What are the best local pizza restaurants in Ocala? Here are just 10 of our favorites

Andy Fillmore and Jim Ross
·4 min read

Feb. 9 is National Pizza Day. Here, listed alphabetically, are just 10 of the privately owned Ocala/Marion restaurants that local pizza fans love. The story, originally published in 2023, has been updated.

Belleview Pizza & Italian Restaurant

A fixture in the center of town, this eatery features all the standards as well as specialties like Greek Pizza with feta, ham and mozzarella, and the All Meat and White Chicken pizzas.

BBQ news: New owners bring new life to longtime Ocala barbecue restaurant

A local businesswoman said she’s had “excellent pizza” at this eatery, and fans on Facebook say things like “great food; best pizza” and "It's an Italian thing."

Details: 5428 SE Abshier Blvd., Belleview; (352) 245-2091

Fiore's Cafe

This cozy Italian restaurant is located inside the former Pizza Hut building at 2327 S. Pine Ave., Ocala. The pizza is much different than what the Hut serves. Fiore's has a full menu that includes many varieties of pizza. One reviewer on Yelp called the place "a hidden gem."

Formaggio Pizza & Italian Restaurant

What makes the perfect pizza? Mike Terriaca, the owner of Formaggio Pizza & Italian Restaurant, said, "It's the dough, cheese and the person making it." The restaurant is located at 1053 NE 14th St.
What makes the perfect pizza? Mike Terriaca, the owner of Formaggio Pizza & Italian Restaurant, said, "It's the dough, cheese and the person making it." The restaurant is located at 1053 NE 14th St.

Owner Mike Terriaca said his pizza recipe has been in his family for generations. Clarence Smith and kitchen staffer Andrew Persaud keep the fresh pizza pies and baked goods coming.

Customer Terri Mayhew likes the supreme version, while her friend Nikki Hannon prefers the Buffalo Chicken style.

"This place is great; always go to a mom and pop," Mayhew said.

Details: 1053 NE 14th St., Ocala; (352) 509-3661; formaggiopizzaocala.com

Johnny's Pizzeria

Johnny Ragosta makes pizzas Tuesday afternoon, February 7, 2023 at Johnny's Pizzeria located at 9562 SE Maricamp Rd., Unit 3 in Ocala near Silver Springs Shores. Ragosta says that the dough is the key to the perfect pizza. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2022
Johnny Ragosta makes pizzas Tuesday afternoon, February 7, 2023 at Johnny's Pizzeria located at 9562 SE Maricamp Rd., Unit 3 in Ocala near Silver Springs Shores. Ragosta says that the dough is the key to the perfect pizza. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2022

Tucked away in a small group of strip stores in the Shores, Johnny's Pizzeria serves over 500 pizzas a week.

Owner Johnny Ragosta, a native of the Bronx, New York, has been in the pizza trade for 20 years and in his current location since 2014.

Ragosta said the All The Way pizza with ham, pepperoni, meatball, sausage, green peppers, onions, mushrooms and black olives is one of the most popular varieties.

Assistant manager Blake Weiss said the restaurant is now offering a Smokehouse Pizza topped with pulled pork, bacon, barbecue sauce and more.

Lyndy Garrett is a regular customer and praised the eatery’s pizzas. She said a group at her church called "Women of Joy" orders the pizzas for their meetings from Johnny's.

Details: 9562 SE Maricamp Road, Suite 3, Silver Springs Shores; (352) 687-4545

LaBella's Italian Piatto & Pizzaria

In operation 29 years, this restaurant features "build your own" style pizzas.

Customer Bill Wilke has enjoyed meals with family at the restaurant for years. (Currently, the eatery is takeout only.)

"Very nice; good food, (you) don't leave hungry," Wilke said.

A Facebook post states: "can't go wrong with LaBella's."

Details: 3909 SE Lake Weir Ave., Ocala; (352) 620-8820; labellasitalian.com

Lakis Greek & Italian Restaurant

According to its Facebook page, the eatery has served Ocala since 1986. Offerings include several varieties of pizza and a “build your own” pie.

Sandi Smith has eaten at Lakis for over 20 years and finds the fare “very good.”

Marie Kalb dined with Terry Aldrich recently at the eatery. Kalb has visited Greece and finds the food at Lakis to be true to the native dishes of Greece.

Details: Colours Plaza, 3405 SW College Road, Ocala; (352) 237-3090

Nick Angelidakis pulls the Lakis House Favorite Pizza out of the oven after about 15 minutes on Feb. 7, 2023 at Lakis Greek Restaurant in Ocala. "We use a pan and it takes about 15 minutes to bake it" Angelidakis said. The restaurant has been open since 1984 and Angelidakis says that the secret to a perfect pizza is "love."
Nick Angelidakis pulls the Lakis House Favorite Pizza out of the oven after about 15 minutes on Feb. 7, 2023 at Lakis Greek Restaurant in Ocala. "We use a pan and it takes about 15 minutes to bake it" Angelidakis said. The restaurant has been open since 1984 and Angelidakis says that the secret to a perfect pizza is "love."

Little Joey's Italian Pizza & Restaurant

Owner Nick “Little Joey” Dedaj said the family restaurant has been operating for 34 years. He said they offer several varieties of pizzas, including the Four Cheese variety, plus the White Pizza, Super Deluxe, Meat Lovers and thick crust Sicilian.

Posts on the eatery’s Facebook page state simply: “Yummy!!!” and “I love, love Little Joey’s.”

Details: Two locations: 8602 SW State Road 200, Ocala, and 16840 S. U.S. 441, Summerfield. (352) 873-0223 for Ocala and (352) 347-1800 for Summerfield.

Pavarotti’s Pizza & Restaurant

Works, Meat Lovers, White, Hawaiian and Veggie pizzas are a few of the offerings. Customers can also build a “Create Your Own” pizza.

Dorothy Antonelli of Dunnellon enjoys a pizza with creamy ricotta, fresh mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic and fresh tomato from Pavarotti’s.

“I like it because I enjoy the thin crust, and the blend of all the different cheeses,” she stated.

Details: 19449 SW Rainbow Lakes Blvd., Dunnellon; (352) 522-0025

Rocco's Pizza

Husband and wife Steve and Linda Archibald have operated the eatery since 2004. Linda Archibald said Rocco’s hand-tossed specialty pizzas include a “combo topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage and fresh veggies” and a “white pizza” with choice of three toppings.

A Facebook post states: "Best food decision ever."

Details: 11388 E. County Road 316, Fort McCoy; (352) 236-0880

Silver Springs Pizza

Server Catina Rogers, left, delivers a pizza to Dave Bowlby, center and his wife Charlotte, right, at Silver Springs Pizza Monday afternoon, January 30, 2023. Co-owner Jace Tyler attributes a great pizza to the ingredients he uses like Caputo flour from Italy to make his dough and the sauce is made from scratch along with quality ingredients. The restaurant is open Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Monday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2023

The Extravaganza pizza with three meats, mushroom, green peppers and onions is one of the made-from-scratch house specialties here.

Co-owner Jace Tyler and restaurant manager Shelby Burner explained the pizza pies are made with Italian Caputo flour and cooked at 450 degrees and "slow," but are "worth waiting for."

Line cook Ethan Willey and server Catina Rogers are members of the staff who serve up to 560 pizzas weekly and use an in-house computer system.

 Details: 5545 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Silver Springs; (352) 304-5160; silverspringspizza.com

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Here are 10 of the best pizza restaurants in Ocala