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 12 months, pies from Pizza Mind, Colony Grill, Desk 87, Micucci Grocery, and Luna D’Autunno — a pizzeria in Vietnam!) made the lower. Since then, prime 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).
Essentially the most fascinating perception about this checklist is that solely as soon as previously 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 thrice and the Hudson Valley thrice. I’ve all the time been a powerful believer that New York Metropolis has the very best pizza. In any case, it’s the place I’ve lived for the final 22 years. However possibly the information proves in any other case?
Did a New York Metropolis spot prime my 2024 checklist? 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 through the years (most lately courtesy of Wizard Hat in 2022). Dangerous 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 however, was scrumptious sufficient to make the checklist.
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 checklist). 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 constantly rated this as probably the greatest — if not the greatest — 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 consider you may actually examine 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 12 months, Nowon is a Korean restaurant (with outposts within the East Village and Bushwick). They serve six pizzas with toppings that aren’t typically discovered on pizza within the US — assume gochu purple sauce, roasted kimchi, and rice muffins. I’ve tried a handful of their pies through the years, however the Early Custom (Pulled Brisket, Rice Truffles, 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 palms down one among 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 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 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 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 justifiable share of bar/tavern type 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 identified that this straightforward pie at Shaner’s Pizza was the very best I had in 2024. Sorry, New York Metropolis.
