The Best Pizza in Phoenix

Ah, pizza – that great meal-time staple with tender crust, tomato sauce, toppings and smothered in delicious mozzarella cheese. Hot for dinner, cold for breakfast – who could ask for a more perfect food?

Pizza as we know it was first invented in Italy in the late 18th century but was not brought to America until the late 1800’s when Italian immigrants brought the recipe with them.  Cities with large Italian populations, such as San Francisco, Chicago, New York City and Philadelphia, were the first to sell pizza on the streets of their Italian predominant neighborhoods. Soon it was being sold in restaurants and grocery stores and Americans’ love affair with the pizza was born.

Whether you prefer your pizza pie Sicilian, New York or Chicago style, the pizzerias of Phoenix offer almost any type you could ever want. Here are my personal favorites of the best pizza to be found in the East Valley:

Rosati’s
The Rosati family hails from Chicago and their pizza is considered the best of Chicago-style pie with a thin crust and toppings piled high. Their roots go back to 1895 when patriarch Fred Rosati opened his first restaurant in Illinois. The family began franchising their growing company but ended this practice in 1998. Fortunately, the franchisees in Arizona continued business and continually add new locations to the roster (although there is some controversy between the two largest local franchise owners). The wonderfully thin crust holds up great under a light swath of sauce and the sausage is to die for; made in Illinois. Cheese is plentiful and comes from Wisconsin. Rosati's cuts up their generously proportioned pies into little squares perfect for noshing.  Delivery service is available and you can expect to wait over an hour on a Friday night, although it is well worth the wait. Locations are in Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Phoenix, Mesa, Peoria and Scottsdale. The two different franchisees in the valley have the following websites available: www.myrosatis.com or www.rosatis.com.