We’ve heard all the pie puns (We knead dough. Slice to meet ya. Pizza my heart.), but Noce Gourmet Pizzeria in Chardon gives our favorite group meal a seriously tasty spin. From a cozy spot with white tin ceiling tiles and a red brick wall, the restaurant on the city’s main square slings 24 ‘zas. Using house-made dough, the 12-, 14- or 16-inch rounds cook slowly, resulting in a sort of crusty, crispy and airy bite. Things get earthy with the Wild Mushroom ($18-$29), a savory mix of shiitake, portobello and moon mushrooms, and chevre, roasted peppers, red onions and mozzarella on a garlic and olive oil sauce. Cheeseheads should dive into the ooey-gooey treasure trove that is the Quattro Formaggi ($18-$29), a garlic and olive oil-sauced pizza topped with a slightly sweet, creamy blend of chevre, fontina, Gorgonzola and mozzarella. But pizza purists have plenty to munch on here. The pepperoni ($15-$24) with mozzarella and tomato sauce is spicy and satisfying. With a new spot in Beachwood and another headed to Tremont, Noce will keep everyone throughout Cleveland rolling in the dough.
When You Go: Noce Gourmet Pizzeria, 125 Main St., Chardon, 440-279-0303, nocepizza.com
