This Bucks County shop was voted best in our Pizza Week poll. What to know before you go
Lou Vera’s passion for cooking shows through what he’s built at The Valley Pizza in Bensalem.
“I fell in love with the kitchen when I was a little kid. My mom taught me to cook,” Vera said. “I put my heart into it. I explain that in my shop, to my cooks, everyone. I do this because I love it. I love being in the pizza business.”
Through this devotion to food, Vera was able to develop several recipes throughout the years he is proud of and happily shares with a community that he said has strongly supported his shop since it opened in Bensalem in 2009.
And thanks to its growing community of loyal customers, The Valley Pizza was voted the best Bucks County pizza shop in our National Pizza Week readers’ poll with more than 14,000 votes.
“I’m very honored to serve the Bensalem area and to have very good customers who have always been loyal to me,” Vera said after learning the results of the poll.
“I always work very hard to make this feel like home, to make sure everybody is happy. And my team is always here, serving the customers, cooking everything right. I’m very grateful for them. It’s all about teamwork here at The Valley to provide a good experience for the customers,” he added.
As readers nominated their favorite shops to be included in the poll, they also told us why their chosen shop stood out above the rest. For The Valley Pizza, many said they loved it for its consistently good food, inviting atmosphere, kind owner and caring staff.
One called the shop family-oriented, friendly and accommodating. “Food is the best around, no one else can compare to the freshness and love that is put into each dish.”
More: This Bucks County pizzeria topped Washington Post’s list of best pizzas by state
Must-try pizza and dishes at The Valley Pizza in Bensalem
The Valley Pizza has a very large menu compared to most shops of its size, offering a variety of pizza, sandwiches, pasta, cheesesteaks, appetizers, soup, salad, calzones, strombolis, panzarottis, Italian entrees, seafood, stuffed rolls, grilled cheese, wraps, burgers, quesadillas, hoagies and gyros.
There is also a kids menu, as well as an assortment of desserts, like ice cream, milkshakes, cannolis, tiramisu and cheesecake.
If you’re planning a first-time visit, here are a few favorites you might want to try:
Grandma Pie: A Sicilian pizza topped with parmesan, oregano, oil and basil.
Grandpa Pie: A Sicilian pizza made with a pink cream sauce and topped with fresh mozzarella and basil.
Brooklyn Pie: A Sicilian pizza made using their homemade old fashioned sauce and topped with fresh mozzarella and basil
Louie Sandwich: A chicken spinach sandwich with roasted peppers, buttered and grilled chicken, fresh spinach and provolone cheese on a long roll.
Roast Pork Italiano: Pork roasted in gravy, broccoli rabe and provolone cheese on a long roll.
Tortellini DaVinci: Cheese tortellini with shrimp and a pink cream sauce.
Chicken Ricci: Fresh spinach, roasted peppers and grilled chicken over rigatoni pasta and topped with fresh mozzarella.
Go: 5413 Neshaminy Blvd., Bensalem; 215-608-0366; thevalleypizzamenu.com
Who were the runner-ups for best Bucks County pizza shops?
With more than 36,000 votes in total, making it into the top five is significant, especially considering we started with more than 100 nominated shops. So, after The Valley Pizza, here are the places that tallied the most votes:
Mama Russo’s Pizzeria, Trevose
Why people love them: Friendly and caring staff, generous portions, fresh ingredients, and a large selection.
Recommended: Nino’s Honey Roni, Vito’s Brooklyn Pie, Twisted Brooklyn Pie
Go: 608 Philadelphia Ave., Trevose; 215-660-9602; mamarussospizzeria.com
Sal’s Italian Deli, Bristol
Why people love them: Great crust, perfect ratio of sauce to cheese, and friendly service.
Recommended: Sicilian Pizza, Brooklyn Pie
Go: 2623 Durham Road in Bristol; 267-812-5130; salsitaliandelipa.com
More: Sal's Italian Deli returning to Bristol Township. What to expect from this Bucks favorite
DeLorenzo’s The Burg Pizza, Levittown
Why people love them: DeLorenzo family recipe perfected over three generations, thin and crispy crust, sweet tomato sauce, warm atmosphere, friendly staff and owners.
Recommended: Trenton-style Tomato Pie, Clam Pie
Go: 8919 New Falls Road, Levittown; 215-943-2605; delostheburg.com
Dominick’s Pizza & Restaurant, Plumsteadville
Why people love them: Flavorful sauce, generous toppings, friendly staff, large selection and affordable pricing.
Recommended: Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza, Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Go: 5780 Easton Road, Plumsteadville; 215-766-0210; dominickspizzaplumstead.com
More pizza favorites in Bucks County worth checking out:
Along with the five shops mentioned above, these places were among the top 30 pizza spots nominated in our initial survey:
V&S Pizzeria: 415 S. Oxford Valley Road, Fairless Hills
Gianni’s Pizza: 842 Bustleton Pike, Richboro
Acqua e Farina: 50 Richboro Road, Newtown
De Lorenzo’s Tomato Pies: 1707 Langhorne Yardley Road, Yardley
Lucatelli’s Pizzeria: 73 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown
Nat’s Pizza: 138 W. State St., Doylestown
Brothers Pizza: 110 N. Pine St., Langhorne
Pizza Star: 4129 Woerner Ave., Levittown
Giuseppe’s Pizza & Family Restaurant: 1380 Street Road, Warminster
Vince’s Pizzeria and Taproom: 573 Durham Road, Newtown
Longhitano’s Pizza: 751 Street Road, Southampton
Cesare’s Ristorante: 1407 Radcliffe St., Bristol
Altomonte’s Italian Market: 856 N. Easton Road, Doylestown; 85 N. York Road, Warminster
Anthony’s Pizza: 5261 New Falls Road, Levittown
Giovanni’s on State: 12 W. State St., Doylestown
Soprano's Pizzeria & Restaurant: 1380 Easton Road, Warrington
Croydon Pizza: 808 State Road, Croydon
Spuntino Wood Fired Pizzeria: 22 S. Main St., Doylestown
Meglio Pizzeria: 3 N Sycamore St, Newtown
Original Dominick's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant: 1250 General Washington Memorial Blvd., Washington Crossing; 1045 Second Street Pike, Richboro
Giovanni's Pizza: 2190 York Rd, Jamison
La Villa Pizza & Family Restaurant: 21 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Morrisville
Sal’s Pizza Randa: 240 S. West End Blvd., Quakertown
Sarappo's Pizza: 3328 Bristol Road, Bensalem; 304 Bristol Pike, Croydon
Amalio’s Pizza & Pasta: 1145 York Road, Warminster
More: How Barstool Sports' David Portnoy's visits to 4 Bucks County shops created a pizza frenzy
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bensalem pizza shop voted best in Bucks County by readers. Here's why
