4 Long Island Pizzerias Among 101 Best Pizza Joints In Nation

If you live in New York, you already know the state boasts many excellent pizzerias.

But it never hurts to have that distinction recognized nationally, and the fine dining website The Daily Meal recently ranked the 101 Best Pizzas In America for 2018, and New York was well-represented.

In fact, 36 New York pizzerias made the list, including four right here on Long Island. Seven of the top 10 pizzas in the country are made in the Empire State, according to the rankings.

Last year, 36 New York pizzerias, including three from Long Island, made the list. You can see The Daily Meal's methodology here. The site uses a panel of food critics and a submission survey to determine the best pies.

• Did they miss some hidden Long Island gems that non-locals will never know about? Probably. And maybe we should keep it that way. (Or maybe you can comment below and tell us your favorite pizza place.)

Here are the Long Island pizzerias that made The Daily Meal list and an excerpt from the rankings:

No. 30: Umberto's Pizzeria & Restaurant, New Hyde Park— Grandma pie

Umberto’s slings superior pizzas. Most notably, the grandma: a square, 12-slice, 16-by-16-inch thin-crust pie topped with mozzarella and plum tomato marinara. Haven’t experienced this thin, crispy-crust satisfaction? Start here. It’s generally regarded as the originator of the grandma slice.

No. 51: Salvatore's Coal Oven Pizza, Port Washington— Margherita

Ownership has since changed hands [since opening in 1996], but they haven’t lost their touch, firing simple small, large, and personal pies featuring either homemade mozzarella, crushed tomatoes, and basil, or mozzarella, garlic, grated cheese, and basil (with the option to pick from almost 20 toppings including everything from jalapeños and meatballs to ham and grilled chicken).

No. 65: King Umberto’s, Elmont— Vodka

You have [King Umberto's] to thank for this light, thin, crispy-chewy pie with light crushed tomato sauce and a scattering of mozzarella, that every pizza-proud Long Islander knows is better than many pizzas you’ll find in Manhattan.

No. 78: La Piazza, Merrick— Grandma Pie

There’s something to be said for the unadulterated original [grandma pie] when it’s done well, and when it comes to La Piazza’s grandma pie, that’s the case.

Patch photo