BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Fun fact: New Year's is known by pizza restaurateurs as one of the biggest sales day of the year.
According to Statista.com, Americans spent an estimated $46 billion on pizza in 2022 (no word if 2023 topped that).
Ringing in as the top five pizza sale days are: New's Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Super Bowl Sunday, Halloween and the night before Thanksgiving.
Whether you fold your slice in half or pick at it with a fork (who does that?), there are hundreds of places locally serving up gooey, crispy and cheesy slices.
In recognition of one of the pizzerias' busiest times of the year, we asked on social media about some of the favorite spots in the Lehigh Valley.
Here's some of the pizza places that made the cut.
Order in or out in Allentown
The Pizza Joint: According to foodies, this joint serves melt-in-your mouth pizza that is both "delicious and affordable."
Located in the Redner's Shopping Plaza and near Coca-Cola Park,the restaurant offers more than 34 different varieties (round, Sicilian, stuffed) including a garlic pierogi, bacon and onion pie and a Mac & Cheese pizza.
For the healthier eater, there are also six vegetarian pizzas on the menu.
What to try: Stuffed rajun cajun chicken pie (grilled chicken, homemade cajun sauce, mozzarella cheese) or seafood fra diavola pie (mozzarella, shrimp, baby clams, spicy marinara sauce).
Delivery: Yes, up to 10-mile radius
BYOB: Yes
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday - Saturday (call ahead to see if the crust is sold out)
Info: 1239 Airport Road, Allentown, 610-351-0550, lvpizzajoint.com
The Crust: True to its namesake, the eatery is favored by locals for its crispy and crunchy (and a tad soft for folds) dough.
Customer's tip: There is a 3% convenience fee even when paying with cash.
What to try: Philly Dilly pie (homemade garlic-cucumber cream sauce, fresh garlic, dill pickle slices, parmesan and mozzarella cheese topped with fresh dill) and the Sweet Jerry pizza (grilled chicken with honey mustard, BBQ sauce, red onions and diced tomatoes).
Delivery: Yes
BYOB: Yes
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday; noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Info: 3043 W. Emmaus Avenue, Allentown, 610-797-9797, thecrustpizzeriaandrestaurant.com
Zio's Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant: As its website states, owners Domenico and Maria Recchia (who owned Mama's Pizza in Slatington for 21 years) brought their Brooklyn recipes to the Lehigh Valley in 2016.
On the menu are 16 types of pies such as the popular meat lover's (pepperoni, hamburger, bacon, sausage and ham) and the garden pizza (broccoli, spinach, peppers, onions and mushrooms).
What to try: Keep it traditional with the Neapolitan-style round pie or the Grandma (thin sheet-square pizza that’s baked in a pan, heavily coated with olive oil with sliced mozzarella cheese and randomly scattered thick plum tomatoes on top).
Delivery: Yes
BYOB: Yes
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday; noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Info: 4660 Broadway, Allentown, 610-398-3478, ziospizzalv.com
Ray's Famous Pizza: Serving residents since the '90s, this eatery makes hand-tossed specialty pizzas like the buffalo chicken variety and its famous stuffed pizza pies.
What to try: Ray's Special Pie (sausage, hamburger, pepperoni, onions, peppers and mushroom), the vegetarian (mushrooms, broccoli, green peppers, onions, garlic, black olives and plum tomatoes) and stuffed pizza (sausage, hamburger, pepperoni, onions, peppers and mushroom).
Delivery: Yes, through DoorDash
BYOB: Yes. Six-packs of beer also available to go
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday to Friday; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday; 11:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday
Info: 2302 Union Blvd, Allentown, 610-974-8786, raysfamouspizza1.com
Giovanni’s Pizza: In business since 2008, the Italian restaurant serves pizza made topped with a secret marinara sauce made daily in-house.
Foodies will also find gluten-free, vegetarian options and four different types of stuffed pizzas on the menu.
What to try: Gyro pizza (lettuce, tomato and onions with cucumber sauce), California pizza (steak, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and blue cheese) or the cowboy pizza (steak, lettuce, onions, tomato, bleu cheese).
Delivery: Yes, through SliceLife
BYOB: Yes
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Info: 1001 N. 19th St., Allentown, 610-890-5610, giovannispizzaallentown.com
Tavern on Liberty: Known more for its craft beer and bar atmosphere, residents say the speciality New York-inspired pizzas at this restaurant are "fantastic" and "surprisingly flavorful."
What to try: San Danielle (rosemary garlic oil, mozzarella, arugula, prosciutto, house lemon vinaigrette) and the Mac Daddy (shredded beef, 1000 island dressing, American cheese, red onions, lettuce, pickles and sesame seeds).
Delivery: No
BYOB: No
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day (call ahead for takeout hours)
Info: 2246 Liberty St., Allentown, 484-221-8765, thelibertytaproom.com/the-tavern-on-liberty
Sal's Pizza: With rave reviews on food delivery apps, Sal's is famous for its Sicilian pies, Old Forge-style sheet slices and its flavored "sweet sauce."
What to try: The Margarita (Sicilian sauce, fresh mozzarella, and basil. Add sweet roasted peppers to make it a yummy pie), Four cheese pizza (A creamy blend of American, mozzarella, cheddar, and Romano cheeses with a hint of red pepper flakes for spice).
Delivery: Yes, through DoorDash, UberEats and GrubHub
BYOB: Beer sold on site
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
Info: 4767 W. Tilghman St., Allentown, 610-395-7211, thesalspizza.com
Charles Pizza: The family owned and operated pizzeria opened in 1983 by Calogero "Charlie" Grisafi and Josephine Grisafi. Today, the restaurant is operated by their son, Sal, who carries on the tradition of serving homemade pizza cooked with fresh dough that is kneaded daily and enhanced with the family's spices.
What to try: Taco pizza (topped with beans, salsa, beef, cheese), chicken bacon ranch (smokey bacon, chicken and creamy ranch dressing).
Delivery: No
BYOB: Yes
Hours: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Info: 1190 Mickley Road, Whitehall Township, 610-434-0877, charlespizzawhitehall.com
Teresa’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria: Formerly the site of Paese Mio, not much has changed on the menu (a good thing, followers say!). The eatery is known for its generous-sized pasta dishes, but worth a stop for the pizza as well — or as one foodie put it, everything is "Nonna approved!"
What to try: Grilled chicken (grilled chicken, roasted peppers and roasted garlic), Mozzarella caprese (fresh sliced mozzarella, tomatoes, roasted peppers, olives and basil).
Delivery: Yes
BYOB: Yes
Hours: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Info: 6561 Tilghman St., Allentown, 484-221-8158, teresasitalianrestaurantpizzeria.com
Potsys: Get your crunch on at this eatery where foodies claim the pizza boasts a "crispy crust" with an "awesome cheese pull."
Choose from pan, Sicilian square, stuffed or round pizza pies.
What to try: Stuffed cheese steak or chicken, broccoli and tomato pan pizza.
Delivery: Yes
BYOB: Yes
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday - Sunday
Info: 5925 Tilghman St., Allentown, 610-336-6136, potsypizzapa.com
Newsworthy in Bethlehem
Frank's Pizza: Open since 2004, this family-owned establishment is a top choice by locals due to its innovative menu (pasta dishes on a pizza, why not?) and large amount of topping choices.
Additionally, there are vegetarian and gluten-free options available.
Save on gas: Diners don't have to drive to Scranton to feast on an Old Forge-style Sicilian pizza. Frank's variety comes in red sauce (or white) with loads of double-crusted cheese.
What to try: Bomber pizza (chicken cutlet, bacon, cheddar, mozzarella cheese and 1000 island dressing) or the Tome (tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil, no sauce).
Delivery: Yes
BYOB: Yes
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
Info: 3926 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem, 610-867-2601, frankspizza191.com
Lehigh Pizza: Newsroom approved (it's LehighValleyNews.com's election night go-to) and a longtime staple on the Southside (the joint opened in 1975).
The menu includes gluten-free crust, dairy free cheese and more than 15 different varities of pizzas.
It pays to eat: Customers swear by Lehigh's rewards program, which offers discounts up to 20%.
What to try: The German pizza (topped with steak, green peppers and onions) is rumored to originate in the Lehigh Valley is on most pizza menus in the region, but a winner at Lehigh.
Delivery: Yes
BYOB: Yes. Beer also sold on premises
Hours: noon to 8:30 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday; 10 a.m. to midnight, Friday - Saturday. Closed Mondays.
Info: 13 W. Third St., Bethlehem, 610-866-1088,lehighpizza.com
Brick Oven Pizza 191: Carb-o-holics, rejoice! At this pizza establishment, it's all about the "rise" of the bread, say its loyal customers.
With its dough hand-rolled daily and cooked to perfection, the menu includes 21 different styles of pizza including the house favorites like the thin Sicilian style and BBQ chicken (chicken,cheese and barbecue sauce).
What to try: the Quattro Gusti (ham, artichokes, mushrooms and mozzarella) or the Roma (ricotta, mozzarella and fresh garlic)
Delivery: No
BYOB: No
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday - Saturday; noon to 6:30 p.m. Sunday
Info: 91 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem, 610-746-3080,
191brickovenpizza.com
Areli's Italian Restaurant Pizzeria and Grill: The ristorante opened in 2013 and quickly became a go-to stop among locals looking for savory pasta and crispy, cheese pizza slices.
Gluten-free and vegetarian options are offered.
What to try: White bruschetta pizza ( fresh basil and garlic, mozzarella cheese, diced tomatoes), Chicken pink vodka pizza (breaded chicken, sautéed onions, roasted red peppers, tomatoes in a pink vodka sauce),
Delivery: Yes
BYOB: Yes
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day
Info: 1798 Broadway, Bethlehem, 484-893-4803, arelisitalianmenu.com
Dom's Westgate Pizza: Customers rate this pizza as one of the best in the Lehigh Valley.
Serving customers for more than 50 years, while you're there say hello to owner Domenico "Dom" Coppola, who still mans the pizza oven and oversees operations.
What to try: Toscana Pizza (grilled eggplant, marinated artichokes, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella), Bianca Pizza (Ricotta cheese and fresh mozzarella with spinach or broccoli).
Delivery: Yes, within four miles (purchase by credit card only)
BYOB: Yes
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday - Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday
Info: 2355 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem, 610-865-1393, westgatepizzarestaurant.net
The Eats of Easton
Antonio’s: A sweet-tasting sauce and the right portion of cheese is just some of the nods this Italian hidden gem received from readers.
Among the varieties: Sicilian, Napolitana and vegetarian pizzas.
What to try: Antonio's Special Pie (Pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, olives, ham, bacon), white pizza (no sauce, topped with fresh garlic).
Delivery: Yes, through Slicelife
BYOB: Yes
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday - Friday; noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday
Info: 114 S 3rd St., Easton, 610-253-9977
antoniospizzeriaeaston.com
Pino's Pizzeria and Restaurant: Located in C-Town Shopping Center (the former site of Laneco), this cozy establishment has been serving customers since 1981. Foodies say it rivals "New York City's flavors."
What to try: Leave the frills and toppings for the other spots on this list and order up a traditional plain cheese or pepperoni pie (pizza bubbles optional).
Delivery: Delivers to Easton, Williams Township, Wilson, West Easton and Philipsburg,.
BYOB: Yes
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday - Saturday; 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday
Info: 230 Line St., Easton, pinospizzashops.com
A slice of Stockertown
The GOAT Pub and Pie: Detroit is in-house at this pizza joint, which serves its pizza made the Michigan way — in a square, steel pan allowing the outer edge of the cheese to caramelize, forming a golden brown crispy cheese barrier.
What to try: The Hot and Honey (house-made marinara, mozzarella, provolone, pepperoni, jalapeños, honey) or the Sunny (house-made marinara, mozzarella, provolone, thick cut bacon, caramelized onions, sunny side up egg).
Delivery: No
BYOB: No
Hours: 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to midnight Friday - Saturday
Info: 700 Main St., Stockertown, 610-365-2495
thegoatpubpie.com
The viral sensation
Moonlight Pizza: Rounding out the list is this Slate Belt fan fave, which became a viral hit after Barstool Sports founder, Dave Portnoy, paid a visit in November and gave the spot a rave review on his "One Bite" series.
Portnoy — known for his blunt remarks and over-top-critiques of sports, pop culture and pizza — gave the four-year-old restaurant an 8.3 on a scale from zero to 10 in a video posted Nov. 22.
The pizzeria serves 12 different types of pies with unbleached and unbromated flour made using room temperature fermentation.
Order early: Moonlight does all its orders by phone starting at 2 p.m. until they run out of dough. Due to Portnoy's review, they are only accepting orders by phone in 15 minutes increments, according to the website.
What to try: Sausage and Pepper (tomato sauce, aged and fresh mozzarella, fontina, fennel sausage, roasted red peppers, red onion, roasted garlic, red pepper flake, aged parmesan, pecorino romano, asiago, basil), Bacon and Caramelized Onion (aged and fresh mozzarella, fontina, aged parmesan, pecorino romano, asiago, bacon, caramelized onion, black pepper, thyme).
Delivery: No
BYOB: Take-out only
Hours: 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday - Friday
Info: 301 S. Robinson Avenue, Pen Argyl, 610-654-1020
