Who invented pizza? Some say the Egyptians. Others say the Greeks. No one really knows! But most people agree that pizza was perfected in Italy. Pizza is special and popular, starting with the aroma and on to the wonderful taste of each bite. The combination of dough, cheese, and tomatoes is heavenly – plus the fact that pizza is round, eaten with your hands, and therefore made for sharing with family and friends.
When you don’t feel like cooking, pizza is often the default. It never gets boring because of the endless variations! Pizzas can be boldly or mildly flavored, feature authentic ingredients, and interesting and unusual toppings can add to its authenticity or create tasty new combinations. However, deciding on your pizza shop is almost as difficult as deciding what toppings to get. Here are five places in Las Cruces where you can get an awesome pie!
Dion’s
1060 El Paseo Road
3950 E. Lohman Ave.
The pizza of Dion’s is rich in both flavor and history. The restaurant name was originally going to be Dionysus, the name of the Greek god of food and wine. However, the owners shortened it to Dion’s. Today, Dion’s is in Colorado, Texas, and here in New Mexico there are 13 Dion’s restaurants from Albuquerque to Las Cruces. Las Cruces is lucky to have two Dion’s locations!
Dion’s features unique pizza in a fun, family-friendly environment. Gourmet pizzas include the Duke City (cheddar, green chile, and parmesan) and the Tuscany (pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, provolone, artichoke hearts, pine nuts, and parmesan). You can also build your own pizza using fresh and authentic Italian ingredients. Not in the mood for pizza? In addition to their delicious pies, Dion’s offers submarine sandwiches and salads.
Zeffiro’s Pizzeria Downtown
136 N Water St., Suite A
Zeffiro’s has been gaining fans since 2009 for excellent in-house-made pastas and wood-fired pizzas, not to mention downright seductive meatballs. Their famous pizzas are hand-tossed and baked to slightly charred perfection in the wood-fired oven. Specialty pizzas on the menu include the Supreme, Margherita, Lemon Asparagus, and the Pistol Pete. In addition to pizza you’ll find calzones on the menu, as well as appetizers and artisan bread from their bakery. You can dine inside the restaurant or alfresco – either way, you’ll enjoy Zeffiro’s great downtown atmosphere.
Pizza Palazzo
5702 Bataan Memorial, Suite C-1
For well-crafted and affordable pizza in Las Cruces, visit Pizza Palazzo for authentic Chicago pan pizza and deep-dish pizza. The menu at Pizza Palazzo features six specialty pizzas. Although pepperoni is a favorite topping for many, consider their many delicious options: the Angry Hawai’ian, Joe’s Vegan, and the PB&J pizza that features mango habanero sauce. The pizzeria also sells wings and cheesy bread sticks that are sure to make you want to come back for more.
King Zah’s Pizzeria
901 E. University Ave.
King Zah’s Pizzeria brings authentic New York-style pizza to Las Cruces. Owner Wade McDonald debuted his new restaurant in May 2020 – the middle of the pandemic! King Zah’s offers unique pizza flavors, each made with delicious fresh ingredients: supreme, spicy Italian, three-cheese, and veggie pizza. Prefer to build your own? You can choose homemade marina sauce or a white pizza base and add ingredients like meatballs, green chile, fresh basil, and more. The pizzas are baked in a gas-fed brick oven until crisp from edge to edge. Aside from pizzas, King Zah’s has a great selection of salads!
Valley Pizza
3100 W. Picacho Ave.
Valley Pizza is known for hand-tossed pizza. Their specialty pies include the Mexican Pie (house red sauce, beef, green chile, jalapeño, onion, and cheddar cheese) and the Hawai’ian Pie (house red sauce, ham, pineapple, green bell pepper, and onion) – or you can create a custom pie from their many toppings. Beyond an impressive pizza menu, they have sandwiches on homemade bread, fresh salads, cheesy bread, chicken wings, and lasagna.
Written by Laiza Zaldivar for LasCruces.com
Posted by LasCruces.com
