This American-style pizza joint in a converted factory building still has plenty of Italian touches. Try the buffalo mozzarella, along with their own version of the hot honey trend: honey spiced with Calabrian peppers to drizzle on your crust.
206 Greenfield Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 550-2525
facebook.com/bennysbigtime
Editor’s Note: All Souls Pizza just re-opened for takeout only on October 22 after Hurricane Helene. Support its staff by purchasing gift certificates that will become active for use on January, 1 2025.
In a town that already takes bread seriously, All Souls sets a high bar. In a tiny building that used to be a diner, they grind their own flour, creating a whole-wheat crust with an emphatic chewiness.
175 Clingman Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-0169
allsoulspizza.com
Owner Grant Arons is a stickler for details: He brought his ovens (and even his water) from Naples. Here, pizzas are divided into two camps: red sauce and no red sauce. Either way, expect lots of speckles and char on the crust, chewy edges, and a soft center.
2230 Park Road, Suite 101
Charlotte, NC 28203
(704) 900-0929
iniziopizza.com
10620 Providence Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
(704) 846-8909
16627 Birkdale Commons Parkway
Huntersville, NC 28078
(980) 296-3131
Gabe Barker, son of Durham restaurant legends Ben and Karen Barker, has set up shop near the Carrboro Farmers Market to make the most of the seasonal ingredients around him. His margherita crust is thinner and crispier than some, and his toppings are adventurous (think mustard greens). There’s an anchovy version, too, for those who crave the salty bits.
408 West Weaver Street
Carrboro, NC 27510
(919) 967-2277
pizzeriamercatonc.com
The menu is as pared down as the ingredients, with minimalist descriptions — “cremini mushrooms, garlic, fior di latte” — but the simple language belies the complex flavors coaxed out of local ingredients. The antipasti, like the ricotta dumplings with pancetta and pecans, are well worth sampling, too.
105 East Chapel Hill Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 908-6936
pizzeriatoro.com
All aboard! This magic-filled train ride through a Montgomery County wonderland includes seasonal sweets, plenty of cheer, and a few extra-special passengers.
Communities across the state celebrate the holiday season with sparkling lights, vibrant displays, and festive events that bring joy to the world.
North Carolina’s celebrated homes and historic districts are never more beautiful than by candlelight at Christmastime.
The thrill of the hunt takes on new fervor during the holidays. Seek and find in Randolph County, where the bounty of antiques can tempt a picker to abandon her list.
