Pizza is like porn. Both are simple at first glance, but have multiple hidden layers involving taste, region, history, varieties, morality and stuffed crust. People ultimately want what they want. Thick crusts disgust some, while others chase it exclusively. That is why reaching a definitive winner for America's best pizza is impossible, even though food and men's lifestyle publications attempt to annually. They forget what pizza (and porn) is really about: good times.
Scott Weiner doesn't forget. A true pizza aficionado, he runs Scott's Pizza Tours in New York, judges slices at the annual International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, writes about it for various publications and maintains the popular blog Scott's Pizza Journal. However, he doesn't front, even though he could.
"You can have a wine connoisseur, but with pizza, we're all on the same level, " he says. "It's peasant food. We're all pizza enthusiasts."
Weiner's fun, we're-all-in-it-together attitude is the tone of Scott's tours. In the bus, he cranks Mrs. McPuppet singing the children's song "Pizza Pie" and rambles about any pizza trivia tourists ask about, all while asking everyone their favorite hometown pizzas.
"We only have bad corporate pizza," admits a woman from Ottawa.
"Zeeks," a family from Seattle agrees upon.
"Pizzeria Bianco," a guy from Phoenix says. His wife rolls her eyes like she's heard this hundreds of times.
Scott knows all the places, talks about what makes each pizza good, and even has a story about how he made the owner of Pizzeria Bianco uncomfortable with his fandom. If anyone has the knowledge to name a best pizza, it's Weiner, but he can't even begin to narrow down his favorite.
In New York, he seems to be a fan of the originals: Lombardi's (America's first licensed pizzeria), John's of Bleecker, Patsy's, Totonno's, Joe's, Rizzo's and Sam's in Brooklyn. He also loves J&V Pizzeria, Fornino, Luzzo's, and Louie & Ernie's in the Bronx.
Outside of New York?
"For the people in the pizza world, New Haven, Conn., is very important," Weiner says. "If you go there, a bunch of pizzerias are amazing. Portland is coming up for being important for pizza. San Francisco has some of the best pizza I've ever had. Delphina Pizzeria; Pizzeria Picco in Larkspur; Gialina, which has a really interesting pastry-like crust. And then there's this guy called Pizza Hacker who makes pizza on the streets with a modified Weber grill in about a minute and a half."
Overall, his advice for choosing a favorite is to pick the one that makes you happiest.
"If you're eating a bad slice, stop eating, and go somewhere else," he said. "I've done 15 or 16 pizzerias in one day."


























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Comments:
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Saturday 19 June
By Janet
Although no doubt Weiner knows a good pizza, it is beyond my comprehension how one could speak of pizza and not even mention Chicago! Chicago is the capital of pizza! None like it anywhere. It would be very difficult, actually impossible, to pick the best pizza out of the Chicago area. But once you start working your way through Chicago area pizzas, I believe there is no pizza anywhere in the country that can compare to Chicago in the pizza arena.
Janet
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Saturday 19 June
By Bill W.
Janet, you are 100% correct! How any article about pizza overlooks Chi Town is woefully pathetic. My favorite from high school days (mid-late 50's)is Pete & Jennie's Welcome Inn on Western Ave, just south of Howard St, Chicago's northern border. Very thin and very crisp.
Saturday 19 June
By mike
Pizza in a lasagna dish forget about it take a trip to n.Y and have a thin slice of tasty pizza try it once and you will leave chicago
Saturday 19 June
By Alicia
Mike, fyi, Chicago also has thin crust pizza. Chicago pizza is the best!
Saturday 19 June
By pam
OMG! The best Pizza in America is Wedgewood Pizza in Austintown, Ohio!!!! Scott can't claim to have tasted the best until he tries this! Hey Scott, it is worth the trip. Ohio won't bite you!
Reply
Saturday 19 June
By Ron Mc
Petrillo's in Southern California is simply the best. Sicilian style, just love it. San Gabriel and Glendora locations. Sausage, pepperoni, and onion
is the BONG!!
Reply
Saturday 19 June
By mike galgano
Johns on bleeker st. patsys on 117th streetand 1st ave and Johnnys in mt.vernon are the best pies I ever ate Johhnys in mt vernon is 25 miles from my house and I go there every week
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Saturday 19 June
By mike
The best pizza is in newyork where pizza originated from we have the coal burning ovens and the best water
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Saturday 19 June
By John
I just returned from Connecticut. We went to Pepes in New Haven. Yes the pizza was delicious...very delicious, but I think alot of the reviews need to ne updated. We now have Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza in Lauderdale. Nothing can come close to the magnificant flavor of this pizza. It's as if they have a magic dust which makes it so good. I could eat there everynight. If in Lauderdale, give it a try. You won't be sorry.
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Saturday 19 June
By pd
The best pizza anywhere is at Tacconelli's Pizzeria, 2604 East Somerset Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134, 215.425.4983. Huge brick oven. You have to call and order your dough for that night because they sell out.
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Saturday 19 June
By Elijah
I love how the author compares pizza and porn and then introduces us to Mr. Weiner.
Reply
Saturday 19 June
By chloe
The best pizza is from pizza hut, thin crust its the best and now they have the 10$ promo any toppings thats fantastic!!!!
Reply
Sunday 20 June
By Melissa
Rosati's!!!!! The best of Chicagoland pizza. Thank god we have them in Vegas now. 20 years I spent here looking for good pizza, and FINALLY we have Rosati's. I'm a thin crust enthusiast, and although this place is out of Chi town, they have thin crust, and it's excellent!
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Sunday 20 June
By Lisa
Does anyone remember Shakeys? It's been a long time since I've been there, I always thought that was the best Pizza, but then I was a lot younger! The atmosphere was fun, added to it!
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Sunday 20 June
By Cindy
The best pizza comes from my oven!
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Sunday 20 June
By tee
It seems that all of those who have taken the time to file a comment about the Best Pizza have only eaten pizza in the USA,...how sad. I travel the world going native & far with of all things Pizza being my favorite food. The very best pizza that I have come across so is from a little cafe located in Cali Colombia, South America named Karens Pizzaria followed by Pizza Johns located in Baltimore Maryland in the USA and last but not least is the Pizza at the Temple located in the city of Guoyong N.W. China, the same place that Marco Polo discovered pizza so long ago.
Try those ,...maybe your opinions will change a bit.
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