This yr was an epic yr for pizza! It looks like some time since I’ve been capable of say that. However the reality is that whereas many pizza locations weathered the pandemic properly sufficient to remain afloat, there haven’t been as many thrilling openings and expansions because the pre-COVID days. However that every one modified in 2023. A New Haven type spot on high of a brewery in Brooklyn? Test. A hip slice joint working out of a basketball enviornment? In fact. A famend chef recognized for his upscale eating places pivoting to… what else… pizza? You wager. These are only a few of the spots that made my checklist this yr. However I’m simply glad that 2023 felt like the nice previous days (together with that darn line at Lucali, which is so long as ever). Listed below are the perfect pies I ate this yr:
5) LONG HOT SHALLOT PIZZA
Fini Pizza
Brooklyn, NY
In a assessment of Fini earlier this yr — which is connected to (however not inside) the Barclays Middle — I referred to as their pies a “Slam Dunk.” I’ll keep away from any additional basketball analogies on this blurb, however suffice to say that there are lots of actually unbelievable pies popping out of the ovens a each areas of Fini, which was began by a co-founder of Lilia. No pie is nearly as good as their Lengthy Sizzling Shallot, which is topped with sizzling peppers and roasted shallots, offering a one-two punch of candy and spicy flavors on high of what’s one in all Brooklyn’s greatest new pies.
4) CHEESE PIZZA
De Lucia’s Brick Oven
Raritan, NJ
This New Jersey spot has been serving up pies for over 100 years. But it surely has seen a resurgence of consideration in recent times as Dave Portnoy bestowed a 9.4 score on it (tied for 2nd highest within the nation with Di Fara and Frank Peppe). It’s true — their extremely regarded cheese pie is so scrumptious, you’ll most likely wish to attempt to end the big by yourself. The brick oven produces a crust with simply the proper quantity of crispiness. And as I chomped on every chunk — the straightforward mixture of sauce and cheese elicited a way of nostalgia.
3) FUNGHI PIZZA
Lala’s
Brooklyn, NY
New Haven type pizza is underneath represented in New York Metropolis. And Lala’s is a welcome addition to a pizza scene that gives nearly each type conceivable. Situated on the rooftop of Williamsburg’s Grimm Brewery, Lala’s oval formed pies are minimize into roughly 10 small slices, making a single pie the best dimension to share between two folks. The Fungi pie (shitake, maitake, thyme, mozzarella, gruyère) places all different mushroom pizzas to disgrace. Professional tip: add fermented crimson onions and a few sizzling honey to high it off.
2) NELLIE PIZZA
Stretch Pizza
New York, NY
For a lot of his profession, Wylie Dufresne has been extra intently related to molecular gastronomy than pizza, however his newest enterprise — Stretch Pizza — is a formidable entry into the world of sauce and cheese. After operating a pandemic pop up out of Bread’s Bakery, the total service pizzeria within the Flatiron neighborhood serves up ten pies that includes non-traditional toppings comparable to horseradish, tempura crumbs and dan dan hen (these are all discovered on totally different pies). Whereas a return go to is in an effort to discover the menu extra, I used to be blown away by the “Nellie” pie which is a shallot lovers dream. It options roasted shallots, pickled shallots, and fried shallots. A trifecta of perfection.
1) ALLIUM PIZZA
JBGB
Baltimore, Maryland
JBGB (which stands for John Brown Basic & Butchery) doesn’t sound like a spot that will be serving noteworthy pizza. However throughout a cease there for dinner this summer season, I ordered their Allium pie (mozzarella, fontina, scallion bechamel, cipollini, candy & bitter onions, garlic oil) off of a menu that additionally features a cheeseburger, steak, pork loin and fish. When the pie arrived at my desk, I knew I’d made a sensible choice. To the entire garlic and onion lovers on the market — it doesn’t get any higher than this. Each chunk melted in my mouth, because the scallion bechamel sauce and garlic oil fashioned a outstanding mixture of flavors. The crispy and crunchy crust was the proper canvas for my favourite pie of 2023.
