The best pizzerias in the world have been named, and a Charlotte restaurant makes the list
It’s been quite a week for pizza in Charlotte. After the Optimist Park neighborhood’s beloved Bird Pizzeria was ranked in New York Times’ list of 22 best pizza restaurants, Charlotte’s Pizza Baby West location in Wesley Heights just landed itself on a 50 Top Pizza list for U.S. pizza in 2024.
Chef Trey Wilson and Steven De Falco, co-owners and co-founders of Pizza Baby, are “proud, humbled, and grateful” to be ranked 43 in this Top 50 pizza guide, an independent guide based in Naples, Italy, that is “inspired by the general concept of quality.”
This U.S. ranking comes out once a year — a product of anonymous eaters touring around the states, evaluating customer service, ambiance and, of course, the quality of pie itself.
Quality on this list can mean local sourcing, seasonal ingredients and leavening of the dough. But it’s also referring to the quality of the experience as a whole, as this specific guide is just as much about the pizza restaurant, as it is about the pizza.
“We very much identify as a pizza restaurant,” De Falco told CharlotteFive. He said Pizza Baby is not just a pizza shop or a pizzeria, but a place where service and ambiance play a big role.
A little bit about the how the guide and evaluation measures work:
Begins with an extensive general survey to 1,000 individuals
Visits to pizzerias are completely anonymous
Criteria for assessment includes service, location, the wait, beverage lists and, of course, the quality of pizza (leavening and primary ingredients)
Pizza Baby West, which opened in August 2023, was the spot where 50 Top Pizza’s anonymous eater came in completely unannounced. Here’s what they had to say about Pizza Baby’s Americana-style pie:
“Dough worked according to tradition, naturally leavened, rolled out thin gently, topped with fresh ingredients that come from farms and gardens where they are produced following the rhythm of the seasons and the short and sustainable supply chain. Even the most processed products like cured meats and cheeses are artisanal. The tomato used for the classic red pizzas as well as the artisanal mozzarella are very good. Highly recommended is the 18-inch size, perfect for sharing. Also worth trying are the sandwiches and focaccias. The drinks menu is also perfect for accompanying the food with joy.”
When the evaluator says “dough worked according to tradition,” De Falco notes that this observation is a nod to the “the quality of flour that you’re using and the dough process ... The length of fermentation and how that translates ultimately to the complexity of the pizza, the flavor, the texture, the color.”
At Pizza Baby, Wilson is cold fermenting the dough for 72 hours.
Because of the strictly anonymous nature of this judging process, De Falco doesn’t actually know what kind of pizza the evaluator ate. But De Falco trusts that the simplicity of Pizza Baby’s products shined through.
“We love and are increasingly drawn to our pies that exhibit the simplicity of preparation and ingredient sourcing, so our Mother Pie and our Margarita are benchmarks of sorts.”
However, the evaluator could have very well had a slice of one of the hyper-seasonal, rotating pies. Wilson brings local sourcing expertise, classically-trained education and years of leading kitchens at Flour Shop and Customshop to craft pies like the Rosemary, adorned in pistachio pesto and hot honey, showcasing elaborate and playful creations.
De Falco told CharlotteFive that it’s been a pinch-me moment for the team. “We have both dedicated our lives to food, hospitality, restaurants and serving it.”
If you want to try a slice yourself, you have a few options. Pizza Baby West, the location nominated, is a more Americana-style pizza restaurant, with music humming, TVs up and 18-inch rounds being slung in the kitchen and devoured at tables.
The duo’s newer location, Pizza Baby East, which opened quietly in March 2024, is more of a Roman cafe-inspired model — Roman-style square pizza, Lavazza coffee by day and a quaint bar and alleyway tucked away in the back by night.
These two styles of pizza — Roman and Americana — are available at both locations.
The top 50 spots this year are largely based in New York with a dominating 19 spots, followed by Chicago and then Portland.
“We’re really proud to bring this back to Charlotte and show what Charlotte and the Carolinas are capable of,” De Falco said. “We want to continue furthering the quality and culture around great pizza making and food service.”
For anyone interested, my thought is that this guide would make for quite a fun road trip, and you can start right here, right now.
Pizza Baby West
Location: 2135 Thrift Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Instagram: @eatpizzababy
Pizza Baby East
Location: 1601 Elizabeth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204
Instagram: @eatpizzababy
This story was originally published June 28, 2024 at 12:16 PM.
