Best pizza in South Florida? The finalists are in, now it’s time to vote!
Well, we did it. We opened Pandora’s cardboard take-out box to pose a piping-hot question to our readers: Who makes the best pizza in South Florida?
We heard your many requests to put pizza to the test since our Best of South Florida Dining series began earlier this year. (Plus, as if we needed another reason, June 11 marked 135 years since, as the legend goes, the Pizza Margherita was named after Queen Margherita of Italy.)
So we decided to give passionate pizza fans what they’ve been craving — a battle royale among their beloved pie makers. Readers could nominate any style, whether it’s New York, Neapolitan, New Haven, Chicago or Detroit styles, or a completely out-of-the-pizza-box custom creation.
So who made the cut?
After tallying hundreds of nominations, here are the top six (because of a tie) most-submitted pizza joints, in alphabetical order:
- Antonio’s Pizza — Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale
- Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana — Plantation and Delray Beach
- Little Mike’s Pizza — Plantation, Pembroke Pines and North Lauderdale
- Mr D’s Pizza — Plantation and Fort Lauderdale
- Sicilian Oven — multiple locations
- Tomasso’s Pizza & Subs — Boca Raton
In addition to a readers’ vote, for this extra-special contest, we will also have a blind taste-test, putting slices straight into the mouths of a panel of judges, including South Florida food writer (and former Sun Sentinel columnist) Mike Mayo on his weekday streaming show. Tune in to “Mike Mayo’s Lunchbox.” at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, to see which place the judges pick.
Deep-dish details
This time around, we also asked readers to give us all those deep-dish details, including favorite part of a pie, best crust and topping preferences.
The results?
- More than 50% said they want “the complete balance” of crust, sauce, cheese and toppings when it comes to their pizza of choice.
- Predictably, thin-crust, N.Y.-style pizza was voted No. 1 by 69% of nominators.
- When it comes to toppings, pepperoni was a split decision among fans, with 33% saying hold it while 30% are all in.
- How about charred crust? “It’s the best,” according to 42% of nominators who voted.
Plantation resident Jessica Duckett is on Team Charred Crust, which is one reason she nominated Frank Pepe.
“They have the most freshest-tasting ingredients and the thinnest, crispiest crust,” she wrote in her form. “The coal fire gives the pizzas the most authentic flavors.”
Antonio’s fan Alexandra Duffy, of Dania Beach, mentioned their pizza’s consistency along with a crust that’s “flavorful and crispy — never soggy.”
“Always served hot and fresh, with the toppings arranged perfectly and not sparsely,” she wrote. “Try the eggplant topping. Also, Antonio’s pizza sausage is excellent — not fatty or gristly.”
Evan Flores, of Pembroke Pines, picked Little Mike’s because “every bite reminds me a little bit of New York City,” he said.
“Between the pizza and the wings, I consider this place perfection and a close second to heaven,” he wrote in his nomination form. “No matter what I order, I can never go wrong.”
Boca Raton resident Jennifer Schiavone’s love of Tomasso’s pizza — with its ample layer of gooey cheese — inspired her to submit a nomination.
“It’s always consistently good, fresh and the sauce isn’t bitter,” she wrote. “Also the pizza actually has a good amount of cheese without having to order extra.”
For Coral Springs resident Andrew Garavuso, Sicilian Oven’s pizza hits the spot.
“The pizza is cooked in a wood-fired oven. Gives the crust the perfect crunch,” he wrote. “This is the most authentic way to make pizza. It’s how pizza was made originally!”
Kelsey Drake, of Davie, called Mr D’s “a community staple with amazing pizza.”
“The crust is just the right amount of crispy and the flavor is unmatched,” she wrote.
Ready to vote?
Now it’s your turn to pick the winner! Fill out the form below and vote for your favorite. You have until midnight on Sunday, June 23, to make your voice heard. (If you can’t see the form, click here.)
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