Does a yummy slice of hot cheesy pizza on a cold winter night sound good? You’ve come to the right place. Dallas may not be New York or Chicago, however, when it comes to tasty Italian cuisine our options — particularly pizza – are pretty darn good.
Here are 10 terrific pizza options to consider. Let me know what you think.
Eno’s Pizza Tavern has several locations that are spread around the region, however, the first one in the heart of Oak Cliff’s Bishop Arts District stands out. With farm-to-table ingredients and fresh pizzas and pasta, Eno’s works as well for families as it does on date nights. The pizzas with hot, farm-fresh salads are cool, and the craft beers rock.
Sicilian pizza lovers unite! If you find yourself downtown, don’t pass up Pizza Leila, an authentic Sicilian pizza concept in the heart of Big D. In 2021 D Magazine tabbed it Best Pizza. Uniquely known for their large squares (cut into even more, smaller squares, and sold by the slice) serving a yummy lunch, or a fun night out with the gang, Pizza Leila is a cool, casual blast.
Cane Rosso is another well-known option with locations around the area, although we’re partial to the one in Deep Ellum at 2612 Commerce Street. It was launched by a business executive who’d taken a trip to Italy and sampled his first true Italian pizza. From there he built his own wood-burning oven and took some hands-on training at AVPN in the old country to learn the craft. The Cane Rosso experience is authentic, food made with quality ingredients, handmade dough, homemade mozzarella, and some interesting takes on traditional as well as contemporary Italian dishes. Be sure and get in on their Pizza of the Month too. Oh, they also run a dog rescue, which speaks to the company’s admirable commitment to community service.
There are two locations of Drake’s Hollywood, one in California (duh!) and the other here in Big D at 5007 West Lovers Lane. The brainchild of the Vandelay Hospitality (Hudson House, D.L. Mack’s, East Hampton Sandwich Co., and more), it’s a swanky restaurant with an obvious nod to vintage Tinsel Town vibes. The Melrose Pizza menu is limited to 14-inch pies in four flavors – Classic, Rick’s, Ozzy’s, and Vegan, with no substitutions. But the food is awfully good, and the ingredients are fresh. The pizza is a clear favorite for takeout lovers.
Now for something completely different. Step inside 400 Gradi at 2000 Ross Avenue for an authentic Italian pizza, which the owners proudly say adheres to AVPN standards. Margherita Verace, Capricciosa, Toscana, Vulcano, Quatro Formaggi … and the list goes on. Warm surroundings, friendly service, and quality wines to top it all off.
The Greenville Pizza Company makes it pretty simple: they’re a made-from-scratch pizza and wings restaurant. In 2007, the original location opened on lowest Greenville Avenue and became an instant East Dallas hit. Later they added another stop on Peavey Road, then a third location in Richardson. GAPCo “pizza slayers” wear trademark holsters to hold their tools of the trade, always ready to slay a pie for hungry customers. Pizza includes classics like Hawaiian, Margherita, Chicken Spinach Alfredo, and Vegan, plus a seemingly endless variety of other options.
For Park Cities residents Yonkers Pizza at Preston Center is a treat. Opened around the pandemic, it took time to get off the ground. But when it finally opened, locals found it and loved it. Today, the food is still very good, and the location is super convenient. There is a variety of appetizers and large salads, including Caprese and Greek options. But it’s the New York-style pizzas that sing in a 12 or 14-inch pie. There are tons of fresh toppings to choose from (try the sausage from the East Dallas Italian market, Jimmy’s Food Store).
Olivella’s is across the street from the campus at Southern Methodist University. Quaint, cozy, and homey as heck, it is regularly filled with bleary-eyed students, professors (beards and elbow patches), and folks from around the Park Cities. Pizzas come in Neapolitan, or Roman (extra thin crust) style with a nice variety of toppings. Olivella’s is open seven nights a week (and some lunches), the Dallas Observer has called it the best pizza in Dallas, while USA Today went a step further saying it was the best in the entire state There’s a wine shop on-site with weekly deals on bottles from a sommelier-selected list at every price point.
Located at 2823 McKinnon Street, according to their promotional material, Poco Fiasco is a new “escape the ordinary” restaurant concept from Harwood Hospitality. Born from a need for “a good martini and a slice of pizza,” Poco Fiasco is a rowdy yet refined environment perfect for quick lunch, date night, nightcap, or a long night out with friends. The restaurant specializes in cold martinis and delicious pizza (gluten-free crust is also an option). Pies are 12 or 16 inches and come in a creative variety of flavors including Pepperoni, Buffalo Chicken, Spinach and Artichoke, Mushroom and more, guests rave about foldable slices and the crispy outer crust. There are also pasta options, shared plates, sandwiches, and wonderful salads. The indoor-outdoor space works for a business lunch, date night, night cap or an evening of the relaxed sophisticated evening with friends.
Last, but certainly not least is a Dallas legend. Campisi’s has a long, colorful history in town. Opening on Mockingbird Lane in the 1950s by a couple of Italian brothers, for many it was their earliest introduction to pizza and other Italian cuisine. Campisi’s thin-crust pies are still lovely, and a staple at homes all over the area. According to the website, the business was “built on handshakes and hello,” and it’s still the same way.
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