Pizza has a biblical following in the Northeast. Thanks to robust Little Italy communities that rival the original, the region is a destination for its authentic Neapolitan, Sicilian and other pizza styles.
Thin or thick crust, round or square, cheese or no cheese, and toppings make or break a purist’s definition of the best. And perhaps no other food has been translated so often than our beloved pizza.
Luckily, the beauty of pizza preferences lies in the beholder and there are plenty of options to tempt your palate. Find your favorite as we look at the regional pizza styles of the Northeast and where you can find some of the most notable slices.
Neapolitan
Originating in Naples, Italy, Neapolitan pizza was brought to the Northeast by Italian immigrants who began to settle in these parts around the late 19th century.
This traditional round, thin crust pie now boasts global fame, though it’s larger than the domestic Italian versions of past generations. Its simultaneously doughy yet crispy edge, abundant San Marzano tomato sauce and smattering of buffalo mozzarella cheese provide the simple foundation that allows chefs to craft unique variations, using secret family recipes and time-honored baking traditions to set their pies apart.
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Download Now!Artisan adaptations have morphed into their own official methods, including New York and New Haven styles, as well as New Jersey tomato pies and thin-crusted bar pies, which reign within their state borders.
Minor subtleties separate each pizza style, from length of dough fermentation (New York style is quick rise, while New Haven dough proofs overnight), to cooking methods (coal, wood or gas fire), to size (New Haven’s smaller pizzas counter New York’s larger pies that are often sold by the foldable slice) and cheese (tomato pie is often “senza formaggio” or without cheese.)
They also have their own lexicon: New Haven die-hards put a little “mootz” on their “apizza,” which is a vestige of their Italian dialect, while New York slices smothered in cheese are dubbed “Neapolitan American” but often simply referred to as “regular.”
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Legendary New Haven neighbors Frank Pepe’s Pizza Napoletana, Modern Apizza and Sally’s Apizza are the go-to for traditional eponymous pies since the 1920s and 1930s. Try the classic clam pizza at Frank Pepe’s (which it invented and others copied), the signature Italian Bomb pizza at Modern and Sally’s Garden Special.
Get an inside look at how pizza is made at Frank Pepe’s.
For classic New York-style pies from legit Italian pizzaiolos, it’s Di Fara Pizza in Brooklyn (since 1965) or Joe’s in Greenwich Village (since 1975). Both offer Neapolitan and Sicilian pizzas with little fanfare, just a classically delicious old-world vibe with old-world ingredients.
In Rhode Island, Pizza Marvin in Providence crafts a delicious New Haven pizza, while Fellini Pizzeria’s New York pie is as close to the original as you can get, but with a whole wheat crust.
Boston’s Regina Pizzeria is considered by many as the city’s best brick oven pizza, though Molinari’s in Dorchester offers considerable competition with its custom sauce and wood-burning oven.
For a personal, super thin-crust Neapolitan pie, head to Eddie’s Pizza on Long Island for their trademarked bar pie.
Cross the New Jersey border for tomato pies, which generally are Neapolitan, though variations abound. A dusting of parmesan instead of mozzarella scatters the top, though some chefs bury cheese beneath the sauce. De Lorenzo’s Tomato Pies was one of the first to open outside Trenton, and that 86-year legacy means a mouth-watering, slightly charred crust.
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Sicilian
Originating in Sicily, Sicilian pizza (known as “sfincione” in Italian, which appropriately means “thick sponge”) was popular there until the 1860s, where translations included stuffed crust, a calzone-type pizza pocket and even a second layer of dough.
Its thicker, doughier crust resembles focaccia bread, and it’s baked in a pan, so its rectangular shape is a healthy canvas for toppings. Tomato sauce and flavorful cheese, as well as sardines, herbs and onion are common accompaniments, though heavier garnishes have been widely served across America for a nearly 100 years.
Regional variations make this pizza an epicurean adventure, from Chicago’s deep dish to Detroit’s hearty square and Rhode Island’s cheese-less pizza strips. Just like its Neapolitan cousin, Sicilian pies have their own vocabulary, so make sure to ask for a “square” rather than a slice, and don’t fret if you need cutlery for the first steaming bite.
L&B Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn is a can’t-miss destination for the upside-down Sicilian pie, where four generations have layered sweet tomato sauce atop strands of mozzarella and parmesan to prevent it from saturating the dough.
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Emmy Squared in Brooklyn is known for their Detroit-style pie, a cheese-covered square pizza with a thick, fluffy crust, baked on a cooling rack embedded in a pan for maximum crisp factor on the cheese-crusted corner piece.
Alternately, Emmett’s in SoHo proffers round deep-dish pies that harken back to the founder’s upbringing in Chicago, with such a cavernous crust that they resemble a Thanksgiving dessert, except they’re bursting with copious tomato sauce and cheese versus apple or pumpkin.
Gino’s Ristorante in Belleville, New Jersey, serves up enchanting Sicilian pies, either plain or with everything.
In Dedham, Massachusetts, the potato pizza at Santoro’s Sicilian Trattoria is a delicacy, with its thick crust covered in creamy Bechamel sauce, instead of tomatoes, julienned potatoes, rosemary and sage seasoning and mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.
Rhode Island’s pizza strips are renowned as party pizzas because they’re ideal for large groups and are served at room temperature, without cheese but with an ample dose of sweet tomato sauce that’s almost like a paste. DePetrillo’s Pizza and Bakery in North Providence and The Original Italian Bakery in Johnston, both operated by members of the same family, offer bona fide pizza strips. For a fresh out of the oven meal. Hotline Pizza in Providence and A Guy and His Pie in Pawtucket offer authentic Detroit pizzas for pre-order take out only.
The Grandma pie is a lighter, fresher more rustic version of the traditional Sicilian, dotted with crushed plum tomatoes. It is thinner, denser, and crispier than traditional Sicilians, but just as delicious. Umberto’s Pizzeria of New Hyde Park, New York, is often credited with originating the Grandma-style pie and makes a shining example of this pizza style; try it any of their five locations across Long Island.
Whatever kind of pizza prefer, there’s no better place for a pizza tour than the Northeast. (In fact, if a guided tour of one of the most famous pizza destinations in the country sounds like something you’d like, AAA members can save on pizza tours with A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours).
What’s your favorite pizza? Tell us in the comments.
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I found this article to be slightly uninformed…
South Shore Bar Pizza (SSBP) is a “thing” and it has a loyal following. There is a Facebook group with over 40,000 members. It is regional to an area of Massachusetts. How could this NOT be mentioned? (!) It has its own unique flavor profile, form factor, and requires unique cookware (special pans only sold in Brockton, MA).
So many pizza shops add too much sugar to attract kids. I understand kids eat the most so catering to them is good for business, but bad for kids.
Personally, its the oregano, italian spices and great cheeses that make it. Crust preference thin, its just the “plate” for the sauce & cheese. Stuffing crust with anything just makes it unhealthy.
Market Basket HAD the best pizza (and prices) in Mass until they added sugar.
Regina is ok, love little Ceasars and Papa Johns.
This a great guide to Pizza!
I wish you could see in a easy format all pizzeria’s listed by Name / Style / City / State
Best Pizza .Roman Pizza in New Milford N.J
You mussed the boat when you made no mention of Utica New York where you will find some of the best pizza in the country.
Yep. “SSBP”, or “South Shore Bar Pizza” in dozens of Massachusetts locations is an undeniable delicacy. People LITERALLY drive hundreds of miles to pick-up the stuff. It gets shipped worldwide. I prefer “Town Spa”, but “Poopsies”, “Tinrays” “Venus Cafe”, “Cape Cod Cafe”, and scores of others are scattered throughout the state. There are even places in Colorado, California, and Florida who make the stuff for Massachusetts ‘expats”
Robert- I totally agree and was happy to see your comment! The bar pizza is a regional specialty and deserves mention!!!
I agree. Poopsie’s is the best pizza on earth. I no longer live nearby, so I buy several half-cooked, freeze them, and finish cooking as needed.
I fully agree with Robert E. Audlee. South Shore Bar Pizza is a delicacy in and of itself. There are subtle differences between places. Among the legendary are Town Spa, Lynwood, Cape Cod Cafe and Buddy’s Union Villa. Try them all!
No mention of Santillo’s in Elizabeth, NJ? It’s been rated the #1 pizza in NJ multiple times. It opened in 1918 with a brick oven hand built by the original owner. And the oven is DEEP! The pizza peels are like 12 feet long! Over 100 years later it is still run by the Santillo family.
I live just a bit North of NYC and know of two kinds/Styles missed within rather good article:
1) Greek Style: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_pizza
Which has some element of
2) Utica Style. Takes a bit over 24 hours to proof/prepare the dough. Pan and over baked. Very different crust than most others.
I’m a true pizza connoisseur having learned how to make the best Sicilian pie from my Grandma. The closest I can find to hers is right here in Kingston NY at A Slice of Italy. It is very light and crispy. The regular pizza is also the best around too, being tasty and crisp. I can take these slices home, freeze them, and then bake them as needed – never losing the crispiness!
Also missed: 1) Greek style. 2) Utica style. Both of them in my area-Just North of NYC.
You don’t mention the type of Pizza from South East MA. Pizza topped with local Portuguese flavors such as Chourico (Portuguese sausage)
You can get the Fall River Pizza (Chourico and Fries) in Fall River, MA.
The crust is different here also.
Also along the coast you get a Fish and Chips with fresh caught fish. Big nod to the local fishing communities
The second oldest pizza parlor in the US is O’Scugnizzo’s Pizza on Bleecker St. in Utica, New York, home of the upside down pizza. ( the sauce is placed on top of the pizza after it is cooked with generous amount of grated cheese to finish it off ). It is unlike any pizza I have had in New York City, Long Island, or Connecticut. A favorite in Upstate New York.
I was lucky enough to grow up in New Haven on the Holy Trinity: Sally’s, Pepe’s and Modern. New Haven “A-beetz” rules. Add in Zuppardi’s in West Haven, Frisco’s and Ernie’s Apizza in New Haven, Grand Apizza Shoreline (3 places) and you’ll thank me later. Just went to Papa’s in Robbinsville, NJ. Oldest tomato pie in USA. Was horrible compared to New Haven. So was the bar pies at Kinchley’s Tavern in Ramsey and Star in Orange.
I grew up going to The Star back in the 50’s/60’s which was better than Toast of the Town but not as good as going to Newark when my dad got a car to go to The Reservoir in Newark. Moved to Bergen and found Kinchleys which was thin and good but not great Italian pizza and haven’t been there in 20 years.
If you ever come to Derby, Ct (west of New Haven), check out Roseland Pizza. 4th Generation restaurant, with pizzas like Shrimp & Prosciutto, as well as standard Italian Dishes. The “small” calamari is large enough for one person’s meal – skip the marinara and get the horseradish sauce.
If your ever eat a thin crust “detroit” style pizza you may not go back to the traditional style. FYI Most new england style “bar” pizza use white cheddar not mozzarella.
Ah, as I read the pizza reviews, they made my mouth water. Sally’s and Pepe Pizza in New Haven are places to visit on your pizza tour. You will taste the best pizza you have ever eaten.
I agree with Dan Gallagher. South Shore bar pizza is the best!!
I would like to add Johnnie’s in Mt. Vernon, NY to the list of great pizza.
You missed an entire culture of pizza that originated in SE Massachusetts called “Bar Room Style.” There is almost a cult following on this type of pizza if you search on Facebook and other places. Search “South Shore Bar Pizza Social Club.” Here is an article about this style of pizza:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/06/lifestyle/south-shore-bar-pizza-is-way-life/
Galleria Umbertos, Hanover St, Boston, has the best Sicilian slices! I’ve been going there for 50 years, all of the food here is amazing and unbelievably reasonable. Bovas Bakery, corner of Salem & Prince streets, Boston, also has great Sicilian slices and amazing goodies! Also open 24/7, except Christmas 😎
Hands-down one of the best pizzerias in the state of CT
Try DeFazio in Troy NY. In my opinion, the best pizza north of Brooklyn. As good as Pepe’s in New Haven