Vote now for best pizza restaurant Final Four winners in Sarasota, Bradenton
We've recently reported on Sarasota restaurants honored nationally for serving the best Cuban sandwich, excellent seafood, and a delicious Key lime pie.
But what about pizza pie?
All the feedback we received from our list of the best restaurants for pizza in Sarasota and Manatee counties, published in February, resulted in our current March Madness-style Best Pizza Challenge. It started March 4 with voting on a Sweet 16 bracket.
Last week, voting on the Elite 8 took place, with pizzerias competing from Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch. Now, it’s time for you to decide which two pizzerias will make the finals.
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Final Four voting guide
Voting begins today and ends at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 21. The Finals voting will take place March 25-28. The champion will be announced Monday, April 1, and we promise, no foolin’!
Best Pizza championships dates
Final Four: March 18-21
The Finals: March 25-28
Winner announced Monday, April 1
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Capo Pazzo vs. Osteria 500
A cozy spot opened last year in a Sarasota strip mall, Capo Pazzo has built an ardent following (and accrued a 4.9 out of 5 star Google rating) with its New York-style pizzas featuring high-quality ingredients and a crispy crust with a slight char. Osteria 500 opened last year in the Waterside Place neighborhood of Lakewood Ranch and serves Neapolitan-style pizza from a wood-burning oven built atop a Fiat 500.
Joey D's vs. Loaded Barrel
Joey D's was founded in Bradenton in 1994 and now has four locations in the area. They all serve Chicago deep dish pies, as well as the kind of tavern-style, thin-crust pizza that is also adored by Windy City residents. Loaded Barrel Tavern in downtown Bradenton serves wild specialty pizzas, such as one that mimics a Big Mac, which are revealed every Monday afternoon on social media. They also offer pizza by the slice late into the evening.
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Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Vote best pizza restaurant Final Four winners in Sarasota, Bradenton
