It’s not particularly hard to find pizza wherever you are in the United States, but whether it’s good can be more challenging.
And in a world where you can get a slice drizzled with hot honey or one topped with chips and ground beef à la the great taco pizzas found in Iowa, determining what is considered good feels like a rather lofty responsibility.
But Food & Wine recently revealed their 10 “must-visit pizzerias in the United States,” guiding our stomachs to the “most compelling pizza destinations” worth a visit.
Unsurprisingly, restaurants in Detroit, Chicago, and New York City made the list. But so did several spots in California, meaning that for some lucky few — or rather, the millions that live in these metros, enjoying quality pizza is just a matter of a drive.
Rose Pizzeria
Delightfully close to the students and faculty at UC Berkeley is Rose Pizzeria, the restaurant from Alexis Rorabaugh and Gerad Gobel that has received major attention from the New York Times (named one of the best pizza places in the nation in 2024), the San Francisco Chronicle, and SF Eater. Food & Wine describes the pizza as “a crunchy, original style that lands somewhere between Naples and NYC.” But Food & Wine and the New York Times have something else in common: An appreciation for the “charming” and “darling” restaurant. But this isn’t the only major news Rose Pizzeria has had recently. More folks will get to enjoy Rose Pizzeria’s pizza — and also important, their wine list — when they open a San Francisco location, the San Francisco Chronicle reported earlier this year.
Where: 1960 University Ave., Berkeley
Quarter Sheets
Quarter Sheets in Echo Park are no newbies to praise despite opening just several years ago. It earned a spot on the New York Times America’s Best Restaurants of 2023 and the Michelin Guide (which assured readers that one bite of Quarter Sheets’ pizza is worth the wait). Food & Wine noted the styles of pizza diners can enjoy at Aaron Lindell and Hannah Ziskin’s Quarter Sheets, from “‘Detroit-ish’ pan pizza” to “Sicilian-inspired tomato pies.” Just don’t forget to leave room for dessert.
Where: 1305 Portia St., Los Angeles
Outta Sight
Outta Sight, located in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco, expanded into Chinatown early this year, offering diners more opportunities to devour chefs Eric Ehler and Peter Dorrance’s creative creations. Scroll through their Instagram to see what you’ve been missing (have you ever heard of butter chicken pizza?). Actually, don’t if you’re hungry and not nearby. But it’s the creativity that Food & Wine noted of Outta Sight — Grandma-style pizzas that “are often experimental” (in addition to their “thin, crispy and complex” crust).
Where: 422 Larkin St., San Francisco and 643 Clay St., San Francisco
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: See the ‘compelling’ pizzerias in California that Food & Wine said are a ‘must visit’
Reporting by Paris Barraza, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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