Food & Wine Just Named This Ellicott City Pizzeria Maryland’s Best
Maryland pizza lovers have a new reason to celebrate, and one Ellicott City restaurant is enjoying some well-deserved national attention.
Food & Wine has selected Angeli’s Pizzeria, a family-owned restaurant known for its New York-style pizzas and remarkable comeback story, as Maryland’s representative on its latest list of outstanding pizza destinations across America.
The recognition appeared in the magazine’s newly published “50 States of Award-Winning Pizzerias”, which highlights one acclaimed pizza establishment from every state.
For residents of Ellicott City and the surrounding Howard County area, the announcement is particularly exciting. Angeli’s recently expanded beyond its Baltimore roots, bringing its nationally recognized pizza to 10039 Baltimore National Pike.
And this isn’t the restaurant’s first major achievement.
With recognition from Yelp, The Washington Post, and the prestigious 50 Top Pizza USA rankings, Angeli’s has spent the past several years building a reputation that extends well beyond Maryland.
Here’s why this neighborhood pizzeria is getting so much attention.
A Maryland Pizzeria Earns National Recognition
On October 28, 2026, Food & Wine published its collection of award-winning pizzerias, spotlighting restaurants recognized through established competitions, professional rankings, local publications, and reader polls.
Rather than run a new head-to-head competition to determine which restaurant makes the best pizza in each state, the magazine reviewed existing awards and accolades.
For Maryland, the publication selected Angeli’s Pizzeria.
The choice puts the restaurant alongside celebrated pizza establishments nationwide, including legendary names tied to New York, Connecticut, and Chicago pizza traditions.
According to Food & Wine, Angeli’s stood out for its history of national recognition and its dedication to New York-style pies.
The magazine also highlighted the restaurant’s cheese sourcing and its transformation from a New Orleans business into a growing Maryland operation.
For a family-owned business, appearing on a national food publication’s state-by-state list represents another meaningful milestone.
It also introduces Angeli’s to readers who may never have heard of the restaurant before.
Angeli’s Has Been Climbing the National Pizza Rankings
The latest recognition didn’t happen overnight.
Angeli’s has steadily collected impressive accolades, particularly over the past few years.
In 2023, Yelp included the restaurant in its Top 100 Pizza Spots in the United States, placing it at No. 77.
That distinction helped establish Angeli’s as more than just another neighborhood pizza shop.
The restaurant gained additional recognition in 2025 when it entered the 50 Top Pizza USA rankings at No. 47.
Then, in 2026, it climbed three positions to No. 44.
The annual 50 Top Pizza rankings evaluate leading pizza establishments and recognize restaurants demonstrating strong culinary standards.
Climbing the rankings gave Angeli’s another reason to celebrate.
The restaurant also earned a notable distinction from The Washington Post in 2025, when the publication identified it as Maryland’s top destination for New York-style pizza.
Taken together, those accomplishments help explain why Food & Wine selected Angeli’s for its Maryland entry.
The restaurant wasn’t chosen based on a single glowing review. Its reputation has been reinforced by several independent recognitions.
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The Restaurant’s Story Began in New Orleans
One of the most interesting things about Angeli’s Pizzeria is that its history didn’t begin in Maryland.
The business traces its origins to New Orleans, Louisiana, where the original Angeli’s opened in 1986.
The restaurant became part of the city’s dining landscape before Hurricane Katrina changed everything.
The devastating 2005 storm disrupted countless businesses and communities throughout New Orleans, including the original Angeli’s operation.
Eventually, the family relocated to Maryland and revived the restaurant in Baltimore’s Little Italy neighborhood.
It was a fresh start for a business with decades of history.
Rather than abandoning the original concept, the family brought its established recipes and pizza-making traditions to a new community.
Baltimore’s Little Italy provided a fitting setting for that revival, with its established Italian restaurant culture and neighborhood atmosphere.
The comeback story adds another layer to the restaurant’s recent success.
What began as a New Orleans pizzeria eventually became a Maryland business earning recognition from national food publications.
Nearly four decades after its original opening, the Angeli’s name continues to grow.
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What Makes Angeli’s Pizza Worth Trying?
Angeli’s specializes in New York-style pizza, a familiar favorite for people who appreciate large, relatively thin slices with a foldable crust.
Unlike thicker pan pizzas, New York-style pies balance crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings.
Angeli’s has built its menu around that approach while offering several ways for customers to customize their orders.
The restaurant’s published menus have featured traditional choices alongside specialty combinations.
Its Margherita pizza includes mozzarella, basil, tomatoes, and tomato sauce.
For customers who want something more substantial, Angeli’s Pick combines pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and bell peppers.
Other specialty options have included chicken pesto, four-cheese pizza, and vegetable-focused combinations.
The restaurant has also offered build-your-own pies, letting customers choose their preferred toppings.
Pizza isn’t the only attraction.
Angeli’s menus have included Italian-inspired dishes such as pasta, calzones, appetizers, and other casual dining favorites.
Menu selections can vary by location, so customers should confirm current offerings before visiting.
First-time guests can start with a traditional cheese or Margherita pie for a straightforward introduction to the restaurant’s signature style.
Those wanting something different can explore the specialty pizza selection.
Ellicott City Residents Have a Location Close to Home
For years, customers interested in trying Angeli’s primarily had to visit one of its Baltimore restaurants.
That changed when the company expanded into Howard County.
In July 2026, local news outlets reported that Angeli’s was preparing to open its first location outside Baltimore.
The new restaurant was planned for the Forest Green shopping center at 10039 Baltimore National Pike, Suite C, in Ellicott City.
The approximately 1,500-square-foot space previously housed River House Pizza Co., which relocated its business to another Ellicott City location.
The planned Ellicott City restaurant was designed to accommodate approximately 30 to 40 diners.
At the time, the owners also discussed offering Italian favorites beyond pizza, including pasta and calzones.
An October 28 report from The MoCo Show described the Ellicott City location as newly opened.
For Howard County residents, that means a nationally recognized pizza business is now much more accessible.
Instead of making a special trip into Baltimore, local diners can explore Angeli’s offerings much closer to home.
Why This Recognition Matters for Maryland’s Food Scene
Pizza is one of those foods that inspires strong opinions.
Some people want a thin, crisp crust. Others prefer a thicker base loaded with cheese and toppings.
And nearly everyone has a favorite neighborhood restaurant they believe deserves more attention.
That makes national recognition especially meaningful for independent, family-owned pizzerias.
When a restaurant appears on a major publication’s list, it can reach customers who might otherwise overlook it.
For Angeli’s, the recognition also comes at an important time in its expansion.
The business is no longer limited to Baltimore, and its growing reputation could encourage more customers across Central Maryland to explore what it offers.
The achievement also highlights the variety of pizza options available throughout the state.
Maryland may be best known for seafood, but restaurants like Angeli’s show that its pizza scene deserves attention, too.
Still, being selected for Food & Wine’s list doesn’t mean every pizza lover will agree Angeli’s is the state’s absolute best.
Taste remains personal, and Maryland has plenty of worthwhile pizza establishments.
The magazine’s recognition is best understood as an acknowledgment of Angeli’s established awards and growing reputation.
What Customers Should Know Before Visiting
Anyone interested in trying the award-winning restaurant can find its Ellicott City location at 10039 Baltimore National Pike, Suite C.
The restaurant’s expansion brings its New York-style pizza and Italian-inspired menu to Howard County diners.
Because hours, menu items, and availability can change, customers should check the restaurant’s official website at angelispizzeria.com before planning a visit.
The latest national recognition may also encourage curious first-time customers to discover the restaurant.
Whether someone orders a classic cheese pizza, a specialty pie, or another Italian favorite, Angeli’s offers a chance to experience a business that has attracted attention from multiple national dining authorities.
A Small Pizzeria With a Growing Reputation
Angeli’s journey from New Orleans to Baltimore, and now Ellicott City, is a story of rebuilding, persistence, and steady growth.
Its inclusion in Food & Wine’s latest state-by-state pizza guide adds another accomplishment to an already impressive collection of honors.
For longtime fans, the recognition reinforces what they already appreciate about the restaurant.
For newcomers, it offers a reason to consider Angeli’s the next time pizza is on the menu.
And for Ellicott City residents, it’s especially satisfying to know one of Maryland’s nationally recognized pizza destinations is right in their community.
The next great pizza night might not require a trip to New York or Chicago.
It could be waiting right along Baltimore National Pike.
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