Queens Best Pizza - Rocco’s of Roc Beach
The debate is settled. Rocco’s of Roc Beach is the winner of the inaugural Queens’ Best Pizza Competition, held by the Queens Chamber of Commerce. Over the past several weeks, pizza aficionados nominated and voted on their favorite slices and pies in the borough, with the Rockaway Beach eatery emerging as the winner. Pizza D’Amore, also in Rockaway Beach, finished second, with Gaby’s Pizza on Hillside Avenue in Hollis finishing third.
Rocco’s of Roc Beach accepts their award for Queens Best Pizza
“We’re delighted to honor Rocco’s of Roc Beach as the inaugural winner of the Queens’ Best Pizza Competition,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “Queens undoubtedly has the best pizza around, and every neighborhood has several great places to grab a slice or a pie. Congratulations to Jo-Anne Cotrone and Louis Cotrone and everyone at Rocco’s on winning this coveted title. I just had a few slices myself, and I can tell you, they are worthy winners!”
“We are honored and humbled that we have been awarded the winner of the best pizza in Queens. Thank you to Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, and his team for organizing this competition. We look forward to working with this great organization in years to come,” said co-owner Jo-Anne Cotrone.
“To our loyal customers who patronize and support us, we appreciate you and are forever grateful for taking the time to vote for us, and a big thank you goes to our dedicated staff at Rocco’s of Roc Beach, and our 5-star Chef Bruno Milone and Pizzaiola Angelo for their craft of old world coal brick oven pizza," said co-owner Louis Cotrone.
Grech and the Chamber visited Rocco’s on Thursday, February 9 – National Pizza Pie Day– to present Rocco’s with a plaque. Several elected officials were on hand to celebrate with the winners.
“Everyone knows that Queens, specifically Southeast Queens and Rockaway, has some of the best pizza in the world. And now, everyone knows that Rocco’s of Roc Beach has an unbeatable slice,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “I look forward to pizza lovers from all across the city coming down to Rockaway this year to support local small businesses like Rocco’s of Roc Beach and get a taste of what makes the peninsula so great.”
"I heartily congratulate Rocco's of Roc Beach in Rockaway Beach for being nominated the Best Pizza in Queens by the pizza-loving public,” said Senator James Sanders Jr. “Despite very tough competition, the hard work and excellent food of this popular restaurant won the day. At Rocco's, everyone can get a piece of the pie."
“It’s great to see District 32 recognized as having the best pizza in the borough,” Councilwoman Joann Ariola said. “Rocco’s is a relatively new establishment, but as this award shows they’ve had a big impact on their community and they’ve quickly become a staple of the neighborhood. I’m proud to know the owners both professionally and personally, and I can’t wait to see what the future brings for them.”
“Good people make good food, so of course the best pizza in Queens is from the Rockaway Peninsula, was there ever any doubt? I knew from the moment we cut the ribbon and opened Rocco’s that this place was something special. I am so proud of Rocco’s and the whole team on this amazing distinction,” said Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato.
“Congratulations to Rocco’s of Roc Beach for a well-deserved award! This is the culmination of Tom Grech’s idea to have a monthly ‘A SLICE of Queens’ column in the Queens Chamber of Commerce Monthly Magazine. The fact that Rocco’s of Roc Beach is located in my hometown makes this ‘Best Pizza of Queens’ title sweeter for me!,” said Robert Intelisano, who pens the “A SLICE of Queens” column in This is Queensboro.
Rocco’s of Roc Beach was selected the winner after a public vote. The Chamber invited members of the public to nominate, then vote on their favorite pizzerias in the borough. In addition to earning the title of Queens’ Best Pizza, Rocco’s received a complimentary year of membership to the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
Rounding out the top ten are the following eateries:
4th Place: Dee's Wood Fired Pizza + Kitchen (Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills)
5th Place: Phil & Sons on Main (Main Street, Flushing)
6th Place: Pizza Sam (Northern Boulevard, Jackson Heights)
7th Place: Andrew Bellucci's Pizzeria (30th Avenue, Astoria)
8th Place: Joe & John’s Pizzeria (Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood)
9th Place: Pizza on the Point (Rockaway Point Boulevard, Breezy Point)
10th Place: Austin Street Pizza (Austin Street, Forest Hills)
Learn more about Rocco’s of Roc Beach at https://www.roccoscoalovenpizza.com/