I Dream Of Pizza A Pizza Blog, Established In 2008
Every year I look forward to counting down my five favorite pizzas from the past 12 months. I started this annual recap back in 2013. That year, pies from Pizza Brain, Colony Grill, Table 87, Micucci Grocery, and Luna D’Autunno (a pizzeria in Vietnam!) made the cut. Since then, top accolades have gone to Pizzeria Pico (2014), The Parlor (2015), Westwind Orchard (2016), Pie For The People (2017), Mama’s Too (2018), La Morra Pizzeria (2019), Pizza Rita (2020), Kingston Standard Brewing (2021), Testo (2022), JBGB (2023), and Shaner’s Pizza (2024).
I devoured many delicious pies this year (over 300 slices in total), but here were the five best:
5) LONG DRIVE HOME PIZZA
Michigan & Trumbull
Detroit, Michigan
Many of Detroit’s most famous pizzerias have been around for decades, but Michigan & Trumbull is a relatively new player on the scene, opening its doors around the start of the pandemic. During a weekend trip to the Motor City this summer, I headed there right from the airport. My favorite pie was the Long Drive Home (vodka sauce, mozz, parmesan, sausage, banana pepper) — simple and straightforward, but with a nice kick from those banana peppers.
4) PLAIN PIZZA
Papa’s Tomato Pies
Robbinsville, NJ
There is nothing plain about this pie. The oldest pizzeria on this list by about 100 years, Papa’s was founded in 1912 and is supposedly the second oldest pizza restaurant in the country (after Lombardi’s). A frequent pit stop on drives from New York City to Washington, DC, Papa’s has those old school vibes with overhead table lights reminiscent of a Pizza Hut and black & white photos adorning the walls. Feeling adventurous? Give their famous mustard pie a try.
3) MARGHERITA PIZZA
L’Industrie Pizzeria
New York, New York
L’Industrie is whatever the opposite of a well kept secret is. With almost constant lines snaking around the block at both its West Village and Williamsburg locations, it’s no surprise that their pies live up to to the hype. In past years I’ve overlooked L’Industrie in my December roundups, but I’m making amends in 2025. After a couple of really solid outings to both locations this past year, I’m declaring it list-worthy. While you can’t go wrong with any pie on the menu, today I’m spreading some love for their most basic offering: the margherita pie.
2) APPLE SAUCE AND BLUE CHEESE PIZZA
Sartoria Panatieri
Barcelona, Spain
Technically a nameless pie from the “seasonal” menu section at a pizzeria once named the third best in the world by “World’s 50 Best,” each bite blew me away. The pie features: applesauce, blue cheese, sweet and sour celery, caramelized almonds, mozzarella, and freeze dried apples. I mean… how fun is that combination? And the best part is that the freeze dried apples are served on the side — you need to crush them on the pie yourself. I love an interactive food experience (as did my 6 year old). This pie was unique, delicious, photogenic, and landed in the #2 spot on my list of top pizzas.
1) PICKLE PIZZA
Allday Pizza
Austin, TX
Pickle pizza? Really? Way back in January, I strolled into this Austin pizzeria with no intention of ordering a pizza with pickles on it. But the man behind the counter recommended it, so I gave it a shot. Boy, was he right. It features ricotta cream, mozzarella, sliced dill pickle, shaved garlic, lemon pepper panko, olive oil, and fresh dill. I’ve never had a slice like this before and it was incredible. And it comes with a side of ranch for dipping. Such a brilliant combination of flavors and I’m not even the biggest fan of pickles. According to their website, these days it’s an off menu item, but “you can always order it.” They need to update their website: “you MUST order it.”
