Best Pizza Near You - Yes, this is really it

Pizza is arguably the best food in the world. Below is my pick for the three best pizza places closest to you right now. This selection was made from millions of user votes and comments on pizza restaurants all over the world.

I think the best pizza near you is…

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If this isn’t enough for you, I can also tell you the best Italian sub near you.

How to fix delivery pizza

Pizza is best when it is hot, straight out of an 800 degree wood-fired brick oven. Even most commercial deck pizza ovens that get to 600+ degrees can make a great pie. The problem is when you put it in a box for 30 minutes the magic fades. Even the best pizza is reduced to a soggy mess by the time it gets to you.

Let’s face it. You’re going to order pizza delivery. I know it. It’s ok. As long as you’re going to do it, here are some ideas to take your delivery up a notch.

Fire up the oven to 450!

This technique is great when you have four or more people and you know the pizza isn’t going to last more than about 15 minutes.

Most delivery arrives in 30 minutes. That’s just enough time to heat your home oven up to 450 degrees. So right after you place the order, turn on the oven. If you have a pizza stone, put that in the oven first. If not, put a large sheet pan in the oven. We want the pizza sitting on something hot.

When it arrives, open the box immediately to let the steam out. Carefully slide it on to the hot stone or sheet pan and back into the oven. Let it bake until you can see it get just a touch darker. It will probably take 5-10 minutes. By the time it darkens up just a shade, it should be crisp again, as it should be.

Crisp up the bottom, one slice at a time

For just a couple of people, this technique works great and gives you an amazingly crisp bottom without getting the top any darker.

After it arrives, heat up a large skillet over medium heat. No oil is required. Once the skillet is hot, add one slice (or more if it will fit.) Turn the heat to medium low and let it sit for 3 minutes. Check it every minute or so to make sure it doesn’t get any darker than you like. Personally, I let my slices get a little burnt. The slightly charred taste reminds me of coal oven pie.

If you’re starting from a completely cold or room temperature slice, you can put a lid on the pan to warm the top as well. Pizza is so thin that the heat from the bottom will make its way to the top in a few minutes anyway.

Pizza loves good quality parmesan or pecorino romano

I always keep a good quality grated cheese on hand for delivery pizza. A little sprinkle of parmesan can make a huge improvement in an otherwise boring pie.

The best quality parmesan and pecorino romano grate into the consistency of sand. Pregrated is fine, but watch out for the shredded type. Anything that looks shredded like cheddar is probably low quality or not aged nearly long enough. Of course, it’s always best to buy a good imported block and grate it yourself.

Pizza loves good quality extra virgin olive oil

I’m talking about the good stuff here. Expect to pay near $20 for a small bottle, but it’s worth it. Great olive oil can be fruity, spicy, peppery and is perfect for drizzling on pizza. You may think pizza is already greasy enough, but you’ll be surprised at how much depth a great olive oil can add. It won’t make your pizza seem greasier, but it will give it a beautiful kick. Here is a great choice from Amazon that is from Greece and is both fruity and peppery (and not too expensive).

Garlic adds depth, even dry garlic powder

I love raw garlic. When used properly it has a bright, aromatic kick that can wake up the flavors in a lot of foods. Delivery pizza is certainly one of them.

When I’m in the mood for a dark, roasted garlic flavor, I just add a shake of garlic powder to delivery pizza. Granulated garlic works best for this. The powder is too fine and you definitely don’t want garlic salt, since pizza is always salty enough already.

My favorite way to add garlic to delivery pizza is to crush raw garlic and mix it with a little olive oil. I then drizzle the oil and garlic on my slice. The raw garlic adds a little spiciness and a bright kick. Once you try this it’s hard to have a slice without it.

Hot sauce is great on pizza

It may sound strange, but most hot sauce is really good on pizza. Everything from Tabasco and Frank’s Red Hot to fiery caribbean habanero sauces works well. You don’t need anything super hot. The vinegar in hot sauce is really the star. It cuts through the richness of the cheese and sweetness of the tomatoes. The end result is more balanced and a bit magical.