In America, there has always been this epic battle between people who love Chicago-style pizza and those who love New York-style pizza. These two cities may be most famous for their pizza offerings, but there are many other places around the country that also offer a good dish of delicacies.
University towns are becoming famous food destinations thanks to their excellent pizza, and some of the places on this list might surprise you. Creative chefs and inspired eaters are taking college pizza beyond the familiar chain restaurants and into a whole new dimension. And if you have trouble agreeing on a pizza style and toppings with your dining companions, you can always ask for 'half and half' or just go for slices instead!
Here are 12 of the best cities to visit if you can't get enough of perfectly baked dough, cheese, sauce and toppings.
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Chicago, Illinois (prices and hotel photos)
Chicago is world famous for its deep dish pizza, and although you can find deep dish all over the country these days, the Windy City is still the best place to get it. To learn more while you're in town, consider booking a tour with Chicago Pizza Tours to sample five or so different pizzas over the course of a few hours. These days, pizzerias in Chicago are not limited to just deep-dish, but explore many different styles to suit all tastes. Favourite spots include Pizzeria da Nella in the Lincoln Park neighbourhood and Coalfire in West Town. Other places to check out are Slaughterhouse in the West Loop, Piece in Wicker Park, Boiler Room in Logan Square and Bartoli's in Roscoe Village. Honestly, this town has a broader and more diverse pizza portfolio than virtually anywhere else in the country!
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New York City, New York (hotel prices and photos)
While Chicago pizza is thick, New York pizza is a thin pizza that you have to fold to eat. Pizzerias in New York City are a dime a dozen, which can be intimidating for visitors who don't know where to go for the best slice. As in Chicago, it is advisable for hardcore pizza lovers to take a pizza tour to learn about the best restaurants in your favourite neighbourhood. One of the most popular places is Lombardi's Pizza on Spring Street and Grimaldi's. But one of the best things about New York is that they are open late and make the perfect night out after a night at the bar. And no matter what neighbourhood you're in, you're bound to find great pizza.
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South Bend, Indiana (hotel prices and photos)
The University of Notre Dame is located in South Bend and is also the city's largest employer. You might not expect to find one of the best pizza destinations in America here, but this college-fuelled demand has created a great place to grab a slice. The Northern Indiana Pizza Wars decided which restaurant serves the best local pizza, and Giannetto's Pizza & Pasta in Granger recently took the top spot. Other South Bend favourites include Barnaby's South Bend in the East Bank district of downtown, Lacopos Pizzeria on the northwest side of town, and Starlight Pizza on the south side.
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Knoxville, Tennessee (hotel prices and photos)
The University of Tennessee has led the Knoxville pizza scene because of its affordable and consistently delicious menu options. A couple can't miss the Hard Knox Pizza and Sergeant Pepperoni's Pizza spots in town. Other must-visits in town include Gavino's Pizzeria & Restaurant, Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza and Tomato Head, which also has some good vegetarian options and sandwiches.
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Des Moines, Iowa (prices and hotel photos)
It's not all corn and fields in Iowa, the tastiest of which is the excellent Des Moines pizza joint. There are many affordable pizza joints in town, including a particularly interesting place called Fong that combines the best aspects of an Asian fusion pizza and a tiki bar.
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Providence, Rhode Island (hotel prices and photos)
Providence has a vibrant arts, culture and food scene that is gradually taking over in terms of pizza. The favourite variety here is the grilled pizza, which is a local speciality that involves cooking the dough on one side on a grill and flipping it over before adding toppings. A favourite place here is Bacaro in the city centre, which is known as the birthplace of grilled pizza. Another great place to try this grilled speciality is Bob & Timmy's Legendary Grilled Pizza, which has two locations in North Smithfield and Providence. For Brooklyn-style thin crust, check out Nice Slice on Thayer Street, and for Chicago-style deep-dish try Sicilia's in the Federal Hill area.
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Grand Rapids, Michigan (hotel prices and photos)
Grand Rapids may not have as many pizza restaurants as some of the other cities on this list, but the ones that are here are excellent. And since Michigan is known to have some excellent craft breweries, don't limit yourself to traditional pizza restaurants. A local survey revealed that the favourite pizzerias in Grand Rapids were Flo's Pizza, The Mitten Brewing Company and Harmony Brewing Company.Grand Rapids breweries have fantastic beer and pizza at the same time, and honestly, has there ever been a more perfect pairing? Other pizzerias to try include Carlucci's Pizza, Brick Road Pizza and Licari's Sicilian Pizza Kitchen.
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Dayton, Ohio (hotel prices and photos)
Dayton is another great Midwestern city to order a pizza and be pleasantly surprised at how amazing it is. Local polls have been taken to collect over 10,000 votes to determine the best pizza places so that passing visitors don't have to figure it out for themselves! Last year, Dayton Pizza Madness collected over 28,000 votes to narrow the competition to one champion: Cousin Vinny's, a local chain with 16 locations. Others in the top spots include Donato's, with about a dozen locations in Dayton, Beavercreek Pizza Dive, Cassano's Pizza King, and Corleone's Pizza.
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Oakland, California (hotel prices and photos)
Oakland is full of great pizza places, and one of the most talked about is called A16 Rockridge. With the best aspects of Italian tradition and fresh California ingredients, this restaurant specialises in Neapolitan pizzas, seafood and meats. Zachary's Chicago Pizza on College Avenue has a big deep dish and Forge Pizza on Franklin Street has nice outdoor seating with a cosy fireplace. Meanwhile, Pizzaiolo is great for an evening date, Boot and Shoe Service is nice for brunch, and Lanesplitter is the place to go if you love lots of toppings on your pizza.
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (prices and hotel photos)
Set aside the Philly cheese steaks; there's a new food favourite in town. In a city known for its rich American history, it should come as no surprise that there is a restaurant here that calls itself a pizza museum. The Pizza Brain has plenty of pizza artefacts and even serves some thin crust. Another top choice is Pizzeria Vetri, which has been named one of the best restaurants in recent years and has become very popular. This particular establishment has remained true to its Italian pizza roots with ultra-fresh ingredients.
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Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (hotel prices and photos)
Myrtle Beach is a top destination for beach lovers and families looking for endless fun for the kids. Research has shown that there are more than 16 pizza restaurants per 10,000 people in Myrtle Beach, which is a lot for a city with a population of less than 30,000. One of the best choices here is the Ultimate California Pizza on Kings Highway. California couldn't be further from South Carolina, but this pizzeria allows you to design your own ultimate pizza with a variety of crust, sauce, cheese, toppings and spice options. There are actually six locations of this local chain along the Grand Strand.
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Kansas City, Missouri (hotel prices and photos)
Kansas City has become really famous for its barbecue, but pizza is nothing to sneeze at. Creative combinations and fresh flavours make Pizzabella in the Crossroads Arts District and Minsky's favourite local choices. This is an affordable and accessible tourist destination where you can eat pizza to your heart's content and still have money in your wallet for dessert. Bella Napoli is a delightful little Italian restaurant with handmade pizzas and traditional toppings, and D'Bronx Authentic Deli and Pizzeria serves New York-style pizza in whole or sliced pies. ROTATION! It's a local pizzeria that is known for its unusual combo options, and Waldo Pizza is a good option if you have a dietary restriction and need to go gluten-free or dairy-free. Grinders, The Art of Pizza and Pizzabella are also popular local options.
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