CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte pizzeria has been named one of the best pizza places in the United States, according to the New York Times.
Bird Pizzeria, in Optimist Park at 510 E. 15th Street, landed at the No. 2 spot on the list.
Way to go Charlotte 👏👏👏 Congrats to Bird Pizza for being on this @nytimes list of best pizza in the country!!! @wsoctv @Your_704 pic.twitter.com/o9TL31OaX5
— Elsa Gillis (@ElsaWSOC9) June 25, 2024
The restaurant specializes in American craft pizza -- a boom that was fueled by small Neapolitan pies fired in wood-burning ovens.
According to the New York Times, Kerrel Thompson is among the pizzaiolos who responded to the resulting demand for better quality by trying to perfect a different kind of pizza.
Thompson said Bird Pizzeria is reminiscent of what he grew up eating in Cleveland. He and his wife Nkem operate the shop.
The couple told the New York Times that the pizzas are of a shareable size, featuring browned, caramelized crusts, and available with seasonal toppings like dandelion pesto and local mushrooms.
They said since their opening in December 2021, the shop has grown from a pop-up to a takeout business to a sit-down restaurant.
You can read the full list of the 22 best pizzerias in the United States here.
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