Tirion Boan
Audio By Carbonatix
In Phoenix, Valley residents treat pizza rankings like sport.
For starters, there’s the famous piazziolo who put Phoenix pizza on the map. You’re either wholeheartedly on Team Bianco, or you’re not.
Then you have the great debate over which pizza style is superior. The Valley is home to a large number of Chicago expats who go deep-dish or bust. Fans intent on chasing “authentic” pizza argue in favor of Neapolitan style. There are plenty of folks willing to fight about what makes a true New York slice, and some debating whether Arizona could ever solidify its own style.
Then comes the debate between home-grown spots and out-of-state chains. Does a chain have to be born in the Windy City to provide the true flavor of Chicago? Or should we support local independent restaurants that only fire up their ovens in the Phoenix heat?
These are conversations that the small but mighty Phoenix New Times food team takes seriously. As pizza enthusiasts ourselves, who would always rather debate the texture of dough over the latest political scandal or pop-culture phenomenon, we love the passion Phoenix brings to pizza.
Every time we update our annual list of the 10 best pizzerias in Phoenix, we know one thing will hold true. The comments, on social media and in my email inbox, will pile up fast.
“Amici Pizza should have been on that top 10!” reads an email from Vinny.
“Red Devil for many decades!” Nick exclaimed in the Facebook comments.
“I was gonna be hella ready to fight but then I saw Myke’s Pizza on the list and I simmered down!!” Candace from Facebook said. “Il Bosco and Trevor’s should be on here as well though.”
We hear you. And we love the input. We update the list every year, and each time these comments help us pinpoint new places to try for the next go-around. So, keep ‘em coming.
Tirion Boan
How we determine our top 10
The Valley is enormous, and there are countless pizzerias slinging stellar pies from the far southeast to the far northwest stretches of our beloved sprawl. Phoenix New Times readers also live in every corner of the Valley. So, when compiling any of our lists, we put miles on our cars.
This is to make sure we spread out and sample restaurants in neighborhoods far and wide. We don’t want to give you a list of only Scottsdale spots if you live in Glendale. And we don’t want to assume everyone wants to drive to downtown Phoenix for dinner. As we make our travel plans, your input helps us determine which restaurants we shouldn’t miss.
Variety, in geographical location, is as important as variety in style. Our top 10 aren’t all Neapolitan style. They’re not all New York. And we like it that way. Pizza tastes are wide-ranging and we make an effort to offer the best spots in a variety of different styles.
And then location and style aside, the most important consideration is quality. Do the foundational ingredients create a good base? Are they carefully crafted into a variety of flavors and topping options? Are the pies skillfully baked, finding balance between crisp and fluffy, tender with just the right amount of char? And when you’re so full you feel like bursting, which pies leave you unable to resist squeezing in one more slice?
With all of the exceptional options in town, we struggle to narrow down the list to just 10 spots.
Often, when commenters angrily insist we missed a spot, it was on the short list. If, instead of a top 10, we published a top 12 or 15, Amici may be in the lineup. The nostalgic spot is like a warm hug for ‘90s kids remembering a childhood filled with friendly, no-frills pizzerias that fuelled sleepovers and soccer games. It may have included Trevor’s Liquor, where craft beer fans can indulge in a stellar draft list while splitting large pies. And it may have included Source, a Mediterranean restaurant that makes outstanding long-fermented dough in Gilbert, but has only four pizzas on its menu.
“It’s a travesty that Sal’s Gilbert Pizza isn’t top of the list,” Neil wrote on Facebook, echoing a few other Sal’s stans.
Other spots that made repeat appearances in the comments included tiny midtown eatery Pizza A Metro, and the multiple locations of Craft 64 and Il Bosco.
The only comment we fully disagree with is one from Torbian: “Honestly, I think Arizona is the worst place to find (a) good slice of pizza.”
To that we say, hey, try these 10. You may just find a winner.
