A Look at Pizzerias Around the U.S.

Down North, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Down North has garnered national attention for its pizza and its purpose. “Down North Pizza is no ordinary neighborhood pizza joint,” says owner Muhammad Hadi. “We marry top-quality delicious comfort food with the mission of reducing recidivism rates in our community. Down North is a mission-led for-profit restaurant providing excellent food and quality customer service to North Philadelphia. We exclusively employ formerly incarcerated individuals while providing culinary career opportunities at a fair wage and equitable workplace. Our aim is to help erase employment barriers faced by formerly incarcerated men and women, by providing culinary career opportunities. We have a Philly style pizza that was inspired by the Detroit style pizza. It’s a 10x10x2-inch pie that has a crispy external and is nice and warm a chewy inside. People go crazy over our lamb sausage pizza. The pizza has a homemade lemon ricotta base on top of three cheese blend and topped with marinated lamb sausage and a aged garlic honey drizzle and its finished with a za’tar seasoning that gives it the perfect sweet savory balance.”

JT’s Pizza, Pub & Patio, Columbus, Ohio

“Pizza Connoisseurs of Columbus” has dubbed JT’s the best pizzeria in town. The restaurant has it all – a full menu, thriving beverage program, patio scene and hopping live music and events. The apps menu features some bar food favorites like mini corn dogs, onion petals and mozzarella sticks. The menu also highlights calzones, wings, salads and sandwiches. The pizza is the main attraction. It’s Midwest tavern style, cut into squares with several classic and signature pies to choose from. The Mindy is topped with pepperoni, mushroom, onion and tomato. JT’s offers a Pizza of the Month. Recently, it was the Cubano Pizza with a tangy mustard base, mojo-marinated pork, savory ham, creamy baby Swiss cheese and crisp pickles.

Coastline Artisan Pizzeria, Houston, Texas

This Neapolitan-inspired pizzeria is brand new to the Houston area and opened in a previous café. Long-time friends Armando DiMeo and Jordan Kone started Coastline with DiMeo long family pizzeria history and Kone’s micro biology degree and an emphasis on the science of pizza. The menu features two pizza styles, Pizza Napoletana and what the friends call Texas style pizza. The unique oblong pies are oiled, herbed and grilled to create a thin and crispy pizza. The napoletana menu features favorites like the Margherita D.O.P., Diavolo, Marinara and Bianca. Texas style pies include the Motherland with mozzarella, house tomato sauce, pesto, Parmigiano Reggiano and oregano.