December 09, 2015
Whenever dinner plans don't materialize on time, pizza is your obvious fail-safe that never ends up feeling like a fallback option.
Philadelphia claimed the national spotlight this year when Fishtown's Pizzeria Beddia earned Bon Appétit's top rank for pizza in the United States. Then Vetri took Time Out's crown for best Italian restaurant in the country.
Vetri is renowned for its custom, wood-fired Renato oven, a style that offers a healthy change of pace from the Neapolitan and New York-style pizza pies. Of course, Vetri isn't the only master of the wood-fired variety. Here are five great spots for wood-fired pizza in Philadelphia.
701 N. 2nd St.
The successful wood-fired pizza concept from Doylestown just opened up shop in Northern Liberties, with a mesmerizing tile oven and a bevy of delicious Italian combos, from Saliciccia (sweet Italian sausage, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil) to shrimp scampi and pancetta. There's also a salad menu with six different options to choose from.
7136 Germantown Ave.
Mount Airy's Earth Bread + Brewery takes a holistic vision and brings together the best of all worlds, from a selection of hand-crafted beers brewed on-site to a full range of flatbread pizzas handmade from fresh dough on a daily basis. Every two months, new local artists have featured installations at the restaurant.
611 S. 7th St.
Nomad opened in Philadelphia in early 2012, expanding from New Jersey, and quickly built a reputation as one of the city's best spots, both in-store and on wheels. (Nomad has a restored 1949 REO Speedwagon truck available to be booked for special events.) Bolstered by a selection of red and white wines, Nomad serves up its pizzas with the finest locally sourced organic ingredients. Top picks include the Truffle Pecorino and the Spicy Soppressata, not to mention meatballs for an appetizer.
2229 Spruce St.
If you're looking for gourmet, Fitler Square's Mama Palma's features a brick oven imported from Europe to roast, bake and smoke its pizzas. Mama Palma's menu includes choices that represent the world around, from the Peking Duck pizza to Hawaiian and Grilled Teriyaki Chicken pies. All pizzas are available in three different serving sizes, while those looking for something different can find seafood, veggie and low-fat pizzas.
640 N. Broad St.
Of course, it wouldn't be realistic to leave the Vetri Family off this list, and one of the best restaurants in the group is one of the first wood-fired pizzerias to reach Philadelphia. Osteria boasts a cozy upscale atmosphere with a full selection of beer and wine to go with a menu promising the staples of a great Italian restaurant centered around pizza. Now under the direction of award-winning Chef Jeff Michaud, Osteria is a perfect place to go big and share around the table.
