Rhode Island restaurant guide · Reviewed October 2026
The best pizza in Rhode Island ranges from award-winning Neapolitan pies at Pasquale’s in Wakefield to the grilled pizza Al Forno made famous in Providence, plus Newport favorites like Mother Pizzeria. Rhode Island also has its own pizza traditions, including cheeseless pizza strips sold at Italian bakeries. This guide rounds up 11 spots worth the drive, based on 2026 local awards and reviews, with tips on where to eat pizza near Newport.
Best Rhode Island pizza at a glance
| Pizzeria | Town | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Pasquale’s Pizzeria Napoletana | Wakefield | Neapolitan, wood-fired |
| Al Forno | Providence | The original RI grilled pizza |
| Pizza Marvin | Providence (Fox Point) | Long-fermented, New Haven-inspired |
| Anna’s Vesuviano | Providence (East Side) | Neapolitan |
| Caserta Pizzeria | Providence (Federal Hill) | Old-school pan pizza since 1953 |
| Pizza Mamma | Cranston | New York, Detroit and Grandma pies |
| Mother Pizzeria | Newport | Roman-style sourdough |
| J.T. Commons | Middletown | Roman and focaccia-style pies |
| Pasta Beach | Newport | Neapolitan |
| Nana’s Bakery & Pizza | Westerly | Thin sourdough |
| D. Palmieri’s Bakery | Johnston | Rhode Island pizza strips |
Best pizza in Rhode Island: 11 places to try
1. Pasquale’s Pizzeria Napoletana, Wakefield
Owner Pasquale Illiano is from Naples, and his South Kingstown pizzeria bakes certified Neapolitan pies in a wood-fired brick oven, along with New York-style and Grandma pizzas. It placed No. 15 on the 50 Top Pizza USA list for 2026 and reached the Final Four of the Providence Journal’s 2026 reader bracket. Pasquale’s official site.
2. Al Forno, Providence
Al Forno, opened in 1980 by George Germon and Johanne Killeen, is credited with popularizing grilled pizza. The thin dough is cooked over the grill, flipped and then topped. Rhode Island Monthly’s 2026 editors singled out its corn pizza with spicy chili oil. Al Forno official site.
3. Pizza Marvin, Providence
This Wickenden Street spot in Fox Point uses a New Haven-inspired crust fermented for four days, and chef Rob Andreozzi has been a James Beard semifinalist. Look for the Chowdah Pie with clams, potato and bacon. Pizza Marvin official site.
4. Anna’s Vesuviano, Providence
On Doyle Avenue on the East Side, Anna’s won Rhode Island Monthly’s 2026 Editors’ Pick for Neapolitan-style pizza. The Infatuation recommends the smoked mozzarella and meatball pies. Anna’s Vesuviano official site.
5. Caserta Pizzeria, Providence
A Federal Hill institution since 1953, Caserta serves thick, traditional pan pizza on Spruce Street. Its best-known order is the Wimpy Skippy, a spinach pie with mozzarella, pepperoni and black olives. It made the Providence Journal’s 2026 bracket.
6. Pizza Mamma, Cranston
Pizza Mamma on Reservoir Avenue won the Providence Journal’s 2026 reader bracket with more than 56 percent of the final vote. It makes New York, Detroit, Sicilian and Grandma-style pies.
7. Mother Pizzeria, Newport
At Long Wharf Mall in downtown Newport, Mother Pizzeria makes Roman-style sourdough pies, with 12-inch squares for takeout. Readers voted it the best pizza in Newport County in Rhode Island Monthly’s 2026 Best of Rhode Island poll. Try the R.I. Party Pie, which nods to local pizza strips. Mother Pizzeria official site.
8. J.T. Commons, Middletown
Newport Restaurant Group opened J.T. Commons on Aquidneck Avenue in October 2025. It focuses on Roman-style and focaccia-style pies, including the RI Red with red sauce and parmesan. It also made the Providence Journal’s 2026 bracket. J.T. Commons official site.
9. Pasta Beach, Newport
On Bellevue Avenue, Pasta Beach serves Neapolitan pizza and pasta. Rhode Island Monthly praised its charcuterie-style pies, and The Infatuation recommends the margherita. Check hours before you go, especially in the off-season. Pasta Beach Newport.
10. Nana’s Bakery & Pizza, Westerly
Nana’s on High Street makes thin, naturally leavened pizza, and the Boston Globe highlighted its “Rhode Island” pie with soppressata, chopped clams and potato. It is a good stop on the way to Westerly’s beaches.
11. D. Palmieri’s Bakery, Johnston
For a true Rhode Island experience, try pizza strips: focaccia-like sheet-pan pizza with thick tomato sauce and no cheese, served at room temperature. Palmieri’s, whose family baking roots go back to 1905, won Rhode Island Monthly’s pizza strip taste test.
Rhode Island pizza styles to know
- Grilled pizza: made famous by Al Forno in Providence. Thin, oiled dough is grilled on one side, flipped and then topped.
- Pizza strips (party pizza): a bakery staple sold by the tray at Italian bakeries around the state, often for parties and family gatherings.
- Pizza chips: crisp, sauced crackers made from pizza dough, credited to Don DePetrillo in the late 1980s.
Planning a food weekend? Pair this list with our guides to what to drink in Newport and the best Newport restaurants by cuisine.
Best pizza near Newport, RI
If you are staying on Aquidneck Island, Mother Pizzeria and Pasta Beach are in Newport and J.T. Commons is a short drive away in Middletown. Pasquale’s in Wakefield and the Providence pizzerias make an easy day trip by car. For a full dinner list, see the best restaurants in Newport and our Newport food and drink guide.
Where to stay near Newport’s pizza spots
These hotels are an easy walk from Long Wharf and Mother Pizzeria:
Brenton Hotel
A modern boutique hotel on Long Wharf at the edge of the harbor. Check Brenton Hotel rates and availability →
Newport Marriott
A large full-service hotel on the harbor by Long Wharf. Check Newport Marriott rates and availability →
Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina
A marina hotel on the central waterfront, steps from Thames Street. Check Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina rates and availability →
Compare more options in our downtown Newport hotels and best hotels in Rhode Island guides, and see our reader deals.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best pizza in Rhode Island?
Top picks include Pasquale’s Pizzeria Napoletana in Wakefield, Al Forno and Pizza Marvin in Providence, and Pizza Mamma in Cranston, which won the Providence Journal’s 2026 reader bracket. In Newport, Mother Pizzeria was the 2026 readers’ pick for Newport County.
What kind of pizza is Rhode Island known for?
Rhode Island is known for grilled pizza, popularized by Al Forno in Providence, and for pizza strips: cheeseless sheet-pan pizza with thick tomato sauce sold at Italian bakeries.
What are Rhode Island pizza strips?
Pizza strips are rectangles of focaccia-like dough baked with thick tomato sauce and usually no cheese, served at room temperature. D. Palmieri’s Bakery in Johnston won Rhode Island Monthly’s strip taste test.
Where can I get good pizza in Newport, RI?
Mother Pizzeria at Long Wharf Mall makes Roman-style sourdough pies, Pasta Beach on Bellevue Avenue serves Neapolitan pizza, and J.T. Commons in Middletown is a short drive away.
Who invented grilled pizza?
Grilled pizza is credited to George Germon and Johanne Killeen of Al Forno in Providence, which opened in 1980.
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