Who doesn’t love pizza? Nicole and I certainly do, and we eat it regularly in Frederick and Bend. In this article, I’ll share where we believe you can find the Best Pizza in Frederick, MD.
Frederick has quietly become a fabulous pizza town. This is partly due to the abundance of great breweries and Italian restaurants in Frederick, many of which serve pizza.
The Best Pizza in Frederick, MD - Contents
Map of The Best Pizza Restaurants in Frederick
The Frederick Pizza Scene
You can get all types of pizza in Frederick. Partly due to the influence of nearby Baltimore’s Little Italy, there are Italian restaurants like Cucina Massi and Pistarro’s that serve restaurant-quality pizza.
There are plenty of chain pizza restaurants, including Maryland’s legendary Ledo’s Pizza (Glenn’s childhood favorite).
There’s pizza delivery in Frederick at the touch of your mobile phone from 20+ pizza venues, including both local shops and chain restaurants.
You can get classic New York-style pizza from Frederick mainstays like Bellisario’s, and Chicago-style deep-dish from Rosati’s near Hood College.
Or try the Detroit-style pizza from White Rabbit (which Nicole and I consider the best in town).
In this guide, we will be focuing on local restaurants (non-chains), and the dining-in experience. Though many of these Frederick pizza joints deliver.
What Do We Look For in a Great Pizza Spot?
Here’s what we look in a great pizza place, and the criteria we used to rank the pizza restaurants in this list:
- Quality – By far the most important is the pizza’s quality and deliciousness. This isn’t fine dining. Give me amazing pizza.
- Variety – Nicole and I have VERY different tastes (toppings, crust, etc.). Have options.
- Beverages – I usually want a beer with my pizza. Nicole may want wine.
- Venue – Not the highest priority, but where we are served and eat is a factor.
This isn’t complicated.
Did we miss your favorite Frederick Pizza Parlour? Did we rank something too high or low? Let us know in the comments.
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1. White Rabbit Gastropub
Why We Love It: We give The White Rabbit in Frederick a lot of praise in our guides, and for good reason. It’s a fabulous gastropub with a few great bars and serves one of the best burgers in Frederick.
But more than anything, The White Rabbit shines with its pizza. The Detroit-style pizza is so delicious that I get a craving for it out of nowhere at least once a month.
The variety of topping combinations is creative and yummy as well (The Veronica Vaughn for me, The Big Dill for Nicole)
In fact, Nicole and I consider having drinks and pizza at the White Rabbit bar one of the best dining experiences in Frederick.
2. Cugino Forno
Why We Love It: If you like Neapolitan Pizza, then Cugino Forno is the place to go in Frederick. This style of pizza, with its thin crust and puffy, blistery outer rim, originates from Naples and reminds you of Italy.
Cugino Forno originated in North Carolina, but opened on the North side of Frederick in 2022 and immediately became a huge hit. The outdoor terrace facing Market Street is usually packed on nice evenings.
Their pizzas come in classics like Margarita and Americano (pepperoni, buffalo cheese, basil, garlic), and they serve some great salads.
Pair it with some Italian red wine or a Peroni beer, and you’ve got a great pizza meal in Frederick.
3. dop Pizza
Why We Love It: dōp Pizza established itself as a wood-fired pizza food truck that operated throughout Frederick and built a loyal customer base.
They have since opened a brick-and-mortar location at RAK Brewing (one of Frederick’s best breweries), which has become a favorite place for Nicole and me to get pizza and beer after a weekend outdoor outing.
The pizzas from dõp have classic wood-fired characteristics, but also come in creative culinary combinations.
Try the Figgy Smalls with Prosciutto (garlic fonduta, mozzarella, stracciatella, arugula, basil vinaigrette, fig sauce, prosciutto), or the Qattro Formaggi (garlic fonduta, mozzarella, gorgonzola, ricotta, parmesan, truffle honey).
4. Pistarro's
Why We Love It: Nicole and I consider Pistarro’s one of the best Italian restaurants in Frederick. But their pizza definitely deserves a spot on this list.
Pistarro’s also focuses on Neapolitan pizza, serving many classics, including Margherita, Bianca, and Capricciosa (mushrooms, ham, artichoke, and basil).
It’s also a great place for vegan pizza and gluten-free pizza in Frederick.
Pistarro’s has a family Italian restaurant vibe. We recommend sitting at the bar if you are a couple. Order some Italian wine, antipasto, and pizza for a stellar pizza outing in Frederick.
5. Cucina Massi
Why We Love It: Cucina Massi reminds us of the Italian restaurants in Baltimore’s Little Italy.
Nicole and I visit often, and admittedly its difficult to order pizza at Cucina Massi, with all the other amazing Italian dishes on the menu.
But we’ve had their pizza, and it’s worth ordering at one of your visits. They keep it simple with only a few combos to choose from. I suggest you try NIDO’s (extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and fontina cheese).
One last recommendation for when dining at Cucina Massi: get a table on the back terrace.
6. IL Forno
Why We Love It: Located on the Golden Mile in west Frederick, Il Forno is a casual comfort-food spot with pizza that gets rave reviews from locals.
Il Forno has been around for 35 years, receives regular acclaim in Frederick pizza rankings, and is not shy about proclaiming itself the maker of “The Best Pizza in Fredrick”.
Maybe my favorite thing about this pizza joint is its recent collaboration with Vanish Brewery. You can now get craft beer from Vanish while enjoying your pizza at Il Forno.
While I haven’t tried them yet, Il Forno also claims to have the best wings in Frederick.
7. The Garage
Why We Love It: We consider this one of our special places in Frederick, and we almost don’t like to write about it.
The Garage is an obscure, off-the-beaten-path joint in an office park close to the Frederick airport. But it’s one of our favorite restaurants in Frederick.
While my go-to meal at the Garage is the burger, their specialty is pizza. The Garage pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven and served with local beers in their funky dining area, bar, or outdoor seating area.
Try the Farrell – white sauce, caramelized onions, mushrooms, and truffle oil.
Bonus #1: King's Pasquales (New Market)
Why We Love It: If you are in New Market or on the east side of Frederick and looking for pizza, consider King’s Pasquales.
This family pizza and pasta restaurant is run by the Colandrea brothers, and it’s perfect if you are looking for quality, consistent, no-frills pizza.
This is the spot that Nicole and I get take-out pizza (when we aren’t ordering Ledo’s). It’s a build-your-own type of place, perfect for ordering for a big group or a ‘stay inside’ pizza night.
It’s definitely the best pizza in New Market.
Bonus #2: Tony Pazzo (Mount Airy)
Why We Love It: There’s a lovely, quaint downtown strip in Mt. Airy MD, if you are looking for a getaway from Frederick.
One of the best restaurants in Mt. Airy is Tony Pazzo Italian Ristorante, an upscale casual joint with really good pizza.
Nicole and I will make a special trip to Mt. Airy often to visit Liquidity Aleworks and Tony Pazzo for pizza.
There are really good appetizers, pasta, and red wine to round out your pizza outing in Mt. Airy.
