Thank you for making me your pizza weatherman. Mom told me she was very proud and called me her local celebrity before she died. I'll reveal that one of the first places I visited was Monte's Fine Foods in Portland, Maine last Winter thanks to her recommendation. That's where it all started. Here's the rest of the journey...
I visited more than 70 pizza joints in 2023. Some of them brought the pizza to me.
Here's the list in no particular order:
Truckin’ Pizza - Wells, Maine
The love I have for Chef Brandon and his wife is eternal. They are like family to me. This pizza will change your life. It's like neapolitan meets New York and there's nothing like it on earth.
Brickyard Hollow
A great date spot where there's tons of variety. The dough is light and the toppings are fresh. They do a lot for the community. Check out Chloe Teboe's story on the News.
Coletti's Pizza factory - Biddeford, Maine
Frank will always be someone very special in my heart. When he found out that Mom was battling cancer he gave me some dough to bring home and make with her. His pizza is light and delicious. Do you know he doesn't measure? It's all about many years of experience. He puts everything he has into every pizza.
Coals Bayside - Portland, Maine
This was highly recommended by Hoss and Mary's and when I tried it for the first time I was in love. Grilled, thin, crispy and fresh. You can't get this pizza anywhere else. They treat me so well here. The wings are some of the best I've ever had and don't sleep on the roasted beet salad, my favorite.
Radici PortlandÂ
This is sourdough pizza from someone that knows pizza, it's in his NJ blood. If you can get there when they are open and find parking you are in for a treat. Wonderfully crispy and tasty with every bite. (they have closed their doors.)
Portsmouth Gas Light Co. NH
Lots of good options to choose from here. It's downstairs.
Belleville - Portland, Maine
It's hard to find better Bakery style pizza than this. When I walk in the door here the people smile and you can feel the love. This pizza is light and crispy. It reminds me a little of sicilian, but with even more flavor. Best to order a day ahead as they sell out quickly and for good reason.
Ciao Pizza And Pasta Boston (Chelsea), Mass
The first true Neapolitan pizza and one of my favorites to this day. I ate the whole thing zero hesitation. This pizza is cooked to perfection and is so satisfying.
Otto Pizza
I've had Otto pizza at many of the Maine locations. It's thin and crispy with a Trenton NJ tomato style that I love with sauce on top.
Slab pizza - Portland, Maine
There's a lot of pizza here so come hungry.
When Pigs Fly PizzeriaÂ
Solid personal pizzas made to order. Lots of great ingredients.
Maine Beer Company
A charred neapolitan experience. They have a wonderful atmosphere and team of people making you feel comfortable. Great pizza.
Roma Pizza KPT
This was the last pizza Mom ate before she died. Ritchie brings NY to Maine with his staff. It's one of my favorite NY pizzas of all time. Good people and and good times from a place full of pizza love.
Cibo Pizza
I came across this pizza joint from the near 5 star reviews online. It's a great pie. NY style and a bit artisan. I've been there anytime I'm in the area and always eat the whole thing.
Regina Pizzeria Boston (North End)
The classic. You wait outside for your pizza no matter what the weather is. Even -20 degrees.
Angelone's
The first pizza joint in Maine's history. When you walk into this place you step back into time. I loved my visits here. The people are gracious and kind. The pizza is straightforward and delicious. The locals next door at the bank treated me like one of their own. It's cash only so make sure you come prepared for an old school experience that lasts a lifetime.
Flatbread Pizza
A solid pizza and wonderful desserts cooked in the wood fired oven.
Tuscan Table
I'm told hot honey pepperoni pizza is the way to go here. I only got cheese.
Nomad - Brunswick, Maine
Wow, what an experience. I love this pizza. They treat me so well here and the place is always packed. A good sign for any restaurant. The pizza is light and delicious. The salads are enormous. I could eat here every night.
The Cabin Pizza
One of the oldest pizza joints in Maine's history and you get transported into a time machine walking in the doors here. I have yet to get one of the special pies. Rob Caldwell recommended the shrimp pie. Next time.
Micucci's
Reminds me of old school NJ pizza markets. You get a slab in the back. But for me it's about the people and the dough. The deli counter. The assorted italian goods. I like to take the dough home frozen and then thaw and cook my way. It's sooooo good. Or take and bake a frozen pie. The possibilities are endless and there's old world Italian love in these walls.
Solo Italiano - Portland - Commercial Street
They have a super charred white pizza that no one else has.
Pizzaiolo - Portland
Stop in for a slice of NY style pie
Burano's Wood Fired Pizza in Scarbourgh
It's wood fired with fresh ingredients. The locals love it.
Cargo Pizza Company
When the weather is nice and the Eastern Prom is open for business you must try this pizza. I loved it. Great people, too.
VIA VECCHIA
This pizza is something you can't find anywhere else. It's super thin and cheesy. I dip the crust in the broth from the mussels. Delicious.
Rocco's Pizza OOB
About as good as it gets for NY style pizza and the people are very kind to me.
Lisa's Pizza
A classic.
Pizza By Alex
The old oven was off when I visited so I missed out on the best they have to offer.
Pizza By Michael
Michael and Vera treated me like family when I visited their last weekend. I hope the new owner cranks out the same love and pizza for years to come.
Pat's Pizza of Scarborough
I crave the thin crust mushroom pie here
Wandby Landing
Such nice people and quality pizza.
Bill's Pizza
The famous boardwalk style pizza you grew up on.
Seacoast Pizza & Pasta
One of the busiest and most popular Rt 1 Wells NY style pizza joints in southern Maine. I love the sicilian pie.
Home Town Pizza - Wells
It's like greek pizza, cooked crispy and cheesy deliciousness.
Willows Pizza & Restaurant
They treat you like family here. I loved my time eating pizza at the bar with the friendly patrons to chat with.
South Portland House of Pizza
I was happy to enjoy a cheese pizza here on my dinner break. It's fresh and delicious.
Paras Pizza
This pizza is legendary. It's made with so much love. As a total stranger walking through the door I was instantly overcome with a sense of love and care. The dough is homemade and I ate the whole pie in my truck with zero hesitation. You must try this if you haven't already.
IL Leone - Peaks Island
Tipo
An extra charred Neapolitan crust made fresh.
Lazzari
Meserve's Market
The people go out of their way to make you feel comfortable here. Nestled a ways into York County it's worth the trip. A favorite of the locals and I loved my mushroom pie.
Anthony's Food Shop York Maine
Great pizza made fresh right in front of you. It gets busy here.
Knife Edge Brewing
Heading up to the lake to see the mountain? or NEOC? Stop by for some pizza. You won't be disappointed.
Anthony's Italian Kitchen
What an experience. This place is famous for more reasons than I can say. The pizza is made fresh and the staff treated me like I was family.
Foundation Brewing CompanyÂ
You want detroit style crispy squares? You go here. Nuff said. The staff will bend over backwards to make you feel at home. Jon and his staff make the best pizza that I promise you will not have leftovers.
DiPietro's Market
Hot slice of pizza on the way to SoPo or Cape Elizabeth
Westbrook House of Pizza
Great people, great pizza.
Arundel House of Pizza
The people here are going out of their way to help the community. You must stop by for a pie.
Flight Deck Brewing
Lots of fresh Maine ingredients. Local pie.
Flavour's of India - moving to Portland
They delivered me a pizza hours away 2 days before knowing my Mom would die. It was for the special olympics Nappi pizza challenge. My life was altered by this gesture. Forever I will never be the same.
Funky Bow Brewery and Beer Company
I was humbled when they delivered several pizzas for the Maine special olympics challenge. I loved the cheeseburger pizza. It is addicting. Thank you so much.
Tinder Hearth
This is no ordinary bakery. You need to reserve a pizza a week in advance. I'm glad we did. It's one of my favorite pizzas of my entire life. It completely changed my life. The veggie pizza is something I still talk about and think about to this day.
Peng's pizza pies
A new pizza joint in Biddeford, Maine but there's nothing new about Chris and his pizza skills. A team of 3 making pizzas that sell out in mere hours on a nightly basis. It's like NY meets New Haven and it delivers on the hype. There is love in each pie. The cheesecake is out of this world. I could live off this pizza alone and die happy.
Friends & Family
Daily grandma pie slices that warm you up on a cool day, but the Monday night pizza is killer. I had vodka sauce soppressata special pie and it blew my mind.
Quanto Basta
You want Neapolitan pizza made to order right in front of you by some of the nicest people on earth? you go here. I loved every bite. Ate 2 pizzas zero hesitation. The sausage pie was my favorite.
Tesoro Cucina - North shore, Mass
The owner is a class act. Solid north shore pizza
Fairgrounds Pizza & Pub
Talk about variety. Wow. You can get any pie here and leave happy. Nice people and the pizza that never disappoints.
Snowmans Grocery
Great people in Orland, Maine cranking out delicious pies
Finelli's Pizza
Zeppa's New York Pizza
Ever walk into a place and instantly feel love? This is it. The staff and owners were bending over backwards to make everyone feel at home. The pizza is NY style and crispy, delicious, light and so so good. The cannoli will blow your mind.
Fat Kid Woodfired Pizza
Good people doing good for the community with their pizza.
Maggie’s Place
A new joint that is cranking out fresh ingredients and pie every day. I loved my time here. The people are so nice. The menu is expanding. Check them out and tell them I said hello.
Cushnoc Brewing Co.
It's hard to find better pizza in Augusta than you will here. It's so fresh and I love making my own to order pie. The people are kind and welcoming. A great experience.
Tripoli Pizza - NH/Mass
The legendary spot that makes truly unique pizza. The cannoli was one of the best I've had in my entire life.
Spruce Creek Pizza
A new joint cranking out pies to order. I liked the grandma pie here as my favorite.
Night Moves Bread
What a wonderful experience. There's love here. Lots of it. The pizza is sourdough and you just don't see much of that round. I devour this pizza and it's hard to share because it's so good. Crispy and the perfect amount of sauce and cheese. So thin and so light. The chocolate chip cookie is to die for and Emily says the brownie is life changing.
Madonna Rosa
Look them up on instagram for community pie. It was one of my favorite pies I've ever had. I'm so grateful to have connected with them. So kind.
Rise Pizza & Pub
A new joint cranking out delicious pizza. Give them a try and you will not be disappointed. I ate the whole thing in a matter of minutes.
Fire & Ice Maine
I went on the opening day and they weren't even at full capacity. Still loved the pie and it's selling out daily now thanks to the quality of the dough and crispyness of the pizza. The people are incredibly kind.
Rose's - Windham
Pie came out fast and hot from the oven.
Rustic Taps and Catering
You think you've me good people in this world, then you meet the staff here. A life changing experience. I had 2 pizzas in a matter of minutes it was so good. But the people made me feel like I was their family. A memory that will last a lifetime.
Monte's Fine Foods
Mom sent me here day 1 of my pizza journey. What Steve and his staff are doing is no small task. Cranking out pies and slices nonstop 7 days a week. I love the slice bar if I don't want to schedule a pie for pickup. Although I've had several of those, too. This is Roman style pizza that is thin, crispy and made with care. You must try the soppressata slice with hot honey. I could stand there and eat slices all day (and I have).