My dad used to say, “Always be of service to others.” I’d like to think I’m providing a valuable service in this edition of Pizzavania by highlighting the best spots for takeout pizza in the Philadelphia suburbs.

I’ve spent the last couple of months traveling through Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, trying dozens of takeout pies (my car smells a lot like it did when I delivered pizza back in the early ’90s) before settling upon the eight pizzerias that stood apart from the rest. Drop me a line if you agree or disagree with my choices.

A couple of other things:

🍕 Thank you to those who reached out with a kind word about the first edition of Pizzavania. I’d be eternally grateful if you spread the word among all your pizza-loving friends.

🍕 If you need a last-minute gift for the pizza lover in your life or want to drop hints to loved ones on your own behalf, consult our pizza lovers’ gift guide.

🍕 The next edition of Pizzavania will land in your inbox on Friday, Jan. 2. We hope your holidays are filled with joy. And plenty of pizza.

Johnny’s Pizza in Bryn Mawr and Wayne, Lucatelli’s Pizzeria in Doylestown, The Steel Penny in Hatboro, and Delco pizza institution Pica’s are among some of the best takeout pizzas you’ll find in the Philadelphia suburbs. (Patrick Berkery/The Keystone)

Now, more than any other time of the year, takeout pizza is a lifeline. 

Whether you’ve got family home for the holidays who want a taste of something familiar, a house full of people who are hungry at all hours, you’re hosting a holiday party, or you just need a break from cooking, takeout pizza will save the day.

There’s an important thing to remember, however. You’re not buying in bulk to serve co-workers you hardly know at a holiday office party. You’re feeding friends and family. You need to do better than ordering chain pizza or from the local place that’s somehow remained in business for decades despite serving pizza that tastes like Ragu and Kraft Singles on cardboard (every town has one).

In Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, there’s no need to sacrifice quality for quantity, for there is exceptional takeout pizza available in these Philadelphia suburbs.

After sampling takeout pies from dozens of Bucks, Delco, and Montco pizzerias—some of which I visited upon the recommendation of Pizzavania readers (thank you) I am highlighting the spots I found to be the best.

Sergio Solano waits for his dinner at a pizza shop at the end of his work day, June 21, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Affordability has been a hot topic this year. With prices on everything from groceries to utilities rising, consumers have been forced to cut back on their food budgets, energy consumption, and more—like their pizza orders.

A recent New York Times story examined how rising costs are prompting some customers to downsize their usual pizza orders at both chains and local independent pizzerias.

There are a couple of factors behind those rising pizza costs. Many pizzerias use third-party apps like Slice or DoorDash to process takeout and delivery orders, and those platforms take about 20% of each sale. Factor in the cuts the apps are taking, along with the rising cost of ingredients—a pizzeria owner in New Jersey explained that the 25-pound box of pepperoni he uses has jumped to $140 from $110 in the last two years—and shops have no choice but to raise prices. As a result, some are routinely seeing smaller orders, be it customers downsizing from a large pie to a medium, or forgoing sides like garlic knots and wings.

Rising costs are something I routinely encountered when ordering pies through third-party apps for the takeout pizza story. It was pretty standard to drop $30-$35 on a large pepperoni in the Philly area after service fees and tips. Long gone are the days of the $15-$20 all-in pizza order.

In the last edition of Pizzavania, we highlighted the deep pizza history in Old Forge and asked for your favorite pizzeria in the “Pizza Capital of the World.” Arcaro & Gennell came out on top, followed by Revello’s, Salerno’s, Mary Lou’s, and Cafe Rinaldi.

For our new poll, with the end of the year nearly upon us, we’d like to know…

After conducting my “research” for the takeout pizza story, I am way above 50 times. Let us know your pizza body count for 2025, and we’ll run the results in the next edition of Pizzavania. (*Frozen pizza counts)

The floor is yours, Pizzavania readers. Tell us about the pizzerias that you love:

“Augustine’s Club 17 in Old Forge.”

— Robert P.

“Jim and Nena’s in York. The pizza is absolutely delicious!! Our daughter loves the gluten-free pizza too. The sauce is AMAZING, and all the toppings we order are always fresh and wonderful.”

— Annette Coomber

“Venarri’s Pizza and La Casa de Pizza in Lewisburg. Both have been established pizza restaurants in this central Pennsylvania town.”

— Jean G.

“Angelo’s in Wilkes Barre (the original on Hazel St.) is the best pizza for this NEPA family of 50+. Better call early on Friday as there’s a 3 hour wait!”

— Viv & Joe

“John’s of Arthur Avenue in Milford. Combines the best of Pa. and New York pizza. Very community minded and wonderful staff.”

— Will Nichols

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery and edited by Paula Solis.

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