A small London pizza chain has beaten the Italians at their own game after being officially crowned the best in the world.
Napoli on the Road, which has restaurants in Chiswick, Richmond and Soho, became the first British entrant to take the top spot at the prestigious 50 Top Pizza awards.
Its founder and chef Michele Pascarella, 34, was left stunned when the result was announced at the Teatro Mercadante in Naples, the birthplace of pizza.
‘It’s so crazy I don’t know what to say,’ he said.
‘I’m in shock. I probably need to have a few drinks and a sit down to process this.
‘I can’t explain how big this is. It’s like the Oscars but for pizza.’
The competition, now in its tenth year, judges pizzerias not only on the quality of their food but on the overall dining experience.
Inspectors visit restaurants anonymously, meaning staff do not know when they are being assessed.
Pascarella, who learnt to make pizza growing up in Caserta, near Naples, has enjoyed success at the awards before.
Napoli on the Road, which has restaurants in Chiswick, Richmond and Soho, became the first British entrant to take the top spot at the prestigious 50 Top Pizza awards
Napoli on the Road was previously crowned the best pizzeria in Europe. Pictured: Michele Pascarella with the Best pizzeria in Europe award in 2024
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He was named global pizza maker of the year in 2023, while Napoli on the Road was previously crowned the best pizzeria in Europe.
But that ranking excludes Italy, meaning this year’s global title put the London restaurant up against pizzerias from Pascarella’s home country.
‘I didn’t think we’d have a chance against all the Italian ones,’ Pascarella said.
‘But we did it… this is the ultimate honour. I’m over the moon and so proud of all of my team.’
Napoli on the Road’s victory ended the dominance of I Masanielli, a pizzeria in Caserta run by Francesco Martucci.
It had won the title in six of the previous seven years but dropped to joint fourth place this year.
Martucci said he had no hard feelings about losing out to a pizzeria based outside Italy.
‘Pizza today is a child of the world, you don’t have to be in Naples or Caserta to produce the best,’ he said.
He added that Pascarella’s Caserta roots showed how people from the area had been able to move abroad and still produce world-beating pizza.
Napoli on the Road has grown from a food van into three bricks-and-mortar restaurants in the capital.
But despite its success, Pascarella said he has no interest in expanding it into a larger chain, saying he wants to maintain the quality of his pizzas and continue getting to know his customers.
Two other British pizzerias also made the global rankings.
50 Kalò in Westminster came 23rd, while Stile Napoletano in Chester was ranked 74th.
Italy had the most restaurants on the list with 31, followed by the US with 22.
New York was the most represented city with seven entries, followed by Naples with six and São Paulo with five.
Restaurants from 36 countries made this year’s list, including Vietnam, North Macedonia, Croatia and Japan.
Napoli on the Road is known for its margherita as well as creations including the ‘Cheesewick’, topped with five types of Italian cheese and homemade tomato jam.
Pascarella said: ‘I don’t want to become a chain, and believe me, we’ve had the chance.
‘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.’
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