Best region for pizza in the U.S.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (PapaJoe8)

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:05:50 GMT

My first thought when I saw this thread was to start a new one called "whats your favorite regional pizza?". What the difference? Hmmm? We have two chili threads with the same question. :~)

My fave is a Mexican pizza. Hey... I'm in Texas! A large flour tortilla, some tomato sauce, a few spices, Chorizo sausage, and some white Mexican cheese. Oh... and pickled jalapenos!

OK, OK, I's not REAL pizza! :~)
Joe

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (PapaJoe8)

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:01:08 GMT

My first thought when I saw this thread was to start a new one called "whats your favorite regional pizza?". What the difference? Hmmm? We have two chili threads with the same question. :~)

My fave is a Mexican pizza. Hey... I'm in Texas! A flour tortilla, some tomato sauce, a few spices, Chorizo sausage, and some white Mexican cheese. Oh... and pickled jalapenos!

OK, OK, I's not REAL pizza! :~)
Joe

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (machineman)

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:45:44 GMT

bigd

I spent about 3 yrs traveling on biz weekly to Buffalo. Excellent Italian food, beef on Weck and wings. I never had good pizza and I went to dozens of places. It was too thick of a crust, greasy and undercooked..like really bad NYC style.

You missed the point. :) The Buffalo pizza style has a crust thicker than "NY" style but not as thick as Chicago style. It has texture and usually the best spots there blend their own sauces and even their own pepperroni... For a good example, try Bocce or La Nova, or countless others. You don't find NY style pizza in Buffalo. Never understood why people like eating stuff off of a floppy cracker ;)

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (bigd)

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:32:25 GMT

I spent about 3 yrs traveling on biz weekly to Buffalo. Excellent Italian food, beef on Weck and wings. I never had good pizza and I went to dozens of places. It was too thick of a crust, greasy and undercooked..like really bad NYC style.

Best pizza region is CT where the wood-fired thin, cracker like crust rules. This pains me coming from Chicago originally. NYC style pizza is very good and comparable to Chi thin pizza. Chicago crust tends to be a bit thinner than NYC's and has more cheese.

On the deep dish side, Chicago is the best by far. I have never had a deep dish pie outside of the city that equaled a bad one in chicago.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (ann peeples)

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 08:15:50 GMT

I have had many good pizzas across the country, but the best thin crust pizza i have ever had( and continue to do so) is in our Italian community here in Milwaukee. The tiny restaurant is called Zaffiros and they still have the pepperoni that curls up as the pizza bakes, unlike the mass produced pepperoni that seems to be the norm.The crust is so thin that you can fold it up and eat like a sandwich...and no processed sausage either.I believe they get theirs from Dentice Brothers down the street...yummy.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (Glazoo)

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:40:33 GMT

I don't want to alienate half of the people on here with my first post BUT....
My feeling is that the East coast has more places where you can get a great slice of (at least to my way of thinking) the most authentic version of pizza. I consider myself lucky to live in CT where thanks to the popularity of the New Haven pizza joints there is a bunch of good pizza joints within a short drive.
I've had some wonderful Chicago style pizza but it's more like a country Fair version of pizza like the giant overstuffed baked potato etc...

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (ayersian)

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 13:52:19 GMT

Has anyone read the book "Pizza: A Slice of Heaven" by Ed Levine (2005, Universe Publishing)? It's basically an atlas to all the best pizza in the USA, though it does address great pies in other countries. It's a super read for all reading this thread -- because we're obviously pizza lovers, regardless of region.

Dirtdog, thanks for the Pizza Pub suggestion! I work in Wilbraham and sadly have never heard of it. But Red Rose is very good, and if you ever make it across the line, Randy's Wooster Street Pizza in Manchester, CT is excellent, too. For all Eastern CT residents like me, you'll be happy to know that Frank Pepe's of New Haven is opening a place in Manchester!

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (dirtdog58)

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 13:02:21 GMT

Grampy,come down to Sringfield & try the Red Rose on main street in the south end.The BEST in western Mass.Also Tony's on Boston road in the pine point section of the city.Another great place (in my humble opinion)is pizza pub,rt 20,Boston road in Wilbraham.The valley advocate run's a best of the valley every year.You can get some great idea's in there.But the Rose is SINFULLY good

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (JBarry713)

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:56:36 GMT

Connecticut (esp. New Haven)

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (janifer)

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 21:20:52 GMT

How 'bout in the Kent/Akron Ohio vicinity? But NOT Luigi's on North Hill; no idea why people rave about that place. Since the demise of Loft Pizza in downtown Kent I have a hard time getting my fix when back in the area.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (desertdog)

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 20:52:49 GMT

Any other recommendations for Pizza in the Buffalo area????

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (Quartz)

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 21:28:15 GMT

The Midwest. Chicago Style Pizza is the best. Pizzapapalis (the original location in Downtown Detoit) Little Caesars, Domninoes, Hungry Howies, of course, a lot of Italians populate the Midwest as well. Then we have Louies, Buddy's, Shield's, etc.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (sultan)

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 20:00:39 GMT

well as a minnesotan, i can hardly disagree with any of you that good pizza can be found here short of a non-stop flight to chicago or new york. however, that said, minneapolis is basically an island....far, far away from the lutifisk and hot dishes that are consumed in the rest of the state. once you cross the bridge over the river into the Twin Cities (provided the bridge doesnt collapse), you will find good pizza here....but you have to look...and look hard....most of the places up here serve pizza on a nasty bread with a nasty pizza sauce and equally nasty toppings....but once you are in the city (cities), we do have some good choices. No, you're not going to find the New York or Chicago kind of pizza here. But we have a small chain up here called Pizza Luce' (3 locations, downtown, uptown, and St Paul). And let me tell you something.....its good....REAL GOOD. Its kinda gourmet pizza (ingredients like katamala olives, fotina cheese, pickled artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, etc., but you can also get the the standard pepperoni, sausage, etc.) But its the sauce.....oh this sauce....to hell with New York and Chicago...you think you cant get good pizza here....wait till you taste this sauce....in fact, to hell with the pizza, i'd rather just drink the sauce....its so good, its been compared to the finest wines of the world. its the kind of sauce that doesnt come from a can....its homemade, slow cooked for 8 hours minimum, then stored in refridgeration for 24 hours to bring out its full flavor, then canned until its needed(ok, it is canned, but its still homemade). This sauce is so good....its slightly sweet, slightly sour, and slightly perfect. And this sauce and the pizza its poured onto is baked in brick ovens at molten temperatures until it has that perfect char (try the florentine one.....spinach with Molinari salami...YUM!!!) and you just might re-think what your idea of perfect pizza is. This chain has won regional awards again and again. And ironically, the people who produce this wonderful pizza are mostly college students who are basically drunk and/or high all the time. Perhaps thats why their grub is so good. So the next time you visit minneapolis, skip the lutifisk and the walleye (both are fish), and head down to Pizza Luce'. You will not be disapointed. (aside from the fact that you had to fly/drive up to Minnesota). If you choose to visit St Paul, they have an equally good pizza place called Red Savoy's. But this place is totally ghetto. If you like that kind of thing.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (Jimeats)

Fri, 16 Sep 2005 08:23:52 GMT

I understand that here in Boston Pizza was'nt all that popular untill after WW2 we had local pol that was running for office again by the name of James Micheal Curley sometime in the early 50s. His driver was carting him around on the campain trail when James Micheal asked who this guy was by the name of Pizza was because his signs were all over the place he thought pizza was running against him. I believe he was the only guy elected to congress from jail, guess he did things backward. His political carrer spanned over five decades make all the politicans we have today look like a bunch of amatures. Chow Jim

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (Pizzafiend)

Thu, 15 Sep 2005 19:04:49 GMT

The ORIGINAL GINO'S ON RUSH EST.1954
NOT AFFLIATED WITH GINO'S EAST EST.1966 12 YEARS LATER) HAS THE BEST IN THE WORLD.THE GINO'S SPECIAL FRESH SAUSAGE(NOT THAT PATTY CRAP),FRESH MUSHROOMS,FRESH GREENPEPPERS,AND FRESH ONIONS.THEY ARE ONE OF THE LAST DEEP DISH JOINTS IN CHICAGO THAT STILL USES FRESH INGREDIENTS DAILY.EVER SINCE GINO JR.THE III TOOK OVER IT HAS GONE BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS WHEN IT WAS IN THE BASEMENT @ 932 N. RUSH UNDER BILLY'S.THEY ARE CURRENTLY REMODELING THE ENTIRE BUILDING AND RESTAURANT WHERE IT IS NOW LOCATED SINCE 1995 930 N.RUSH AND FROM WHAT I HERE ITS GOING TO BE AWESOME I ASKED GINO THE III WHY THE CHANGE AND HE TOLD ME ITS TIME TO MAKE THE CHANGE I WANT IT TO STILL BE THE WAY IT WAS BUT WITH A NEW GENERATIONS FEEL HE SAID HE WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW WHEN THEY REOPEN SOMETIME IN SPRING OF 2006 AND OF COURSE ILL LET ALL YOU ROADFOOD EXPERTS KNOW WHEN THEY REOPEN.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (Pizzafiend)

Thu, 15 Sep 2005 18:51:40 GMT

Simply put Chicago has the best by far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (steaklover)

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 20:42:55 GMT

There is no such thing as a "Best Region" for pizza. It's just that most immigrants arrived on the East coast, established communities, and sold simple but good food. As they became more successful, they moved to other parts of the country, mostly urban areas that were booming economically and showed opportunity for success, then invited their friends and relatives to join them. These groups (and others) learned their recipes and continued to spread them throughout the country, looking to establish independent businesses in places that were growing in population and offered low start-up costs for people who were willing to work hard.

My personal view of Pizza History in the U.S.

Tossing the dough is entertainment meant to attract attract customers.
The pizza makers at Frank Pepe's say, If you can toss the dough, it's too thick.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (Sandy Eggo)

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 21:38:10 GMT

The "East Coast?" Is it something in the water or altitude that helps make pizza good? Or is throwing the dough an essential step?

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (Michael Hoffman)

Fri, 12 Aug 2005 23:42:27 GMT

I'll tell you what, you go and tell all those folks on either side of the Merritt that their country places and farms do not exist. And, whatever you do, never buy any produce at their stands.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (tacchino)

Fri, 12 Aug 2005 22:20:49 GMT

As a New Yorker, IMHO there is some truth to everyone's arguments...
1) Yes, believe it or not, you can get to farms and farm stands within an hour or so of driving out of the five boroughs..but again, farmland is getting increasingly scarcer as housing developments crowd out the farmers. In particular, I have friends on Long Island who would say that the area around Riverhead was little but potato and duck farms up until a decade and a half ago..but you should see the houses out there now.

2) I always think that the true definition of New York metropolitan area status depends not only on distance from Manhattan, but allegiance to the baseball teams; the dividing line between Yankee and Red Sox fans has gradually been creeping upward, from around the Stamford area, to past Bridgeport (and God forbid, to New Haven!).

3) I lived in the Bay area of California for a few years in the late 1990's, and I agree, about the best that you are going to get out there is Round Table.

4) For delicious New York pizza, come to the Bronx and try the Full Moon Pizzeria in the Belmont area, truly one of the last authentic Little Italy's left in the region. The regular pizza is delicious; avoid the slices, though, as they tend to be warmed up from full pies made a while before you came in the door.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (wanderingjew)

Fri, 12 Aug 2005 20:42:47 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

By the way, WJ, there are plenty of rural homes and farms beyween NYC and New haven, and the last time I looked the speed limit was 65 mph.

Definetely not within a 20 mile radius of I95. The speed limit is consistently 55 MPH from Westchester County to Bridgeport where the speed limit is reduced to 45 MPH. Then it's 55 MPH all the way until New Haven when the Speed is Reduced to 50MPH. The speed limit becomes 65 MPH around exit 54 in Branford. As you can see on the Rand McNally map the urban area extends quite deep into Connecticut. Its not what it used to be.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (Michael Hoffman)

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 11:11:08 GMT

By the way, WJ, there are plenty of rural homes and farms beyween NYC and New haven, and the last time I looked the speed limit was 65 mph.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (PaulBPool)

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 11:10:32 GMT

New York Metro region. New Haven (Pepe's) also has good pies.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (Scorereader)

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 10:58:29 GMT

Sure, there are many many many good places to get pizza in NY/NJ/CT area, and for that it is the best region hands down.

But it is simply perposterous to think that you can't get a great slice of pizza any where else.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (wanderingjew)

Sat, 02 Jul 2005 11:06:15 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:
Originally posted by wanderingjew

quote:
Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:
Originally posted by jrzgirl

there is no contest, New York and New Jersey win, hands and slices down

That's funnier than rain on a sunny day, and could come only from someone who has never had apizza in New Haven.

Michael,

Until I start seeing 65 mph speed limits and rural country homes and farms between NYC and New Haven, then New Haven still counts as part of the NYC Metro area.

It's still a 75 mile trip to New York, and I've never known anyone from New Haven (and I'm a New Haven native) who ever considered your premise to be accurate.

With a metro population of 20 million, 75 miles is not unusual at all, in fact most maps today have the metropolitan area extending east to Old Saybrook, and the entire length of Long Island due north past Poughkeepsie,west past the Poconos and attaching itself to the Hartford CT, Springfield MA and Philadelphia PA metro area (which now extends into Elkton MD) combining it into one big Megalopolis. In other words there is nothing rural left in between these area. Even today's maps of Boston which only has a metro population of 6 million have their metro area extending west past Worcester, incorporating a good chunk of Rhode Island including Providence and environs, the entire South Shore to Plymouth, the entire North Shore and North to Concord NH

I am sure there was a time many years ago that New Haven was considered a seperate entity. I believe in the 60's and 70's the NYC metro area ended around Bridgeport. Sadly real estate has appreciated disproportinately to people's salaries over the last 20 years and people had to move further out in order to live in affordable homes. I live in East Greenwich RI, which is about 13 miles south of Providence. 10-15 years ago, this area was considered genuinely rural, now North Kingstown which is even further away is just another built up suburb of Providence. Driving down Route 1 in North Kingstown, looks exactly like Cranston driving up Route 2. Cranston is the first Suburb just south of Providence. It blows my mind when people tell me that just 10 years ago, Route 1 in North Kinstown was just a couple of fruit and vegetable stands and a few old motels.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (Michael Hoffman)

Fri, 01 Jul 2005 09:56:33 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by wanderingjew

quote:
Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:
Originally posted by jrzgirl

there is no contest, New York and New Jersey win, hands and slices down

That's funnier than rain on a sunny day, and could come only from someone who has never had apizza in New Haven.

Michael,

Until I start seeing 65 mph speed limits and rural country homes and farms between NYC and New Haven, then New Haven still counts as part of the NYC Metro area.

It's still a 75 mile trip to New York, and I've never known anyone from New Haven (and I'm a New Haven native) who ever considered your premise to be accurate.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (mayor al)

Thu, 30 Jun 2005 23:00:26 GMT

I will set some rather broad limits to the 'region' as I see it. Put Philly/Baltimore on the South end....Buffalo and maybe Pittsburg on the West and Boston on the North. Leave lotsa holes where nothing of merit is happening in some parts within that "Region". Double-stack the part of the map that shows a 30 mile wide spread from Philly to close to Hartford, with some subsets for Buffalo and Boston. (Kind of like the watch/warning colors on the severe weather maps).
I am sure there are great places outside this region, and there are some terrible places within, but the law of averages says you will do better rolling the dice within the line than in Owensboro, KY !

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (wanderingjew)

Thu, 30 Jun 2005 22:43:43 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:
Originally posted by jrzgirl

there is no contest, New York and New Jersey win, hands and slices down

That's funnier than rain on a sunny day, and could come only from someone who has never had apizza in New Haven.

Michael,

Until I start seeing 65 mph speed limits and rural country homes and farms between NYC and New Haven, then New Haven still counts as part of the NYC Metro area.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (Michael Hoffman)

Thu, 30 Jun 2005 22:27:50 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by jrzgirl

there is no contest, New York and New Jersey win, hands and slices down

That's funnier than rain on a sunny day, and could come only from someone who has never had apizza in New Haven.

RE: Best region for pizza in the U.S. (mabk34)

Thu, 30 Jun 2005 14:55:38 GMT

I haven't had a decent pizza since I moved away from Erie, Pa., in the 70s, where every Italian family of any size has its own pizza parlor.