Why is Old Forge, Pennsylvania, the ‘Pizza Capital of the World’?
Sit down, Italy! Lackawanna County’s Old Forge is the Pizza Capital of the world. Here’s why.
With a population of roughly 8,500, Pennsylvania’s Old Forge may be unfamiliar to you. If so, you’re missing out, because the tiny town just outside of Scranton in Lackawanna County has a pretty weighty reputation as the Pizza Capital of the World—at least, according to the community of Old Forge and its foodie visitors.
The nickname stems from how central pizza has been to Old Forge’s history and development—and how unique its delectable pizza is compared to other, more common styles. Read on to learn how the tiny town of Old Forge created its own distinctive pizza and where you can get a taste of it yourself.
Old Forge’s pizza history
According to local lore, Old Forge pizza was born a century ago in a neighborhood tavern.
Though Old Forge was originally settled in the late 1700s, the community’s turn toward pizza came about as anthracite coal began to dominate the local economy. As coal jobs expanded, miners and their families—many of them Italian immigrants—started new lives in Old Forge.
As one of the most popular stories goes, one of these Italian immigrants, Filomena Ghigiarelli, began baking her own style of pizza for miners who came into her husband Erminio’s bar after their shifts. Using rectangular baking trays, she covered dough with tomatoes, cheese, and spices—adding hot peppers and anchovy paste—and served the pizza (initially, for free!) to the miners as they played cards and drank beer.
Other stories suggest that other Italian immigrants were behind the first Old Forge pizza—but regardless, what made the pizza different wasn’t just the shape, but the pan-baked and thick yet light crust. According to the old-time pizza bakers of Old Forge, this was called “luptize”—basic pizza dough and a few toppings, which was both cheap for frugal-minded immigrants and filling for hard-working miners.
“[M]y grandmother only made one type of pizza, which we call the “Nonni,” because I called her Nonni as my grandmother,” Elio Ghigiarelli—Filomena Ghigiarelli’s grandson—told local news station Fox56 in 2018.
The pizza grew so popular in Old Forge that the home-cooked, rectangular style began to spread to other bars in the town, people from outside Old Forge started to come to town for it, and soon the town became dense with pizzerias.
The distinctive pizza of Old Forge
Many immigrants in Old Forge, including Filomena Ghigiarelli, hailed from Perugia, Italy, and as such, the pizza was likely influenced by pizza al taglio, the Roman-style “pizza by the cut” baked in rectangular trays with a light and airy crust.
And Old Forge residents agree: One doesn’t eat a pizza “pie” in the town—you’re served a “tray.” And you also don’t order a “slice,” but a “cut.” Many also say that northeastern Pennsylvania’s tomatoes are among the best in the country—and key to creating the characteristic pizza.
Different pizza shops put their own spin on the dish, but Old Forge pizza is always rectangular and always has a tender yet crisp-bottomed crust. Each shop uses a different blend of cheeses—and it’s pretty much always a blend, whether mozzarella is tossed with white cheddar or even American cheese.
Throughout the town’s pizzerias, you can find red pizza—with traditional red sauce—or white pizza, which forgoes the red sauce for two layers of thick crust stuffed with cheeses (kind of like a calzone). And though they’re less traditional, you can also often find other common pizza creations like Buffalo chicken or Philly cheesesteak pizza.
Where to grab a “cut” of pizza in Old Forge
Arcaro & Genell
Located on Main Street in Old Forge, Arcaro & Genell has been serving up original Old Forge-style pizza since 1962. While you can order an original tray or just one cut of red pizza, you can also grab pizza with a sweet Italian sauce, hot honey pepperoni pizza, and even thin-crust pizza. Plus, the restaurant has a full Italian menu with pasta, hoagies, specialty meals, desserts, and more. And in true Italian fashion, Arcaro & Genell has bocce courts available for play during the warmer months.
If you can’t make a trip out to Old Forge anytime soon, you can order Arcaro & Genell pizza on Goldbelly.
Mary Lou’s Pizza
Mary Lou’s Pizza is an Old Forge staple, known as a cozy hometown institution with classic “trays” to help you get your Old Forge pizza fix. In addition to the Old Forge tradition, the casual spot—which is BYOB—also serves incredible homemade pasta and Sicilian-style pizza (also rectangular)!
Ravello’s Pizza
Ravello’s Pizza was originally established in Old Forge in 1967 as Pelosi’s. But even with a name change, the family-owned restaurant has consistently served its own addictive version of Old Forge pizza. The pizza menu is simple because red and white pizza is what Ravello’s does best, though the restaurant also offers pasta, sandwiches, and even homemade pierogies.
Bobo’s Pizza
A newer option in Old Forge, Bobo’s Pizza opened last year and came out swinging with a mouthwatering take on Old Forge pizza, which the restaurant says uses an original recipe from 1940s Old Forge. Indeed, Bobo’s old-school trays are made in the traditional style with sweet red sauce, a sprinkling of pepper, and the town’s quintessential crisp, light pan-baked crust. But the restaurant also offers more modern features, like the “border” tray that’s half red and half white, the option to buy par-baked pizzas to finish baking in your own oven, and delivery options.
Cafe Rinaldi
Cafe Rinaldi is a classic Old Forge pizza shop on the town’s Main Street serving up old school Italian eats—including classic Old Forge pizza. The history of the pizza shop is tied to the history of Old Forge itself, with the current owners’ great-grandmother, Louisa Laurenzi, making her own pizza around the same time as Filomena Ghigiarelli. The restaurant promises family recipes passed down from Laurenzi as well as new takes on old favorites. You can even buy a cookbook written by one of the Rinaldis himself—complete with stories about the NEPA mob.
Salerno’s Cafe
Salerno’s Cafe has been owned by the same family in Old Forge for more than 90 years and is currently the oldest pizza place still operating in the pizza capital of the world. Its classic red-and-white trays are always on the itinerary for a tour of Old Forge pizza, and you can also order other delicious Italian specialties like pasta. Salerno’s also has a full bar, and folks often come by to watch sports games.
However, the current owners of the pizza place are retiring from the pizza business after making trays for more than 50 years, and the restaurant (plus its family recipes) is currently for sale. (Though until a sale happens, the restaurant is operating as normal!) Any chance you’re hoping to carry on the Salerno’s Cafe pizza legacy?
Anthony’s Restaurant
Anthony’s has served the Old Forge community as a full Italian restaurant since 1999, and that includes baking its own traditional Old Forge pizza trays. Anthony’s is especially a good choice if you want a more upscale environment for your pizza-eating experience—and if you want to add some premium wine or quality steak and seafood to your dinner order.
Augustine’s Club 17
Old Forge Italian restaurant Augustine’s Club 17 bakes its own trays in the traditional Old Forge style. Family-owned and operated since 1952, the restaurant also offers a wide selection of Italian favorites, a full bar with an expansive martini menu, and unique pizza options such as its “coyote pizza” made with roasted red pepper sauce and jalapenos.
Cusumano
Cusumano is a fine Italian restaurant perfect for anniversaries or birthdays—and for a tray of classic Old Forge pizza. The elegant restaurant always has the traditional pizza on its menu, even as it offers filet mignon at market price. Plus, Cusumano also serves four-course, prix-fixe dinners (in addition to its regular menu) on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
