The Food Network has weighed in on the state of the pizza slice in America—in all 50 states, in fact.
The article by Sara Ventiera, titled “50 States of Pizza Slices,” will give independent pizzerias something to brag about—and, hopefully, a boost to business—although it’s not positioned as a “best-of” list along the lines of 50 Top Pizza.
“Since its humble Big Apple beginnings,” Ventiera writes, “slices have spread across the country, adapting to local flavors, ingredients and styles of dining. From Roman al taglio to classic New York triangles, here are 50 slices to try around the United States.”
The article singles out indie pizzerias like Alley Cat in Manchester, New Hampshire; Princi in Seattle; Pie-Eyed Pizzeria in Chicago; The Original Buscemi’s in Eastpointe, Michigan; and Boss Lady Pizza in Boulder, Colorado.
Some of the featured pizzerias have already earned national recognition. Ann Kim, the celebrated Minnesota pizzaiolo behind Pizzeria Lola and Young Joni, earned a spot for her third concept, Hello Pizza, in Minneapolis. “Sicilian-style and thin-crust pies can be customized with a slew of toppings, which include Berkshire bacon, Kalamata olives and organic spinach,” Ventiera reports. “Prefer to leave the combinations to the pros? Opt for a specialty pie like the top-selling Hello Trinity, which blends sweet red sauce with whole milk mozzarella, house-made fennel sausage, natural casing pepperoni and cremini mushrooms on a dense, chewy crust.”
In New York, Ventiera recommends Brooklyn’s legendary L&B Spumoni Gardens. “It’s the pizzeria’s World Famous L&B Sicilian slice that has arguably elevated this place into a pizza-lovers’ destination. This slice sets itself apart with an upside-down composition. The cheese is sprinkled right on top of the dough, which is then layered with a sweet tomato sauce and finished with a flurry of salty Parmesan flakes on top. When it’s pulled out of the oven, the thick crust is lightly browned around the edges with a springy center. It’s certainly not your typical New York slice—but fans swear it’s better.
And what list of craveable pizza slices is complete without Slice House by Tony Gemignani in Las Vegas? “Slice House offers a number of standout options,” the Food Network writer says. “Among them are the classic square Grandma slice covered in cheese and tomato; the Picante loaded with spicy meat, pepper and Cholula sauce; and the savory Purple Potato accented with bacon, mozzarella, feta, rosemary and a pesto swirl.”
But our attention was also drawn to spots like Spicy Pie in Fargo, North Dakota (their Jalapeño Popper pie is pictured above), and Tortugas Homemade Pizza in Birmingham, Alabama—perhaps lesser known to the nationwide pizza community but equally deserving of attention.
In Oklahoma City, Ventiera praised the wonderfully eclectic menu at Empire Slice House, home of the Ghostface Killah, featuring a ghost chili marinara sauce, pepperoni, and poblano plus BBQ chips, and the Spuds MacKenzie with a Cheese Whiz base (!), roasted potatoes, bacon, jalapeños, cheddar, scallions and sour cream.
Then there’s Crust in Tremont, Ohio. Ventiera notes, “There’s no need to order a second piece at this inventive pizzeria: It sells one-pound slices cut from 32-inch pies. And each giant slab can be customized with whatever you want. Add on fried egg, stuffed banana peppers, Spanish chorizo and Danish blue cheese….The spot is known for its eccentric flavor combinations like lemon rosemary chicken (garlic potato, Pecorino, mozzarella, roasted tomato, feta, red pepper flakes, olive oil and a hint of lemon zest) and mixed mushrooms topped with goat cheese, thyme, garlic, caramelized onions, balsamic reduction, Pecorino, mozzarella and an umami-laden drizzle of white truffle oil.”
As with most lists like this one, major cities were favored over more out-of-the-way spots, but it’s always nice to see pizzerias in the American heartland get some love.
Here’s a look at the full list, which was (weirdly) not presented in alphabetical order:
Virginia: Wiseguy Pizza, Arlington
New Hampshire: Alley Cat, Manchester
Florida: Steve’s Pizza, Miami
Alaska: Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria, Anchorage
South Carolina: Slice Co., Charleston
Washington: Princi, Seattle
Georgia: Fellini’s Pizza, Atlanta
Kentucky: The Post, Louisville
Illinois: Pie-Eyed Pizzeria, Chicago
Arkansas: Vino’s Brewpub, Little Rock
Louisiana: Pizza Delicious, New Orleans
Arizona: Otto Pizza & Pastry, Tempe
Texas: Home Sliice Pizza, Austin
California: The Cheese Board Collective, Berkeley
Tennessee: Five Points Pizza, Nashville
Michigan: The Original Buscemi’s, Eastpointe (Detroit)
Colorado: Boss Lady Pizza, Boulder
Connecticut: Da Legna Pizzeria, New Haven
Delaware: Café SiTALY, Wilmington
Hawaii: JJ Dolan’s, Honolulu
Idaho: Piehole Pizza, Boise
Kansas: D’Bronx, Kansas City
Iowa: Mesa Pizza, Iowa City
Maine: Otto Pizza, Portland
Maryland: Mario’s Original Pizza & Pasta, Baltimore
Minnesota: Hello Pizza, Minneapolis
Massachusetts: Antonio’s Pizza by the Slice, Amherst
Montana: Tarantino’s Pizza, Bozeman
Mississippi: Sal & Mookie’s, Jackson
Missouri: Waldo Pizza, Kansas City
Nebraska: Yia Yia’s Pizza & Beer, Lincoln
New York: L&B Spumoni Gardens, Brooklyn
Nevada: Slice House by Tony Gemignani, Las Vegas
New Jersey: Dominick’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Newton
New Mexico: Back Road Pizza, Santa Fe
North Carolina: Pie Pushers, Durham
North Dakota: Spicy Pie, Fargo
Oklahoma: Empire Slice House, Oklahoma City
Oregon: Sizzle Pie, Portland and Beaverton
Pennsylvania: Primanti Brothers, Pittsburgh
Rhode Island: The Pizza Gourmet, Providence
Wisconsin: Ian’s Pizza on State, Madison
South Dakota: R-Pizza, Vermillion
Vermont: Ramunto’s Brick Oven Pizza, Bennington
West Virginia: Pies and Pints, Fayetteville
Wyoming: Pinky G’s, Jackson Hole
Utah: The Pie Pizzeria, Salt Lake City and other locations
Alabama: Tortuga’s Homemade Pizza, Birmingham
Ohio: Crust, Tremont
Indiana: Giorgio’s Pizza, Indianapolis
