Everyone knows about Branson’s excellent attractions: Silver Dollar City placed in two categories in USA Today‘s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards, Table Rock Lake is a big draw for boaters and anglers, and everyone adores Branson’s live shows, restaurants, and shopping. What’s less well known is that this Ozarks hot spot is home to some seriously delicious pizza. To help with your culinary journey, we’ve rounded up a list of the best pizza in Branson.
Best Pizza in Branson
Rocco’s NY Style Pizza
Fresh is the name of the game at Rocco’s. The dough is made fresh in house, and the meats and cheeses are sliced and shredded on site to give each pizza plenty of flavor. A large, floppy slice could easily fill you up, but who wants to stop at one? Bring your family and friends along because these pizzas are big enough to share, and you’ll want to save room for dessert. Like any top-notch Italian joint, Rocco’s cannoli are worth skipping that fifth slice of pizza for.
Not in the mood for pizza? No problem. Rocco’s has a host of other dishes to feast on. There are subs stacked high with meatballs, salami, and mozzarella as well as homemade lasagna and delicious baked pastas. No matter what fills your plate, you certainly won’t go home hungry.
Hook & Ladder Pizza Co.
This small town eatery has been a favorite for some time, even making it into 417 Magazine’s Ultimate Guide to Pizza. While the firehouse-themed restaurant isn’t in Branson, it’s just a short drive away in historic downtown Hollister. The freshly made dough and homemade sauce will excite your taste buds, so grab a few napkins and get comfy. Each slice of pizza at Hook & Ladder is loaded with toppings. Choose from the shop’s selection of specialty pies and calzones or fill up on mozzarella sticks, toasted ravioli, and wings.
If you’re in the mood to try something new, check out Hook & Ladder’s taco pizza. Instead of traditional red sauce, this pie is slathered in a special bean sauce and topped with ground hamburger, diced onion, jalapeños, lettuce, and tortilla chips. You can also indulge in creamy alfredo sauce, ranch sauce, or the popular three-alarm sauce, which is not for the faint of heart.
Pizza by the Chef
Next time you’re headed to the lake, call ahead and order a pizza from Pizza by the Chef. This cozy joint makes some of the best pizza in Branson. Located in Branson West near another great eatery (Vino Cellars at the Lake), Pizza by the Chef produces scrumptious pies that are a hybrid of thin and hand-tossed crust. The crust is thin, yes, but it’s not cracker thin. Instead, it retains that reach-for-a-second-slice chewiness. The Ciao, one of their gourmet pizzas, is irresistible with its Italian simplicity. Maybe it’s the fresh basil, or the thick rounds of sliced tomato. It could be the hefty amount of garlic or the stringy bed of mozzarella over the light olive oil glaze. Whatever it is, we’re not complaining. The whole menu is inventive. Everything from artichokes, salami, meatballs, dill pickles, and homemade raspberry dressing find their way onto pizzas here.
Mr. G’s Pizza & Pub
Branson might be a long way from Chicago, but the Windy City’s iconic deep-dish pies can still be devoured at Mr. G’s. This downtown staple has been dishing up some of the city’s best deep-dish for more than 20 years. It’s pretty easy to understand why any conversation about the best pizza in Branson usually includes Mr. G’s. These filling, deep-dish pies are packed with gooey, roasted, braised, and marinated delights: roast beef, pepperoni, sweet green peppers, barbecue chicken, homemade alfredo sauce, and much more. If you have a particular flavor combination in mind, build your own pizza and see how it holds up inside that ring of crispy baked crust. Then dust on some Parmesan, grab extra napkins, and enjoy some of the best pizza in Branson.
Oh and if you have room, be sure to order appetizers. The Mr. G’s Crab Rolls are a more unusual find. This local treat is baked in small batches, so order them while they last and enjoy each mouthful of cream cheese, leeks, and fresh crab all rolled into paper-thin dough and deep fried. Along with the popular Bosco sticks and salads, Mr. G’s has all the Italian classics, including toasted subs, manicotti, spaghetti, fettuccine, and plenty of meatballs.
Florentina’s Ristorante Italiano
Finally, if you want to savor the best pizza in Branson, make a reservation at Florentina’s. The pizzas here are cooked in a brick oven, which means you can skip the long wait and enjoy each crispy, topping-heavy bite much sooner. The 10-by-15-inch, thin-crust pies are great for sharing but don’t feel obligated to share a slice. If you’re in the practice of chowing down on a hot pizza by yourself, this Italian eatery won’t disappoint. And if you’re really hungry, splurge on the Polpette pizza. Juicy homemade meatballs top this pie and pair beautifully with the (almost sweet) caramelized onions scattered on top. What else is there to love? How about the lobster mac and cheese, the ossobuco, or the steamed mussels?
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Still hungry? Check out this list of foods to try in Branson. Once you’ve planned out which restaurants to visit during your stay, turn your attention to your lodging options. We have many options available at Branson Vacation Rentals. Our selection of beautiful cabins and condos are great for family gatherings and business groups. And as a family business, we strive to make your home-away-from-home as comfortable and accommodating as possible. Our rentals offer any-day check-in, free Wi-Fi, and beautiful wooded views, and many of our properties welcome pets! For booking information and details about availability and amenities, please call 417-832-9991 or visit our website. Let Branson Vacation Rentals set you up in style.