, via submissions and then some proprietary behind-the-scenes “data science”—whatever that might mean.
The list purports to be a better representation of U.S. restaurants than, say, a Michelin list of establishments many people may not be able to afford to eat at. “Yelp’s annual Top 100 Places to Eat list covers a wide range of places to eat—from white tablecloth to food trucks and hot dog carts,” the site said on its submissions page. “It’s more accessible than a list of all fine dining establishments and really reflects the uniqueness of the Yelp community.”
Related: Why Do Legendary Brooklyn Pizzerias Keep Shutting Down?
Here’s a look at the seven pizzerias that appear on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat 2024 and why Yelpers loved them.
No. 30, Pizzeria Luba, Auburn, California
The annual list ranks 29 restaurants before arriving at its first pizzeria, which is Pizzeria Luba in Auburn, California. For those unfamiliar with Auburn, it’s located about 30 minutes northeast of Sacramento, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
According to Yelp, Pizzeria Luba is known for its sourdough-crust, 12” Neapolitan pies like the Honey Badger Pizza (Pecorino, Calabrese salami and house-made hot honey) and its weekly specials. The sourdough is made from 100% naturally leavened dough.
“We don’t add any manufactured yeast, sugar, or oil—just good-quality flour, salt, water and our sourdough starter, which we’ve had going since 2012,” chef-owner Corey Belanger told Yelp. “It has an earthy, nutty taste and a chewy texture that holds up to the ingredients better than other doughs.”
No. 31, Tutti Da Gio, Hermitage, Tennessee
After waiting 29 spots to see a pizzeria, the list includes two right in a row, as Tutti Da Gio checks in at number 31. A darling of the Nashville-area food scene, Tutti Da Gio has made a name for itself with Neoplitan pies and hand-made Sicilian-style pastas, lasagnas, paninis, wood-fired pizzas and desserts.
As of now, the joint is takeout and delivery only but plans to open an 80-seat dining room in nearby Hendersonville this May. Tutti Da Gio’s most popular dishes, according to Yelp, include the Margherita Pizza, the Norma Pizza (eggplant, mozzarella, ricotta and red sauce), arancini and tiramisu.
The shop is also praised for its light, bubbly crust with “just the right amount of chew,” one Yelper wrote.
No 51. Much Ado About Pizza, Pleasanton, California
US Pizza Team members Mark and Kira Zabrowski own Much Ado About Pizza, located on the eastern outskirts of the Bay Area in Pleasanton, California. Kira took home second place at the International Pizza Challenge in Las Vegas and also finished runner-up in the Southeast Traditional Division.
The Zabrowskis are no stranger to being featured in PMQ—Kira was a top 10 finalist for PMQ’s 2021 Virtual U.S. Pizza Cup.
Much Ado About Pizza, a takeout only shop, earns praise for its great pizza and unique Shakespearan menu names. Pies include The Taming of the Chew (half-beef, half-pork pepperoni), Titania’s Bounty (veggie pie), The Capulet (cherry tomatoes, basil and goat cheese) and the O’thello’s O’bsession (pesto, Italian cheese, spinach, squash and red onion, finished with broccoli, arugula and baby bell peppers).
“Wow, this place is amazing,” one Yelper wrote. “The pizza dough is so flavorful and tangy, I could eat it all by myself. In fact, it smelled [so] good, I inhaled 2 pieces before I got home. The cheese is also super-good; [there’s] lots of gooey cheese and some crispy cheese on the bottom. The two owners are very sweet and hospitable. The theme of the place [alone] is adorable.”
Yelp noted that some fans of the pizzeria, in true Shakespearean fashion, are leaving reviews in iambic pentameter.
No. 64, R Town Pizza, Reno, Nevada
If one needs proof that Detroit-style pizza has spread to every corner of the U.S., look no further than R Town Pizza in Reno, Nevada, which opened in 2022 and quickly won locals over with its thick, chewy crusts.
One of the most popular dishes at R Town Pizza is the D Sting, which is a play on the famous Bee Sting from Roberta’s: vegan hot honey drizzled over soppressata, a cheese blend, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil and house-made red sauce.
“This Detroit style pizza did not disappoint,” one Yelper wrote. “The ambiance was chill, [and] they had a few pinball machines in the back so you can entertain yourself as you wait for food. The pizza was a 10/10. I’ve had my share of pizza experiences, but this one by far was my favorite. The cheese around the edge was not overpowering, which in some cases it can be, and everything was perfectly balanced. If you’re looking for a good slice, look no further!”
No. 70, How Ya Dough’N, Boca Raton, Florida
It’s amazing how many new pizza businesses were founded during the pandemic, and How Ya Dough’N is no different. Garett and Gabby Goodman, a married couple, purchased a home pizza oven during the pandemic and began experimenting with making pizza. They started selling the pizzas locally and soon had people driving from hours away to check out their sourdough-crusted pies.
That eventually turned into a brick-and-mortar business with 12 different pies on the menu. How Ya Dough’N also rotates in three specialty pies per month, “including experimental combos like Lemon Ricotta with rosemary and arugula,” Yelp wrote.
The sourdough crust is made fresh daily with high-protein flour imported from San Francisco and fermented for up to a week. This helps break down the gluten—Garett said gluten-sensitive stomachs have little trouble with his pizza.
“My wife and I put our heart and souls into what we’re doing,” Garett told Yelp.
No. 82, M&N’S Pizza, Bethesda, Maryland
Indian fusion pizzerias have begun to crop up across the country. Based just outside of Washington D.C., M&N’s Pizza is a great example of an Indian shop pushing the boundaries of what pizza can be.
The shop is known for its “Whacky Pizza” menu. Examples include the Aushak Pizza, which is inspired by a popular Afghani dumpling dish and includes spiced ground beef, mozzarella cheese and yogurt drizzle.
“You absolutely can’t go wrong with any of the pizzas here,” one Yelper wrote. “We try to get a new pizza each time, since there are seriously no pizzas that are bad. So far, though, our favorites are the Spicy Chicken Curry (it’s actually spicy, which is appreciated), the Bharta (an excellent vegetarian option), and Spicy Peri-Peri (I want to order this one every time). Plus, the owners are really friendly and kind.”
No. 90, Union Park Pizza, Boston
It must give Bostonians no end of pleasure that the only Northeastern pizzeria features on Yelp’s list is located in Boston—not New York.
Union Park Pizza is a deserving entrant, known for making dough and sauce in-house daily. The shop was founded by a married couple who saw a “for lease” sign in the window of the building that formerly housed the Morse Fish Company and Harry O’s pizza shop. “We knew right away that we had to check it out,” the couple wrote on its website. “We’re a young married couple with a passion for pizza and local organic food. We called the phone number, followed some leads and with some serious elbow grease, lots of help from family and friends, and many DIY online videos, we opened just a few months later.”
“I’m not joking, friends,” one Yelper wrote. “This was some of the best pizza I’ve had in a LONG time. The flavor combinations were unique and delicious, everything was super fresh, and the crust was perfectly balanced. The house salad was also super yummy, with lots of fresh toppings and a great blend of lettuce (not something you see every day with a pizza-joint salad!). Service was fast and super friendly.”
