The Angelo Pizza

"Great pizza! I’ve been 3 times and you know it’s good when it’s still tasty after you reheat it in the oven…the sauce has good flavor, which a lot of places seem to miss, nice and cheesy and crispy crust. The not pepperoni has been my fave. The folks at the counter are nice as well"

"Solid pizza. I got the Paulie and the St. Antney. I thought both were very good. Crust wasn't too thick, not greasy, fresh ingredients. We got two of the 12 inch but I could have gotten a larger pizza. They have tables inside but the internet says it's takeout only. I arrived and got my pizza within seconds, which was great."

"Angelo Pizza - both the man and the pizzeria - immediately attract your attention the moment you encounter either one. The place is small, cozy to be so bright, and very inviting… just like the owner. Mr. Pizza (and yes, his name is legally "Angelo Pizza) hails from Baltimore not Philly, which is why he doesn't make a Philly-style pizza (and certainly not a NY, Chicago or Detroit-style pizza). His creation is a 12 inch Neapolitan pie with a San Marzano and Basil-based sauce, Pecorino and Mozzarella cheeses and whatever other magic he puts in those very flavorful pies. Everything tastes fresh - just like his place and even his positive, bright attitude. Thought he tries to cater to local preferences, the "formula" stays the same: good, simple pizza at an affordable price. As for the pizzas themselves… The "standard" is naturally called, "The Angelo." As I described it above, it's a simple, traditional Neapolitan pie. The 12 inch pie (18 inch also available) is baked to perfection and though flexible isn't overly "floppy." There's a noticeable but not overpowering bit of garlic, visible leaves of basil and a freshness you can only get from San Marzano tomatoes. If you want variation you can order pies with creative names like, "Charlie Bananas" (with banana peppers), "The Vinnie" (the Vodka sauce creation by its pizzaiola namesake) and of course, "The Big Ang," named after his late Father (a lovely man and himself a pizzaiola of note). Then, there is, "The Paulie," his pie with slices of his homemade Sicilian-style meatballs (from the traditional "secret" family recipe). There are others on the menu and they are all worth eating (as I have done). The best part is that you can share with a friend but if you want to be a little selfish, you can enjoy one by yourself without feeling too guilty. Recently, Angelo has added Italian market-style groceries to his store. You can buy many of the ingredients he uses to make his pizza as well as condiments, Italian beverages, pastas and other items. He'll also gladly sell you jars of his sauce - if he has any (they're rather popular). All in all, it's a perfect fit for the Old City Philadelphia neighborhood he's situated in (a busy section of Market Street). There are other pizza shops nearby (one moved their location to a building across the street to try and compete) and another nearby shop added pizza to its menu just because of the attention Angelo has attracted from local news media and even famed entrepreneur and pizza reviewer Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports fame, who took the time to review the pizza and spend time with Angelo and his Dad. After all of this, you're probably wondering, "is the pizza actually good?" Well since I'm biased, let me refer you to this simple observation: until Angelo opened up, you rarely saw people in the daytime with pizza but now, the little brown cardboard box with the the white background and The Angelo Pizza on the inside is seen everywhere from 2nd and Market to City Hall and throughout Old City. You don't often see people walking around with slices and pies from the other places (which is not a slight against them - they are legitimate businesses, too). You DO see Angelo's creation all around you during his business hours. Before he opened his shop, I met him. (I used to work in the neighborhood.) I am a proud NY-style pizza snob and am picky as hell about pizza. I told him before he opened, "if your pizza sucks, I'll tell you but if it's good, I'll tell the World." It's NOT a NY pie and it's not meant to be. It IS a tasty, convenient creation that I love and can recommend without hesitation. I've NEVER had a bad pizza from there; I can't say that about any other pizzeria in Philly - and that's including other favorites I have throughout the city. It may be cliche but it's true that there's love in every bite. Check out The Angelo Pizza. The shop is on the north side of Market Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets. (And I almost forgot… he occasionally sells baked ziti, lasagna and the family recipe meatballs!)"

"5 stars for sure!! Our family of 5 polished off 2 18” pizzas, they were that good! We watched as they pounded out the dough and dressed our pizzas with sauce and toppings. We got The Angelo and The Pauly! So good! The restaurant is cozy, clean and full of good vibes! We’re from out of town and this place is a great find! Thanks guys!"

"American style pizza. crust is crunchy and the taste of the sauce very good. The plain pizza was a bit on the sour side, which is just right for my liking. The pizza with the topping (not pepperoni) was a bit heavy and the flavors didn't add up as perfectly as for the plain version. Nevertheless I had a good experience at Angelo and would definitely stop by for another visit if I am in the area. Good add-ons are the tasty cherry pepper. The restaurant also offers hot sauce if you ask for it!"