Best pizza in Lee County: Vote now in the final championship round
The moment Southwest Florida pizza lovers have been waiting for has finally arrived.
It’s time to crown the champion of our best pizza in Lee County bracket challenge.
When the dough had settled, 5,269 fans voted in the Final Four and selected Cape Coral’s Nice Guys and Joe Daddy’s as the top two pizza joints in the county.
To get here, Nice Guys earned 2,230 votes to cool off Pine Island Pizza, the Cinderella of the tournament. The downtown Cape beer & pizza lounge knocked out Tony’s NY Pizza and Citrola’s in earlier rounds to reach the final.
Joe Daddy’s quietly worked its way through the bracket and ultimately took down powerhouse and No. 2 seeded Downtown House of Pizza in the semifinal with 54% of the votes. The northeast Cape pizza place also bounced Pizzeria Di Biscardi and Saucy Meatball in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, respectively, from the dance.
And now you get to decide who has the best pizza in Lee County. Voting is open through 2 p.m. Thursday, March 30.
And for the final time in our 2023 tournament, you’re on the clock.
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Lee County's Best Pizza Challenge voting dates
THE FINALS: March 27-30
Winner announced Thursday, March 30
Using the app? Click here to cast your vote.
Nice Guys vs. Joe Daddy's
Nice Guys earned more votes in the Final Four than any other place by far. If you haven’t had their pizza, now is the time to go. From Hot Honey (honey, salami, prosciutto) and Final Desecration (chicken, bacon, ranch) to General Tso’s (fried chicken, broccoli, pineapple) and My Cousin Vinny (salami, calabrese, prosciutto, pepperoni, iceberg onion, banana pepper — my midweek go-to pizza), good luck finding just one favorite. (1404 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral; 239-549-7542; niceguyspizza.com)
Joe Calderone, the Joe of Joe Daddy's, began learning how to make pizza when he was 14, “from a bunch of guys from Italy.” In his 30s, he “finally made a better pizza than they did,” but he didn’t stop there. “I’ll never stop,” Calderone said. “I’m always looking to make a better pizza.” His legions of loyal fans would say he already has the winning recipe and it’s brought him to the final. I had my first Joe Daddy’s pizza over the weekend, and it won’t be my last. The Joe Daddy’s special is well worth the drive to northeast Cape. (2481 Del Prado Blvd. N., Cape Coral; 239-573-6600; joedaddyspizza.com)
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Best Pizza in Lee County: Vote in the final championship round
