5 Best Pizza Places in Worcester, Massachusetts

Are you ready to embark on a journey of creative pizza combinations? Then look no further than Worcester, Massachusetts for some of the best pizza joints around. From classic Neapolitan-style pies to gourmet toppings, Worcester has it all.

After extensive research and taste testing, we’ve rounded up the top five pizza places in town that are sure to satisfy your pizza cravings.

What’s special about pizza in Worcester, MA?

Worcester, MA, is known for its rich history and its food culture. Shrewsbury Street is the city’s dining capital renowned for its World-class Italian restaurants, international offerings, and of course plenty of pizza joints to choose from.

Pizza in Worcester, MA, is served in the traditional Neapolitan style with a signature thin crust that’s crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Each one of the pizza places on our list brings something unique to the table that you’ll want to try for yourself.

Trust me, you won’t want to leave Worcester without trying a slice (or two) of their delectable pizza creations.

Photography by: discovercentralma.org

5 best pizza places in Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester’s 5 best pizza places are:

1. Volturno Pizza Napoletana
2. Antonio’s Pizza By The Slice
3. Wonder Bar
4. Leo’s Ristorante
5. Kelley Square Pizza

1. Volturno Pizza Napoletana

Number One on our list of best pizza places in Worcester, MA, is a truly unique pizzeria, Volturno Pizza Napoletana. From the moment you walk into this restaurant, which was built in an old Buik showroom, you know you’re in for a special treat.

Volturno Pizza Napoletana has been serving up delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas since 2013 in the heart of Worcester’s “Little Italy”, Shrewsbury Street. This restaurant is the first in Massachusetts to receive the coveted Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana certification for maintaining Neapolitan authenticity and traditions in its pizzas.

Volturno’s pizza menu includes very interesting selections like the Fichi with mission fig, prosciutto, and balsamic vinaigrette, and even a vegan option with veggies, salsa verde, and garlic oil.

Our favorite pizza at Volturno is the Capocollo Pizza with Calabrian chili caponata, toasted hazelnuts, and Merrimac Valley honey (so good 😋).

Photography by: Volturno Pizza Napoletana official Facebook page

Contact Information
Volturno Pizza Napoletana
72 Shrewsbury St, Worcester, MA 01604
508-756-8658
https://www.volturnopizza.com/

2. Antonio’s Pizza By The Slice

The first Antonio’s opened in 1991 in Amherst, MA, and quickly became a hit among its many college followers for its amazing variety of pizza combinations and student-friendly prices. 26 years later, Antonio’s Pizza By The Slice opened its 8th location in Worcester, MA, and kept the winning formula of giving its dinners seemingly endless combinations of pizza flavors to choose from.

Choosing our favorite slice at Antonio’s was a big challenge. On a normal day, at their pizza counter, you can have over 55 different flavors to choose from.

We definitely recommend the Potato and Bacon Pizza with sliced potatoes, bacon, cheddar, provolone, and mozzarella cheese, and their Beef Taco Pizza with spicy ground beef, peppers, tomatoes, cheddar, and mozzarella cheese.

Photography by: Antonio’s Pizza By The Slice official Facebook Page

3. Wonder Bar

The Wonder Bar first opened its doors over a century ago making this pizza joint a real dining staple in the history of Worcester, MA. The building screams nostalgia and has a very warm and cozy feel. You’ll be happy to know that their pizza is also quite extraordinary!

Wonder Bar’s pizza dough is thick enough to hold its amazing toppings while still being crispy. The tomato sauce is sweet and tangy with just the right amount of heat. Both are the original recipes used by this restaurant since 1922.

When visiting Wonder Bar try our favorite pizza, The Ranchero. This pizza has a white sauce base, bacon, barbeque chicken, and ranch dressing. Also, give their classic Combination a try. This one has mushrooms, peppers, and sausage from the local John & Sons Market.

Photography by: Wonder Bar official Instagram

4. Leo’s Ristorante

Leo’s Ristorante is another historic dining icon of Worcester, MA. Leonard Turo founded Turo’s Market (fish and meat market) in 1910 which later became the first Leo’s Ristorante in 1960. In 1986, the Turo family moved the restaurant to a bigger location and has operated Leo’s Ristorante from Leo Turo Way in Worcester ever since.

Locals favor the Panino Pizza with caramelized onions, fresh ricotta cheese, and Italian sausage. However, our favorite pizza is what we call The Carnevor with crispy pepperoni and thinly sliced beef and pork meatballs on top of fresh mozzarella.

Photography by: Leo’s Ristorante official Facebook Page

5. Kelley Square Pizza

Last on our list, but certainly not least, is Kelley Square Pizza. This restaurant has been serving up some of the best slices in Worcester, MA, since 1967. Two things really stand out about Kelley Square Pizza: Their Greek-style pizzas, and the cheese!

Greek-style pizza dough is proofed in a shallow pan rather than stretched by hand so it’s a bit thicker but still crispy. Also, they use A LOT of very good quality mozzarella cheese. If you’re a cheese lover (I know I am 😋🍕) you’ll feel right at home at Kelly Square Pizza.

We tried the BBQ Chicken Pizza, with grilled chicken and tons of BBQ sauce, and the regular Cheese Pizza and both were full of flavor.

Photography by: Kelley Square Pizza official Facebook Page

Tips for making great Neapolitan-style pizza at home

Neapolitan-style pizza is not only the original pizza style it’s also the pinnacle of perfection. The crispy crust, gooey cheese, and tangy sauce all come together to create a delectable pie that’s hard to resist.

Follow these tips and you’ll be churning out perfect Neapolitan-style pizzas in no time.

• Try making your own pizza sauce with San Marzano tomatoes. These tomatoes give your sauce a nice sweet flavor without being too acidic.
• When making the pizza dough, use lots of olive oil during the process to add extra flavor. You can also check out Chef Chris Bianco’s Perfect Pizza Dough Recipe to find out how to make your own.
• Store your unused pizza dough in silicone containers to keep the dough from sticking while in the fridge. These stackable silicone containers are the perfect size for storing individual portions of dough.
• Now let’s talk about the cheese. It’s always good to get creative, but for the most authentic taste choose a low-moisture mozzarella cheese preferably made from Buffalo milk (Mozzarella di Bufala).
• Finally, Neapolitan-style pizza should be cooked in a wood-fired oven at 400 degrees for about one to two minutes for the best results. The pizza oven that we always recommend is the Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven. It can use wood chips, coal, or gas to power the oven and it’s very compact in size so it reaches high temperatures in a small amount of time. You can get your own Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven on Amazon.

Did you enjoy Worcester, MA, most iconic pizzas?!

Worcester, Massachusetts is home to some of the best pizza places in the state. From classic Neapolitan-style slices to innovative toppings and crusts, there’s something for every pizza lover in this city.

Be sure to check out these spots and experience the mouth-watering flavors they offer for yourself.

We’ve explored five of the best pizza places Worcester has to offer, but there are plenty more out there waiting to be discovered. Get out there and explore, I’m sure you’ll have an unforgettable culinary experience!