Cheesy March madness: Delaware pizza bracket blown up by Grotto loss. Final Four heats up.
It's munch madness as Delaware's Favorite Pizza Challenge is down to the Final Four, with saucy restaurants competing in a cheesy food fight for supreme respect.
After more than 900 nominations, we asked readers to choose their favorites, bringing our 32 restaurant bracket down to the Sweet 16 and then the Elite 8 earlier this month.
Readers voted these four restaurants into the semifinals: Cafe Napoli , which will take on Pizza By Elizabeths, and Tony & Dominick's Pizza , which will duke it out with Margherita's Pizza.
Grotto Pizza knocked out in first round
The first round of our challenge featured the biggest upset of the tourney when No. 1 seed Grotto Pizza (located in each county in Delaware) got stuffed by Pizzeria Mariana (Newark).
Grotto won our pizza contest in 2019.
But this time Mariana brought so much heat, it forced the pizza giant to get out of the kitchen. It didn't hurt that owner Newark chef Robbie Jester recently won on Netflix's "Pressure Cooker.”
Bringing the heat: Delaware chef won big on Netflix's 'Pressure Cooker.' Here's how he did it.
Facebook is divided on Grotto Pizza
There's a love-hate relationship between Delaware residents and Grotto, a dynasty that started in Rehoboth Beach in 1960.
This much was obvious, based on the comments readers wrote on our Facebook page.
"Something about Grottos. Maybe perhaps it's the nostalgia; the taste just reminds you of summer and the beach," one reader wrote.
"Grotto's should change their name to Gross Pizza. Because it is Disgusting," a salty reader explained.
"Grotto's is a love or hate pizza. I love it. I also love Gianni's and Cafe Riviera," a diehard Grotto fan commented.
Pizza By Elizabeths is going strong
The reader who likes Grotto must be a seasoned pizza veteran because both Gianni's Pizzas and Cafe Riveria advanced to the Sweet 16.
Pizza by Elizabeths ended up melting Gianni's in the second round, while Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza baked Cafe Riviera in that same round.
Self-rising with lots of purpose, Pizza by Elizabeths proved they're nothing to mess with. Chef Luis Ayllon said team Elizabeths is formidable because all of their ingredients are made fresh daily.
Customers also enjoy the Elizabeths theme at the restaurant, which features portraits and statues of famous people named Elizabeth, from Betty Boop to Queen Elizabeth.
The gourmet pizza restaurant was founded in 1993 by Betsy LeRoy and Betty Snyder, hence the name Elizabeths.
"We're like a little hidden gem in Greenville, so not many people around Delaware know about us," Allyon said.
"When they do find out we're here, they come here and love the ambiance. They love the fact our theme is everything Elizabeth," he added.
Pizza By Elizabeths, 3801 Kennett Pike, Greenville. Visit pizzabyelizabeths.com
Cafe Napoli has an unstoppable weapon
This Milltown shop has been in the pizza game for over 30 years. It was founded by four brothers: Domenico, Antonio, Pasquale and Mario. They left Italy and decided to run a winning restaurant.
Although the shop is competing for pizza bragging rights, you can't leave your guard down around their mozzarella sticks. Those things are light, but they're deceptively filling at the same time.
General manager Tim Widdoes isn't a founder of the restaurant. But he's been on this squad for 30-plus years.
He said this team has a good chance to win the tournament because they're consistent. Plus, it's hard to play defense against their favorite weapon.
"Our most popular would probably be the chicken bruschetta. That's our breaded chicken, homemade bruschetta, on a white garlic pizza, topped with a little bit of ranch dressing," Widdoes said.
"People love that pizza," he added.
Cafe Napoli, 4391 Kirkwood Highway, Milltown. Visit cafenapolidelaware.com
Tony & Dominick's Pizza is no rookie
In 2019, the Delaware Online/The News Journal spotlighted Tony & Dominick's Pizza as a shop readers should've nominated for our earlier tournament.
Four years later, Tony & Dominick's is in the Final Four.
Some of you may never have heard of this Prices Corner shop, but it's no rookie. Sicilian owner Pete Crimaldi opened the shop in 2013 and named it after his sons, Tony and Dominick.
The ingredients are fresh and the slices are foldable. Crimaldi has been shooting his pizza into bread baskets for years.
The shop owner wasn't able to be reached for this story. Nonetheless, he's got a chance at winning it all with his tasty pies. We'll see what happens.
Tony & Dominick's Pizza , 1808 Newport Gap Pike, Prices Corner. Visit facebook.com/tonydominickspizza/
Is Margherita's Pizza the best in Newark?
Brothers Enzo and Rico Della-Monica have been making noise in Newark since they opened Margherita's Pizza in 1980.
The seasoned veterans are loved for their thin crust and fried pizza, which is a favorite among customers.
But don't let the term "fried" fool you.
The dough on that pizza is light as a feather and not greasy. You wouldn't know it was fried unless they told you. The crust is reminiscent of the popular Totino's frozen pizza, but tastes healthier.
Enzo said their pizza is the best in the state because it's a product that hasn't changed in over 40 years, from their sauce to the cheese.
The brothers won't share their playbook on what makes their sauce and cheese so tasty. But just know that they're coming for the No. 1 spot in this food fight.
"I can't tell you too much," Enzo said about their ingredients. "If I do, I have to kill you."
Margherita's Pizza, 265 S. Main St., Newark. Visit margheritaspizzamenu.com
Pizza challenge details
We asked you to tell us where you get your favorite pizza in Delaware, and you answered us in the form of more than 900 nominations!
We want to know your favorite pizza. Here's a rundown of what you need to know, followed by the polls.
Additionally, we're asking for an email address to prevent bots from voting.
If your bracket isn't loading? Click here.
Delaware Online Favorite Pizza dates
Round of 4 voting guide
The Final Four voting began at 5 a.m. Tuesday, March 21, and ends March 24, featuring winners from the Elite round.
You can vote once per matchup, per round.
Delaware Online Favorite Pizza dates
Final Four: March 21-24
THE FINALS: March 28-31
Winner announced Friday, March 31
VOTE in our Favorite Pizza Challenge:4 Delaware pizza places vie for first place. Vote for your favorites now
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Munch madness: Which of these 4 pizza places is readers' favorite?
