Craving a pan of pizza? Here are 14 small-town pizzerias to check out on the Eastern Shore

What's better than that first, tantalizing bite into a slice of fresh, hand-tossed pizza, made specially with melt-in-your-mouth cheese, crispy crust and savory tomato sauce? Not much else.

Here on the Delmarva Peninsula, there are plenty of small-town pizzerias dishing out just that and more. Here's a roundup of 14 of the most cherished pizzerias dotting the Eastern Shore.

1. De Pietro's

First up on your Eastern Shore pizza tour, be sure to check out De Pietro's, located at 211 Milford St. #A in Salisbury. De Pietro's, established in 2004, is known for its authentic New York-style pizza. The beloved pizzeria has a vast menu, and offers a handful of other classic New York items, including authentic gyros and homemade cannoli.

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2. Ponzetti's Pizza

Next, stop by Ponzetti's Pizza, located at both 1053 North Salisbury Blvd. in Salisbury and 14314 Coastal Highway in Ocean City. Ponzetti's Pizza, in operation since 1962, is still owned and operated by its founding family. The pizzeria values tradition, and offers classic, handmade pizza pies and various other Italian dishes to its hungry patrons.

3. Delmar Pizza & Pasta

Don't forget about Delmar Pizza & Pasta, located at 38660 Sussex Highway #5 in Delmar, just a short drive from the city of Salisbury. Delmar Pizza & Pasta, which opened to the public in 1991, is best known for its savory pizza and pasta dishes, as well as its delectable Italian desserts, such as cannoli, cheesecake, baklava and much more.

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4. MayaBella's Pizza

At MayaBella's Pizza, located at 1000 West Isabella St. in Salisbury, hungry patrons are met with the pleasant smell of authentic New York-style, thin crust pizza. Each of MayaBella's tempting, hand-tossed, brick-oven pizza pies are made with homemade dough and a savory sauce, and can be picked up via drive-through before they're taken home and devoured.

5. Pino's Pizza

Next, check out Pino's Pizza, a small-scale pizzeria located at 8101 Coastal Highway in the popular resort town destination of Ocean City. Pino's Pizza, owned and operated by Jim Hofman since 1992, offers 12", 16", 20" and 28" size pizzas made with fresh dough, savory sauce, pizza toppings and a unique mozzarella, white cheddar and provolone cheese blend.

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6. Mione's Pizza

Mione's Pizza and Italian Restaurant, located at both 6701 Coastal Highway #11 and 12741 Ocean Gateway in Ocean City, offers patrons appetizing pizza made with fresh dough and homemade, mouthwatering sauce, plus its unique stuffed pizza. According to its website, the food at Mione's Pizza is derived from family recipes that have been passed down for generations.

7. Billy's Sub Shop & Pizza

Billy's Sub Shop & Pizza, located at 13902 Coastal Highway #2, is yet another beloved Ocean City staple. The pizzeria has been in operation since 1959. In addition to its homemade pizza pies and extra large subs served on fresh rolls delivered from Philadelphia daily, Billy's Sub Shop & Pizza offers flavorful milkshakes, ice cream, salads, fries and more.

8. Tony's Pizza

As you take a stroll along Ocean City's historic Boardwalk, don't pass up the chance to stop by Tony's Pizza. The cherished pizzeria, located at 3 Atlantic Ave., has been a landmark destination for locals and seasonal visitors alike since 1962. At Tony's Pizza, patrons can enjoy fresh pizza, sandwiches, subs and authentic Italian entrees with a view.

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9. Piezano's Pizza

Also situated right on Ocean City's Boardwalk is Piezano's Pizza, yet another beloved pizzeria with a grand view of the Atlantic Ocean. Piezano's Pizza, located at both 300 South Atlantic Ave. and 701 North Atlantic Ave., was established in 1962. Piezano's Pizza is best known for its quality Italian dishes, including pizza, wings, strombolis and more.

10. The Dough Roller

The Dough Roller, an Eastern Shore staple, has been beckoning guests in for a bite since the spring of 1980. With three locations throughout Ocean City — 4103 Coastal Highway, 213 Atlantic Ave. and 606 South Atlantic Ave. — there's never a dull moment for The Dough Roller, which offers both late-night pizza and early-morning breakfast.

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11. Trattoria Lombardi's Restaurant

Trattoria Lombardi's Restaurant, located at 9203 Coastal Highway in Ocean City, is a family-friendly Italian joint that has been serving up pizza pies, pasta, subs and salads to locals and seasonal visitors alike for over 50 years. The authentic Italian restaurant, which also features a full bar, offers both sit-down dinners and made-to-go orders.

12. Ripieno's Italian Bistro

Ripieno's Italian Bistro, located at 3205 Coastal Highway in Ocean City, is an ideal place for both an atmospheric family-friendly dinner or a simple to-go order. Ripieno's offers a menu specializing in wood-burning pizzas with classic and creative toppings, alongside fresh salads, subs, sandwiches and many more traditional Italian dishes.

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13. The Cap'ns Slice

Berlin's newest small business, The Cap'ns Slice, located at 8 Pitts St., offers an array of hand-tossed pizza pie options with playful names, such as America, Han Solo and more. Patrons can order either a single slice or a whole pie to go. The Cap'ns Slice also offers homemade pesto and various other sauces, delectable desserts and more.

14. Serpone's Pizzeria

Finally, be sure to place an order for a fresh pie at Serpone's Pizza, located at the Pennington Commons at 11007 Manklin Creek Road in Berlin. Serpone's Pizza offers customers fresh baked New York-style pizza with a Neapolitan twist, either whole or by the slice. The pizzeria's menu also features subs, salads, calzones, strombolis and more.

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Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: 14 great pizzerias to try in Salisbury, Ocean City, Berlin and more