We asked and you voted. Here is the Readers’ Choice pick for best pizza in Charlotte.
Charlotte, we are a city of pizza lovers.❣️
This was evident when we asked you for the best pizza places in the area for our 2023 Readers’ Choice best pizza contest, and more than 500 of you sent in nominations. Your nominations launched the list of the Top 70 pizzas in the Charlotte area, from pizzerias, food trucks and other restaurants.
How can anyone possibly pick the very best out of 70 great pizzerias? One bite at a time, that’s how.
As you narrowed down the votes all the way to the Best Pizza Restaurant in Charlotte, our colleagues couldn’t get pizza off the brain. It’s interesting to see how, even internally within our newsroom, people flock to different styles of crusts, toppings and preparation of this universally liked food.
And as the votes whittled down to a decision, one thing became clear: There are a lot of Buffalo, NY-style pizza fans in the Charlotte area. This makes sense, as we’ve reported on the migration from one Queen City to the next (Yes, Buffalo is also called the Queen City!):
5 places to get a bite of Buffalo, New York, in Charlotte, from wings to hot dogs.
Moved from New York to Charlotte? Explore these Queen City must-dos that’ll remind you of home.
So, without further delay, here is the winner of the 2023 CharlotteFive Readers’ Choice Best Pizza contest:
Best pizza in Charlotte: Bisonte
Location: 710 W Trade St f, Charlotte, NC 28202
Location: 8133 Ardrey Kell Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 1381 Chestnut Ln, Matthews, NC 28104
Bisonte Pizza Co. brings a taste of Buffalo, New York, to three locations in the Charlotte area. ”We have a very loyal fan base, and I think that’s what makes it,” said Jordan Cheesman, manager of Bisonte Pizza Co.
So, what is Buffalo-style pizza? “New York is thin. Chicago’s thick. We’re right in the middle,” she said. At Bisonte, cheese is shredded on site and the sauce is made in-house. “Really, we’ve just got the best.”
Feeding a crowd? Check out the massive sheet pizza. At 18”x26”, you get 3 square feet of pizza — that’s 24 squares.
As with all good restaurants, plenty of regulars are calling this spot their Third Place. “This restaurant is special because the people here really care and take care of you. We come here every week,” said customer Stephen Tyler.
“Thanks for voting for us for top pizza in Charlotte in CharlotteFive,” Cheeseman said.
Runner up for best pizza in the Charlotte area: Stone Fired Social
Location: 106 N Main St suite b, Belmont, NC 28012
At Stone Fired Social in Belmont, “Our philosophy just in general is we start with the highest quality product,” said Nate Helton, co-owner of Stone Fired Social. “We don’t look for the cheapest stuff, we look for the best stuff.”
The dough for pizza is made fresh in-house and includes a 3-day ferment. Everything else is prepared fresh each day and in-house here, too: Sauces, cutting of the toppings, etc. “We have people that love what they do and they care about the food, and to us that’s the biggest difference,” Helton said.
The pizzas here are cooked in an Italian Forni oven with a rotating stone. The pizzas cook in about 2 and a half minutes at 650-700 degrees.
“We’re just so excited to be in the Top 2. We’re humbled and grateful for all the votes and we thank you guys so much,” he said.
After you’ve tried the winner and runner-up pizzas, make sure to dive in to all 70 of your favorite pizzerias in the Charlotte area.
Read more on CharlotteFive Readers’ Choice winners:
This story was originally published April 25, 2023 at 6:00 AM.