NYC’s Una Pizza Napoletana Is Named America’s Best Pizzeria by Italian Ranker

Italian website 50TopPizza specializes in ranking pizza places around the world

Una Pizza Napoletana's pies.
The pies from Una Pizza Napoletana were named the best in the United States.
Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty

Reopened in March on New York City’s Lower East Side following a two-year hiatus, Una Pizza Napoletana has wasted no time in returning to form and was just named the top pizzeria in the U.S. by Italian website 50TopPizza.

According to the site, its anonymous rankers spent a year dining at pizzerias around the country in order to come up with 50 finalists, and Una Pizza Napoletana came out on top. “The criteria for assessment?” per the site. “The most important is the quality of the dough and raw materials used for the toppings. The service, the wine and beverage lists and, in general, the attention and care given to the customer are also taken into consideration.”

First opened in the East Village in 2004 following a lengthy stint in New Jersey, Una Pizza Napoletana later moved to San Francisco before returning to NYC to open on the LES in 2018 and then shutting down amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As the name suggests, Una Pizza is a Neapolitan-style pizzeria and its naturally-leavened, wood-fired pies are only baked three at a time after being assembled by hand.

“The crust is so tender it barely fights fork, knife or teeth,” Pete Wells wrote of Una Pizza in 2019 for The New York Times. “Some diners will wish it put up more crackly resistance. You inhale it at least as much as you eat it. When you have finished, some of the most popular pizzas in town will seem tough, leathery, overworked. Even if this is not the style you crave, you’ll know that it’s the work of a baker who has spent years listening to the dough.”

Coming in behind pizzamaker Anthony Mangieri’s hotspot on Orchard Street were Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco, Ribalta in New York, Razza Pizza Artigianale in Jersey City and O’ Munaciello in Miami. Out of the 50 joints on the list, nine are located in New York City, while Portland and San Francisco tied for the second-most locations with five apiece.

“It’s humbling, and I am filled with gratitude,” Mangieri said. “Every day since opening Una Pizza Napoletana in 1996 I’ve had the dream to pursue this work without compromise. We’ve been so blessed to be able to do this and continue to learn and grow as a pizzeria and as pizza makers.”

Courtesy of the rankers, here’s the full list :

  1. Una Pizza Napoletana – New York, USA
  2. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – San Francisco, USA
  3. Ribalta NYC – New York, USA
  4. Razza Pizza Artigianale – Jersey City, USA
  5. 0 ‘Munaciello – Miami, USA
  6. Spacca Napoli Pizzeria – Chicago, USA
  7. Song ‘E Napule – New York, USA
  8. La Leggenda Pizzeria – Miami, USA
  9. Pizzana – Los Angeles, USA
  10. Kesté Fulton – New York, USA
  11. Ken’s Artisan Pizza – Portland, USA
  12. Pizzeria Bianco – Phoenix, USA
  13. Jay’s Artisan Pizzeria – Kenmore, USA
  14. Ops – New York, USA
  15. Double Zero – San Francisco, USA
  16. Lovely’s Fifty Fifty – Portland, USA
  17. Partenope Ristorante – Dallas, USA
  18. Apizza Scholls – Portland, USA
  19. Flour House – San Luis Obispo, USA
  20. Forcella – New York, USA
  21. Pizzeria Mozza – Los Angeles, USA
  22. Roberta’s – New York, USA
  23. Pizzeria Beddia – Philadelphia, USA
  24. Mission Pizza Napoletana – Winston – Salem, USA
  25. Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana – Darnestown, USA
  26. A 16 – San Francisco, USA
  27. San Matteo – Pizzeria and Cuisine – New York, USA
  28. Brick Fire Tavern – Honolulu, USA
  29. Del Popolo – San Francisco, USA
  30. Pasquale Jones – New York, USA
  31. Forno Rosso – Chicago, USA
  32. Il Forno – San Antonio, USA
  33. Pasquale’s Pizzeria – South Kingstown, USA
  34. Stanzione 87 – Miami, USA
  35. Coals Artisan Pizza – Louisville, USA
  36. Flour + Water Pizzeria – San Francisco, USA
  37. Robert’s Pizza and Dough Company – Chicago, USA
  38. Pomo – Scottsdale, USA
  39. Bufalina Due – Austin, USA
  40. Nostrana – Portland, USA
  41. Basil & Barley Pizzeria Napoletana – Colorado Springs, USA
  42. Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana – Irvine, USA
  43. Scottie’s Pizza Parlor – Portland, USA
  44. Cart-Driver RiNo – Denver, USA
  45. Bricco Coal Fired Pizza – Haddon Township, USA
  46. Roostica Wood-Fire Pizzeria – Key West, USA
  47. Diavola – Indianapolis, USA
  48. Spark Pizza – Redmond, USA
  49. Fabrica Pizza – Tampa, USA
  50. Craft 64 – Scottsdale, USA

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