Angelo's Lakewood
Why We Love It: Angelo’s is likely Northeast Ohio’s most famous pizza joint. A perennial winner of our Silver Spoon Awards, the thick-crust pizza is packed with toppings. Opened in 1981, the pizzeria and restaurant was among the first to play with modern toppings, such as Hawaiian or alfredo toppings. Try This: Acapulco BBQ Pizza ($20.45-$33.15) puts a slight spin on the Hawaiian with barbecue sauce, pineapple, peppers, bacon and a little bit of cinnamon. 13715 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-221-0440, angeloslakewood.com
Antonio’s Pizzeria LoSchiavo
Why we love it: With six different choices for meat pizzas alone, and crust options emulating Detroit-style and Chicago deep-dish, you’ll never get the same thing twice at this pizzeria. The mom-and-pop effort started in 1967, and has now grown into 16 shops across Northeast Ohio. Try this: The Pepperoni Parmesan ($13.99+) turns heads with a savory garlic romano crust, topped with tomato sauce, pepperoni and a sharp blend of Asiago, Romano and Parmesan cheeses. Various Locations, antoniospizza.net
Boom's Pizza
Why We Love It: After the pandemic closed his fine-dining Spice Kitchen & Bar, chef Ben Bebenroth wanted to bring fine-dining care to a more casual, democratic restaurant offering. Naturally, he landed on pizza. The counter service restaurant and takeout spot, which cooks pizzas in a 600-degree deck oven, launched in Lakewood before expanding to Van Aken District. Bebenroth hopes to open three more stores in the coming years. Try This: All the pies are great — especially when dipped in the chili crisp or herby garlic dips, which are ranch-dressing alternatives inspired by a Lebanese condiment called toum. 14730 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-465-1130, boomspizza.com
Biga Wood Fired Pizza Kirtland
Why we love it: Dedicated to hot, fresh pizza in only five minutes, a scorching hot wood-fired oven can produce up to eight fresh, homemade pies in one quick batch. A quaint, casual interior makes it an inviting spot for families, friends and date nights. Try this: Be the judge of riveting topping combos like sausage and artichokes on the Cerino pizza ($19), or opt for a traditional white pie like the Three Cheese and Garlic ($16). The pie is as simple as it seems: an olive oil and garlic based topped with a blend of mozzarella, Parmesan and provolone. 9145 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland, 440-379-7503, bigawoodfiredpizza.com
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Cent’s Pizza & Goods
Why we love it: Inspired by his time in New York City, chef Vincent Morelli brings this American style to Cleveland. Impeccable ingredients sit atop a crispy Neapolitan crust, and the menu of snacks has an otherworldly wood-fired bread, citrus olives and duck prosciutto. (It's good — so good that it's consistently named a Cleveland Magazine Best Restaurant.) Shop elevated lifestyle products in the lobby. Try this: Add anchovies ($4) (don’t knock it 'til you try it) to the tomato pizza ($16), topped with extra-virgin olive oil, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese. 5010 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, 216-862-6427, centspizza.com
Citizen Pie
Why we love it: Owner Vytauras Sasnaukas wants to bring people together over his wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas. He has been practicing his craft since his childhood in Lithuania and now offers 18 specialty pies with a sourdough crust made in house daily. Try this: The Collinwood's ($16) spicy sausage, salami, red onions and hot green chiles bring the heat while the Cali olives and mozzarella chunks bring the funk. 15710 Waterloo Road, No. 1660, Cleveland, 216-417-2742; 2144 W. 25th St., Cleveland, 216-860-1388, citizenpie.com
City Slice
Why We Love It: Only a few places in town sell pizza by the slice. This New York-style joint has a counter that keeps at least two ready-to-order pizzas fresh in the case. A quick run through a conveyor oven heats it to perfection. During your short wait, drop a few quarters in the adjacent arcade with pop-a-shot, pinball and driving games. Try This: The slices aren’t just slices — they’re mega slices from a 14-inch pie. On Tuesdays, those slices are just $5. 12021 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, 216-273-7504 facebook.com/citysice216
Chatty’s Pizzeria
Why we love it: Located near the Cleveland Metroparks Huntington Reservation, Chatty’s offers scenery nearly as beautiful as its famous burrata-topped thick-crust pizzas. Try this: The "Chatty's Choice" pizza ($18.50) comes with oil, garlic, chili flakes, mozzarella, rapini, sausage and parmesan. 28611 Lake Road, Bay Village, 440-471-4485, chattyspizzeria.com
Congin’s Pizza
Why we love it: East Side suburbs, rejoice! This family-owned staple of the past 40 years moved its ventures beyond St. Clair Avenue with a second location in Chardon. Committing to fresh ingredients and homemade pies, the shop keeps its options simple, but the difference is easy to find in one bite. Try this: Doubling as a full-service restaurant, try Italian classics like Chicken Parmigiana ($11) alongside a specialty pie like the Deluxe ($17+). Pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, green peppers, black olives and onion all come together in perfect harmony. 18812 Nottingham Road, Cleveland, 216-481-4585; 104 South St., Chardon, 440-286-1260, conginspizza.com
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Crust
Why we love it: Whether you’re swinging by Midtown’s lunch-forward location for a slice, or stopping by the Tremont flagship for an entire dinner, Crust has you covered with hand-tossed, from-scratch dough and flavor-balanced topping combinations. (Tip: Be sure to peruse Visible Voice bookstore above, and stop by Danny’s on Professor below, when you swing by the Tremont mainstay.) Try this: The unconventional spanakopita pizza ($23-$26) brings together flavors of Greece like spinach, feta, olive oil, lemon zest and garlic puree. Tremont: 2258 Professor Ave., Cleveland, 216-583-0257; Midtown: 3000 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, 216-589-9711, crusttremont.com
Danny Boy’s Pizza
Why we love it: Come here for the specialty New York-style pies made with a top-secret tomato sauce. Try this: Hate the Yankees? The Chicago deep dish pizza ($15-$20) offers a thick reprieve from New York-style with a whole sausage patty across its base. Various locations, dannyboyspizza.com
Edison’s Pizza Kitchen
Why we love it: This jam-packed late-night slice has kept us coming back after our romps through Tremont for the past 15 years. Though it closed in Tremont in 2023, you can find its Take and Bake options at Lucky's Market and Dave's Markets, along with carry-out from Lucky's and Dave's Markets. Try this: You've had pepperoni and even olives, so try the hot bacon spinach pizza ($22.95-$25.95), a white pie with bacon, fresh spinach, feta cheese, spicy crushed red pepper and hot bacon dressing. Lucky’s Market, 11620 Clifton Blvd., Cleveland; Dave's Market, 2700 Carroll Ave, Cleveland, edisonspizzakitchens.com
Eliseo’s & Fran’s Pizza
Why we love it: Two longtime shops — Eliseo’s Pizza (1976) and Yala’s Pizza (1954), later Fran’s — now converge under one roof with a drive-through in Lorain. They’re old standbys for the West Side suburb, with solid, simply made pies ready for any cheesy craving. Try this: Garlic-lovers, order the white pizza ($14.25+), which has chunks of fresh garlic mixed into the sauce, making each slice extra zippy. 3352 Oberlin Ave., Lorain, 440-282-8234, 440-282-7544, eliseospizza.com
ETalian
Why we love it: Simplicity is the mantra of this pizzeria on the falls. Owner Eddie Tancredi, formerly of the
acclaimed Distill Table, sweats every detail at his Naples-style shop. Try this: The carcifo ($14) is a simple, elegant dish with bacon, spinach, herb oil and artichoke. 13 Bell St., Chagrin Falls, 440-600-2001, etalianpizza.com
Flour
Why we love it: Fine wines match a solid menu of wood-fired pizza at this classy restaurant. Don't miss its fresh pasta, too, which can be bought from local grocery stores like Heinen's and Mustard Seed Market & Cafe. Try this: The Funghi ($24) pairs a charred crust with the savory flavors of roasted shallot, Mackenzie goat cheese and white truffle oil. (Pro-tip for heat-seekers: Ask for the house-made hot sauces to kick flavors up a notch.) 34205 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills, 216-464-3700, flourrestaurant.com
Geraci's Restaurant
Why We Love It: While its Downtown spinoff The Slice Shop is the shiny new object, this family-run Italian joint has endeared itself to diners in its home of University Heights and beyond for more than 60 years. Try This: When we’re at an old-school place like this, we typically keep it straightforward with pep or cheese, but the four-location shop does offer a Mediterranean pizza — with Kalamata olives, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, feta and mozzarella — that’s a beloved but rare style to find. Various locations, geracisrestaurant.com
Geraci's Slice Shop
Why We Love It: Inspired by the restaurant's history, the third-generation owners partnered with restauranteur Jason Beudert to create a vintage-styled Downtown slice shop in the former Vincenza's space, one of the city center's few pizza offerings. Try This: The Hot Tito ($6 per slice, $26 per 18-inch pie) drizzles spicy honey over thick-cut pepperoni, sausage and Romano cheese. 603 Prospect Ave. E, Cleveland, 216-273-7504, geracissliceshop.com
Harlow’s PIzza
Why we love it: Meant to be eaten immediately, these Neapolitan pizzas are topped simply with fresh ingredients before taking a 60-90-second spin in an 800-degree wood-fired oven. Try this: The Leonardo ($20) with mozzarella, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, pistachios, grape tomatoes, fresh arugula and sea salt. 14319 Madison Ave., Lakewood,
216-712-6502, harlowspizza.com
Il Rione Pizzeria
Why we love it: The Gordon Square spot, which Cleveland Magazine named a Best Restaurant in Cleveland, serves up a New York-style pie with a thin, crispy crust that measures up to 18 inches. Try this: The diavolo pie ($21-$26) is loaded with red sauce, mozzarella, calabrian chiles, spicy salami, red onions. 1303 W. 65th St., Cleveland, 216-282-1451, ilrionepizzeria.com
In Forno
Why we love it: For some pizza-makers, the craft is like an art — and in Avon, this art gets its own “pizza studio” in New York native George Goodman’s Neapolitan spot. Goodman started making pies in a mobile oven before growing it into a strip-mall gem. Try this: The self-titled “In Forno” pizza ($20) combines sausage, bacon and jalapeno into a spicy, savory mix on a pie that, like all of the restaurant’s creations, is baked in less than two minutes. 35840 Chester Road, Avon, 216-394-9784, infornopizza.com
Jolly’s Pizza
Why we love it: A pair of old-school arcade games, a table telephone ordering system, raffle prizes for pizza orders, numerous TVs and unique Jolly Scholar Brewing Co. beers on tap make this place extra fun. But the chewy pizzas with a swirl of sweet marinara sauce on top make it stand out. Try this: The “Honest Abe Froman” ($8.99 for a personal pie) features a zippy house fennel sausage, ricotta and basil. 6120 Royalton Road, North Royalton, 440-220-4353, jollyspizza.com
Lil Ronnie's
Why we love it: The counterpart to Il Rione Pizzeria, this grab-and-go slice shop next to Edison’s Pub keeps it simple with a fusion of New York and New Jersey’s most beloved pizza practices. Try this: Among the four available pie styles, you can’t go wrong with a classic slab of cheese pizza ($4), which you can dress with your choice of arugula pesto, hot honey or a Margherita-inspired blend of basil, oil and pecorino cheese ($0.50 each). 2365 Professor Ave., Tremont, 216-337-7054, ilrionepizzeria.com/lil-ronnies
Longo’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria
Why we love it: Since 1969, Longo’s has been serving Mentor with traditional Midwestern-style pizza and Italian fare in a casual atmosphere with a full-service bar in two locations. “There’s a lot of labor involved in doing things from scratch,” says owner Joe Longo, “but that’s how we’ve always done it. And that’s something we’ll never change.” Try this: The old-school joint proves it can do modern fare well with the California veggie pizza ($12-$20) with garlic sauce, fresh spinach, broccoli, Roma tomatoes, provolone and ricotta cheese. 8907 Mentor Ave., Mentor, 440-974-8282; 7314 Lakeshore Blvd., Mentor, 440-946-8222, longospizza.com
Luigi’s
Why we love it: This is as classic as it gets. Step inside the 1949 Akron restaurant, which is marked with a sign that features a chef’s kiss, for cheese, on cheese. The cash-only joint is well known for the piles of mozzarella on its house Italian salad, along with its pan-style pizza, where the dairy overload continues. Try this: A classic spot calls for a classic pie: a large pepperoni pizza ($18.25) is the perfect fit for a family night out. 105 N. Main St., Akron, 330-253-2999, luigisrestaurant.com
Mama Santa’s
Why we love it: For more than 60 years, this Little Italy staple has worked to provide thin pizza and homemade Sicilian cooking. “My grandparents wanted to keep a lot of their traditions and sharing food with people was very important,” owner Nancy Scaffidi told us before she passed away last year at 89. “They showed love through their food.” Try this: Go classic with the sausage pizza ($12.95). 12301 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, 216-231-9567, mamasantas.com
Master Pizza
Why we love it: Honing in 15 locations across Northeast Ohio since 1955, Master Pizza is a neighborhood favorite and an established purveyor of Cleveland-style pizza. Owner Michael LaMarca’s award-winning “Cleveland Crimp” pizza crust makes his pies memorable; a bready dough, herby sauce and dense blend of provolone cheese makes a homemade flavor shine. Try this: See why the Old World Pep-Sausage pizza ($12.99+) was a former winner on Hulu’s Best In Dough. Served Cleveland-style, a crimped pizza crust gets all the fixings and is topped with cupped pepperoni, crumbled sausage and Parmesan cheese. Various Locations, masterpizza.com
Marotta's
Why we love it: This dark, rustic Italian restaurant offers five specialty New York-style pies and a build-your-own option in an intimate atmosphere. "I grew up with the Marotta family,” says general manager Alexandrea Quinn. “You feel like you’re family here.” Try this: The Molta Marotta ($24-28) pairs pesto with artichoke hearts, peppers, spinach and mozzarella. 2289 Lee Road, Cleveland, 216-932-9264, marottas.com
Noce Gourmet Pizza
Why we love it: From vegan to Thai- and Caribbean-inspired pies, this ambitious pizzeria in Chardon Square makes its dough from scratch and sources all of its ingredients locally. Each bite is light and airy. Try this: The wild mushroom ($20-$32) is topped with an exotic blend of shiitake, portobello and moon mushrooms as well as chevre, roasted peppers and red onions. 125 Main St., Chardon, 440-279-0303, nocegourmetpizza.com
Ohio Pie Co.
Why we love it: Ohio Pie Co.'s "Ohio-style" pizza is a mix of regional favorites that owner Nick Robson found during his time touring in a punk band. These pies sport a medium Columbus-style crust with sweet sauce spread over top of the cheese instead of underneath, for a lighter finish. Try this: The Heart of It All ($13-$23) is basically a deluxe finished with a drizzle of house-made garlic oil. 1315 ½ Pearl Road, Brunswick, 330-741-4117; 19565 Detroit Road, Rocky River, 216-353-7777, ohiopieco.com
Pizza 216
Why we love it: Located in the historic Arcade building, find one of the New York-style shops that takes Cleveland by storm. A craft cocktail bar with draft beers makes it a great stop before the big game. Try this: Opt to take your pizza over chips with the famed Italian Nachos ($16), topped with sausage, pepperoni, cheese sauce and pepperoncini, or take a bite into the famed Pierogi Pizza ($12.75+). Mashed potatoes act as the base for a plethora of ricotta and cheddar cheeses, caramelized onions, scallions and a sour cream drizzle. Add bacon ($1.50) for some extra crunch. 401 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-417-4000, pizza216menu.com
Photo: Cents Pizza & Goods
Pizza Whirl
Why We Love it: Opened on West 25th Street in 2017, the late-night spot offers fresh build-your-own pizzas, which come out in three minutes thanks to a 700-degree pizza oven with a spinning deck (hence the name). The crispy, bubbly crust is indistinguishable from any wood-fired oven. Try This: While most build unique pies, the Frank’s BBQ ($14) features a bold swirl of barbecue sauce on the onion- and bacon-topped pizza. 1822 W. 25th St., Cleveland, pizzawhirltogo.com
Pizzeria DiLauro
Why we love it: Located minutes outside of Chagrin Falls’ charming downtown, a laid-back bar and dining room serves the East Side a slew of East Coast-inspired pies, employing New York’s large, foldable slice style. Meat, veggie, red, white and vegan pizza lovers can all find their perfect niche on this expansive specialty menu. Try this: Join the bandwagon with the local favorite Luca pie ($18+), which packs a punch with pepperoni, jalapenos and hot honey drizzle. 17800 Chillicothe Road, Chagrin Falls, 440-384-3947, pizzeriadilauro.com
Saucy Brew Works
Why we love it: What goes better with a slice of pizza than a cold beer? These Ohio breweries serve up both. Don’t sleep on the brand’s New Haven-style charred “apizza,” available at the brand’s various locations, which are open in Cleveland, Sandusky, Columbus and more. Try this: The “Bee’s Knees” ($15-$19) is an appropriate title for this creation which pairs red pepper flakes, zesty capicola and honey into a spicy-yet-sweet bite. Various locations, saucybrewworks.com
Scorpacciata Pasta Co.
Why we love it: Despite its name, the well-rounded Italian eatery offers a small-but-mighty selection of gourmet pizzas. Find unique twists on classic pie styles. Try this: Try a new kind of meatball pizza ($19), starting with a hot arrabiata sauce, topped with fresh meatballs, ricotta and pecorino cheeses and a spicy relish drizzle.13051 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights, 216-279-9800, scorpacciatapastaco.com
Sweet Basil Pizza
Why we love it: Going against the grain, owner Dan Joyce’s Neapolitan-style pies are a breath of fresh air amid Cleveland’s thick-crust crutch. Though a thin dough, the specialty and gourmet pizzas are no less filling, with delectable topping combinations you won’t find just anywhere. Try this: Study up on the "Grapes of Wrath" pie ($18.25+), layered with white sauce, grape tomatoes, a drizzle of balsamic dressing and — of course — basil. 26235 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, 440-899-1899, sweetbasilpizza.com
Tomori’s Pizza & Subs
Why we love it: Chef Dennis Tomori uses his grandmother’s recipe to create thin-crust pizzas at his Lakewood shop. Tomori prides himself on a perfectly cooked crust. “Every time I came to Cleveland, I could never find a place to eat pizza the way I wanted it,” says Tomori. The result is a gorgeous, Italian-thin pizza topped with fresh ingredients that leave minimal crust. Try this: We've always known pizza is great for breakfast, but the egg pizza ($13.99-$17.99) takes it a step further by breaking a large egg atop a medley of bacon, Parmesan, arugula and truffle oil. 15621 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-712-6996, tomorispizzandsubs.com
Vero’s Pizza Napoletana
Why we love it: This modern pizza parlor prides itself on one-of-a-kind Neapolitan pizzas. Each ball of dough is handmade daily by owner Marc-Aurele Buholzer and then sent into a 900-degree wood-fired pizza oven imported from Naples, Italy. “We produce a pretty unique vibe and culture within our pizzeria itself,” says Buholzer. “It’s something that sits very in between a casual and a fine dining experience that lends itself well to the style of pizza.” Try this: Keep it simple with the margherita pizza ($24) with tomatoes, fresh basil and Buffalo mozzarella to let the dough shine. 12421 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-229-8383, verocleveland.com
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