10 Ways Buffalo Has Quietly Become The Best Pizza City In America
Buffalo might be known to some as the best place for wings in the country. After all, there’s a reason most of the country refer to them as “Buffalo wings,” though Buffalonians know to only ever refer to them as just “wings.” While we bask in our ability to feed the majority of people who love football on Sundays in the fall, there’s more to our culinary prowess than just that. We’d argue that pizza is our other perfect food. Here’s why:
1. Buffalo's first pizzeria is older than the first iconic pizzeria in New York City.
Many people think of New York City when they consider the perfect NY slice. While we can't deny that they're pretty darn good, their most iconic pizzerias came AFTER Buffalo's first pizza spot opened. Santora's in Buffalo opened in 1927, while places like Patsy's in New York City didn't show up until 1933.
That means there's one pizza place for every 428 people here. To put that in perspective, New York City, has 1,600 pizzerias which need to cater to 8.5 million people. If you want a good slice of pizza in a hurry, you'll have better luck getting it in Buffalo. Statistically speaking, of course.
The "cup" refers to the fact that the pepperoni needs to curl at the edges, allowing a pool of oil to appear in the middle. The "char" refers to the perfectly cooked edges that hold everything in. It creates a crunch with spice that can't be matched anywhere in the world.
4. Buffalo pizza perfects other famous pizza styles.
While Buffalo pizza has its own special taste, parts of it might be familiar to those in other states. Some call it a combination of Chicago deep-dish and New York's thin-crust.
5. Travel + Leisure Magazine has included Buffalo on its list of best pizza cities in America.
And yet, it's light. Think of the perfect, fluffy piece of focaccia. The cheese is copious and the pepperoni is so perfectly cooked that the edges curl up.
When Domino's opened nearly 30 stores in the Buffalo area, the beloved local mainstays continued to thrive. The owner of Bocce Club has said in interviews that he was nervous, but then found that people kept on coming!
Because the cheese is so drippy, the pepperoni so well cooked, and the dough is thin underneath, Buffalo pizza is known for being great from the box. Don't let it sit around - just dig in!
Perhaps Buffalo's most well-known pie, this one is piled high with the cheesiest cheese and the most pepperoni per square inch compared to most other local pies.
Michelle has lived in many places, but counts Maine as one of the best. In addition to the smell of ocean water in the air on rainy days in Portland, she loves puppies, photography, funny people, the Maine Red Claws, traveling, fresh tomatoes, Cambodia and filling out forms. For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
