The Lehigh Valley is home to some really good pizza— both on and off this list— but these 13 seek to add an ex tra zing to your ‘za. From crispy thin crusts to pillowy dough, we hope you’re up for a cheesy adventure.
Plain
Hellertown Crossroads Hotel
Like a Brass Rail cheesesteak or a Yocco’s hot dog, Crossroads pizza tastes like the Lehigh Valley. The establishment, opened in 1952, is under new ownership since 2016, but they kept the pizza for a reason. The pie is crisp and hits that sweet spot of saucy-and-cheesy-and-can-I-get-another-slice.
1443 Main St., Hellertown | 610.838.8278 | hellertowncrossroads.com
White Pizza
Moonlight Pizza
This spot’s offerings often sell out due to limited hours and demand, but if you call early and show up on time, you’ll not just enjoy their pizza, you’ll behold it. Moonlight ferments their dough at room temp, which is pizza geek for crusts that take on an almost ethereal lightness. Adorned with seven cheeses, roasted garlic, olive oil and herbs, Moonlight’s white pizza is a flavor sonata.
301 S. Robinson Ave., Pen Argyl | 610.654.1020 | moonlightpizza.wixsite.com/penargyl
Coppers Jam
Tré Wood-Fired
This mobile pizza kitchen roves local breweries, wineries and events. When you track it down, try this wild-but-works combination of smoked pork, Eight Oaks bourbon BBQ sauce, pickled red onion and a one-two cheesy punch of cheddar and mozzarella. It’s the good kind of different.
610.674.0164 | tre610.com
Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
Andrew Rogers’ Pizzeria
The pie’s meaty crumbles intermingle with the sautéed bitter greens beneath a warm blanket of cheese. The toppings are in harmony, but it’s the crust—airy, tender and flecked with char—that really holds everything together. The vibe of the place, operating out the first floor of B.W. Social, is relaxed, quiet and removed, too.
1984 Waldheim Rd., Hellertown | Facebook
Grandma Pie
The Brick
Not quite as thick as a traditional Sicilian, yet more substantive than a thin-crust, a rectangular Grandma pizza is so much more than a novelty. Especially at this Broad Street staple, where their pie is an Instagram-worthy dappling of mozzarella, sauce and basil. Cooked crisp in a wood-fueled brick oven, it may just replace your favorite circle-shaped pie.
1 W. Broad St. Suite 101, Bethlehem | 610.419.1141 | thebrickpa.com
Tuna Pizza
Sumo Sushi & Japanese Fusion Restaurant
Atop a crunchy tortilla base, Sumo layers sheets of raw tuna, a spread of guacamole, jalapeño, black olives and microgreens. Then they zig-zag everything with spicy aioli, eel sauce, masago, scallions and tiny rice puffs. From the subtle ocean flavors of the tuna to the pop of the caviar to the sweet heat of the sauce —there’s so much going on and all of it is awesome.
3174 W. Tilghman St., Allentown | 610.351.1887 | sumopa.com
Cauliflower Shawarma Pizza
Ayat
The puffy, fluffy texture of Ayat’s dough is a Carbohydrate Experience in itself. But then Ayat tops a disc of it with fried cauliflower, tomatoes, onions, shawarma meat and a liberal swirl of tahini. It’s fresh. It’s meaty. It ’s like nothing in the Lehigh Valley you’ve tasted.
1243 W. Tilghman St., Allentown | 7 17.702.7257 | ayatnyc.com
Nutella Pizza
PA House
In a setting to match its beauty, this dessert pizza combines the chocolatey goodness of everyone’s favorite hazelnut spread, shaved hazelnuts, a snowfall of powdered sugar and some chocolate drizzle (just for good measure). Up to you if you’d like to pair it with their Espresso Martini.
662 Front St., Hellertown | 484.851.6662 | thepahouse.com
Famous Colonial “Upside Down” Pizza
Colonial Pizza & Spaghetti House
That’s mozzarella cheese on the bottom; sauce on top. And after you bite through the crisp-tender crust to behold the world-turning powers of this inverted pizza, you’ll need to right-size yourself with a cold one from their unsung and expansive craft beer selection.
136 Spring Garden St., Easton | 610.252.3033 | colonialpizzaeaston.com
Mac Daddy
The Tavern on Liberty
That’s ground beef, special sauce (okay, Thousand Island dressing), cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions and some sesame seeds… on a crust. The Micky D’s-inspired pizza plays peek-a-boo on the menu, so grab it while you can. Find a table near the kitchen and you might even witness the chefs spinning and stretching the dough for you.
2246 W. Liberty St., Allentown | 484.221.8765 | thelibertytaproom.com
The Cure
Birthright Brewing Co.
The wood-fire blistered pizzas that emerge from this brewery’s domed oven are all powerfully delicious. And that’s in part because Birthright has a history of sourcing their cured products from nearby Nello’s Specialty Meats, a family-owned butcher shop. Taste them in all their flame-licked glory on this pie, which is adorned with deeply rich capicola and faintly nutty prosciutto
57 S. Main St., Nazareth | 610.365.2225 | birthrightbrewingco.com
Amalfi Coast
Sette Luna
Where some pies shine with creative toppings, others sing with simplicity. On this pizza, fresh-plucked clams swim in homemade marinara sauce with little more than some snipped Italian parsley and a spritz of lemon juice. Order it with a Caesar salad and a bottle of white and bask in the beauty of an uncomplicated meal.
219 Ferry St., Easton | 610.253.8888 | setteluna.com
Blue Moon
Switchback Pizza Company
This funk-tastic pie has been a staple on Switchback’s menu since the railroad-adjacent restaurant opened in 2012. Roasted portabella mushrooms deliver deep umami flavors. Caramelized onions lend sweetness. And Gorgonzola brings everything together in a creamy, tangy embrace.
525 W. Jubilee St., Emmaus | 610.928.0641 | switchbackpizza.com
Published in the February 2024 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
