The vibrant food scene in Asheville, North Carolina, makes it easy to find the most exquisite culinary delights. From farm-to-table cuisine to Appalachian deliciousness, this area has it all. But sometimes, you simply need to nosh on a satisfying and comforting slice of pizza. Luckily, the local pizzerias are just as remarkable as all the fine-dining restaurants and mom-and-pop eateries in town. So, you truly cannot go wrong in visiting any of the following joints when pizza paradise calls your name.
Manicomio Pizza
Photo Credit by @manicomiopizzaavl on Instagram
Take a trip down Biltmore Avenue to reach the ultra-funky café, deli, and pizzeria in one, Manicomio Pizza. At this joint, they roll out pan after pan of New York Style pizza made with fresh, local ingredients.
You can choose from their signature pies, ranging from the Quattro Formaggio to the Mediterranean. But the real fun lies in building your own. You’ll choose from their three pizza sizes to start—or let them know if you’d like the gluten-free crust.
Then, decide if you want pizza sauce, garlic oil, or a nut-free pesto base. Once that’s done, you have dozens of standard and premium toppings to choose from, including smoked mozzarella, banana peppers, and house meatballs.
If you’d rather have all the best pizza flavors in a different package, grab a calzone or stromboli. They also have a variety of appetizers, including Fried Ravioli, and entrees like Baked Ziti and Eggplant Rollatini.
Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria
Photo Credit by @barleystaproom on Instagram
Is there anything better than pizza, beer, and billiards? If a resounding “No” is your answer, then you need to visit Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria. Also located on Biltmore Avenue, this cozy joint has all the New York pizza you could want.
Their pies only come with a 14-inch crust, but they manage to pack a whole lot of flavor in every square inch. The Greek Pie, in particular, promises to delight your tastebuds with its intricate symphony of flavors. Its olive oil base perfectly sets the stage for the Kalamata olives, grape tomatoes, and artichoke hearts to shine.
If you want to sample all their different topping combinations, skip ordering a whole pie in favor of getting yours by the slice. You’ll need to build your own creations, though, by selecting from all their sauces and toppings.
Pair each slice with a different brew to see how well you can elevate the flavors in each one. They have over 50 beer varieties on tap at any given time, so you can easily mix and match to your liking.
Del Vecchios North
Photo Credit by @kickbackvl on Instagram
Del Vecchios North is the place to go on Merrimon Avenue when you’re craving the finest handcrafted pizza. Every pie begins with their handmade dough that’s whipped up onsite each and every day. Once it’s tossed ultra-thin, they start building each New York-style pizza with flair.
All their pizzas are as good as the last, but it’s their Chicago Stuffed that takes the cake. This 14-inch deep dish pizza comes absolutely stuffed full of three toppings, like mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and black olives. A second crust lands on top before getting slathered in marinara sauce and baked until hot and bubbly.
Although pizza is the name of the game, that’s not all they have. Their huge menu includes classic appetizers, fresh salads, lasagna and other pasta dishes, paninis, subs, calzones, and stromboli. So, you can easily build a smorgasbord of Italian goodness at every visit.
Asheville Pizza and Brewing Co.
Asheville Pizza and Brewing Co. offer the ultimate pizzeria experience, complete with fresh brews and cocktails. They have three locations, all offering a different vibe. If you want sports, sports, and more sports, head over to North Asheville to grub on pizza and brews while watching the game on the biggest screen in town.
Prefer an inside look at the brewing process? Skip on over to the downtown location for a brewery tour followed by bite after bite of delicious pizza. On the south side of town, their third location is the place to go when you want to chill in a quiet setting while enjoying your favorite pies.
At all three locations, they have legendary, award-winning pizza and pub foods to match. Their most popular pizza is the Hot, Sexy Mother Clucker! This pizza starts with a light honey base before moving on to the star of the show, hot and spicy fried chicken. Pimento cheese, goat cheese, crumbled bacon, and sliced red onion hop into the mix next to bring it all together.
Blaze Pizza
Photo Credit by @blazepizza on Instagram
At Blaze Pizza, wood-fired pies are their specialty. At both of their Asheville locations, their crew expertly prepares every pizza using their housemade dough. And when it comes to creating the right flavor combinations, you’re at the wheel.
The experience begins with the selection of one of their five 11-inch crust options: classic, gluten-free, cauliflower, high-rise, or keto crust. After that, you must select between their red sauce, white cream sauce, spicy red sauce, and garlic pesto sauce. Don’t want any sauce at all? They can do that, too.
Choosing your cheese, toppings, and finishing drizzle completes the order experience. Then, all that’s left to do is kick back and relax while your pizza hits the ultra-hot oven. If you don’t have time for that whole production, you’re welcome to keep things simple if you wish. Just choose between their many premade pizza combos, like Meat Eater, BBQ Chkn, and Veg Out, and they’ll get it ready to go.
As you visit each of these pizza joints, you’re bound to spot many things you want to try. So, be prepared to want to go back time and again to get a taste of all the fan favorites on each menu. If you’d like to cover the most ground at each visit, bring your friends and family along for the ride. You can order a variety of pizzas to try, allowing you to quickly zero in on all the best options at each pizzeria.
