April 21, 2025
Everyone has their pizza preference, from the chewy crust of Detroit-style pies to New York’s wide, foldable slices. In Cabarrus County, you can savor a bit of everything. Here’s where to go and what to order.
Rosario’s Pizza
As New Yorkers know, pizza is best when sold by the slice. There’s something about that soft dough in the middle catching the gooey cheese and tangy sauce in a savory bite that’s just perfection. That’s why the owners of Rosario’s Pizza (one of whom made pizza in New York) offer nearly 10 options by the slice. If you want a whole pizza, go for the rectangular, thick-crusted Sicilian piled high with seven toppings from fun choices like eggplant, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, banana peppers and artichoke.
The Corner Crust
The Corner Crust
From enormous slices sold individually to giant 28-inch pies, size matters at The Corner Crust, which touts itself as a New York-style pizzeria. You can build your own slice, but we recommend trying the Spicy Italian (pepperoni, spicy sausage, ricotta, mozzarella and a drizzle of hot honey) or the traditional cheese, a never-fail classic. The full pies feature other traditional flavors such as sausage and peppers or just pepperoni, but the fruity pineapple-crowned Hawaiian pizza makes an appearance, too. Be sure to order some cannoli to go.
Hawthorne’s NY Pizza & Bar
Hawthorne’s NY Pizza & Bar
Hawthorne’s NY Pizza & Bar
Another eatery boasting New York-style pizza is locally owned Hawthorne’s NY Pizza & Bar, a bright, relaxing restaurant that keeps the focus squarely on the food. Among their signature pizzas are crowd favorites The Crew, a hearty helping of meatballs and Italian sausage topped with banana peppers, and The Luau, with smoked pulled pork, bacon and ham, plus caramelized onions and juicy pineapple. Whatever you do, don’t miss the garlic knots, chewy balls of dough baked in the oven and glazed to a golden hue with garlic butter.
Afton Pub & Pizza
With a robust menu of Italian fare (think caprese salad, meatball calzones, chicken parm), Afton Pub & Pizza is more than just a pizza joint. But that doesn’t mean you should skip the pies, especially not the BBQ Chicken Pizza. A homemade barbecue sauce layers with cheddar, Monterey jack and mozzarella cheeses and comes topped with chicken and bacon, with the added zing of red onion. For something more traditional, the Harvest tops garlic pizza dough with Roma tomatoes, mushrooms, red peppers, kalamata olives and mozzarella.
Match Made in Heaven
Raise a toast to a cheesy, saucy pie! What’s a better combo than pizza and beer? In Cabarrus County, that means craft beer. Stop into the area’s craft breweries, bars, or bottle shops like Vortex where you can enjoy a Carolina-based craft brew and savory flatbread.
