A Look at Pizzerias in Charlotte, North Carolina
Inizio Pizza Napoletana
Owner Grant Arons says Inizio is “the culmination of all my experiences; as a business owner, pizza fanatic and self-proclaimed dough nerd. If there’s one thing besides the premium ingredients that makes us unique, it’s our dough. The attention to detail that we put into its long, slow fermentation in a controlled environment really separates its characteristics from most other Neapolitan pizzerias.” In addition to Neapolitan classics, its pizza menu features pizzas like the Pistacchio with rosemary, sea salt, ricotta, Buffalo mozzarella, garlic and a pistachio pesto sauce ($22). The Luigi is topped with broccoli rabe, sausage, Buffalo mozzarella, garlic, Pecorino, and Calabrian Agrodolche ($21).
10620 Providence Rd.
iniziopizza.com
TRUE Crafted Pizza
Opened in 2012, the sleek, modern pizzeria is a modified fast-casual concept, known for its service and community involvement, as well as its pizza. Its pizza menu features two styles: traditional wood-fired, thin-crust pizza and its signature grilled pizzas. A few specialty pizzas include the traditional Hot Oil (house-made hot oil, spicy peppers, mozzarella and tomato sauce — $11) and the grilled Prosciutto Di Parma (arugula, fig preserve, balsamic glaze, shaved Asiago and Parmesan — $14). TRUE also has a thriving mobile event catering business showcasing two completely restored antique farm trucks.
7828 Rea Rd., STE F
truepizza.com
Zablong Peculiar Pizza
The new fast-casual concept is generating a lot of buzz in Charlotte. The unique name comes from slang terms for “pizza” combined with “belonging, bring people together”. Zablong’s individual-sized pizza are oblong shaped. Signature pies include The Misfit with spicy tomato sauce, ricotta spread, Quattro formaggio blend, meatballs, local mushroom blend and a strawberry balsamic. The Tripping Goat features a mushroom truffle sauce, roasted local mushroom blend, crumbled goat cheese, fig marsala, crushed red pepper oil and cracked black pepper. Its create-your-own menu offers three crusts, nine house-made sauces, three cheeses, nine chef prepared vegetables, 11 proteins, 17 finishings and three infused oils, including several custom vegan options.
137 Brevard Court
zablong.com
ON THE RADAR
Pure Pizza
Purepizzaclt.com
The Pizza Peel and Tap Room
Tapandpeel.com
Benny Pennello’s
Bennysva.com/bennypennellos/
Hawthorne’s NY Pizza & Bar
Hawthornespizza.com
Libretto’s Pizzeria
Librettospizzeria.com
