Primanti Brothers (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Pepperoni, Onion, Green Peppers pie ∙
A nice walk down the beach from the hotel I worked at for many months. Had to visit to try a pie. The crust was the winner: not thin like NY style, but similar crisp bite and good flavor. The sauce left a lot to be desired – not very flavorful. The cheese balance was okay, but didn’t make an impact. It’s a Northeast sammy shop…this was to be expected. The people who worked there were very nice.
Prince St. Pizza (New York, NY)
Smoked Mozz & Margherita slices, Fancy Prince ∙
I need to return for a proper visit. My first visit was the evening of July 4th following the fireworks. The line was reasonable and the pizza lived up to the reputation. I even got clowned for hesitating on my order. I love NY (zero sarcasm). I had two strong slices, and tried the famous ‘fancy prince’ slice. Once you visit this pizza pinnacle, you understand why it draws so much hype. The picture doesn’t (and couldn’t) do it justice
sLICe LIC Pizzeria (Long Island City, NY)
Pepperoni slices ∙
The slices here are top notch. Nested across the river from Manhattan, you’re getting the authentic NY slice. What more can I say about an enormous slice that would span a regular pizza’s entire diameter. The pepperonis cup when cooked, which I find delicious (each holds a pool of oil….beach season).
Again…I was clearly going through an aggressive snappy phase
Gotham Pizza (New York, NY)
Pepperoni slices ∙
Crust held up, and for a late night (early morning) pizza tasted pretty fresh. Would like to return for a real experience, given the bachelor party circumstances.
Apizza Scholls (Portland, OR)
Pepperoni, Onion, Jalapeno ∙
I was so excited to visit this restaurant after reading about it for so long. Once the pizza arrived, I understood all the reviews I had read. The crust was firm and thin, yet structured well. The sauce was flavorful and tangy, but didn’t overpower the pizza. The cheese tasted fresh and was balanced well on the pie. The toppings were delicious. For what is referred to as Neapolitan-American, I was enchanted by the pie lauded for a litany of reasons. Would always recommend to a friend for excellent pizza and service.
Technically New Haven style, but categorized under Neapolitan until I can do a CT tour.
Italian Family Pizza (Seattle, WA)
New Yorker: Cascioppo Brothers Sausage, Whole Cherry Peppers and topped with cold Ricotta at the end ∙
Dropped into this spot after leaving a party while visiting a friend in Seattle. We had zero expectations for the pizza, and I later found out this is one of the Emerald city’s great spots. The pizza was wonderful. The NYer was truly tasty, with an excellent amalgamation of toppings that dazzle your taste buds. I plan to return for a traditional pie, as I expect I won’t be disappointed.
Pizza Schmizza (Portland, OR)
Pepperoni & Supreme slices ∙
I spent about 6 months in Portland for work. I had the opportunity to try a lot of pizza spots, and this wasn’t the one to write home about. Solid lunch spot; not really high on my list. All love for the pizza gang, but not for me.
Panini Bakery (Newport, OR)
Pepperoni & Vegetable Slices ∙
Slipped into this bakery for a quick breakfast bite. Pro Tip: Always try the pizza at a bakery if available. The slices were a wonderful surprise. The crust, obviously, was superb. The sauce and cheese weren’t standouts by any means, but the ingredients tasted fresh. Would surely recommend for anyone coming off the beach, cruising down the Oregonian coast, or getting their fix after a long night.
(apologies for the snapchat filter…I must return to do the photography justice)
Bráz Pizza (São Paulo, Brazil)
Pepperoni, Onion & Black Olives ∙
While working in São Paulo for 2 months, I was only able to try one pizzeria. Although I would have usually tried a plain pie, I’m happy I decided for toppings, considering the healthy cheese portion. For someone constantly dining in Brazil, the wonderful quality of ingredients came as no surprise. The crust was airy and light, although structured well to support the helping of toppings. The sauce wasn’t too tangy, although had a nice bite. Again, loaded up on cheese, whether it was for a gringo traveler, or their own style. Always enjoyable. Have to try the pizza when traveling internationally!
Ghibellina (Washington, DC)
Margherita di Bufala ∙
I would have to say that the sauce is the winner here. Tangy and sweet, yet doesn’t try to compete with buffalo mozz. The crust is quintessential 90 second Neapolitan bake, lots of mobility when served. For some delectable heat, I’d highly suggest the house chili oil drizzled over your pizza. The uncut pie is served with large scissors, which is a fun addition to the experience. I would surely recommend – the ambiance is intimately lit, uniquely decorated, and other menu items were tasty as well.
2020 UPDATE:
The original 14th st location unfortunately closed during covid. Apparently the team has reopened in NE under “Via Ghibellina” – looking forward to checking out the new digs!
