Simply put, pizza is a one-dish meal consisting of dough, cheese, and sauce. A pizza, is a pizza, is a pizza. Not so! According to an article on Serious Eats, there are over twenty regional styles of pizza. While not all varieties are available in the Lehigh Valley, the area does offer a plethora of choices when it comes to pizza.
The most popular variety of pizza in the Allentown & Lehigh Valley area is New York style:
When most people hear the word pizza, this is likely the pizza that comes to mind. It’s a round pie featuring a thin, crispy crust and is topped with a seasoned tomato sauce and cheese- usually mozzarella or a mozzarella blend. (Additional toppings are optional.) These pies are generally cut into eight or ten triangular shaped slices. (Think geometry, think apple pie.) The crispy-chewy crust is attributed to the use of high-gluten bread flour, though some New Yorkers will boast that it’s all in the water.
Current favorite picks for New York style pizza in the Allentown & Lehigh Valley area:
Bella Pizza & Italian Restaurant
2509 & 2511 Willow Park Rd., Willow Park Center,
Bethlehem Twp., PA 18020
Phone: (610) 807-3574, (610) 807-3573
While Bella’s pizza is good all the way around (yes, pun intended), their sauce is particularly delectable. It’s light, fresh, and sweet like a just-picked, vine-ripened tomato. Go for the Gusti: a medium or large gourmet pie with prosciutto, mushrooms, olives, artichokes, tomato sauce & mozzarella. The price for their large, plain pie is $11.00. Whole pie toppings are $1.75 to $2.00 each. To date, they do not have a website, but their printed menu offers Family Pack specials and valuable coupons. Dine-in, carryout, or delivery is available.
593 Main Street
(Main & Broad Streets, Common Building/ Lower Level)
Bethlehem, PA 18018
Phone: (610) 882-5800
A crusty delight! Should the words crusty and delight be used in the same sentence? Absolutely, especially when talking about the pies from Marco’s Pizza Express. Their pizza makers have accomplished the perfect amalgamation of crispy-chewy crust. They offer a wide variety of specialty pizzas: Grandma’s Pizza, Italian Brushetta Pizza, Taco Pizza, and more… Fair warning: Don’t order their German pizza unless you are up for a toe-curling, tongue-torching, eye-watering experience. Those peppers are HOT, HOT, HOT! The price for their large, plain pie is $11.49. Whole pie toppings are $2.00 each. Their full menu is available on their website where they also offer valuable coupons. Dine-in, carryout, or delivery is available.
50 Yard Line Sports Bar
2626 Easton Ave.
Bethlehem, PA 18017
Phone: (610) 866-1975
While there isn’t one specific pizza quality that stands out here, Pizza Como U.S.A. offers a tasty, well-rounded pie. Okay, maybe the cheese stands out: it’s got that perfect stringy-stretchy thing going on and they do use a generous amount compared to many of their competitors. And for the voracious pizza-eater who just can’t get enough, they offer a jumbo-sized pizza—that’s a full 20 inches of pizza lovin’ bliss! (Available for $13.68 plain.) The price for their large, plain pie is $11.32. Whole pie toppings start at $1.99 each. Jumbo pie toppings and specialty toppings cost extra. Their full menu, in addition to some sporty clicks and picks, is available on their website. Dine-in or carryout.
What's your favorite local pizza joint? Share your comments below.
Additional pizza style articles coming soon: Chicago style pizza, California pizza, bar style pizza, Sicilian pizza, and more…
Please note: Prices reflected in this article are subject to change. Please contact individual vendors for current pricing information.
Subscribe to stay abreast (or a-belly) of all things restaurant in Allentown, Freemansburg, Easton, Bethlehem, and beyond.
Comments