Our 13 favorite pizza places from Cape Coral to Bonita Springs
Between National Pizza Day on Feb. 9 and Super Bowl Sunday this weekend, it’s a perfect time to sit back with a slice or two or an entire pie from your favorite pizza joint.
And Southwest Florida is a pizza-rrific place to be in with a two-time Caputo Cup Pizza Competition winner (which is basically the Super Bowl of pizza) and a three-time World Champion Pizza Maker title holder at the Las Vegas Pizza World Championship.
Here’s a quick, alphabetical taste of some of our favorites from Cape Coral to Bonita Springs.
Downtown House of Pizza
Since 2005, DHOP has been serving up its beloved hand-tossed, delightfully chewy, lightly crisp New York-style pies with our favorite fold. Whether it’s at 10 a.m. or 10 p.m. (or 1 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday) this downtown Fort Myers gem always comes through for us. 1520 Hendry St., Fort Myers; 239-337-3467; downtownhouseofpizza.com
Fine Folk Pizza
Artisan specialty pizzas have set this Gateway wonder apart from the rest since 2015. But just knowing the team here won the prestigious Naples, Italy, founded Caputo Cup Pizza Competition twice — in 2018 and 2019 in the nontraditional category is reason enough to go. 11300 Lindberg Blvd., Fort Myers; 239-313-5155; finefolkpizza.com
Grado’s Pizza
This is one of three newish Cape Coral pizza places on this list. Antonio Grado, the co-owner along with Beth Acklin, grew up working in his Sicilian family’s restaurants and it shows. If you can’t choose between his dozen or so New York-style signature pies (think Queens white, Staten Island with sausage, green peppers, mushrooms and onions and more) you can grab a slice of each. Either way, you can’t go wrong. 1242 SW Pine Island Road, Cape Coral; (239) 900-3003; gradospizza.com
Grandpa’s Pizza
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy makes an impact when it comes to his “One Bite” pizza reviews. He dropped by this longtime Bonita Beach staple in April 2021 and gave it a 7.8. “I love it,” Portnoy said. “This pizza was great.” We agree. So will you. 27030 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs; 239-992-7119; grandpaspizzamenu.com
Leone’s Italian Market & Pizzeria
I am so late jumping on the pizza bandwagon of this line-out-the-door popular SE Cape Coral pizzeria. I’m a fan for life now. With each bite of the meatball pie, you get a chunk of homemade meatball which, combined with the melty cheese, sauce you’d be happy to drink and just right crusty crust, is essentially like eating mini meatball parm subs. If you haven’t been, don’t delay any longer. If you’re a regular, I’ll see you soon. 916 SE 14th Ave, Cape Coral; (239) 458-0013; find it on Facebook
Long Island Brothers New York Pizzeria
Owner Daniel Stasolla officially opened this Cape Coral pizza joint in January and we couldn’t be happier. Pizza had been a side gig for Daniel since he began folding pizza boxes at age 13. Fast forward a couple decades and he owns two pizza joints (the other in North Port) serving Long Island-style pizza that’s crisp and doesn’t flop. Welcome to the neighborhood, Daniel. 3812 Skyline Blvd., Cape Coral; (239) 837-8221; longislandbrotherspizza.com
Matthew’s Pizza Kitchen
When Matthew Ciaramitaro bought LaMotta’s in Cape Coral in the summer of 2022, he changed the pizza dough and sauce right away. Eventually, he rebranded as Matthew’s in November and his pizza has garnered a lot of attention since. He adjusted the dough again, making it crunchier with more flavor, and it’s outselling the traditional Italian dishes and sandwiches on the menu. It has our attention for sure. 303 NE 3rd Ave., Suite 1, Cape Coral; (239) 540-8555; matthewspizzakitchen.com
McGregor Pizza Company
From the New York-style brick oven cheese pizza up to our recently tried Summerlin Supreme with a perfect proportion of fresh toppings, there’s a reason this neighborhood favorite has two successful locations and an ESPN (99.3) Slice is Right Southwest Florida’s Best Pizza Challenge title from 2020. Owner Kate Marciano always dreamed of owning a business off McGregor Boulevard while growing up in downtown Fort Myers. Area pizza lovers are glad she did. 4600 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, (239) 939-1148; and 18011 S Tamiami Trail, No. 13, Fort Myers, (239) 400-0965; mcgregorpizza.com
Nice Guys Pizza and Beer
I’m serious about it (movie reference) when I say the "My Cousin Vinny" is one of my favorite pizzas on the planet. It’s basically a Pub Sub on a thick, fluffy, fabulous crust. The only pizza I like better is the Wishbone. That seasonal gem comes out around Thanksgiving and features turkey confit, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, cranberry, cheese and a crust made with everything you find in stuffing. I’m so grateful this cool pizza joint is in Cape Coral. 1404 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral; 239-549-7542; niceguyspizza.com
Pezzo Pizza + Bar
This trendy, seven-month-old Estero gourmet Italian restaurant and craft cocktail bar made my list of best new restaurants of 2023 thanks (primarily) to its pizza. They’re creative – the La Parma has burrata, broccoli rabe and smoked scamorza, while the Spicy Baby shows off with pepperoni, ricotta and red-pepper-infused honey – and, at 10 inches, perfectly shareable. Paired with a creative cocktail or two (get the dessert-in-a-glass tiramisu old fashioned), Pezzo’s pies just may become one of your favorites too. 20041 S. Tamiami Trail, Unit 18, Estero; (239) 908-9197; pezzopizzabar.com
San Matteo Italian Restaurant & Bar
Owner Giuseppe Manco has three titles as World Champion Pizza Maker at the Las Vegas Pizza World Championship. One bite of his Margherita pizza and you’ll know why it won two of the three titles (his Reginia pie was the other winner). Manco asked, then added hot honey to ours and we couldn’t have loved it more. His Montanara pies (fried, baked in a conventional oven and finished in a brick oven) won us over too. 19810 Village Center Drive, Suite 145A; (239) 234-2536; sanmatteorestaurant.com
Trattoria Ciao
When Melissa and Kieran Fleming bought this cozy Cape Coral restaurant a year ago, they brought back the wood-fired pizza. That’s very good news for Neapolitan-style pizza lovers. The prosciutto and arugula pie with a roasted garlic base, mozzarella and balsamic drizzle was nicely charred, delightfully flavorful and perfect in every way. We’re so glad pizza is back at this new/old South Cape restaurant. 823 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral; (239) 471-0033; tratciao.com
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Uncle Rico’s Pizza
It’s only because this list is alphabetical that this wildly popular family-run pizza joint is at the bottom. Otherwise, I’d have it at the top. Even though Enrico Aguila (aka Uncle Rico) will tell you he’s always learning about dough, to us, his is perfection. Others agree judging by the always present line of customers. According to the Washington Post’s list of best pizzas in the country, Uncle Rico’s has the third-best New York-style pies in the state. According to us, he has the best pies anywhere. 2960 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers; (239) 362-0083; unclericospizza239.com
Robyn George is a food and dining writer for The Fort Myers News-Press. Send news to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Downtown House of Pizza to Uncle Rico's: 13 of our favorite slices
