Whether you’re a native of the area or just coming through for the day, Winston-Salem has a lot to offer visitors and locals alike. Unsurprisingly, we’re here today to talk about the best pizza in Winston-Salem, NC, and there was quite the competition in making my selections. Whether you’re here for standard NY-style pies, a Sicilian masterpiece, or something a bit more unique, there’s a spot here for you.
So — let’s take a peek at what pizza Winston-Salem has to offer.
Burk Street Pizza
Burk Street Pizza is a hometown name for those local to Winston-Salem. They’ve been around for over twenty years, having opened in 2003, and for the past decade have won multiple awards, including the best pizzeria of the area. This success has led this small spot to grow to a second location (deservingly), in combination with their classic New York-style pies.
Owned by a native New Yorker, Burk Street has garnered a name as the best NY-style pizza in the area. Their pies are simple, greasy affairs — and sometimes that’s precisely what you need. Whether you want a simple ‘roni pie or a basic slice, they have exactly what you want after a night on the town. In tandem with their shockingly affordable pricing, this makes Burk Street and easy pick for the best pizza in Winston-Salem.
It’s also worth noting that they aren’t strictly a pizza joint; you can grab a quick hot hero, cold sub, and more, making it a great spot for when the family simply can’t pick a meal. Ultimately, Burke Street Pizza is arguably the stop for a classic NY slice when in Winston-Salem.
Cugino Forno
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Cugino Forno is an operation from the minds of three Turkish brothers that back their work with old-school Neapolitan technique and top-tier ingredients. As the second location of three (soon to be four), the Winston-Salem location of Cugino Forno has a big name to live up to — and they do it every day.
They use the best ingredients money can buy, with a shocking 80% of their ingredients imported from Italy. As if that weren’t enough (this is for you oven nerds out there), they use an imported oven from Naples, featuring stone from Mt. Vesuvius. This makes for an incredibly crisp exterior and soft interior, due to the extremely high (~900 °F) temperatures at which they’re baked.
Ultimately, there’s little more to say than that Cugino Forno is a business built on passion, dedication to its craft, and the best quality money can buy. If that’s not enough to sell you on a classic Neapolitan pie, I honestly question why you’re here.
Mission Pizza
Mission Pizza is the last of our top 3 picks for the best pizza in Winston-Salem. They’re somewhere between a classic trattoria and Italian fine dining, featuring a pizza tasting menu (pizzakase), pre-fixe, and a full Italian-inspired menu. With that said, though, pizza is certainly the name of the game here. The passion that’s present in this food tends to speak for itself, but I’ll try to do it justice.
This joint has been featured in Thrillist, Pizza Today, Food & Wine, and several other publications, each of whom sings their praises. Whether you’re there for the pizze bianche (no tomato sauce) or the classic crushed tomato-based pies, each is truly delicious — and best of all, you can order the “pizzaiolo’s choice,” allowing their chefs to make the decision for you.
It is worth noting that, while this may turn some readers off, Mission Pizza takes its craft seriously. As such, they generally don’t allow substitutions or special requests; you get their food as it’s intended. This is where the “fine dining-esque” vibe comes from — either you trust the chef, or you don’t — and I, for one, absolutely do.
Top 2 Honorable Mentions: Best Pizza in Winston-Salem
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While the spots above each have something special to distinguish them from the rest of the pack, that’s not to say that there aren’t other stellar joints in the area. As such, I felt it was only fair to highlight a duo of classic pizzerias that serve up greasy, cheesy goodness (even if they’re not in the top three).
So, who are today’s honorable mentions?
Brothers Pizzeria
Brothers Pizzeria is a classic family-oriented pizza joint in the heart of Winston-Salem. They make no-frills New York-style pies, alongside a menu of Italian-American entrees, at quite a reasonable price. While their pies aren’t ground-breaking or industry-defining, they make damn good pizza.
At the end of the day, that’s all I could ask — and I think you’d be well served to give them a shot.
Whitaker Square Pizza
Whitaker Square Pizza is the spot to be if you’re a fan of Sicilian or “grandma” pies; crispy edges, square shape, and greasy goodness abound here. They also offer a classic thin-crusted NY-style option, meaning they really do have a little bit of everything. It’s absolutely worth checking out their specialty menu, too, as it has a few incredibly interesting pies, such as the Chicken Caesar or the (cold) Classica.
In short, check out Whitaker Square Pizza for a chance to expand your idea of what pizza “should” be and have a tasty meal while you’re at it.