London Pizza Chain Named World's Best, First British Winner at Prestigious Awards

Napoli on the Road, a pizza chain with locations in London's Chiswick, Richmond, and Soho, has achieved the distinction of being named the world's best pizzeria. This victory marks the first time a British entrant has secured the top spot at the highly regarded 50 Top Pizza awards, a competition that judges pizzerias on both food quality and overall dining experience. The awards ceremony was held in Naples, Italy, the birthplace of pizza.

Michele Pascarella, the 34-year-old founder and chef of Napoli on the Road, expressed his surprise and elation at the announcement. "I'm in shock. I probably need to have a few drinks and a sit down to process this," Pascarella stated, comparing the significance of the award to the Oscars for the culinary world. Inspectors for the awards visit restaurants anonymously to ensure impartial assessment.

Pascarella, who learned pizza-making in Caserta, near Naples, had previously received accolades from the 50 Top Pizza organization. He was named global pizza maker of the year in 2023, and Napoli on the Road was recognized as the best pizzeria in Europe in a prior year, though that ranking excluded Italian establishments. This year's global title meant the London restaurant competed directly against pizzerias from Pascarella's home country.

"I didn't think we'd have a chance against all the Italian ones," Pascarella admitted. "But we did it… this is the ultimate honor. I'm over the moon and so proud of all of my team."

Napoli on the Road's win ended the seven-year streak of I Masanielli, a pizzeria based in Caserta and run by Francesco Martucci, which had won the title in six of the previous seven years. I Masanielli dropped to joint fourth place in this year's rankings. Martucci conveyed his congratulations, stating, "Pizza today is a child of the world, you don't have to be in Naples or Caserta to produce the best." He also acknowledged Pascarella's success as a testament to individuals from the region who excel globally.

Napoli on the Road evolved from a food van to its current three London restaurants. Despite its success, Pascarella indicated no plans for further expansion, emphasizing a desire to maintain high pizza quality and personal customer interaction. "I want to keep the quality of my pizza very, very high and I also want to talk to my customers. I want to know them and I want them to know me," he said.

Two other British pizzerias were also included in the global rankings: 50 Kalò in Westminster placed 23rd, and Stile Napoletano in Chester was ranked 74th. Italy led the list with 31 entries, followed by the United States with 22. New York was the most represented city with seven pizzerias, followed by Naples with six and São Paulo with five. Restaurants from 36 countries were featured on the list, including Vietnam, North Macedonia, Croatia, and Japan.

Napoli on the Road is known for its classic Margherita and signature creations such as the 'Cheesewick,' a pizza topped with five Italian cheeses and a homemade tomato jam.