Food Critic Ranks 101 Best U.S. Pizzas - And Leaves Wisconsin Off The List!

WISCONSIN -- The great pizza debate has always come down to Chicago and New York, but a national publication tried settling the debate - and completely ignored Wisconsin.

And that's just wrong!

The Daily Meal's "101 Best Pizzas in America" list puts four of the top five in the nation all in Brooklyn, New York. The list was New York heavy, even though New York pizzas don't stack up to Chicago-style deep dish.

Here's their top 5:

#5 Totonno’s, Brooklyn (Margherita)
#4 Roberta’s, Brooklyn (Margherita)
#3 Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, New Haven, Conn. (White Clam: clams, grated Parmesan, olive oil, garlic, and oregano)
#2 John’s of Bleecker Street, New York City (“The Boom Pie”: oven-roasted tomato, garlic, and basil)
#1 Di Fara, Brooklyn (Classic Round Pie: mozzarella, Parmesan, plum tomato sauce, basil, olive oil, sausage, peppers, mushroom, onion)

Wisconsin pizza places - who would hold their own anytime, anywhere are conspicuously absent. Clearly, they've never heard of Pizza Man in Milwaukee, Zaffiro's on the East Side or Wells Brothers in Racine (which was already well-known as a top-10 pizza joint in the U.S.).

Here's OUR List

We at Patch.com couldn't take this pugnacious pizza picking lying down, so we included our own list as compiled by Wisconsinites who enjoy their local pizza. (We admit that #13 on the list is something wedid not suspect ... but if it's good, it's worth a try).

Here are the top 20 pizza places in the southeastern Wisconsin area as ranked by Yelp! users:

1. Pizzeria Scotty

95 reviews
$$ Pizza

West View 9809 W Oklahoma Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53227 Phone number(414) 543-1300

I once did a "Best Pizza in Milwaukee" outing with my kids where we went to many Pizzerias and at the top of that list was Pizzeria Scotty's. Best Pizza in town!... read more

2. Fratelli’s

112 reviews
$ Pizza, Sandwiches

6202 W Lincoln Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53219 Phone number(414) 541-0500

This restaurant accepts pickup and delivery

This is among the best pizza places in Milwaukee. The Fiesta Garlic Pizza is a good break from the regular pizzas. But the Da Vinci, now that was a good pizza. The crust is probably… read more

3. Transfer Pizzeria Café

344 reviews
$$ Italian, Pizza, Gluten-Free

Clock Tower Acres 101 W Mitchell St
Milwaukee, WI 53204 Phone number(414) 763-0438

TRANSFER ALL MY BUDGET ON PIZZA FOR LIFE AND SPEND IT HERE! My girlfriend found Transfer Pizzeria Cafe on a blog about best Milwaukee pizza places. Interesting name and I'm not…read more

4. Zaffiro’s Pizza

202 reviews
$$ Pizza

Lower East Side 1724 N Farwell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53202 Phone number(414) 289-8776

which wasn't the best garlic bread I've ever had but it was good. The pizza that we ordered was delicious. The crust is very thin and their sausage is absolutely delicious. The pizza read more

5. Classic Slice

239 reviews
$ Pizza, Vegan, Vegetarian

Bay View 2797 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207 Phone number(414) 238-2406

Best pizza in bayview. Make sure to pick it up. Delivery is always at least a an hour or longer, and will be lukewarm. If you get it fresh, best pizza in the city!! read more

6. Maria’s Pizzaria

100 reviews
$$ Pizza

5025 W Forest Home Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53219Phone number(414) 543-4606

and "the best pizza in town." In Little Italy (Chicago, Milwaukee, the Bronx, Toronto, Cleveland, etc.) there were a dozen or more of these joints. The pizza may not have been the … read more

7. Wells Brothers Restaurant

138 reviews
$$ Pizza, Italian

2148 Mead St
Racine, WI 53403 Phone number(262) 632-4408

In reading the reviews, I agree that Wells Brothers pizza is the best thin crust pizza around. In all my travels, the only thing that came close was a pizzeria in Chicago. However read more

8. Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza

118 reviews
$ Pizza, Salad, Gluten-Free

17530 W Bluemound Rd
Brookfield, WI 53045 Phone number(262) 754-0999

I have been looking for a yummy pizza place that has good gourmet/woodfired pizzas. With Blaze opening up, I finally found it! The best part about it is that it's so fast! I love… read more

9. Ned’s Pizza

72 reviews
$$ Pizza

Southgate3246 S 27th St
Milwaukee, WI 53215Phone number(414) 645-2400

I've had the pizza here many times and it never dissappoints! The sauce is amazing and addictive, definitely one of if not the best pizzas in Milwaukee, toppings are fresh and you… read more

10. Cranky Al’s Bakery and Pizza

132 reviews
$ Coffee & Tea, Pizza, Bakeries

Wauwatosa6901 W North Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53213Phone number(414) 258-5282

of the best pizza places in Milwaukee I've been so far. read more

11. Capri di Nuovo

57 reviews $$ Italian, Pizza West Allis8340 W Beloit Rd Milwaukee, WI 53219Phone number(414) 543-5510 taste the flavors of the sauce and toppings: sausage, pepperoni and black olives....the sausage is thebest pizza sausage...not heavy on the anise/fennel seed flavor like some… read more

12. Crossroads Pizza & Subs

23 reviews $$ Pizza 11357 W Saint Martins Rd Franklin, WI 53132Phone number(414) 525-9922 WOW! Sub sandwiches rock! Big, meaty, and freshly baked bread! The hand tossed pizza is one of the best I've had, and I'm from Chicago! I am usually always disappointed when I eat… read more

13. Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co - Bay View

146 reviews $ Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Pizza Bay View2920 S Kinnickinnic Ave Milwaukee, WI 53207Phone number(414) 489-0765 Call it a pizza place first, then coffee shop. This has the best pizza I can find since I moved into the area. I will happily drive up from Racine for this pizza. The margherita … read more

14. Pizzeria Piccola

112 reviews $$ Pizza Wauwatosa7606 W State St Wauwatosa, WI 53213Phone number(414) 443-0800 Pizzeria Piccola is hands-down the best pizza I've found in Milwaukee so far. And I have been searching far and wide. As a Chicago-suburbs native, I grew up believing that the only … read more

15. Vinchi’s Pizza

18 reviews $$ Pizza Bay View3158 S. Howell Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207Phone number(414) 384-8040 Vinchi's is like the Safe House of pizza places. You have to know that it is hidden in the back of the Bubbler bar or there is no tasty pizza for you! Also, just like any good… read more

16. Riverwest Pizza

65 reviews $$ Pizza Riverwest932 E Wright St Milwaukee, WI 53212Phone number(414) 269-9703 This was some of the best pizza I've had in Milwaukee! The Brussel sprout appetizer was delicious as well! Wish they had a few dessert options but the thin and crispy pizza crust… read more

17. Hup’s Pizza

18 reviews $$ Pizza Hampton Heights5400 W Hampton Ave Milwaukee, WI 53218Phone number(414) 461-7510 Great pizza. I go there once a month. The sauce and cheese are great. Best pizza in the cityread more

18. Calderone Club

145 reviews $$ Pizza, Italian Westown, Downtown842 N Old World 3rd St Milwaukee, WI 53203Phone number(414) 273-3236 I am so glad that this is the restaurant I work across the street from. In my opinion they have the bestthin crust pizza in Milwaukee, and even though it is a little more expensive… read more

19. Ian’s Pizza

86 reviews $ Pizza East Town146 E Juneau Ave Milwaukee, WI 53202Phone number(414) 727-9200 the store is you can see what is out and what looks best to you in slice form. Again there may be long lines as it is a popular spot. The staff is usually really nice but unless you… read more

20. Pizza Man

206 reviews $$ Pizza, Wine Bars, Italian East Side, Murray Hill2597 N Downer Ave Milwaukee, WI 53211Phone number(414) 272-1745

Our Reaction

So, when "The Daily Meal" left Wisconsin off their list of 101 best pizzas, we were shocked. It felt a lot like this:

Image: jeffreyw, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.