Yearly I look ahead to counting down my 5 favourite pizzas from the previous 12 months. I began this annual recap again in 2013 (that yr, pies from Pizza Mind, Colony Grill, Desk 87, Micucci Grocery, and Luna D’Autunno — a pizzeria in Vietnam!) made the reduce. Since then, high accolades have gone to Pizzeria Pico (2014), The Parlor (2015), Westwind Orchard (2016), Pie For The Folks (2017), Mama’s Too (2018), La Morra Pizzeria (2019), Pizza Rita (2020), Kingston Customary Brewing (2021), Testo (2022), and JBGB (2023).
Essentially the most fascinating perception about this record is that solely as soon as prior to now 11 years was the perfect 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 perfect pizza. In spite of everything, it’s the place I’ve lived for the final 22 years. However perhaps the information 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
Dangerous Larry’s
Brooklyn, NY
I’m a sucker for ramp pizza — what can I say? Ramp pies have frequented these lists over time (most just lately courtesy of Wizard Hat in 2022). Dangerous Larry’s is an NYC-based pizza pop-up that regularly slings pies out of the unique Different Half Brewery. I swung by in mid-Might particularly to do this pie and it didn’t disappoint. It featured cultured garlic cream (I really like a garlic cream with refined pursuits!), recent mozz, boursin, roasted garlic oil, fennel pollen, and ramps. Like many ramp pies — it might have used extra ramps. However however, was scrumptious sufficient to make the record.
4) PAN PIZZA
Pequod’s
Chicago, IL
I don’t love deep dish pizza. However I do consider 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 (effectively, 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 many years Chicagoans and guests to Chicago have persistently rated this as top-of-the-line — if not the greatest — deep dish pizza within the metropolis. So after 13 years I returned to the scene of the crime to provide it one other shot. And it hit the spot. I don’t consider you possibly can actually evaluate deep dish pizza to different kinds 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 yr, 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 over time, however the Early Custom (Pulled Brisket, Rice Muffins, Garlic, Egg, Toasted Seaweed) stood out to me as significantly distinctive and engaging. What a enjoyable mixture of components!
2) ELOTE PIZZA
Mama’s Too
New York, NY
Mama’s Too is arms down one in every of my favourite pizza locations. I eat there a number of occasions 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 in a position to make it as much as Morningside Heights to attempt 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 motive. 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 yr 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 justifiable share of bar/tavern fashion pies in recent times and this was genuinely scrumptious. It’s not on any “better of” lists. It hasn’t acquired any nationwide press, so far as I can inform. However let or not it’s recognized that this easy pie at Shaner’s Pizza was the perfect I had in 2024. Sorry, New York Metropolis.
