Go inside Peppi’s Pizza in Miami, Florida

Each month in Destinations, we highlight an up-and-coming pizza spot in the U.S. In Pizza Destinations, we showcase a pizza place that may have just opened to rave reviews, hit best pizza lists or have exciting news. If you’re a pizzeria that would like to be featured, reach out to Executive Editor Denise Greer at [email protected].

A Look at Peppi’s Pizza with owner Ryan McKeown

This new pizza hotspot is garnering a lot of attention in Miami’s Design District. Peppi’s Pizza opened in late 2024 in the former Old Greg’s Pizza location. Its early success even got the attention of Dave Portnoy, who gave Peppi’s an 8.1 rating in January. A pizza and hoagie shop by day, Peppi’s transforms into a full-service Italian restaurant at night.

Owner Ryan McKeown calls the pizza New York style with a twist and uses a 72-hour fermented dough. The menu features a handful of pizzas. One fan favorite is the Upside Down, which features mozzarella and provolone cheese on the bottom and sauce on top with freshly shaved garlic and basil. Other hits include Peppi’s Cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz as well as the Chicken Cutlet, which features a crispy chicken cutlet, lettuce, pickled pepperoncini, creamy peppercorn dressing, breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Add-on toppings include roasted mushrooms, roasted Jimmy Nardello peppers, arugula and fennel sausage, among others.

The Small Plates menu doesn’t disappoint. Escarole & Beans features escarole with cannellini beans, extra virgin olive oil, garlic and Parmesan, while the Clams Casino is made with bacon, peppers, panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan.

Learn more about Peppi’s Pizza and on Instagram @peppispizza__.

Check out more Pizza Destinations in People & Pizzerias.

Pizzerias On The Radar

We added a new section to our Pizza Destinations called “On The Radar” to share quick snippets of pizzerias that are making headlines, introducing new initiatives, receiving honors and more. If you’re a pizzeria that would like to be featured in On the Radar, share your news with Executive Editor Denise Greer at [email protected].

VPho & Pizzeria is garnering local media attention in the Bronx, New York, for its combination of Italian and Vietnamese cuisine. After purchasing the longstanding Sorrento’s Pizzeria, owners Michael Tran and Elizabeth Lee added Vietnamese food, a hit for the neighborhood.

As a tribute to the founder of Alba’s Pizzeria, the Brairwood neighborhood in Queens, New York, renamed the intersection at Queens Boulevard and 84th Drive “Jack ‘Giacomo’ Virdone Way.” Virdone was a Sicilian immigrant who owned and operated Alba’s from 1962 until his death in 2020.

From April 27 through May 18, Nashville, Tennessee-based The Pizzeria at Frankies introduced Frankies & Friends Pizza Sundays, with proceeds donated to Pathways Kitchen. Each Sunday, a guest chef creates a special such as the Taylor Ham Slam from the Bagelshop, featuring everything bagel-style crust.

Four-location pizza company Pizzeria Paradiso is a finalist for two RAMMY Awards: Beer Program of the Year and Manager of the Year. RAMMYs are the Oscars for the restaurant scene in Washington, D.C.

The Flying Pie Pizzeria in Boise, Idaho, is getting renewed buzz for its infamous summer pizza on the Tasting Table. The Habanero Pizza is so hot that anyone who dares order it must sign a waiver. It measures somewhere between 100,000 and 350,000 units on the Scoville Scale for heat.