Tony's Pizza Napoletana

The story

Tony's Pizza Napoletana, San Francisco: Neapolitan Pizza by a World Champion

Tony's Pizza Napoletana, at 1570 Stockton St in San Francisco, earned 2 slices from Gambero Rosso in 2023. It is an Italian pizzeria built around one pizza maker's long devotion to the craft.

The pizza maker

Tony Gemignani, a 13-time World Pizza Champion, opened the restaurant after tasting authentic Neapolitan pizza at a small pizzeria in Naples. He has worked in pizza since 1991. He won Best Pizza Margherita in the world at the World Cup in Naples, the first American and non-Neapolitan to do so. In 2011 he took Best Pizza Romana at the World Championship of Pizza Makers.

Ovens and styles

Seven ovens turn out twelve pizza styles, from Neapolitan and New York to Detroit, St. Louis, Sicilian and gluten free. A pizza finished with a port reduction won the Port category at the Antonio Mezzero All-Stars Pizza Championship in Porto, and was slated to join the menu in 2019. Antipasti, insalata, pasta and dolci round out the Italian kitchen.

Ingredients and the bar

Tony picks the purveyors himself. Neapolitan and Italian products arrive every week, and the kitchen works with local organic farmers and artisan cheese makers. Even the honey is local. The full bar pours Italian and California wines, aperitifs, digestives and hand-crafted cocktails, and Wine Spectator gave the list an Award of Excellence in 2015.