The Angelo Pizza — Restaurant in Philadelphia

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...

My wife and I were in the City to go to the American Revolutionary War Museum. I had been wanting to try this place since I heard about his pizza on One Bite Pizza Reviews. He started making pizza at home for friends and was shipping them out in the mail during Covid. He opened a brick and mortar store in November 2020 but I hadn't gotten Dowtown until today. After snagging a coveted spot on 3rd street, we made our way to the shop. The location is across from Sonny's on Market. The decor and signage is great and features what you came for ......Pizza! Not just any pizza, excellent pizza! Angelo Pizza (Yeah, that is the owner's name) is creating artisan pies that are incredible and as advertised. Meeting Angelo himself, at the register, was a treat. You can tell how passionate he is about what he does in the quality of the product and how personable he is to his customers. We went with two selections...The Angelo Pizza and The Not Pepperoni Pizza. My wife is more of a purist so the Angelo was her pick. It was fantastic! Great blend of cheese, the right amount of sauce and thin, crispy crust. It is a spectacular straight up cheese pizza that will have you eating slice after slice until it is all gone! For my choice, The Not Pepperoni, there was no doubt you would never go back to pepperoni again. It was covered with soppressata and roasted red peppers. Both combine on an already perfect pie to create the right amount of spice with the cheese blend. It really is an epiphany if you have never had sopressata before on your pizza! The dough and it's perfect crust are really the flavor base that have you eating slice after slice. One other touch with each pizza is a whole, hot cherry pepper. These add a great flavor note to the pizza as well! Sorry if I did not take any pizza pictures! We were too busy eating it. Do yourself a favor, go and get this pizza. You will not be...

I discovered The Angelo Pizza by chance while out with a friend, and it turned out to be an exceptional find.

As someone who enjoys exploring different pizza spots across the city, I pay close attention to styles, flavors, textures, and the quality of ingredients used. From the very first bite, it was clear that The Angelo Pizza stands out for its commitment to fresh, high-quality ingredients and pizzas made entirely from scratch. That dedication creates a truly remarkable taste. One of my favorites on the menu is St. Antney’s, it’s so delicious that I could enjoy it every day.

The restaurant itself has a warm and cozy atmosphere. While the indoor space is modest in size, it’s comfortable for dining in, and during the summer, outdoor seating is available. A particularly important feature is its wheelchair accessibility, including a private restroom—an amenity that isn’t common in many restaurants in the area and one I truly appreciate.

The service is equally impressive. Angelo, the owner, is welcoming, friendly, and a passionate baseball fan. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with genuine hospitality and a positive atmosphere that makes you want to return.

Whether you’re a Philadelphia local, a tourist, or simply passing through, if you’re craving excellent pizza, The Angelo Pizza is...