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. 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
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
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 ($11-$25.75) offers a thick reprieve from New York-style with a whole sausage patty across its base. Various locations, dannyboyspizza.com
Edison’s Pub
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. 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, facebook.com/edisonspizzakitchen
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
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 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
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
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 ($9.95-$11.95). 12301 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, 216-231-9567, mamasantas.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
Photo: Cents Pizza & Goods
Saucy Brew Works
Why we love it: Interesting toppings such as honeycomb and confit duck put a Cleveland spin on New Haven-style "apizza." Sip the white light Belgian white ale with lemon and peach. Try this: The chick-n-waffle funghi ($15-$19) gets funky boursin, smoked cheese, pecorino romano, crispy chicken, sriracha, maple syrup, glazed pecans and parsley. 2885 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-666-2568; 400 Park Ave., No. 170, Orange, 216-293-7773, saucybrewworks.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