Rhode Island Makes Two Different 'World-Famous' Pizzas

Let's be honest: Pizza is one of the greatest food inventions mankind has concocted.

Whether you're a fan of deep dish or thin crust, extra cheese or just sauce, no one should be judged on their pizza preference. There's a reason there's a cornucopia of styles and flavors. From buffalo chicken to meat lover's, pizza brings people together and I'm here for it.

I recently discovered a website that's a foodie paradise called World Food Atlas/Taste Atlas. Bloggers worldwide have compiled some of the tastiest and worst dishes known to humanity. One compilation that caught my eye was called "Famous Pizzas Of The World."

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Two of the delicious pies on the list originated in Providence, Rhode Island.

Rhode Island's Famous Pizza Strips

D. Palmieri's Bakery via Facebook

This is a form of pizza you either love or hate. I'll be honest, I was not a fan as a kid, but the older I got, the more I subdued to the tastiness of pizza strips. Perhaps it's the fact it doesn't come with cheese that turned me off for so long, but these saucy strips are a huge hit in Rhode Island. Locals refer to this style as "party pizza" and it's often found at family gatherings. The crust is thick and the sauce is thin or thick, depending on the business.

Grilled Pizza

Canva

This one made me say "no way" when I first saw it, considering the amount of restaurants that serve grilled pizza around the world. Truth be told, the original grilled-style pizza was born in Providence, Rhode Island, just like pizza strips. According to Taste Atlas, the famous Al Forno restaurant on South Water Street is responsible for this clever way of cooking a pizza that gives off a delicious charred and smokey taste with every bite.It's a must-try.

Looking to try more local pizza from the SouthCoast? This should help:

25 of the Best Pizza Spots on the SouthCoast

Not all pizza is created equal, but the SouthCoast has plenty of options for a high-quality slice. Choose from any of these 25 spots to fully take advantage of National Pizza Day.

Gallery Credit: Maddie Levine

The Best of South Shore Bar Pizza

There's pizza, and then there's South Shore Bar Pizza. Birthed in Brockton (and to this writer, perfected in Randolph – Lynwood Café is the true G.O.A.T.), it must meet certain qualifications to be considered "SSBP," which include: it's a 10-inch pie; it has a thin, cracker-like crust with minimal "flop;" the cheese is a blend that features more cheddar than mozzarella; and bonus points if you take it home between two carboard-type plates wrapped in flat brown paper bag. They also usually come with "laced" or "burnt" edges (terminology depends on where you are ordering), which is when the sauce and cheese are extended all the way to the edge of the pan, creating a crispy, flavorful coating to the crust. We reached out to the hugely popular South Shore Bar Pizza Social Club Facebook group to ask the experts to share the best of the best (in no particular order).

Gallery Credit: Tim Weisberg

How Many of These Iconic Mall Food Court Restaurants Do You Remember?

From retro favorites to the icons that are still serving customers today, take a walk down memory lane with our roundup of the most iconic mall food court restaurants of the '80s and '90s.

Gallery Credit: Meg Dowdy