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 :
- Una Pizza Napoletana – New York, USA
- Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – San Francisco, USA
- Ribalta NYC – New York, USA
- Razza Pizza Artigianale – Jersey City, USA
- 0 ‘Munaciello – Miami, USA
- Spacca Napoli Pizzeria – Chicago, USA
- Song ‘E Napule – New York, USA
- La Leggenda Pizzeria – Miami, USA
- Pizzana – Los Angeles, USA
- Kesté Fulton – New York, USA
- Ken’s Artisan Pizza – Portland, USA
- Pizzeria Bianco – Phoenix, USA
- Jay’s Artisan Pizzeria – Kenmore, USA
- Ops – New York, USA
- Double Zero – San Francisco, USA
- Lovely’s Fifty Fifty – Portland, USA
- Partenope Ristorante – Dallas, USA
- Apizza Scholls – Portland, USA
- Flour House – San Luis Obispo, USA
- Forcella – New York, USA
- Pizzeria Mozza – Los Angeles, USA
- Roberta’s – New York, USA
- Pizzeria Beddia – Philadelphia, USA
- Mission Pizza Napoletana – Winston – Salem, USA
- Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana – Darnestown, USA
- A 16 – San Francisco, USA
- San Matteo – Pizzeria and Cuisine – New York, USA
- Brick Fire Tavern – Honolulu, USA
- Del Popolo – San Francisco, USA
- Pasquale Jones – New York, USA
- Forno Rosso – Chicago, USA
- Il Forno – San Antonio, USA
- Pasquale’s Pizzeria – South Kingstown, USA
- Stanzione 87 – Miami, USA
- Coals Artisan Pizza – Louisville, USA
- Flour + Water Pizzeria – San Francisco, USA
- Robert’s Pizza and Dough Company – Chicago, USA
- Pomo – Scottsdale, USA
- Bufalina Due – Austin, USA
- Nostrana – Portland, USA
- Basil & Barley Pizzeria Napoletana – Colorado Springs, USA
- Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana – Irvine, USA
- Scottie’s Pizza Parlor – Portland, USA
- Cart-Driver RiNo – Denver, USA
- Bricco Coal Fired Pizza – Haddon Township, USA
- Roostica Wood-Fire Pizzeria – Key West, USA
- Diavola – Indianapolis, USA
- Spark Pizza – Redmond, USA
- Fabrica Pizza – Tampa, USA
- Craft 64 – Scottsdale, USA
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