What’s the best pizza shop in Palm Beach County? Vote now. Polls close 6 p.m. Thursday 3/7
Not every March Madness year is a good one for South Florida college basketball. But it’s always a good year for pizza, whether it’s celebration pizza or consolation pizza.
Pizza is such a perennial favorite, we decided it needed its own championship tournament. We’ll start with our top 16 pizza picks in Palm Beach County, a list selected by The Post’s pizza-loving staffers. (Because all that election-night pizza qualifies us as experts.)
But it’s up to you to pick which pizza spot is No. 1. Just vote!
First-round voting starts 7 a.m., March 4. Polls close at 6 p.m. March 7.
Voting resumes every Monday-through-Thursday in March.
Pizza Finals voting goes from March 4 through March 28.
Palm Beach County’s Pizza Champ will be announced April 2.
Best restaurants: USA TODAY names its Restaurants of the Year. They include this Palm Beach County favorite.
Joseph’s Classic Market vs. Mario the Baker
Joseph's Classic Market: Using dough that's made fresh daily, Joseph's creates the perfect pizza canvas with a crust that is thin, yet foldable. Baked to perfection, with just amount of char on bottom, that crust becomes a vehicle for their house-made sauce featuring imported vine-ripened tomatoes as well as a blend of Grande mozzarella from Wisconsin.
The pizza at Joseph's also holds up against the dreaded "topping pull off." What that? It's when you take bite and instead of the optimum bite of crust, sauce, cheese and toppings, the entire sheet of cheese and toppings slides off.
Joseph's Classic Market: The Palm Beach County chain has four locations. For info, visit josephsclassicmarket.com
Mario the Baker: Opened in Royal Palm Beach in 2001, Mario the Baker has a long history of making great pizza and Italian cuisine in South Florida. Having served the South Florida at their previous shops in North Miami and Sunrise since 1969 before moving up to Palm Beach County, they are still family-owned and operated.
Though they have a gas-fired, stone pizza oven, manager Angelika Eisenstark said the reason their pizza is so good and customers keep coming back is that they use only quality ingredients, make almost everything from scratch and make their dough fresh daily. One of their top selling pizzas is named after the hometown in Italy of founder Mario Scinicariello, who died in 2016. It's called Pizza Gaeta and is made with fresh mozzarella, basil, sauce and Parmesan cheese.
Mario the Baker: 1007 State Road 7, Royal Palm Beach. 561-798-4030; theoriginalmariothebaker.com
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Lynora’svs. Adrienne’s Pizzabar
Lynora's: The pizza at Lynora’s restaurants boasts a consistently flavorful crust, a nice char on its puffy edges, handmade mozzarella, freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and Lynora’s scratch-made pomodoro sauce. There’s white pizza and customizable pies as well. The pizza menu is beautifully simple: The pies are wood-fired and topped with fresh, classic ingredients that will transport you to southern Italy. The quality-control of the ingredients, sauces and prep practices is the secret sauce at this hip, local mini-chain.
Lynora’s: The West Palm Beach-based chain has five locations in Palm Beach County. For info, visit Lynoras.com.
Adrienne's: What makes Adrienne’s “Original Sicilian” pizza, a 14-inch square pie, so perfect is its thin crust. But this is not a thin-crust pizza that’s crunchy like a cracker. Its crust is crisp, yet airy. Sliced into small, easy-to-grab rectangles, the Original is topped with a thin layer of tomato sauce and a toss of mozzarella, pecorino and Parmesan cheeses.
Because it is most delicious when fresh out of the oven, the pizza is best enjoyed onsite at the casual, friendly Adrienne’s, which is part of the mini-wave of restaurants with New York roots to open at The Square plaza in 2023. (The original restaurant is in New York’s Financial District.)
Adrienne’s Pizzabar: 378 S. Rosemary Ave. in West Palm Beach, 561-834-0300, AdriennesPizzaBar.com
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Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizzavs. Sal’s Italian Ristorante
Anthony's: The pizza at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza is popular for good reason: each pie is baked in a 900-degree, coal-fired oven. The crust comes out crispy, bubbling and slightly charred around the edges. For an Anthony’s favorite, try the specialty Paulie’s Pie, topped with homemade baby meatballs, Italian sausage, ricotta cheese and a choice of hot or sweet peppers. For another memorable pie, don’t miss the square, roasted cauliflower pizza that’s sprinkled with pecorino, breadcrumbs and crushed red pepper flakes. Founded in Fort Lauderdale in 2002, the Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza chain has more than 60 locations nationwide, including six in Palm Beach County.
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza: For location and menu information, visit ACFP.com
Sal's Italian Ristorante: With 14 locations in South Florida and eight of them in Palm Beach County, Sal's makes it pretty easy to get slice of great pizza. Though a big operation now, the first Sal's opened in 1977 on the corner of Woolbright Road and Federal Highway in Boynton Beach.
One of the keys to their success, and their great pizza, according to founder Sal Stellino, has been making everything fresh daily and using only the best ingredients. These include Grande cheese, San Marzano tomatoes, high-quality EVOO and the top-notch flour. Stellino added that the ingredients are "brands that I wanted for myself".
Sal's Italian Risorante: This South Florida chain has 14 locations. For info, visit salsitalianristorante.com
Using the app? Click here to cast your vote.
Camilli’s Pizza vs. Venezia Italian Pizza & Ristorante
Camilli's Pizza: Camilli's Pizza definitely takes the prize as the "O.G." of pizzerias on our list. Founded by Ken Camilli in 1968, this Lake Park restaurant is still family-owned and operated and has definitely stood the test of time. With a thin crispy crust, not too much sauce, plenty of cheese and always cut into squares, not slices, customers have flocked to this iconic Lake Park establishment for decades. If you've lived in Lake Park, Riviera Beach or North Palm Beach and surroundings for the last four or five decades, you know Camilli's.
Camilli's Pizza: 927 Park Ave., Lake Park. 561-844-3424; facebook.com/camillispizza
Venezia Italian Pizza: Family owned and operated since 1987, this local favorite makes their own dough and sauce from scratch every day. Chef Albert said that, and always using only the freshest ingredients, is the key to making a great pie. If you don't believe him, maybe check with Food Network superstar Guy Fieri.
The star of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" and part-time Palm Beach County resident has actually stopped in twice to sample this North County restaurant's pizza. The first time he took a few pictures with customers, the second he shot a short video in which he let the pizza-loving world know about chef Albert saying "this guy's the real deal."
Venezia Italian Pizza & Ristorante: 513 Northlake Blvd., North Palm Beach. 561-881-8600; veneziadining.com
Using the app? Click here to cast your vote.
Riko's Pizza vs. Nico’s Pizza
Riko's: Though there are now 10 Riko's Pizza joints, with locations in Connecticut, New York and Florida, there are only three in the Sunshine State and just one in Palm Beach County. Located in Tequesta, this Riko's opened in late 2022 and was the first in Florida. Their pies feature a thin, crispy, almost cracker-like crust and can be topped with their signature "hot oil." A blend of stinger pepper-infused oil it can be drizzled on top of any pie. Owner Amanda Folsom said that, though she's sworn to secrecy regarding the exact recipe, the oil gives any pizza a nice, spicy kick.
Riko's Thin Crust Pizza: 560 US 1, Tequesta. 561-510-6211; rikospizza.com/tequesta
Nico's Pizza: A downtown staple, Nico's has graced Clematis Street, cranking pie after pie, for nearly two decades. How many pies? This family-owned and operated restaurant averages around 300 pizzas per day. With dough made fresh each day, top-quality ingredients and a tasty marinara sauce, they feature 16 signature versions of their thin crust New York-style pizzas. Some of these include the quattro formaggio, made with mozzarella, ricotta, Gorgonzola and Parmesan, the Staten Island with mozzarella, sauce, pepperoni, onion and roasted red peppers and the pizza Alfredo that features Alfredo sauce, grilled diced chicken, broccoli and mozzarella.
Nico's Pizza: 301 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. 561-296-5400; nicospizza.com
Using the app? Click here to cast your vote.
Pizzaioli vs. Grato
Pizzaioli: The best reason to visit chef Michael Hackman’s Pizzaioli pizza counter is that he’s one of the best sourdough masters in South Florida. The baker and chef behind the popular Aioli bakery, Hackman lavishes the 14-inch, naturally leavened sourdough-crust pies at Pizzaioli — located just steps from his bakery — with creative touches.
Try the “Sausage and Onion Not Your Grandma’s Pie”, which is pan-baked, sesame-lined and topped with crushed tomatoes, crumbled sausage, onions and mozzarella.
Pizzaioli: 7402 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach, 561-508-6958, PizzaioliWPB.com
Grato: A sibling restaurant of chef Clay Conley’s stylish, nationally acclaimed Buccan Palm Beach, Grato does pizza right in true casual neighborhood-gem fashion. Grato bakes its 12-inch pies to order in a wood-fired oven and tops them with a range of creative toppings and flavor combos.
The result is outstanding pizza: The spicy soppressata pizza pops with hot peppers, pickled onions and arugula on a béchamel base. The Diavola pie boasts nduja (spreadable Italian sausage), pepperoni, smoked mozzarella, peppers, onions and hot honey. Gluten-free crusts and vegan cheese toppings are offered as well.
Grato: 1901 S. Dixie Hwy, 561-404-1334, GratoWPB.com
Using the app? Click here to cast your vote.
Mister O1 vs. How Ya Dough’n
Mister 01 Extraordinary Pizza: Welcome to the pizzeria that takes its name from the O-1 category of U.S. visa granted to its chef/founder for his “extraordinary ability” and distinction in the art of making pizza. Mister O1, the Miami Beach-born pizza chain, is not only part of chef Renato Viola’s American-dream-come-true story, it serves some unique pies. Viola’s signature thin-crust, star-shaped “Extraordinary Pizza” pies boast pockets of ricotta within each star point. It joins a thin-crust pizza lineup that ranges from the traditional to the creative. (Including the Coffee Paolo pie, which adds a sprinkling of ground coffee to the gorgonzola, spicy salami and honey toppings.)
Mister O1, which was hailed by Food and Wine magazine as the “Best Pizza” in Florida in 2021, makes its delicate crust with dough that begins with finely ground, double-zero Italian flour. The dough is rested for at least 72 hours.
Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza: 555 N. Federal Hwy, Suite 5, Boca Raton, 786-677-2903, MisterO1.com
How Ya Dough'n: What began as a pandemic-time backyard, pizza pop-up for neighbors and friends turned into a local pizzeria so popular that it was chosen one of Yelp’s “Top 100” restaurants in the country for 2024. Regulars love the sourdough crust on the pizzas at How Ya Dough’n. But owner and pizza-maker Garett Goodman says the secret to his shop’s success goes beyond the pizza. “As proud as I am about the food — and I’m extremely proud about the food — it’s about the hospitality and the customer service,” he told The Post.
How Ya Dough’n: 4251 N. Federal Hwy, Boca Raton, 561-617-1579, HowYaDoughn.com
Using the app? Click here to cast your vote.
Death by Pizza vs. Rossanos Pizza
Death By Pizza: Pizza-maker Koby Wexler turned a pandemic-era pop-up with a cult following into a brick-and-mortar pizza shop. That’s because the square, Detroit-style pies at Death by Pizza were so in demand, they’d sell out just minutes after the pop-up’s reservation window opened.
The brick-and-mortar version, a walk-up kind of shop, has expanded pizza offerings as well as the general menu, which now includes starters, salads, sandwiches and desserts. But it also retains some of the pop-up’s original pies, such as: The Redrum, topped with pepperoni cups, pickled jalape?os, cheese, tomato sauce and honey. The Edward, topped with wild mushrooms, mushroom cream and cheese. The Cryptonite, topped with vodka sauce, basil and cheese. And the Enemy, topped with mozzarella and sweet sauce.
Death by Pizza: 528 NE 2nd St., Delray Beach, 561-666-9111, DeathbyPizzaDelray.com
Rossanos Pizza: Operating out of a 26-foot converted Airstream trailer, Rossanos features Neapolitan style pizza that they say can "transport you to Napoli from your first bite to your last."
Using imported Italian 00 flour, water, proper fermentation, handling and, yes, love, Rossanos creates a dough that is light, airy and charred to perfection in their Italian pizza oven.
Operating outside Hopportunities Craft Brewery and Beer Hall several days a week, they are also huge soccer fans and bring the Airstream over to Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale for all Inter Miami CF games.
Rossano's Pizza: 440 NE Fifth Ave., Delray Beach. 561-406-0101; rossanospizzas.com
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Liz Balmaseda is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network. She covers the local food and dining beat. Follow her on Instagram and Post on Food Facebook. She can be reached by email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Pizza championship poll: Vote best restaurant in Palm Beach County
