If there’s ever a month to celebrate, it’s this one: October is National Pizza Month. Did we know that fun fact before today? No. Do we plan to celebrate all month long? You better believe it.
We wanted to highlight Virginia’s hidden gem pizzerias, but we ran into an issue: There are several thousand that deserve a spot on our list. How could we possibly choose a select few to feature? That’s where our loyal readers came to the rescue. We asked about the best pizza spots in Virginia, and you answered. Here are four of the delicious spots y’all recommended.
Tony’s NY Pizza
Fairfax
This locally owned pizzeria has been serving up pies since 1994, when Giovanni D’Agostino moved to Virginia from Naples, Italy. The restaurant comes highly recommended from Dogwood reader Maria Cahill.
Known for its, well, pizza, the award-winning restaurant has several delicious options to choose from. Tony’s Special comes topped with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, and onions. The artichoke pizza also looks incredible, featuring four cheeses, artichokes, mushrooms, tomatoes, basil, and garlic.
Tony’s NY Pizza has two locations: One is in the Fair Lakes Shopping Center near Walmart, and the other is in Oakton.
Tony’s New York Pizza (But Not That Tony’s NY Pizza)
Haymarket
Ironically, we got recommendations from Cahill and Char DeWalt at about the same time for what (at first) seemed to be the same restaurant. After a little digging, we discovered that our readers were highlighting two totally separate places, which shared a similar name.
Come to find out, Tony’s New York Pizza and Tony’s NY Pizza serve two different locales and—from what we can tell—aren’t associated with one another. #TheMoreYouKnow
In 1989, Tony D’Agostino moved from Italy to Manassas and opened up a small restaurant. Over the years, the business expanded. The pizzeria now has locations in Haymarket, Bristow, and Manassas.
While the restaurant offers a multitude of Italian delights, there’s an entire section of the menu devoted to specialty pizzas. We’d recommend trying the NY Style Tony’s Special Pizza, which comes with sauce and cheese, topped with pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, bell peppers, and white onions.
Is there another Tony’s New York Pizza out there in Virginia? At this point, we’re curious.
Pizza Sam 757
Newport News
There are many beautiful pizza pies in the world, but the most mouthwatering might just be at Pizza Sam 757. Over the summer, this Newport News eatery got voted the best in the commonwealth by our readers.
Taking one look at the pictures on the restaurant’s Facebook page, it’s easy to see why it came so highly recommended. We could eat that Gyro Pizza every day and never get burnt out.
Fun fact: We’re lucky to have these perfect pizzas in Virginia! The original version of the restaurant opened in Brooklyn, New York, in 1959.
Ciro’s Pizza
Danville
Two years ago around Thanksgiving, we spoke with a handful of folks around the Danville area who celebrate the special holiday with meals other than the typical candied yams and mashed potatoes. One of those families, the Aversanos, owns Ciro’s Pizza—and the recipes come straight from Italy.
Cristina Aversano, a first-generation Italian American, explained that her family’s restaurant opened about two decades ago. The restaurant serves a robust menu of Italian and American options. Diners can order everything from a plate of spaghetti to a basket of fried chicken tenders for the kids. Subs, salads, and calzones are also mainstays on the menu.
For pizza connoisseurs, the Romano Ranch is sure to please. The twist on a classic favorite comes with Ranch dressing, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, and garlic.
