Yearly I sit up for counting down my 5 favourite pizzas from the previous 12 months. I began this annual recap again in 2013 (that 12 months, pies from Pizza Mind, Colony Grill, Desk 87, Micucci Grocery, and Luna D’Autunno — a pizzeria in Vietnam!) made the minimize. Since then, high accolades have gone to Pizzeria Pico (2014), The Parlor (2015), Westwind Orchard (2016), Pie For The Individuals (2017), Mama’s Too (2018), La Morra Pizzeria (2019), Pizza Rita (2020), Kingston Normal Brewing (2021), Testo (2022), and JBGB (2023).
Probably the most fascinating perception about this record is that solely as soon as prior to now 11 years was the very best pizza I had in New York Metropolis (Mama’s Too in 2018). The #1 slot went to pizza locations in California 3 times and the Hudson Valley 3 times. I’ve at all times been a robust believer that New York Metropolis has the very best pizza. In spite of everything, it’s the place I’ve lived for the final 22 years. However possibly the info proves in any other case?
Did a New York Metropolis spot high my 2024 record? You’ll discover out momentarily. Let’s go!
5) RAMP IT UP
Unhealthy Larry’s
Brooklyn, NY
I’m a sucker for ramp pizza — what can I say? Ramp pies have frequented these lists through the years (most just lately courtesy of Wizard Hat in 2022). Unhealthy Larry’s is an NYC-based pizza pop-up that incessantly slings pies out of the unique Different Half Brewery. I swung by in mid-Could particularly to do that pie and it didn’t disappoint. It featured cultured garlic cream (I like a garlic cream with subtle pursuits!), contemporary mozz, boursin, roasted garlic oil, fennel pollen, and ramps. Like many ramp pies — it may have used extra ramps. However nonetheless, was scrumptious sufficient to make the record.
4) PAN PIZZA
Pequod’s
Chicago, IL
I don’t love deep dish pizza. However I do imagine that that is about as tasty as deep dish pizza will get. So for the primary time in eleven years, I’m together with a deep dish (properly, technically a “pan pie” on this record). I’d been to Pequod’s as soon as earlier than again in 2011. And I wouldn’t classify it as a very memorable expertise. However over the previous a long time Chicagoans and guests to Chicago have constantly rated this as the most effective — if not the finest — deep dish pizza within the metropolis. So after 13 years I returned to the scene of the crime to offer it one other shot. And it hit the spot. I don’t imagine you’ll be able to actually examine deep dish pizza to different types of pizza. However within the “deep dish” class, it doesn’t get extra satisfying than this.
3) YEARLY TRADITION
Nowon
Brooklyn, NY
By far the “funkiest” pizza I had this 12 months, Nowon is a Korean restaurant (with outposts within the East Village and Bushwick). They serve six pizzas with toppings that aren’t usually discovered on pizza within the US — assume gochu pink sauce, roasted kimchi, and rice truffles. I’ve tried a handful of their pies through the years, however the Early Custom (Pulled Brisket, Rice Desserts, Garlic, Egg, Toasted Seaweed) stood out to me as notably distinctive and attractive. What a enjoyable mixture of substances!
2) ELOTE PIZZA
Mama’s Too
New York, NY
Mama’s Too is fingers down one among my favourite pizza locations. I eat there a number of instances yearly. And with the opening of its West Village outpost in 2024, their mouth watering slices are much more accessible. I’ve been eyeing their seasonal elote pie for years, however was by no means capable of make it as much as Morningside Heights to strive it. However this August, I discovered myself within the West Village craving some pizza and swung by. Mama’s Too doesn’t provide many seasonal or rotating pies, however this seems every summer season for good cause. This isn’t a lightweight slice — it’s doused with roasted corn, cojita cheese, crema, guajillo, ancho, and chili piquin powder. And wow is it good.
1) CHEESE PIZZA
Shaner’s Pizza
Sarasota, FL
My favourite pie of the 12 months is from a pizza spot in Sarasota, Florida that’s run by a former Main League baseball participant: Shane Rawley. Whereas the restaurant is a shrine to baseball, the pizza was unexpectedly phenomenal. I’ve tried my fair proportion of bar/tavern type pies lately and this was genuinely scrumptious. It’s not on any “better of” lists. It hasn’t obtained any nationwide press, so far as I can inform. However let it’s recognized that this straightforward pie at Shaner’s Pizza was the very best I had in 2024. Sorry, New York Metropolis.
