This Carolina Beach pizza restaurant is one of the best in NC, a national report says

Allison Ballard, Wilmington StarNews
Updated ·3 min read

If you ask Tim O’Toole what the secret to good pizza is, he says it’s all in the ingredients.

“If you have good sauce, good dough and good cheese,” he said, shrugging.

He should know. He has 56 years of experience making pizza. Aside from a stint in the Vietnam War, the 71-year-old has been making pizza since he was 15, mostly in New York. He’s now one of the pizza makers at Fentoni’s Pizza in Carolina Beach.

Located on the Boardwalk at 9 Carolina Beach Ave. N., Fentoni’s was recently named one of the best in North Carolina, according to a report from The Washington Post. The newspaper analyzed 7.5 million Yelp reviews and developed a formula to identify the best pizza styles across the country. Unsurprisingly, New York style and Neapolitan-ish pies were popular across the country, followed by regional styles like those that originated in Detroit and St. Louis.

Fentoni's on the Boardwalk in Carolina Beach was recently named the third best in North Carolina for New York-style pizza in the Washington Post. It was the only local pizza spot named in the piece that compared regional styles of pizza. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS
Fentoni's on the Boardwalk in Carolina Beach was recently named the third best in North Carolina for New York-style pizza in the Washington Post. It was the only local pizza spot named in the piece that compared regional styles of pizza. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS

Part of their deep-dive into pizza also listed the top six pizzerias for each style in each state. Fentoni’s was the only local pizza restaurant mentioned and ranked third in the North Carolina for New York-style pizza. Across other review platforms, too, Fentoni's ranks high -- with former New Yorkers and locals alike saying it's one of the best around.

“That’s what they tell me,” said Jeremy Fenton, who opened the restaurant in the former Frank’s Pizza in 2020. He works in restaurant equipment and installation, in addition to owning the pizzeria.

Like him, Fentoni’s is also unassuming, with a minimalist, no-frills space next to Britts Donut Shop. In the summer, they open a by-the-slice window for quick service. They make the dough and sauce in house. In addition to pizzas, you can find cheesesteaks, appetizers, strombolis and calzones. There's also another popular New York interpretation of dough and cheese called the pizza pop.

In October, they launch their winter menu again, said manager Matt Morris. That includes adding a 14-inch pizza, in addition to the 18-inch, as well as a Sicilian-style pizza and a lunch buffet.

Tim O'Toole makes pizza at Fentoni's on the Boardwalk in Carolina Beach. The pizza shop was recently named the third best in North Carolina for New York-style pizza in the Washington Post. It was the only local pizza spot named in the piece that compared regional styles of pizza. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS
Tim O'Toole makes pizza at Fentoni's on the Boardwalk in Carolina Beach. The pizza shop was recently named the third best in North Carolina for New York-style pizza in the Washington Post. It was the only local pizza spot named in the piece that compared regional styles of pizza. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS

What else tops the list of best pizza in North Carolina?

Here is a look at some of the other pizzerias that were also mentioned in The Washington Post report. You'll see two locations of the Cugino Forno restaurant, which opened a Wilmington restaurant in 2022 at 1020 Princess St.

Chicago style: ACME Pizza in Holly Springs, Piccolo's Italian Restaurant in Lenoir, Slice Pizzeria in Kill Devil Hills, Del Vecchios in Asheville, Rosati's Pizza in Morrisville and Rosati's Pizza in Waxhaw.

Detroit style: Pi Squared Pizza in Hendersonville and Emmy Squared Pizza - Plaza Midwood in Charlotte

Neopolitan style: Cugino Forno in Greensboro, Pizzeria Toro in Durham, Meadow's Italiano in Mooresville, Inizio Pizza Napoletana in Charlotte, GoodWood Pizzeria and Bakery in Lincolnton and Cugino Forno in Durham

New York style: Fahrenheit Pizza & Brewhouse in Asheville, Panichelli’s Pizzeria in New Bern, Fentoni’s Pizza in Carolina Beach, Luigi's Pizza in Morehead City, Village Pizza in Nags Head and Peri Brothers Pizza in Raleigh

Roman style:  Coronato Pizza in Carrboro

St. Louis style: Margaux's Wine, Pizza & Market in Pineville

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Fentoni's Pizza in Carolina Beach named one of the best in NC