Top five pizza places in Flagler County

Palm Coast Observer
Business

Ah, the eternal question: Who’s got the best pizza in town? Everybody has an opinion, and in Flagler County, there is nothing close to a shortage of options to consider.

Here are our picks for the five best-bet places to grab a slice in town.

1) Mezzaluna Pizzeria
101 Palm Harbor Parkway/ 445-1004
800 Belle Terre Parkway / 437-2981

Two locations makes Mezzaluna a nearby option basically no matter where you live in Palm Coast, and each place has a completely unique atmosphere to fit your mood and schedule. Looking for quick take-out? Order a pie from the Belle Terre location, in Town Center. Got a little more time on your hands? Head down to the European Village, hopefully catch a band playing on the center stage, order up a basket of butter-drenched garlic knots and, when it comes to flat-out great, big, no-kidding New York-style pizza, you just can’t ask for much better.

For something a little more daring, try the Portobello specialty pizza, drizzled with a balsamic vinegar reduction and pressed with sesame seeds

2) NiKi’s Pizzeria
276 Palm Coast Parkway N.E. / 445-9064

Inexpensive and consistent, NiKi’s not only offers great pizza, but it’s holding down the fort in one of Palm Coast’s pizza mainstay locations, in the Palm Harbor Shopping Center in the city’s north end. Before it opened for business, Joseph’s Bistro and a few other parlors operated in the same spot (or a couple storefronts down). This shopping center may not have all that much to offer these days with two of its anchor stores closed down and a whole new replacement complex on the way, but NiKi’s is helping keep the place alive. That side of town just wouldn’t be the same without its corner pizza shop.

Oh, and an extra perk? They let you bring in your own drinks. So grab a cheap bottle of wine next door at Publix, and ask staff to open it up for you. No charge.

3) Pasta Pasta
308 S. Oceanside Blvd., Flagler Beach / 693-4926

Here’s another spot that just has pizza sauce in its blood. Before it was Pasta Pasta, it was Joseph’s Bistro (the restaurant’s second location); and before that, it was La Bella Pizzeria. But Pasta Pasta is no stranger in town — they served up great Italian entrees years back in a small shop at St. Joe’s Plaza, before expanding into a spot on Cypress Point Parkway — but this time around, they borrowed some ideas from their predecessor and went just a little less gourmet to match the feel of their new beachside locale.

With fantastic pizza and just the right amount of fine dining, Pasta Pasta gets it right. And for a starter, try the Tony’s salad — it’s got everything from dried cherries and walnuts to gorgonzola and house-made dressing. You won’t be disappointed.

4) Joe’s New York Pizza & Pasta
1070 Palm Coast Parkway N.W. / 445-1650

Joe’s hasn’t been around so long just because of its cool vibe inside, packed with mafia movie posters and brick siding around the kitchen and cash register. It feels like New York in there, and the food lives up to the look. Great sub sandwiches, big portions and “real,” hearty New York pizzas makes this place both a quality sit-down dinner option and a go-to spot for Friday pizza delivery or grabbing a quick slice at lunch.

5) Bruno’s Pizza
7 Old Kings Road N. / 445-5608

Tucked away in the Staples shopping center, Bruno’s is still relatively new in town, but it’s trying hard to carve out a name for itself among Palm Coast’s pizza elite — specifically, through its portion size.

It’s supreme “stromboli pizza” is bend-your-plate heavy with toppings, so obviously that’s awesome. But for just $20, you can try their “Jumbo” plain pizza, measuring in at 24 inches wide. No joke: The box is as big as some card tables — perfect for parties, or for stocking your fridge full of budget-friendly leftovers.