This Beloved Pizza Parlor In Pennsylvania Is Touted As The State’s Best
Pizza debates in Pennsylvania can get loud, passionate, and wonderfully dramatic.
Thin crust or chewy crust, light sauce or extra sauce, classic cheese or creative toppings, everyone has a favorite and a strong opinion to match.
Yet every once in a while, a pizza parlor rises above the noise and earns a reputation that travels far beyond its neighborhood. Lines form, reservations disappear, and slices become the stuff of legend.
Pennsylvania knows good food, and when locals start calling a place the best in the state, people pay attention.
Crisp edges, bubbling cheese, and that perfect foldable slice create what can only be described as pure pie perfection.
It is not just dinner, it is a moment. The kind where conversation pauses after the first bite and all you hear is a satisfied silence. What surprised me most was how quickly one slice turned into two.
I went in curious and walked out already planning my next visit, mentally ranking it against every other pizza I had ever loved in Pennsylvania.
Low-Key Gem Status in Fishtown
Finding this place feels like unlocking a secret level in a video game.
The building sits set in an alleyway with barbed wire above the industrial brick facade, making you wonder if you’ve accidentally stumbled onto a movie set instead of a restaurant.
That glowing green peace sign is basically your only clue that something special awaits inside. Most people drive right past without noticing, which honestly just adds to the charm.
The lack of obvious parking makes the whole experience feel even more exclusive and adventurous.
You’re located at 1313 North Lee Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, right in the heart of Fishtown’s creative district.
Several handicap spots sit a few doors down, but otherwise you’re hunting for street parking like a treasure seeker.
Once you find it though, you’ll understand why people make the effort again and again.
Award Winning Crust Perfection
The crust here isn’t just good, it’s the kind that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about pizza dough.
Light, crisp on the outside, impossibly airy on the inside, with those perfect leopard spots that show serious oven skill.
Chef Joe Beddia spent years perfecting this exact texture and flavor combination.
The structure holds firm enough to support generous toppings without turning into a soggy mess, yet it stays soft where it counts.
Every bite delivers that satisfying crunch followed by pillowy perfection.
People travel from Brooklyn and New Haven just to compare, and many admit this Pennsylvania spot holds its own against the heavy hitters.
The dough gets proper fermentation time, which develops complex flavors you won’t find in quick commercial operations.
Some reviewers claim it’s easily top five pizza they’ve had in their entire lives, and honestly, that’s not surprising once you taste it yourself.
The Legendary Hoagie Room Experience
Booking the Hoagie Room is like scoring tickets to the hottest concert in town, except the show involves incredible sandwiches and pizza instead of music.
Only six people can reserve this private space at a time, making it one of the most exclusive dining experiences in Philadelphia.
Your host guides you through two hours of curated courses, from lemony beans to salty anchovies to those famous house made rolls.
Fizzy sips show up while you sample three pizzas of your choice with creative toppings like Calabrian cream, anchovy, and smoky roasted potato.
I’ve heard guests describe the turkey hoagie as possibly the best sandwich they’ve ever eaten, which is saying something.
The experience wraps up with sweet cream and espresso ice cream that’ll haunt your dreams for weeks.
The 80s soundtrack adds unexpected fun to the whole vibe, and your hoagie master doubles as host, conversationalist, and DJ throughout the evening.
Creative Seasonal Pizza Specials
Forget boring pepperoni and cheese combinations that you can get anywhere. This spot shifts pizza options with the seasons, showcasing whatever’s fresh and inspiring the kitchen right now.
Tomato and mozzarella might sound simple until you try it, then you’re a believer. Pizza arrabbiata “angry” brings heat for spice lovers, while anchovy with garlic and oregano adds punch you often won’t find on pizza.
Calabrian cream provides rich, slightly spicy undertones that complement roasted vegetables beautifully.
Pizza arrabbiata “angry” packs serious chili punch, so definitely ask your server about spice levels if you’re sensitive.
Potato pizza surprises skeptics by delivering creamy, comforting flavors in every bite. Greens and roasted onions might sound simple, but the execution makes them shine.
Each pie gets carefully balanced so no single ingredient overwhelms the others. The kitchen clearly understands flavor profiles and isn’t afraid to experiment beyond traditional Italian American expectations.
That Famous Tomato Pie
Tomato pie gets mentioned in review after review, and for good reason. This isn’t your typical pizza with sauce and cheese, it’s a completely different beast that celebrates tomatoes in their purest, most flavorful form.
The thick tomato base bursts with concentrated flavor that reminds you what tomatoes should actually taste like. Minimal cheese means nothing masks the bright, slightly sweet, perfectly seasoned sauce.
The crust underneath stays sturdy enough to support all that saucy goodness without falling apart. I grabbed a piece once before heading out and couldn’t stop thinking about it for days afterward.
It’s the kind of simple preparation that only works when you use quality ingredients and know exactly what you’re doing.
Some places overcomplicate tomato pie with too many additions, but this version stays focused and lets the main ingredient shine.
Whether you order it as an appetizer or alongside regular pizza, you’ll understand why it gets specifically called out in so many glowing reviews.
Inventive Salad Offerings
Calling these creations simple salads feels like calling the Mona Lisa a nice painting.
The kitchen approaches vegetables with the same creativity and respect they give their pizzas, resulting in combinations you won’t find anywhere else.
That carrot miso ginger dressing people dream about weeks later brings umami richness to crisp greens in unexpected ways.
The Caesar gets reimagined as more of a vegetable forward dish rather than just romaine with dressing, which sounds odd but totally works.
Radicchio shows up with inventive pairings that balance its natural bitterness perfectly.
Fresh ingredients arrive daily, and you can taste the difference in every bite. Some reviewers from Europe, where food standards run high, still praise the quality and freshness here.
The dressings get made in house, adding layers of flavor that bottled versions simply can’t match.
Even if you’re just coming for pizza, don’t skip the salads thinking they’re an afterthought or boring side dish.
Modern Bright Atmosphere
The inside completely contradicts that rough industrial exterior, greeting you with bright, modern spaces that feel both classy and welcoming.
Sleek design elements mix with warm touches that prevent the space from feeling too cold or minimalist. Bar seating offers front row views of the action if you can’t snag a reservation for indoor dining.
The patio provides another option when weather cooperates, complete with heaters that staff will gladly move closer on chilly evenings.
Everything stays immaculately clean, from the open kitchen to the dining areas.
The vibe strikes a perfect balance between casual neighborhood spot and destination restaurant. You could bring a date here or show up with friends in jeans and feel equally comfortable either way.
Natural light floods the space during lunch service, while evening hours bring cozier, more intimate lighting.
The whole setup encourages you to relax and focus on the food rather than worrying about stuffy dress codes or pretentious attitudes that plague some acclaimed restaurants.
Reservation System and Popularity
Getting a table here requires planning ahead, and the reservation system may include a stated cancellation fee amount that keeps no shows to a minimum.
The earliest available slots often go to bar seating, which fills up just as fast as the indoor dining room.
Sometimes the booking system shows different times for different seating areas, so it pays to refresh and check all your options before committing.
You can’t easily change reservations once made, and finding a phone number to call proves surprisingly difficult when you need to make adjustments.
This popularity stems from years of consistent quality and national recognition on top pizza lists across the country.
The place regularly appears in roundups of the best fifty pizzerias in America, which obviously drives serious food tourists to make pilgrimages.
Weekend slots disappear fastest, especially Friday and Saturday when hours extend until ten thirty at night.
Weekday evenings from five to nine thirty offer slightly better availability, though you’ll still want to book well in advance for your best shot.
Curated Beverage Selection and Soft Serve
The beverage list stays intentionally short but impressively well chosen, featuring bottles that actually complement pizza rather than just filling space on a menu.
Fresh parmesan gets shaved tableside when you ask for it, elevating even simple pies into something more special.
Sparkling sips show up for celebrations, and the staff knows their stuff when it comes to pairing recommendations.
The selection focuses on quality over quantity, which means you won’t waste time scrolling through pages of mediocre options.
Then comes dessert, specifically that soft serve ice cream that ends meals on the perfect sweet note.
The espresso flavor delivers rich coffee notes without overwhelming sweetness, while sweet cream offers pure, simple indulgence.
Some guests get surprised with birthday ice cream when celebrating special occasions, adding thoughtful touches to an already memorable experience.
The combination of savory excellence followed by cold, creamy dessert creates the kind of satisfying meal arc that keeps people coming back. It’s proof that this spot understands the complete dining experience from start to finish.
Attentive Professional Service
The team here clearly takes pride in their work, from hosts who quickly accommodate unexpected party size changes to servers who patiently answer questions about unfamiliar menu items.
Staff members bring genuine knowledge about ingredient origins, preparation methods, and what to expect from each course.
Bar staff serve double duty, mixing refreshments while offering solid recommendations when you’re stuck choosing between pizza options.
They’ll move heaters closer on the patio without you having to ask twice, and they bring extra attention to dietary restrictions when needed.
Some servers even remember return customers, adding personal touches that transform good service into great hospitality.
The kitchen operates with impressive precision, turning out consistently excellent food even during busy weekend rushes.
Wait times for pizza typically run thirty to forty minutes, which might seem long but results in proper cooking rather than rushed mediocrity.
Sure, you’ll encounter the occasional off night or overwhelmed staff member during peak hours, but overall the service matches the high quality food coming out of that kitchen consistently enough to earn its stellar reputation across Pennsylvania.