Got a hankering for pizza?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top pizza sources in Baltimore, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to venture when cravings strike.
1. Joe Benny's
Topping the list is Joe Benny's. The personal-sized pizzas here are made using a rectangular focaccia dough in the Sicilian style. Recipes include the King Con, made with fennel sausage, tomato sauce and burrata, and the Sammy, with goat cheese, caramelized onions, pancetta and balsamic-tossed arugula. Joe Benny's is also known for its meatballs. Located at 313 S. High St. in Little Italy, it is the highest-rated pizza spot in Baltimore, boasting 4.5 stars out of 551 reviews on Yelp.
2. Isabella's Brick Oven Pizza and Panini
Also in Little Italy is Isabella's Brick Oven Pizza and Panini, situated at 221 S. High St. On the pizza menu, you'll find everything from the classic Margherita to the Lombardi (pancetta, Gorgonzola and walnuts) and the Saraceno (soppressata, capocollo, feta, garlic and herbs). You may choose a 10- or 14-inch size. It's primarily a takeout joint, as there are just three tables. With 4.5 stars out of 450 reviews on Yelp, it has proven to be a local favorite.
3. Hersh's
Hersh's, located in Riverside at 1843-45 Light St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving it 4.5 stars out of 254 reviews. The proprietors make many of the ingredients for their Italian cuisine in-house, like the mozzarella, pickled jalapeños and Italian sausage. Many of these, in turn, make their way onto the house specialty: wood-fired, Neapolitan-style pizzas.
The Salsiccia, for example, has both the house-made mozzarella and sausage, plus soppressata, provolone and roasted red pepper. The Miles Davis calls for mushrooms, house-made ricotta, crushed red pepper, arugula and lemon. Outside the pizza realm, you might consider the pasta dishes. (Yes, the pasta is made in-house.)
4. Silver Queen Cafe
Next, Silver Queen Cafe in Hamilton is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 148 Yelp reviews. It has a small but eclectic pizza menu, including one that combines Maryland crab, corn, tomatoes, arugula, garlic oil, mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Another — the Cheeseburger Pie — has ground beef, caramelized onions, jalapeños, tomato sauce and Gruyere and mozzarella cheeses. Silver Queen Cafe is BYOB. Head over to 5429 Harford Road to see for yourself.
5. Birroteca Baltimore
Finally, over in Jones Falls, check out Birroteca Baltimore, which has earned four stars out of 480 reviews on Yelp. Meat like pancetta, capicola and spicy fennel sausage are at the core of many of the pizzas here. There are also a number of vegetarian options, many of which are "white" pizzas, or those made without tomato sauce.
The Locavore, for example, has fava beans, squash, peas and scallions, while the Formaggio has three different cheeses, plus sage, thyme honey and candied walnuts. Pair your pizza with one of more than 20 craft beers on tap. You can find the restaurant at 1520 Clipper Road.
