50 Top Pizza USA: Tony's Pizza Napoletana is the Best in the US

After Italy, the birthplace of pizza, the US can be considered its second home. This is confirmed by the new 50 Top Pizza ranking, the most important guide in the sector, which is online and available for free.

In first place of 50 Top Pizza USA 2021 - Prosecco DOC Award, in collaboration with S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna - is Tony's Pizza Napoletana, a San Francisco (California) restaurant owned by the master pizza-maker Tony Gemignani. In second position comes the Neapolitan-style pizza restaurant known for a pie with a prominent crust and a soft texture, Una Pizza Napoletana in Atlantic Highlands, in the state of New Jersey, run by Anthony Mangieri.

Bronze for Spacca Napoli, a pizzeria in Chicago (Illinois), where Jonathan Goldsmith turns out famous pizza. In fourth position is Ribalta, a symbol of Italian taste in New York run by Rosario Procino and Pasquale Cozzolino. In fifth place comes the pizzeria of Dan Richer, Razza Pizza Artigianale in Jersey City (New Jersey).

Although the 50 pizzerias are distributed across many of the US states (including Hawaii), most of the establishments are located along the two coasts. But it is New York, with 11 pizzerias present in the ranking, that rules for the number of pizzerias on the list, making The Big Apple the capital of pizza in the US.

The ranking is the result of exhaustive research by the inspectors of 50 Top Pizza who, for a whole year, have examined a huge number of pizzerias located throughout the country, always anonymously. The parameters for judging? First of all, the quality of the dough and the ingredients used as toppings, the service, the wine and beer lists and, in general, the attention and care towards the customer. Even if the pandemic had a hand in the rankings this year, the inspectors did not let themselves be intimidated, and for the pizzerias where it was not possible to consume on the premises, the judging was done via delivery.

"We have reviewed many Italian-American restaurants,” said Barbara Guerra, Luciano Pignataro and Albert Sapere, the three curators of the 50 Top Pizza project, in a statement. “A clear sign of immigration that began more than a century ago and is still ongoing. A phenomenon that has made pizza a popular food throughout the United States and which has consequently also contributed to its global success."

“There are different styles of pizza present, from the classic Neapolitan, to the New York-style, passing through multiple shades. Finally, a trend that we like to underline is the one that combines pizza with bread, the white art par excellence. In fact, many of those present in this ranking, including some of the top names, are increasingly combining the bread-making business with that of pizza chefs, offering products of equal quality. A new wave that is also affecting Italy and Europe."

50 Top Pizza USA 2021 - The Rankings

1. Tony's Pizza Napoletana - San Francisco
2. Una Pizza Napoletana - Atlantic Highlands
3. Spacca Napoli Pizzeria - Chicago
4. Ribalta NYC - New York
5. Razza Pizza Artigianale - Jersey City
6. Pizzeria Bianco - Phoenix
7. Kesté Fulton - New York
8. Ken’s Artisan Pizza - Portland
9. Pizzeria Mozza - Los Angeles
10. Bonci - Chicago
11. Bungalow by Middle Brow - Chicago
12. Del Popolo - San Francisco
13. Song' E Napule - New York
14. Lucali - New York
15. Roberta's - New York
16. Ops - New York
17. Pasquale Jones - New York
18. Forno Rosso - Chicago
19. Doppio Zero - San Francisco
20. Pizzeria Locale     - Boulder
21. Pizzeria Vetri - Philadelphia
22. Basil & Barley Pizzeria Napoletana - Colorado Springs
23. Forcella - New York
24. Apizza Scholls - Portland
25. Partenope Ristorante - Dallas
26. Il Forno - San Antonio
27. Angelina's Pizzeria Napoletana - Irvine
28. Jay's Artisan Pizzeria - Kenmore
29. Mission Pizza Napoletana - Winston-Salem
30. Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana - Darnestown
31. Coda di Volpe - Chicago
32. A 16 - San Francisco
33. San Matteo - Pizzeria e Cucina - New York
34. Brick Fire Tavern - Honolulu
35. Flour House - San Luis Obispo
36. Il Lazzarone - Kansas City
37. Pasquale's Pizzeria - South Kingstown
38. Pizzeria 22 - Seattle
39. Il Pizzaiolo - Mt. Lebanon
40. Craft 64 - Scottsdale
41. Pizzicletta - Flagstaff
42. Stanzione 87 - Miami
43. Coals Artisan Pizza - Louisville
44. Flour + Water Pizzeria - San Francisco
45. Pizzana - Los Angeles
46. Tribute Pizza - San Diego
47. Il Ritrovo - Sheboygan
48. Dellarocco's - New York
49. Patsy’s Pizzeria - New York
50. Robert's Pizza and Dough Company - Chicago