This Ballantyne strip-mall spot is a serious contender for best pizza in the city
Finale Pizza may be tucked into a quiet strip mall, but the moment you walk through the door, you realize you have found somewhere special.
The vibe is upbeat and unpretentious, with cheerful music playing, green barstools lined up against sleek counters and white subway-tiled walls that brighten the space and make it feel bigger than it is.
The staff looks genuinely happy to be there, adding to the welcoming atmosphere. From the team behind Inizio Pizza Napoletana, Finale takes the craftsmanship it is known for and applies it to a New York-style menu that is drawing serious attention.
Finale is a big attraction with the lunch crowd, as they specialize in slices. The menu usually features eight slice options, and each finished with a dusting of freshly grated Parmesan.
For the full experience, though, order the 19-inch whole pie, which is consistently great. And, as the manager told us, they really do squeeze a 19-inch pizza into an 18-inch box.
Time after time, Finale makes a wonderful pizza that looks fantastic and tastes even better. It is cooked just right with a golden char, a few well-placed bubbles and an ideal cheese-to-sauce ratio. Chunks of mozzarella are melted perfectly across the top, which, if you have read our other reviews, you know is no small feat.
In comparing the cheese pizza to our other reviews, we believe this is definitely in the Top 5 in Charlotte.
A couple of other items we tried at Finale reminded us of its sister restaurant Inizio, which is a good thing. It appears they combined their strong points into a new, complementary style.
We had the thin and crispy Vodka Sauce pizza, and the sweet and peppery vodka sauce really brought depth and balance. The Caesar salad was nice, as well, and we truly loved the tiramisu, a creamy, light and balanced treat absolutely worth saving room for.
Every time we visit Finale, we say we are finally going to try the pasta, but the pizza keeps pulling us back in. From what we have seen on other tables and on social media, the pasta looks just as impressive as the pizza, and we feel pretty confident you will be happy no matter what you order.
Finale is one of the top pizzas in the city — and it succeeds because every pie is made with intention, consistency and care. Whether you order a single slice at lunch or commit to the full 19-inch pie, Finale delivers the kind of flavor and craftsmanship that sticks with you long after the last bite.
Finale Pizza
Location: 15025 Lancaster Hwy D3, Charlotte, NC 28277
Cuisine: Pizza, pasta
Instagram: @finalepizza
Tristan Graziano, a Weddington High School student, is plotting how to rule the world, when he isn’t on the lacrosse field or hanging with his friends. Jamie Graziano, aka The GrazFather, is a graduate of the University of Florida, an employee of a Fortune 500 company and a dad who dreams of starting his food review and travel website TheGrazFather.com. He can be reached at jamie@thegrazfather.com or on Instagram @thegrazfather.
