3 New England Pizzerias Make Italy’s Best Pizza List
Every year since 2017, a team of food and beverage journalists from Italy publishes a list of the best pizzerias in the United States on 50TopPizza.It. This nod is a prestigious recognition. This year, three New England restaurants were named in the top 50 pizzerias in the country.
50TopPizza.It ranks each establishment in order from one to fifty. New England first cracks the list at #47. The top spot in the region comes in at #12. These three establishments are located in three different states. Furthermore, they have different approaches to creating their take on pizza.
So what are these three New England pizzerias that ranked in the top 50 in the country?
#47 Posto – Somerville, MA
Located on Elm St, 50TopPizza.It praises Posto for its traditional and unique menu mix saying, “This is the right place to eat a classic Neapolitan pizza, even a more creative white version like the ‘Mandorla’ which offers a very interesting combination.” Posto offers a full menu of “red” pizzas where you can get a meatball, eggplant or Margherita version. Then, the “white” pizza menu gets very interesting. How about an apple pizza that also contains fontina, gorgonzola, caramelized onions and fire roasted apples.
#38 Zeneli – New Haven, CT
Now we head down Interstate 95 South and stop in New Haven, except not at one of the more well-known pizza names you typically hear of. Zeneli is on Wooster St. “The pizzas are baked in a wood-fired oven, and the bread and pasta is homemade,” 50TopPizza.It raves. Zeneli has deep roots that go back to Italy over a hundred years ago. In fact, they seem to have really struck a chord here as their traditional recipes are applied to each pie they make. Their pizzas look straight out of an Italian kitchen with Napoletana options and a prosciutto di parma, each available in a smaller, more personal size.
#12 – Pasquale’s Pizzeria Napoletana – Wakefield, RI
The highest ranked of these New England pizzerias according to Top50Pizza.It resides in Rhode Island. Pasquale’s is on S County Commons. They offer pizza in three different variations. There’s a New York-style, Napoletana (wood-fired) and Grandma 16″ square pie. This establishment pizza is described as being “masterfully baked in a wood-fired oven that was built professionally by a Neapolitan master craftsman.” Furthermore, Top50Pizza.It seemed to love all the options here, recommending the New York style while calling the Grandma pie “very special.”
These Massachusetts Chains Actually Have Great Bagels
#4 Gunther Tooties
There are five Gunther Tooties locations from Foxborough down to the South Shore. The owner of this chain worked in a New York bagel shop before taking over the first location in Pembroke. Moreover, a few of their spots offer drive-through. The “French Toast” bagel listed under the New York Style portion of the menu is always hard to resist.
#3 The Bagel Dudes
Sometimes known as “The Bagel Shop” (like their Chatham location), this is a family operated chain business that has a significant presence in eastern Massachusetts and in Florida. Everything is baked fresh onsite. If you’ve ever wondered what Chocolate Chip Cookie flavored Iced Coffee takes like, they have 22 different variations here. And it tastes as good as it sounds.
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#2 Cafe Fresh Bagel
There are five Cafe Fresh Bagel restaurants all within about 30 minutes of each other. This is my bagel breakfast sandwich spot. I keep it simple when I go there, with a classic: bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel.
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