This Charlotte pizzeria is among the 20 best women-owned pizza spots in the US
A Charlotte pizzeria slinging Jersey-style pies ranks among the top-rated women-owned small businesses in the nation, a recent analysis says.
Geno D’s Pizza in uptown landed at No. 8 on the Top 20 list after earning “consistently glowing reviews for its flavorful pies, quality ingredients and dependable, no-frills approach to great pizza,” according to OnDeck, an online business lender.
“Diners frequently call out the crisp crust, generous toppings and friendly service that keep locals coming back.”
The report, updated in February, looked at more than 12,500 women-owned small businesses across 431 U.S. cities, OnDeck said. It identified spots in the pizza category with at least a four-star Yelp rating, then ranked them based on customer rating and review volume.
Geno D’s Pizza scored an overall rating of 4.75 out of 5 stars, results show. All data was collected in September 2025.
Local love for Geno D’s Pizza
Geno D’s opened at the 7th Street Market in 2021 and has cemented itself as a must-visit spot. It’s no stranger to accolades either; it was one of two North Carolina eateries named on Yelp’s “Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S.” in 2023, CharlotteFive previously reported.
“It’s such an honor. I try very diligently to do my best, to put out a fantastic product and follow in my father’s footsteps,” owner Gena DiPaolo told CharlotteFive in a phone interview. “It’s just wonderful.”
The beloved pizza restaurant had an average Yelp rating of 4.75 and 300 reviews as of Feb. 10. Popular dishes include the hot honey pizza and hot Italian sandwiches, and pizza lovers gushed about the bold pizza sauce.
Customers weren’t shy about sharing what else they loved:
- “Garlic knots to die for made this experience spectacular. Plenty of seating, cute interior. The whole food market looked delicious, and I’d love to come back and try some of the other spots.” — Beatrice C. from Gotland, Sweden
- “Only got the grandma pie with pepperoni, but it was amazing. The sauce is on point, crust perfectly crispy and soft and the flavors blend so well together.” — Kaitlin L. from Chapel Hill
- “Perhaps like most New Yorkers here in Charlotte, we are always on the lookout for good food, including bagels, Italian dishes, steaks, and pizza. Geno D meets the mark for my good pizza search!” — Jacob K. from Manhattan, New York
- “BEST SAUCE IN CHARLOTTE!!! The margarita pizza and white pie were delicious!!! We got 2-10inch pies with a house salad. You can tell they did not cheap out on ingredients!!! From the sauce to the cheese to the dough; ALL fantastic!!” — Christin N. from Charlotte
DiPaolo mentioned the restaurant will soon undergo remodeling and will add a second pizza oven to “get the food out as fast and as hot as possible.”
“Just to keep people happy: that’s our main goal,” she said.
What are the top-rated women-owned pizzerias in the US?
These pizza places led the pack when it came to turning out good pies, according to the OnDeck analysis.
- Florish / Tampa, Florida / Rating: 4.93
- Ollie Olive Pizza / Ft. Lauderdale, Florida / Rating: 4.86
- Old Dayton Pizza at Riverside Hideaway / Dayton, Ohio / Rating: 4.81
- Manizza’s Pizza / Las Vegas, Nevada / Rating: 4.81
- Brewability & Pizzability / Littleton, Colorado / Rating: 4.76
- Commonfork Bites & Brews / Colorado Springs, Colorado / Rating: 4.76
- Smiling with Hope Pizza / Reno, Nevada / Rating: 4.76
- Geno D’s Pizza / Charlotte, North Carolina / Rating: 4.75
- Eddies Pizza / Orlando, Florida / Rating: 4.74
- Calogeros / Aurora, Illinois / Rating: 4.74
Geno D’s Pizza
Location: 224 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Cuisine: Pizza
Instagram: @genodspizza
This story was originally published February 11, 2026 at 9:19 AM.