Deep dish, Detroit style, South Shore bar pizza, New York style, and the list goes on. With so many styles and regional specialties of pizza to choose from, it’s hard to choose a favorite. If I had to choose one style to eat for eternity, I’d pick wood-fired pizza. The thin crust, with a slight crispiness to it, is the perfect vessel for an array of toppings. It’s also not region-specific, as this list of favorite wood-fired pizzas in the northeast ranges from Maine through Pennsylvania.
Brick and Basil – Norwich, CT
First, we’re heading to my hometown of Norwich. Luckily for the residents of the Rose City, a favorite wood-fired pizza can be found there. A stationary food truck that has since become a brick and mortar, Brick and Basil serves simply delicious pizza. My personal favorite is the BBQ Pit. It’s made with either chicken or pork with caramelized onion, bacon, mozzarella, and barbecue sauce.
Maine Beer Company – Freeport, ME
Sure, Maine Beer brews arguably some of the best beer in the country, but have you tried their pizza? Whether it is topped with Calabrian chiles or a special pie, this thin-crust pizza is outstanding. During my yearly Portland trip with friends, we devour a whole pizza ourselves (mixing and matching slices of course).
Artisan Pig – Plymouth, MA
Any of Artisan Pigs’ wood-fired pizzas won’t disappoint. I love so many, including the Sausage and Ricotta and the Fiery Hawaiian, but my absolute favorite is The Classic. This top notch pie consists of pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, and hot honey. I know hot honey has become ubiquitous on menus, but this pizza was my hot honey maiden voyage and it tastes damn good.
Ella’s Wood Burning Oven – Wareham, MA
Ella’s has way more on the menu than solely pizza. With my kids, if there’s pizza on the menu, it’s going to end up at our table. At Ella’s try a fresh mozzarella pizza. The wood-fired taste is pronounced in every bite, but not overwhelmingly so. The mix of basil and mozzarella is a perfect combo.
American Flatbread – locations in VT, MA, ME and CT
The only mini chain on our list, American Flatbread, began its journey in the heart of the Green Mountains in Waitsfield. With locations in four of the six New England states, there are plenty to choose from. Two of my favorites are in Somerville, MA, and Burlington, VT. Both are unique in that the Somerville American Flatbread is housed inside Sacco’s Bowl Haven, an old-school bowling alley. Bowl a string, grab a cocktail, and saddle up with a tasty wood-fired beauty, such as the Punctuated Equilibrium, a pie loaded with veggies and punctuated with Kalamata olives. Another unique location is Burlington, where the craft brewery, Mothership Brewery, brews its own. The pairing of the house-made beer with the always delish pizza in Burlington is a winning combo.
Chestnut Hill Brewing Company– Philadelphia, PA
Another beer/pizza combo. Not only does Chestnut Hill Brewing serve high-quality beer with a local touch, but their food is a must-try. I like their pizza, especially the Forager, which is a white pie loaded with different types of mushrooms. Chestnut Hill is a perfect option for vegetarian and vegan friends, as many menu choices are meatless.
Vault Brewing – Yardley, PA
Vault Brewing is way more than a typical brewery. First of all, it’s in a former bank where the safes have been repurposed into this restaurant. The menu is extensive and includes creative choices such as wood-fired octopus and Thai Brussels sprouts. The hearth at the Yardley location serves up excellent pizza. Try the Bee Sting or the Wild Mushroom. You won’t be disappointed. There’s a second location in Easton.
Trillium Brewing Company – Canton, MA
At Trillium’s flagship location in Canton, not only is their world-class beer served, but the wood-fired pizza oven cranks out crispy thin-crust beauties. It’s an easy spot with the fam in tow. Place an order for a cheese or other family-favorite, sip on a Congress Street, and enjoy!
Given its thin-crust crispiness with a slight char, wood-fired pizza is hard to beat. From Maine to Pennsylvania, these are a few of my favorite wood-fired pizzas in the northeast.
