Great pizza can change your whole mood—and maybe even your life. But let’s be real: not every slice lives up to the hype. Some joints are true legends, serving up crust, sauce, and cheese magic.
Others? All flash, no flavor. This list gives credit where it’s due… and calls out the pies that just don’t deliver.
1. Di Fara Pizza – Brooklyn, NY
Step into Di Fara, and you’re stepping into pizza history. Since 1965, this tiny Brooklyn shop has been crafting pies by hand, with founder Domenico DeMarco making each one himself for decades.
This isn’t fast food. The wait can be long, and the service slow, but what you get is a slice that tastes like it was made just for you. It’s messy, slightly charred, and beautifully imperfect. A true New York original.
2. Pequod’s Pizza – Chicago, IL
Forget what you think you know about deep-dish. Pequod’s does things differently, with a thick crust that’s caramelized around the edges thanks to a layer of cheese baked between the dough and the pan. The result is a pie that’s crisp, cheesy, and unlike anything else.
It’s heavy, yes—but every bite is rich, flavorful, and addictive. The sausage is especially excellent, and the sauce has a bold tomato kick. If you’re only going to try one Chicago deep-dish place, this is it.
3. Pizzeria Bianco – Phoenix, AZ
Chris Bianco changed the pizza game from a brick building in the Arizona heat. Pizzeria Bianco is tiny, the wait is long, but the payoff is one of the best wood-fired pies in the country.
There’s a reason people fly to Phoenix just for this pizza. Bianco’s dedication to quality and simplicity lets each ingredient shine. It’s a masterclass in restraint and flavor.
4. Sally’s Apizza – New Haven, CT
New Haven takes pizza seriously, and Sally’s is one of the legends. Their coal-fired oven churns out thin-crust pizzas with a signature char and chewy center. The tomato sauce has a bit of sweetness and tang, and toppings like mozzarella or sausage are always fresh and flavorful.
Try the tomato pie for something simple and perfect. It’s pizza stripped down to its roots—and it works. There’s no flash here, just craftsmanship and consistency.
5. Prince Street Pizza – New York, NY
This tiny shop in Manhattan’s SoHo district packs a massive punch. Their signature Spicy Spring slice, loaded with crispy pepperoni cups and gooey cheese, is a must-try. The square slice’s thick crust is crunchy on the outside, soft inside, and strong enough to hold serious toppings.
It’s rich, greasy in the best way, and full of bold flavor. Even if you’re not usually a fan of thick-crust or Sicilian-style pizza, Prince Street might change your mind.
6. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – San Francisco, CA
Tony Gemignani is a world pizza champion, and his passion shows in every pie. His North Beach spot serves everything from Neapolitan to Detroit-style, and they’re all excellent. Tony’s wood-fired crusts are light and blistered, and the toppings range from traditional Italian to fully creative.
The Margherita is simple perfection, while the Detroit Red Top is crispy, cheesy, and indulgent. No matter your pizza style, you’ll find your dream slice here.
7. Lucali – Brooklyn, NY
Lucali feels more like a cozy dinner party than a restaurant. There’s no menu—just pizza, calzones, and a warm glow from candlelight. The crust is thin and blistered, the cheese is gooey and stretchy, and the sauce is sweet and simple.
It’s a BYOB spot, and the line forms early. But once you’re seated and that pie hits the table, you’ll understand why this no-frills place is on everyone’s must-visit list.
8. Joe’s Pizza – New York, NY
For a classic New York slice, Joe’s is the real deal. The crust is thin but strong, the cheese is bubbly and browned just right, and the tomato sauce is perfectly balanced. It’s the kind of slice you fold and walk with—and feel proud doing it.
You won’t find wild toppings or gimmicks here. Just time-tested pizza that tastes like the city itself: fast, sharp, and unforgettable.
9. Frank Pepe Pizzeria – New Haven, CT
Another coal-fired legend, Frank Pepe’s is best known for its white clam pizza—but even the basic pies are outstanding. The crust is thin and crispy, slightly charred, and full of flavor. The ingredients are top-notch, and the balance of cheese to sauce is just right.
If you’ve never had clams on pizza, this is the place to try it. It’s weird, salty, garlicky—and surprisingly amazing.
10. Apizza Scholls – Portland, OR
Apizza Scholls proves Portland knows how to do pizza right. Their pies are Neapolitan-style with a Pacific Northwest twist—thick around the edges, chewy in the middle, and charred just enough. The toppings are thoughtful and creative without going overboard.
People come for the crust and stay for combos like sausage, ricotta, and Mama Lil’s peppers. It’s a pizza experience that feels fresh, fun, and full of heart.
11. Grimaldi’s Pizzeria – Brooklyn, NY
Grimaldi’s lives off its location and reputation—but it just doesn’t live up to either. Tourists pack in for the coal-fired oven and the bridge view, but the pizza often comes out underbaked, the crust limp, and the cheese uneven.
With so many amazing New York spots nearby, there’s no reason to settle for mediocre.
12. Giordano’s – Chicago, IL
Giordano’s stuffed pizza looks impressive but tastes like a casserole pretending to be a pizza. The crust is thick and bland, the sauce buried under mountains of cheese, and the balance all wrong.
If you’re into gooey layers of cheese with minimal flavor, go ahead. But if you’re looking for real Chicago deep-dish, better options are everywhere.
13. California Pizza Kitchen – Various Locations
They helped popularize fancy toppings—but not much else. The crust is bland, often dry, and feels like an afterthought. Even creative combos like BBQ chicken can’t save a pizza that lacks soul.
It’s more of a casual dining chain than a place for pizza lovers.
14. Sbarro – Mall Chains Nationwide
This food court standby feels like a flashback to 2005—in a bad way. Lukewarm, oily slices sit under heat lamps all day, and the flavor is as forgettable as the décor.
It’s pizza by volume, not by passion.
15. Ledo Pizza – Maryland/DC
Square shape aside, Ledo’s just doesn’t deliver on flavor. The crust is crumbly, the sauce oddly sweet, and the cheese blend feels processed.
Locals may have nostalgia, but for everyone else, it’s just not worth the trip.
16. Pizano’s Pizza – Chicago, IL
Trying hard to compete with Chicago’s greats, Pizano’s falls short. The crust lacks depth, the sauce is one-note, and the experience feels like deep-dish for beginners.
It’s not bad—just forgettable in a city where pizza should blow your mind.
17. Patsy’s Pizzeria – New York, NY
With a historic name and prime location, you’d expect greatness—but Patsy’s often delivers pizza that’s overcooked, underseasoned, and strangely dry.
The sauce is watery, and the crust lacks that signature NYC snap. It coasts on nostalgia more than flavor.
18. Pizza Ranch – Midwest Chains
It’s buffet-style, and it tastes like it. Pizza Ranch tries to please everyone and ends up with dry crusts, overly sweet sauces, and generic toppings that blend into a forgettable mess.
Stick to the fried chicken or dessert pizza if you must go.
19. Artichoke Basille’s Pizza – New York, NY
Their creamy, over-the-top artichoke slice is a novelty—but not a great pizza. It’s rich, messy, and too heavy to enjoy more than a few bites. And the crust is often lost under the weight.
It’s fine at 2 a.m. Not so much at 2 p.m.
20. Gino’s East – Chicago, IL
Another tourist magnet with deep-dish that’s more spectacle than substance. The cornmeal crust is dense, the tomato sauce lacks seasoning, and the whole pie takes forever to bake—without much reward.
Skip the Sharpie graffiti walls and head somewhere that actually delivers great flavor.