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Food

Celebrate National Pizza Day with a Slice from Any of These 10 Local Spots

Check out our list of the best pizza joints near campus and beyond

Who’s hungry? In honor of National Pizza Day—celebrated February 9—we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the most popular pizza joints in and around Boston, featuring predetermined BU staples, authentic North End pies, and a bunch in between. Whether you’re craving a simple slice of cheese or a fun, unorthodox creation, our list has got you covered!

1. T. Anthony’s Pizzeria & Restaurant

This reliable campus pizza and sub shop definitely deserves a spot on the list. A late-night classic for BU students and Allston residents alike, T. Anthony’s (colloquially referred to as “T’s”) serves a variety of thin-crust pizzas, from cheese, pepperoni, veggie, and meat lovers pies to less conventional takes, such as the fried chicken pizza. If you’re an avid Terrier fan, you’ll appreciate that the walls are plastered with sports memorabilia from floor to ceiling. 

T. Anthony’s Pizzeria, 1016 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Open daily from 11 am to 2 am.

2. OTTO Pizza

With several locations throughout the city and the suburbs, OTTO Pizza has served Bostonians since 2011, after getting its start in Portland, Maine, in 2009. Customers can order pizza by the slice or by the pie, and for the indecisive, there’s a “½ and ½ pie,” with half one flavor and half a different one. Although serving all the classics, OTTO is known for its unique flavors, including one with caramelized pear, blue cheese, and arugula and its ever-so-popular mashed potato, bacon, and scallion pizza. For BU students, a brick-and-mortar shop is readily available on Comm Ave in West Campus; they also offer delivery.

OTTO Pizza, 888 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Open from 11 am to midnight Sunday through Thursday and from 11 am to 1 am Friday and Saturday.

3. The Upper Crust Pizzeria

In the heart of Coolidge Corner (next to the Coolidge Corner Theatre), Upper Crust Pizzeria is a great spot for a quick bite with a fun twist: many of their pies are named after quintessential Boston neighborhoods and landmarks, like the Hancock Hawaiian (signature crust, house-made pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella, Canadian bacon, and pineapple) and the Charles (signature crust, shredded mozzarella, spinach, feta cheese, and fresh garlic). All their pizzas can be made gluten-free, and they offer a vegan pie as well.

The Upper Crust Pizzeria, 286 Harvard St., Brookline. Open from 11 am to 10 pm Sunday through Thursday and from 11 am to 11 pm Friday and Saturday.

4. Dirty Water Dough Co.

Although it can blend in among the row of classic Newbury Street brownstones, Dirty Water Dough Co. offers some outstanding pizza just a short T ride away from campus. The pizzeria, which has a second location in East Boston, boasts a feat most can’t match: their dough is made with their very own home-brewed Dirty Water IPA beer (in lieu of water), and is also completely free of eggs, nuts, and dairy. For anyone with a gluten intolerance or allergy, the restaurant also offers a gluten-free alternative for some of their pies. While their menu has all the classics, a trip to Dirty Water Dough Co. is the perfect opportunity to try an unorthodox slice, like the Mac Cheesy, their signature dough topped with macaroni and cheese and garnished with Cheez-Its and Ritz Crackers, or the Fenway Frank, which packs a punch, with hot dogs, shredded mozzarella, Romano cheese, sauerkraut, cheddar, mustard, white onion, and sweet relish.

(A quick history lesson: the restaurant’s name comes from the famous “Dirty Water” song by The Standells, which refers to the then famously polluted Charles River.) 

Dirty Water Dough Co., 222 Newbury St., Boston. Open from 11 am to 10 pm Sunday through Wednesday, 11 am to 10:30 pm Thursday, and 11 am to 11 pm Friday and Saturday.

5. Sal’s Pizza

A longtime favorite (it’s the official pizza of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots), Sal’s is a local chain with the nearest location to campus on Tremont Street. Choose to make your own pizza, opt for a classic cheese or pepperoni pie, or dare to order one of their specialty pizzas, such as the Bacon Cheeseburger (topped with bacon, ground beef, ketchup, and mozzarella and cheddar cheese) or the Melenzana (breaded eggplant, onion, pomodoro sauce, mozzarella cheese, and an oregano/parmesan mix).

Sal’s Pizza, 150 Tremont St., Boston. Open from noon to 8 pm Sunday, 11 am to 9 pm Monday through Thursday, and 11 am to 10 pm Friday and Saturday.

6. Regina Pizzeria

We couldn’t write up a list of Boston’s best pizza without including the absolutely iconic Regina Pizzeria. Founded in 1926, this can’t-miss joint has dubbed itself “Boston’s Original Pizzeria,” and it still operates out of its original North End storefront, in addition to having nearly a dozen others in and around the city. The menu is big, but at a place as well-known as this one, you can’t go wrong, especially with a classic cheese slice. It is worth mentioning, though, that their current seasonal flavor, Chicken Parmesan, sounds particularly delicious!

Regina Pizzeria, 11½ Thacher St., North End, Boston. Open from 11 am to 9 pm Sundays and 11 am to 10 pm Monday through Saturday.

7. Ernesto’s Pizzeria

Ernesto’s Pizzeria is an authentic hole-in-the-wall with no frills, but a remarkably tasty array of pizzas, as well as a handful of salad options. The North End joint allows customers to create their own pizza with almost any topping you can imagine, or you can order a specialty pie, like the Ernesto, a white pizza (aka without the typical red sauce), topped with chicken, broccoli, fresh mushrooms, and cheese.

Ernesto’s Pizzeria, 69 Salem St., North End, Boston. Open from 11 am to 9 pm Sunday through Thursday and 11 am to 11 pm Friday and Saturday.

8. Picco Pizza & Ice Cream Co.

Picco, in the South End, is a dairy lover’s dream: a restaurant that specializes in both pizza and ice cream. The pizza menu is somewhat small, so feel free to create your own, although their nontraditional creations, such as the salami, olive, and cherry pepper, and the mushroom, Swiss chard, and fontina, are definitely worth ordering. On the other hand, the ice cream menu is quite large and features flavors like chocolate malt chip and passionfruit. 

Picco Pizza & Ice Cream Co., 513 Tremont St., South End, Boston. Open from 11 am to 3 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm Sunday through Thursday and from 11 am to 3 pm and 4 pm to 10 pm Friday and Saturday.

9. Santarpio’s Pizza

Another spot with an extensive selection of pies, Santarpio’s Pizza in East Boston is also a fan favorite, known for using cornmeal for their crust, tangy sauce, and gruff attitudes. If the menu seems intimidating, don’t worry—they’ve designated a section to list all their personal favorite flavors, ranging from Italian cheese, sausage, and peppers to shrimp scampi.

Santarpio’s Pizza, 111 Chelsea St., East Boston. Open daily from 11:30 am to 10 pm.

10. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

If you’re a Connecticut resident and you’re missing New Haven–style pizza, Frank Pepe is the place for you. Even if you’re not, their traditional thin crust and flavorful sauce and toppings will leave you wanting seconds. Like many of the spots on this list, Frank Pepe’s has some unorthodox offerings, like their White Clam Pizza or Original Tomato Pie, which is just the pizza crust and red sauce. Although it’s a little farther away from campus, their nearest location is in the Chestnut Hill Mall, which has enough shops and attractions to make an afternoon out of your pizza-driven adventure.

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, 199 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill. Open daily from 11 am to 10 pm.