Restaurants & Bars
2 MD Pizzerias Are Ranked Among Top 50 In U.S.
Some of the best pizza in the country is found at two MD restaurants, according to a 50 Top Pizza guide. Here's where to go for a slice.
DARNESTOWN, MD — Some of the best pizza in the country is found in Maryland, according to the new 50 Top Pizza guide based on the findings of a team of inspectors who anonymously evaluate pizzerias around the world.
“Year after year we are noticing changes in pizzerias across the United States that have led to increasingly interesting ideas and that are good for the entire industry,” guide curators Barbara Guerra, Luciano Pignataro, and Albert Sapere said in a statement. “We would also like to mention that the different styles of pizza that our inspectors get to enjoy are also getting more numerous. This is a good thing because it creates a wider variety for the customer.”
According to their list, the best pizza in Maryland is found at Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana in Darnestown. The venue run by chef-owner Tony Conte ranked 21st on the list of the nation’s top pizzerias.
Find out what's happening in Rockvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"The pies coming out of Chef Conte’s oven have evolved drastically since Inferno’s inception," the restaurant website said. "Originally planning to abide by strict guidelines set forth by the ruling bodies of Neapolitan pizza in Italy, he’s strayed in an effort to make a more modern product. There is an updated style of pizza, called canotto, finding increasing favor from, amongst others, the younger generation of pizzaiolos in and around Naples. Canotto translates in Italian to ‘dinghy’ or ‘inflatable raft’ - alluding to the airy outer ring serving as crust."
One other Maryland pizzeria made the list — Angeli’s Pizzeria with four locations in Baltimore — ranking 44th on the national list.
Find out what's happening in Rockvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Like the angel on our restaurant’s logo, we have no philosophy but love," Angeli's said. "We seek to spread the love from our employees, to our guests, and create a welcoming and family friendly environment."
If you’re a connoisseur of pizza and are traveling this year, here’s the complete list:
- Una Pizza Napoletana, New York City
- Pizzeria Sei, Los Angeles
- Tony;’s Pizza Napoletana, San Francisco
- Jay’s, Kenmore, New York
- Ribalta, New York City
- Robert’s, Chicago
- Don Antonio, New York City
- Ken’s Artisan Pizza, Portland, Oregon
- Truly Pizza, Dana Point, California
- ’O Munaciello and La Leggenda, both of Miami (tie)
- Pizzeria Beddia, Philadelphia
- Razza, Jersey City, New Jersey
- Pasquale’s, South Kingstown, Rhode Island
- Kesté, New York City
- Ops, New York City
- Pizza Secret, New York City
- Partenope Ristorante, Dallas
- MPN - Mission Pizza Napoletana, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Flour House, San Luis Obispo, California
- Fabrica Pizza, Tampa, Florida
- Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana, Gaithersburg, Maryland
- Il Forno, San Antonio
- Coals, Louisville
- Nardò, Huntington Beach, California
- GRANA, Portland, Oregon
- Craft 64, Scottsdale, Arizona
- Valentina’s, Madison, Alabama
- Bricco, Haddon Township, New Jersey
- Nostrana, Portland, Oregon
- Antico Pizza, Atlanta
- Pizza Delicious, New Orleans
- A Modo Mio, Arlington, Virginia, and Salsa, New York City (tie)
- Pizza Rock, Las Vegas
- Tribute Pizza, San Diego
- Zeneli, New Haven, Connectict
- Posto, Somerville, Massachusetts
- Audace, New York City
- Leña, Cleveland
- Pizzeria Florian, East Aurora, New York
- Pasquale Jones, New York, City
- Pizza Baby, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Penelope Pizza, Tucson, Arizona
- Coda di Volpe, Chicago
- Angeli’s Pizzeria, Baltimore
- Lincoln Winebar, Mount Vernon, Iowa
- Hapa Pizza, Beaverton, Oregon
- Stretch Pizza, New York City
- Si Cara, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Rose Pizzeria, Berkeley, California
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.