Zaatar Pizza, Aldo’s Ristorante
SIX SENSATIONS PIZZAS IN VIRGINIA BEACH THAT ARE ANYTHING BUT CONVENTIONAL
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Pizza may be one of the world’s greatest comfort foods, but that doesn’t mean every pie has to follow the same recipe.
Sure, a classic pepperoni will always have its place, but some pizzas dare to think a little bigger, bolder, and more deliciously outside the box.
In Virginia Beach, Mediterranean-inspired flavors, wood-fired Italian traditions, and inventive creations piled high with unexpected ingredients are on the menu. We’ve picked a half-dozen pies that have our attention right here, right now.
These six standouts prove that the most memorable slice isn’t always the one with the most toppings, but the one with the most personality. Your next favorite pizza may be waiting just beyond the pepperoni.
ALDO’S RISTORANTE
The Pie:
Zaatar Pizza
The Why:
Pizza may have been born in Italy, but this pie happily packs its passport for the Mediterranean.
Zaatar is a beloved Middle Eastern spice blend, typically combining wild thyme or oregano with toasted sesame seeds, earthy sumac, and a touch of salt, creating a savory, citrusy, nutty flavor that’s instantly recognizable.
Paired with creamy goat cheese, sweet red onion, and juicy Roma tomatoes, it’s bright, earthy, tangy, and wonderfully fresh. It’s proof that a great crust can take you just about anywhere, one gloriously flavorful slice at a time.
Aldo’s is located at 1860 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach. Call 757-491-1111 or visit www.AldosVB.com
DOUGH BOY’S PIZZA
The Pie:
The Classic WAVE
The Why:
Why choose between a pizza and a calzone when you can ride the WAVE?
This original pie combines the best of both worlds, with one half folded into a golden calzone stuffed with pepperoni, savory ham, Italian sausage, creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses, served alongside warm marinara for dipping.
The other half stays gloriously flat, topped with tangy pizza sauce, bubbling mozzarella, and everyone’s favorite, pepperoni. It’s crispy, cheesy, meaty, saucy, and just plain over-the-top in the very best way.
Dough Boy’s Pizza is at 2410 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach. Call 757-425-7108 or visit www.DoughBoysPizza.com.
There is a second Oceanfront location at 3224 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach. Call 757-747-2511
IL GIARDINO RISTORANTE
The Pie:
Pizza Del Giardino
The Why:
Every great pizza starts with a great oven, and Il Giardino’s has quite a story.
Inspired by a trip to Florence in 1983, founder Tony Gargiulo built Virginia’s first wood-burning oven, where this rustic favorite is still baked to perfection today.
Rich tomato sauce, bubbling mozzarella, savory Italian sausage, earthy mushrooms, and aromatic spicy herbs come together over a crisp, lightly smoky crust that’s impossible to duplicate any other way. It’s an old-world classic that proves great pizza isn’t just made, it’s crafted.
Il Giardino is at 910 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach. Call 757-422-6464 or visit www.IlGiardino.com.
PUNGO PIZZA & ICE CREAM
The Pie:
Margarita
The Why:
Some pizzas don’t need a long list of toppings to steal the show.
The Margherita is the definition of simple perfection, layering bright tomato sauce with creamy fresh mozzarella, fragrant basil, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Every ingredient has its moment, creating a pizza that’s fresh, vibrant, and wonderfully balanced. It’s the kind of timeless classic that reminds us why pizza became one of the world’s most beloved comfort foods in the first place.
Fun fact: In 1889, legend says this iconic pie was named for Queen Margherita of Savoy when she became smitten with it.
Pungo Pizza is at 1824 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach. Call 757-721-4900 or visit www.PungoPizza.com.
SHOREBREAK PIZZA & TAPHOUSE
The Pie:
Soprano
The Why:
Forget the witness protection program. This pizza proudly puts everything on the table.
The name is a wink to everyone’s favorite television crime family, The Soprano is loaded with housemade meatball slices, spicy Italian sausage, pepperoni, and savory Virginia ham.
It’s bold, hearty, and unapologetically overstuffed, with every bite delivering enough old-school Italian-American comfort to make you want to gather the whole family around the table. Fuggedaboutit, this one’s a keeper.
Shorebreak Pizza & Taphouse is at 2941 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach. Call 757-481-9393 or visit www.ShorebreakVB.com.
There is also a location in Pungo, 1824 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach. Call 757-721-4900.
VICTORIA’S PIZZERIA
The Pie:
Shroom Truffle Pizza
The Why:
Sometimes the most luxurious pizza doesn’t need a single slice of pepperoni.
A medley of locally grown mushrooms mingles with fresh spinach, garlic, shallots, and fragrant thyme, all layered over silky fresh cream and rich porcini cream. Finished with creamy ricotta, nutty
Pecorino, and a drizzle of aromatic white truffle oil, it’s earthy, elegant, and deeply satisfying. Every bite is rich without being heavy, celebrating the bold, woodsy flavors that make mushroom lovers weak in the knees.
Victoria’s Pizzeria is at 401 North Great Neck Road, Suite 117, Virginia Beach. Call 757-587-4992 or visit www.VictoriasPizzeriaVB.com.
Patrick Evans-Hylton is an award-winning food journalist, covering tasty trends in broadcast, electronic, print, and social media since 1995. Read him at VirginiaEatsAndDrinks.com
Evans-Hylton, the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association (VBRA; DineInVB.com) Culinary Engagement + Legacy Manager, has eaten 3128-1/2 pizzas in his life.
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