Is there ever a bad time for pizza?
Cheesy, melty, sometimes greasy, and always satisfying. Rich and complex or breathtakingly simple. Pizza can cover all the categories on the food pyramid—making it the perfect balanced meal, don’t you think? There are times when all you need is a quick slice, and other times where it suits a sit-down family dinner.
But if ever there were a good time for pizza, it’s in October: National Pizza Month! To celebrate, we’re thinking outside the (pizza) box today to highlight some of the most original pies we’ve ever tasted. Here are eight of the most creative pizzas in Asheville.
All Souls Pizza
When you visit All Souls, you know you’re going to have a culinary experience that feeds both body and … well, you know. Their distinctive dough made from freshly milled organic grains is wood fired and topped with a variety of traditional and uniquely Southern ingredients. For a pizza you truly can’t find anywhere else, try the smoked NC shrimp with chilis, oregano, and mozzarella. The 12-inch pie is available for both lunch and dinner.
175 Clingman Avenue, Asheville | (828) 254-0169 | allsoulspizza.com
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company
Voted the best pizza in Asheville by locals, Asheville Pizza has been a staple on Merrimon Avenue since 1998. But that hasn’t stopped them from continually inventing some of the most creative pizzas in town. Their 14 “legendary pizzas” are each amazing in their own right, from the Funky Chicken to the Biltmore. And the Cheeseburger in Paradise features every topping mentioned in the song. But the Magic Dragon takes the crown. It has a pesto base and coconut crust topped with roma tomatoes, red onions, curried chicken, and a drizzle of sweet chili sauce.
675 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville | (828) 254-1281
77 Coxe Avenue, Asheville | (828) 255-4077
1850 Hendersonville Road, Suite A, Asheville | (828) 277-5775
Fahrenheit Pizza & Brewhouse
Located behind the Skyland Fire Department, Fahrenheit Pizza offers a quick meal in a New York minute! It’s also a great place for neighbors to gather and eat delicious pizza. Can’t decide between pizza and pasta? Try the Vodka pizza, a house-made vodka cream sauce base topped with fresh mozzarella, peas, mushrooms, prosciutto, grated cheese, and olive oil. While you’re there, check out their craft brews and guest taps with their “pour your own beer” system.
17 Lee Street South, Asheville | (828) 676-1800 | fahrenheitpizzabrew.com
Galactic Pizza
One of our newer favorites in town is Galactic Pizza, located near Biltmore Lake. In addition to a tasty regular menu, they also have a few choice specialty pizzas. The Space Cowboy features pepper jack and ranch, amid a few more traditional toppings. Even more creative is the Galactic Banh Mi: grilled sweet chili chicken, pickled red onion, pineapple, jalapeño, banana pepper, mozzarella, provolone, garlic oil, and cilantro. That favor combination is out of this world!
339 Sardis Road, Asheville | (828) 633-0198
Piazza Wood Fired Oven
Piazza has been serving the best pizza, pasta, and salads in the Reynolds community since 2009. In addition to their cleverly named classics (Four Tenors, Greek Wedding, etc.), their specialty pizzas combine the best of sweet and savory. The Weird Science pizza features a handful of ingredients that are sure to create a taste explosion: Sausage, bacon, fontina, mozzarella, shaved brussels, blueberry reduction, creamy artichoke, and goat cheese sauce.
4 Olde Eastwood Village Boulevard, Suite 301, Asheville | (828) 298-7224 | piazzaeast.com
Pizza Mind
When pizza’s on your mind, go to Pizza Mind. (Yeah, we said it.) Located on the hottest corner in West Asheville, Pizza Mind offers inventive salads, sandwiches, and sides, in addition to their creative signature pies. From the Carolina BBQ to the Taco, Arugula, or The Doctor, you’ll be sure to find something that will stay on your mind for days. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the Jambalaya, topped with Hickory Nut Gap Italian sausage, chicken, peppers, onion, parsley, and Old Bay seasoning.
285 Haywood Road, Asheville | (828) 575-9181 | pizzamindavl.com
Standard Pizza
It’s easy to make Standard Pizza your go-to pickup (or eat-in) pizza choice! They offer a compact menu of salads, pizzas, and calzones. But their quality and variety are anything but ordinary. Standard’s white pizza is a work of art, but if you want to try something original, get the Cuban. Topped with banana, ricotta, jalapeño, and bacon, you’ll love the mix of savory and sweet, with just a little kick at the end.
631 Haywood Road, Asheville | (828) 255-8122
755 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville | (828) 412-3190
Strada Italiano
Located in the heart of downtown, Strada is Asheville’s neighborhood trattoria. Their wide-ranging menu represents all regions of Italy and is sure to please any palate. If you’re going for dinner, we recommend trying one of their traditional or stuffed 14-inch pizzas. The Fig & Goat Cheese turns your favorite appetizer into a full meal. But if you spot it, don’t miss the Amalfi: charcoal-colored squid ink dough topped with spinach, smoked clam crema, paprika, prosciutto, and tomato.
27 Broadway Street, Asheville | (828) 348-8448 | stradaasheville.com