Tampa Bay’s best pizza, according to us

The Tampa Bay Times newsroom and food critic weigh in on the area’s top 20 pies.

It’s a wildly controversial subject: Where is the best pizza in Tampa Bay?

The answer can be divisive, depending on who you ask. New York-style or Neapolitan? Thin and crispy crust or chewy, puffy and foldable? New Jersey slices or Detroit squares? And does Chicago-style deep dish even count? (It does.)

There’s an adage that goes something like this: “All pizza is good pizza — when it’s good, it’s really good. When it’s bad, it’s still pretty good“. But I don’t believe in love at first slice: I’ve had more than a few disappointing pies in my time. (Remember the time I ate pizza out of an ATM machine on assignment for this gig?)

Overall, though, the genre itself often acts as an equalizer — not everyone loves it, but I think it’s safe to say a lot of us overwhelmingly do. And a person’s feelings for pizza are deeply personal, and very often, situational — there is a time and a place for every type of pie.

Me? I love a hot, cheesy slice of Joey Brooklyn’s after a show at Jannus Live. A day of brewery-hopping in Safety Harbor doesn’t feel complete without a pop-in to the Nona Slice House for a Detroit-style square. And there’s nothing I love more than grabbing a large deep dish pie from Cappy’s and pairing it with a bottle of wine with friends over at St. Petersburg’s Hawthorne Bottle Shop.

We posed the question to the Tampa Bay Times newsroom, and let them weigh in: What’s the best pizza in this area? What follows, in no particular order, are the top 20 Tampa Bay contenders, according to us. You might not agree with all of them, or any of them, and if we forgot one of your favorites, please, drop us a line.

Ultimately, we can’t tell you who has the best pizza in Tampa Bay. That’s up to you to decide.

Eddie & Sam’s New York Pizza

Arguably one of Tampa Bay’s most beloved New York-style spots, this restaurant is known for its classic, foldable slices. The secret is in the water: The owner trucks it in straight from New York’s Catskills to go with the New York City flour yeast, sauce and cheese. This is where Tampa Bay Times photo director Chris Urso goes when he’s working or just hanging around downtown Tampa.

“They have tons of slices to choose from,” Urso writes. “But my favorite is always their signature pepperoni.”

203 E. Twiggs St., Tampa. 813-229-8500. eddieandsamspizza.com

Bavaro’s

A pioneer in the local Neapolitan-style genre, Dan Bavaro has been slinging his crispy, puffy-crust pies in downtown Tampa since 2009. Since then, he’s opened multiple offshoots, including locations in St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Sarasota, and his pizza game is still going strong. You can’t go wrong with the classic Margherita, which arrives blistered and crisp around the edges, topped with San Marzano tomato sauce, fior di latte mozzarella, Parmesan and extra-virgin olive oil.

Multiple locations. bavarospizza.com

Lee’s Grocery

This Tampa Heights gem is a neighborhood favorite for a reason. Senior engagement editor Meaghan Habuda writes: “Housed in a former grocery store, Lee’s has everything I want in a pizza joint: killer food and a solid selection of craft beers served in one cozy, cool, laid-back space.”

Habuda suggests inventive pies like Don’t Stand So Close to Me (olive oil, garlic, red onions, black olives, artichokes, mushrooms, ricotta and mozzarella) or her go-to, Minor Threat (pesto, mushrooms, spinach, jalapenos and feta). Bonus: Habuda says the chicken wings are excellent.

2210 N. Central Ave., Tampa. 813-374-0179. leesgrocery.com

Franca’s

One of the newest additions to Tampa Bay’s pizza scene, this roving pop-up can be found at a few select breweries throughout the St. Petersburg area, but a safe bet is to catch them is at Golden Isles Brewing Co. on Mondays and Fridays. The pizza, which owner Michael Thill calls a “Neapolitan-Roman hybrid,” features naturally leavened sourdough crusts, made from organic milled grains. The 12-inch puffy, charred crusts feature buffalo milk mozzarella and a wide variety of rotating toppings, which often includes produce sourced from local farmer’s markets. Don’t skip the Nduja and Jalapeno pie, made with a spicy soft sausage, Calabrian chile cream, garlic, buffalo mozzarella, hot honey and sea salt. Also great: the spot’s crunchy, creamy kale Caesar salad, topped with sourdough croutons.

francas-pizza.com

Gianni’s New York Pizza

Several Times staffers recommended this St. Petersburg spot, which specializes in New York-style pizza, with owners who credit family recipes from Italy, New York and New Jersey for their pies, and a dough that’s naturally fermented for up to 72 hours.

“I genuinely think there’s no better pizza in the region,” writes deputy managing editor/enterprise Claire McNeill. “The grandma pie is spectacular but I can also recommend the New York-style with pepperoni, hot peppers, basil and hot honey — just so good.”

936 58th St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-381-3209. giannisny.pizza

ABC Pizza

This recommendation also comes from Habuda, who calls the pies at this spot her “comfort pizza.” She says: “This Tampa institution serves up hearty, dependably delicious pies and other pizzeria staples in casual digs with an old-school feel.”

She suggests the “fantastic” Cuban Pizza, featuring ham, salami, pork, mustard, mayo and pickle. “No ABC order is complete without the incredible Greek salad topped with house dressing, which is so big it’s a meal itself,” she said. “A spot that never misses.”

Multiple locations. abcpizza.com

Noble Crust

For years, culture editor Michelle Stark went to Noble Curst and ordered nothing but the Bianca Pizza, the Southern-Italian restaurant’s “extremely satisfying” take on a white, tomato sauce-less pie. Stark writes: “This one has a blend of mozzarella, fontina, ricotta and parmesan cheeses, plus bechamel sauce, pistachios and deep green pesto.”

Stark suggests eating half with a lightly dressed salad, and saving the rest for later. “It’s just as good cold out of the fridge as it is hot on the plate,” she says. “Ask me how I know.”

Various locations around Tampa Bay; noble-crust.com.

Joey Brooklyn’s Famous Pizza Kitchen

Another spot with several staff nominations, there’s simply no better place in downtown St. Petersburg to grab a late-night slice than Joey Brooklyn’s. The restaurant stays open till 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and till 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Available by the slice or in full pies, the Joey’s Famous Deluxe is always a good bet, topped with pepperoni, sausage, red onions, green peppers, black olives, mushrooms and extra cheese.

210 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-822-6757. joeybrooklynsfamouspizzakitchen.com

Cappy’s Pizza

The king of local deep dish, Cappy’s also serves a selection of New York-style pizzas, but the deep dish pies are where it’s really at. You can’t go wrong with the spot’s signature Cappy pie, which features a buttery crust filled to the brim with sausage, ham, pepperoni, green peppers, onions and mushrooms, tomato sauce and cheese. The vegetarian version is also very good, and folks can design their own pizza to their liking. It’s a good bet to always grab a salad to go as well — both the house Caesar and Greek versions are excellent.

Multiple locations. cappyspizzaonline.com

Santoro’s Pizzeria

Tampa Bay’s go-to for Jersey-style slices and pies, this popular North Hyde Park restaurant’s menu runs the gamut from a traditional Margherita to more over-the-top creations, including a Philly cheesesteak pie and a version topped with fried chicken cutlets and vodka marinara sauce. There’s also the Nona Lisa, a traditional “Grandma” square, topped with fresh basil, mozzarella and garlic plum tomato sauce. This recommendation comes from real estate reporter Rebecca Liebson, who suggested the pepperoni or Buffalo chicken slice and plugged the spot’s “amazing garlic knots” as well.

1329 W. Cass St., Tampa. 813-687-7100. santorospizzeria.com

Calusa Pizza & Craft

Education reporter Jeffrey S. Solochek recommended this Lutz spot, right on the corner of N. Dale Mabry Highway and Van Dyke Road. Solocheck praised the pizza’s “great tangy tomato sauce” and crispy crusts.

“Plus their garlic knots — yum.”

17695 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Lutz. 813-252-7868. calusapizza.com

Nona Slice House

There’s live music, there’s really good pizza and sometimes there’s even a show. Owner Jamie Culliton is a top pizza competitor, and in the past he’s been known to come out and do a little performance, spinning and swirling the pizza dough high in the air, often to the musical styling of a live singer. Several different types of pizza are served here, but the best bet is the Detroit-style pies — thick, square pizzas baked with Wisconsin brick cheese. Get the Bee’s Knees, topped with red onions, prosciutto, arugula, shaved Parmesan and a drizzle of local hot honey.

997 Main St., Safety Harbor. 727-351-7570. thenonaslicehouse.com

Madison Avenue Pizza

Columnist Stephanie Hayes recommended this North Pinellas favorite known both for their whopping 32-inch New York-style pies as well as the owner’s penchant for occasionally delivering pizzas by boat. Hayes’ go-to is The Caladesi, which features red sauce, mozzarella, sausage, capicola, red onions, fresh garlic, peppadew peppers and basil.

“Sometimes I add hot honey, but it doesn’t need it because the peppers add the perfect sweetness,” writes Hayes. And she offers this pro-tip: “Order it double cut, because the slices are enormous.”

2660 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin. 727-754-6144. madisonavepizza.com

Toby’s Little Italy

This long-running St. Petersburg favorite was recommended by several Times staffers. Tobia Spinelli, a native of Naples, Italy, opened the New York-style pizzeria in 1972 inside the Disston Plaza Shopping Center at 49th Street and 38th Avenue N. Photo director Martha Asencio-Rhine praised the restaurant both for its pizza (the spot’s signature Little Italy Special features pepperoni, sausage, onions, mushrooms, green peppers and extra cheese) and garlic knots, which are served with warm marinara sauce.

3523 49th St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-522-2717. tobysoriginallittleitalypizza.com

Original Flavor 1889

A true Neapolitan-style pizzeria, the kitchen at this downtown St. Petersburg restaurant churns out perfectly charred and chewy thin-crust pies. Take the classic Margherita, which emerges from the spot’s massive brick oven crusty and bubble-pockmarked, topped with San Marzano tomatoes and fior di latte, a soft Italian-style mozzarella. Throw on a few basil leaves and slices of spicy sopressata and you’ve got the Diavola pizza. And whatever you do, don’t skip the Pistachio pie, which arrives topped with that same fior di latte cheese, a creamy pistachio pesto, thick slices of mortadella and a few dollops of ricotta.

409 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-873-7139. originalflavor1889.com.

Three Brothers Pizza

Photo director Chris Urso suggested this Palm Harbor restaurant, which also has a location in Odessa. “Three Brothers Pizza is fantastic,” Urso writes. “If we have a big family gathering, it’s the monster 28-inch pizza.”

The New York-style pizzeria features a large menu with several signature pies, including the Portobello, made with a rosemary crust, sauteed portobello mushrooms, smoked mozzarella, shaved Parmesan and imported truffle oil.

Multiple locations. threebrotherspizza.revelup.online

Atria

“By day, Atria Cafe is a coffee spot, a pastry place and a top choice for breakfast or lunch in Manatee County’s Lakewood Ranch area,” writes culture editor Michelle Stark. “In the evening, though, it’s all about the pizza.”

The restaurant and cafe, from owners Jim and Weyli Angus, first debuted their naturally-leavened sourdough pizzas a few years ago, served on Tuesday-Saturday nights. Stark suggests the classic pepperoni pizza, which features “perfectly charred crust topped with mozzarella, house tomato sauce and little pepperoni cups.”

4120 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. 941-206-5139. atria.cafe/pizza

Cristino’s Coal Oven Pizza

This recommendation comes from culture and food reporter Sharon Kennedy Wynne. The long-running Clearwater spot has been a favorite for North Pinellas pizza lovers since 2007, when a trio of brothers from Mola di Bari, Italy, opened a restaurant inspired by their Italian roots and Brooklyn upbringing. The coal-fired pizzas boast a thin, crispy crust and come topped with fresh basil leaves. Specialty pies include the Bianca Di Lusso, topped with ricotta, mozzarella, whipped ricotta, mortadella and a fig glaze.

1101 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. 727-443-4900. cristinoscoaloven.com

Sally O’Neals Pizza Hotline

A South Tampa staple since 1985, Sally O’Neal’s has plenty of fans, including politics reporter Kirby Wilson, who said the pie’s price tag was “worth every penny.”

The crust is a luxurious “celebration of garlic,” Wilson said. “The ingredients are of the highest quality.”

The spot’s massive menu includes a rotating list of monthly specials, like a spinach and artichoke dip pie topped with three types of cheese, tomatoes, onions and bacon. Beyond the restaurant’s signature pizzas, there’s also a list of breakfast pies, including a Western omelet-topped version and a few deep dish selections.

1319 S. Howard Ave., Tampa. 813-251-0220. sallyonealspizza.com

Violet Stone

Known for their “well-done” charred, crispy crusts, this pizza and cheesesteak spot opened in 2022 in St. Petersburg on Ninth Avenue N., and is in the process of expanding. Energy reporter Emily L. Mahoney praised the spot’s Sicilian-style pies: “The (pizza) has a flavorful, salty marinara that blows my mind every time,” she says. The restaurant also has a solid following for their Philly cheesesteaks, served on seeded rolls that are baked fresh daily.

2134 Ninth Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-202-8940. thevioletstone.com

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