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This Mountain Village Is The Pizza Capital Of New England

Author Jeff Gorra
A fresh cheese pizza right out of the oven at Elvio's Pizzeria in North Conway, New Hampshire.

Boston has the iconic Pizzeria Regina. East Boston has Santarpio’s. While both are among the best, you have to travel about three hours north to a New Hampshire mountain village to find the pizza capital of New England.

I’ll be using Boston as a reference here, given it’s a major market with a tremendous cultural food scene. But the best pizza in New England can be found North Conway, New Hampshire.a town that is about 6.9 square miles.

Cruising into down along White Mountain Highway you are greeted by picturesque New England charm. As you get past the main downtown area, where the train station rests across the street from a strand of town general store-types, you reach the first amazing pizza stop.

Flatbread Company

I’ll preface by stating, yes, there are multiple Flatbread locations. They have two New Hampshire restaurants, one in Massachusetts, one in Rhode Island, one in Whistler (Vancouver), then one in Hawaii. However, the North Conway vibe only enhances the pizza experience. The kitchen has an open layout where you can see and smell all the deliciousness coming together. It’s important to note that Flatbread sources from local farms, so every inch of their cooking is fresh. You can sit outside when weather permits or bask in the sweet smell of pizza ovens perfecting your pie. Furthermore, Flatbread North Conway serves many local craft beers on tap.

Elvio’s Pizzeria

Take a left out of the Flatbread Company parking lot, then be ready to turn your left blinker on. 1/4 of a mile up the same road, you will find Elvio’s Pizzeria nestled into a cove off White Mountain Highway. You can literally walk back-and-forth.

Elvio’s is the self-proclaimed, “Best Pizza North of the Bronx.” And they may actually be selling themselves short. I’d put it up there with most pies I’ve had in the Bronx, and it certainly crushes everything to the south. Their pizza is a New York style, though. It’s a thinner crust with crunch and full of flavor. During lunch hours they will also serve Sicilian slices. The menu contains nine different pizza options that can also come in a Sicilian pie version. The owner (Elvio) has had the pizza-making business in his family since 1940. They use recipes from their native Italian roots.

Elvio’s is the pizza where I will always order an extra slice (or two) and bring it back to Massachusetts with me.

North Conway Honorable Mentions

North Conway has more great pizza places than most people can visit in a day. Right around the corner from Flatbread is Boston Brothers Pizza. And Via Roma Pizzeria’s menu is a unique blend of fresh pies and Mediterranean cuisine.

Certainly, the White Mountains and North Conway, New Hampshire are popular travel destinations for many people in the Northeast. Many guests frequent the town for winter and summer outdoor adventures as it offers great skiing, hiking. But it also offers the best pizza in New England.

4 Great Places To Find Sicilian Pizza In Massachusetts

I’m a guy who moved from New Jersey to Boston; growing up, Sicilian pizza was pretty easily available. I incorrectly assumed that all Americans enjoyed this kind of pizza selection. However, when I moved to Boston, I realized that it’s much harder to find that delicacy here. But there are also a few unique places that are cooking up Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts.

As an expert on Sicilian, I will tell you that it has to be prepared properly in order for it to be worth the calories. Here, I will detail three establishments where you can find great Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts. Sure, you may have to travel a bit, but these places are worth your time.

What Is Sicilian Pizza?

Before we cut into this delicious style of pie, let’s define our terms. Traditional Sicilian pizza is cut into square or rectangular-shaped slices. The crust is thicker and crunchy. Though this pizza is obviously heavier, it still can be topped with your favorite pizza add-ons. A sprinkle of oregano is a subtle but often important finishing.

Though strip pizza in Rhode Island is similar, one significant difference with Sicilian is that it is not baked on a focaccia style dough. In fact, Palermo Pizza NJ defines what distinguishes Sicilian Pizza and what makes it different from regular pizza. “The dough rises differently with this kind of crust because more oil is used in the recipe as opposed to a regular pizza crust recipe,” they said, when describing how this is made in a rectangular pan.

In Massachusetts, the three locations that are serving up great Sicilian Pizza are quite different from each other, but have this menu item in common. One of them happens to be a favorite of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

  • Pinocchio's Pizza - Cambridge

    Tucked into a quaint New England, Harvard Square street, Pinocchio’s is where you need to go if you want Sicilian pizza of all varieties. It’s also where you will see Mark Zuckerberg’s photo all over the wall. This was the go-to spot for Zuck while he was attending Harvard. In fact, it’s a place he still makes sure to stop into when in town. As for the pizza, there are 20 different toppings you can find atop the hot Sicilian pies. These pies come in a 9-slice or 15-slice size option. The 15-slice pie comes in two boxes and can feed up to nine people. During the school months, Pinocchio’s stays open until 2 am on weekends.

  • Galleria Umberto - Boston

    At 289 Hanover Street in the North End of Boston, Umberto’s can be easy to miss. However, once you recognize their old-school sign, you know you are in for a treat. They are old-school: it is a cash-only establishment where the large trays of piping hot Sicilian pies are continuously served. Typically, it’s cheese only, but you will not be disappointed as no other flavor is needed. The single line usually reaches the door, but it moves quickly. It also gives you time to decide which arancini (their famous rice ball) you’d like to add to your order.

     

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  • Leone's - Somerville

    Leone’s Pizza and Sub has been family-owned and operated since 1954. They are located right on Broadway and open seven days per week, from 8 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Their Sicilian pizza is the standard menu option here. It is available by the slice, in a half tray or full tray. The whole tray also comes in two boxes (16 slice) and costs $40. Their Sicilian pies also come in a tomato basil option and a spinach and garlic. Leone’s sub menu contains over 30 options. This includes a fried meatball sub.

    Authentic New York style Sicilian pizza in pan

    Stock Photo/Getty Images

  • Pino's Pizza - Brighton

    Right in the heart of Cleveland Circle, Pino’s is a fan-favorite of Boston College students. Though the crust is a perfect combination of pillow and crunch, the secret here is actually in the sauce. Pino’s describes it as “delicious, garlicky tomato sauce with in-house seasoning, cooked on a pan.” $20 gets you nine Sicilian slices at Pino’s. If you want to add variety to your order, they also have alfredo pies, white pies, and buffalo chicken. Like Pinocchio’s, Pino’s stays open until the early morning hours on the weekend to help accommodate the college crowd.

    A square Sicilian slice of pizza with basil on top. White background.

    Stock Photo/Getty Images

Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
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