Best Vodka Sauce Pizzas in NEPA — As Ranked by the Voters
Vodka Sauce Pizza has become one of the most exciting—and most argued-over—specialty pizza categories in Northeastern Pennsylvania. From thin New York-style rounds to crispy Grandma trays, Detroit-inspired squares, and creative gourmet slices, the pink-sauce pie has grown from a less familiar specialty into a legitimate NEPA pizza obsession.
To find out which places inspire the most loyalty, I asked the NEPA Pizza Review community to vote for its favorite Vodka Sauce Pizza in the region. The order below reflects that community voting, while my own firsthand visits and pizza reviews provide the backstory behind each restaurant.
One thing immediately stood out: this is a Scranton-area-heavy list. Ten of the 12 restaurants are located in Lackawanna County, with Scranton itself landing five spots. West Pittston has two entries, while Pi on the Fly in Berwick represents the list’s lone restaurant from farther east. Vodka Sauce Pizza may be everywhere in NEPA now, but the greater Scranton pizza belt is clearly where much of the passion lives.
Vodka Pizza History in NEPA
Vodka Sauce Pizza has not always been as common in NEPA as it is today. Years ago, Grandma Pizza, vodka sauce, and New York-inspired gourmet slices were much less familiar to many local pizza fans. As those styles became more popular, vodka sauce moved from a novelty item to a must-order specialty pie.
Basilico’s Pizzeria in Dickson City deserves major credit in that local story. I am not saying Basilico’s invented Vodka Sauce Pizza, and it is difficult to prove who served the first one in NEPA. But after following the local pizza scene for years, eating across the region, and watching the style explode, I believe Basilico’s was one of the most important pizzerias in introducing and popularizing both Grandma Pizza and Vodka Sauce Pizza locally.
There is also a direct connection between the top two finishers. Before it became Rosario’s Pizzeria, the Clarks Summit location operated as Basilico’s. Rosario purchased the business and maintained a similar recipe foundation, particularly in the New York-influenced specialty-pizza world. In my opinion, Rosario has absolutely put his own spin on the food and built something distinct—but the shared pizza DNA is undeniable. It is fitting that these two related vodka-sauce titans emerged as the community’s clear favorites.
With that context in mind, here are the Top 12 Vodka Sauce Pizzas in NEPA, as ranked by the voters.
1. Rosario’s Pizzeria – Clarks Summit
Rosario’s Pizzeria in Clarks Summit claimed the top spot, and anyone who has spent time around the local specialty-pizza scene should understand why. The Highland Avenue shop has been a fixture in the Abington area for more than a decade, filling its slice case daily with everything from classic cuts to hearty, high-end gourmet pizzas. It is one of my favorite spots for a quick slice, but it is also the kind of pizzeria where you can show up hungry, stare at the case, and suddenly need a plan.
Rosario’s has a direct link to Basilico’s through the former Clarks Summit Basilico’s location, but Rosario has developed a personality all his own. My visits have included Grandma Pizza, Sicilian Pizza, the Summit Square, and Pagash, and the common thread is a serious commitment to crisp crusts, generous toppings, and layered flavors. While I have not yet reviewed Rosario’s Vodka Sauce Pizza specifically, the community made one thing clear: this is NEPA’s current pink-sauce champion.
2. Basilico’s Pizzeria – Dickson City
Basilico’s Pizzeria finished second, and its place near the top of this list carries a little extra meaning. Long before Vodka Sauce Pizza became a regular part of the NEPA pizza conversation, Basilico’s was helping local customers discover the appeal of Grandma Pizza, gourmet slices, and New York-influenced specialty pies. That influence is still visible throughout the region today.
My Vodka Sauce Pizza review at Basilico’s found a pie with a sauce-forward identity, a style that leans into the rich, creamy tomato character that makes a great pink-sauce pizza so addictive. Basilico’s has never needed gimmicks; its strength is a deeply established specialty-pizza formula that has stood the test of time. Its second-place finish is not just a reflection of a great current pie—it is recognition of a pizzeria that helped make Vodka Sauce Pizza a true NEPA staple.
3. Pi on the Fly – Berwick
Pi on the Fly may be the most exciting story on this list. This Berwick-based mobile pizza trailer is not working with the advantage of a long-established dining room, a permanent corner location, or decades of neighborhood routine. Instead, it is building a following through serious pizza craft, big personality, and a menu loaded with creative slices that actually deliver.
My visit came after Pi on the Fly tagged the NEPA Pizza Review Facebook page for 21 straight days—a playful campaign that eventually got me into the car for the hour-plus drive. I tried eight slices across New York, Grandma, and Sicilian styles, and the Tipsy Grandma—a thin, crispy Grandma Pizza topped with vodka sauce—was the standout of the entire flight. It paired creamy vodka sauce with an exceptionally crisp, structurally sound crust. Pi on the Fly is a reminder that Vodka Sauce Pizza does not need to come from an old-school brick-and-mortar operation to make a major impact.
4. Pasquale’s Pizzeria – Archbald
Pasquale’s Pizzeria represents the kind of dependable Lackawanna County pizza shop that earns support because people know exactly what they are getting: a familiar neighborhood experience and pizza that keeps customers coming back. Its top-five finish shows that the community sees its Vodka Sauce Pizza as more than an occasional specialty order.
While my most recent review material for Pasquale’s focuses on its broader pizza identity rather than its Vodka Sauce Pizza specifically, its presence here makes sense in a region where classic pizzeria fundamentals still matter. A vodka pie needs more than creamy sauce—it needs a crust that can carry it, cheese that stays balanced, and a pizza shop that knows how to execute consistently. The voters clearly believe Pasquale’s checks those boxes.
5. Cheers Café – West Pittston
Cheers Café gives the list an important Greater Pittston-area presence. Located on Luzerne Avenue in West Pittston, it is the kind of restaurant that has more range than people might expect at first glance, offering a bar pie alongside Pan Fried Sicilian and Old Forge-style pizza options. That flexibility makes it an interesting fit for a Vodka Sauce Pizza list, where style and texture can vary dramatically from one shop to the next.
When I reviewed Cheers, I focused on its pizza offerings beyond vodka sauce, but the visit showed a place willing to work across multiple local pizza traditions instead of staying in one narrow lane. Its fifth-place finish suggests that its Vodka Sauce Pizza has developed a loyal following of its own. If you are exploring the list geographically, Cheers is a good reason to head toward West Pittston and see how its take compares with the Scranton-area leaders.
Want to Make Vodka Pizza at Home?
A great Vodka Sauce Pizza is all about balance: a rich but not overly heavy pink sauce, enough cheese to support it, and a crust sturdy enough to stay crisp underneath it all. After reading about some of NEPA’s best versions, you might be ready to make one yourself.
I put together an easy, flexible homemade recipe that walks through both the vodka sauce and the full pizza build—from sautéing pancetta, garlic, and onion to creating a creamy tomato sauce and baking a crispy cheese-and-vodka-sauce pie.
👉 Try my Easy Homemade Vodka Sauce Pizza Recipe
T-6. Luca Pizza – West Pittston
Luca Pizza is one of the newer names in the West Pittston pizza scene, but it has already made an impression. When the Pizza Prince and I stopped in as the shop approached its first anniversary, it did not take long to see why people were talking. My review covered both New York-style pizza and a sweet-sauce pie, giving Luca an early reputation as a place that understands how much the sauce profile can shape a pizza.
While I have not yet reviewed Luca’s Vodka Sauce Pizza, its place on this list makes sense. A newer pizzeria earning community support this quickly is a sign that people are finding something worth returning for. Luca’s gives West Pittston a second strong representative among NEPA’s Vodka Sauce Pizza favorites.
T-6. 1905 Tavern – Scranton
The 1905 Tavern brings a creative South Side Scranton energy to the list. Located in the former Daddy’s Bar, it combines a pub-and-eatery atmosphere with live entertainment and a menu that is comfortable taking chances. My visit included a round cheese pizza, a gluten-free pie, and the unforgettable Trainwreck Pizza: steak, cup-and-char pepperoni, fries, cheese, and its own house Trainwreck sauce.
The round cheese pizza was especially well executed, with a thin but sturdy crust, a deep golden bake, no flop, balanced sauce, and a tasty cheese blend. While I have not reviewed the Vodka Sauce Pizza specifically, this is clearly a kitchen that understands proportions and how to build big flavors without losing the pizza underneath.
T-6. Spin and Savory – Scranton
Spin and Savory is one of downtown Scranton’s newer pizza voices, opening in September 2025 across from City Hall. Salvatore and Floriana Adragna have brought a distinctive approach built around handmade pizza pinwheels and hefty Detroit-style pizzas with a Sicilian soul. The shop is colorful, creative, and clearly not afraid of rich toppings or bold combinations.
My visit included Margherita, meat lovers, white fresh tomato, and hot honey pepperoni Detroit-style pizzas. The standout was the topping-loaded hot honey pepperoni, while the broader menu showed a kitchen willing to push beyond standard slice-shop territory. I have not yet reviewed its Vodka Sauce Pizza, but a tied spot here is an encouraging sign for a young restaurant already making downtown Scranton pizza more interesting.
T-6. Sacco’s Pizzeria – Scranton
Sacco’s Pizzeria is one of those Scranton places that can be easy to overlook until you finally stop in and wonder why you waited. Tucked along Meadow Avenue, it is a true hidden-in-plain-sight neighborhood pizzeria with a spacious dining room, friendly service, and a very solid New York-style foundation.
I returned to Sacco’s more than a decade after my original review and ordered a large New York-style cheese pizza baked extra crispy. The result had a deep golden crust, zero flop, good crunch, tender chew, bubbly cheese, and a smooth sauce with Italian-seasoning punch. I have not reviewed its Vodka Sauce Pizza yet, but the community support is another reason to pull into Sacco’s instead of driving past it.
T-6. Anthony’s Restaurant – Old Forge
Anthony’s Restaurant brings an Old Forge Italian-restaurant pedigree to this list. Located on South Main Street, Anthony’s is known for a broader menu of Italian cooking, steaks, seafood, and its own Old Forge-style pizza—not just a quick counter-service slice. That restaurant identity gives its Vodka Sauce Pizza support a different kind of context.
My most recent pizza review at Anthony’s focused on a thin Old Forge red pizza. The sauce stood out, and the pizza had the crisp bake that a good Old Forge tray needs. While I have not yet reviewed Anthony’s Vodka Sauce Pizza, this finish is a reminder that the pink-sauce conversation reaches beyond New York-style and Grandma Pizza into one of NEPA’s most important pizza traditions.
T-6. Samario’s – Scranton
Samario’s has long been part of the Scranton pizza landscape, and its appearance on this list reinforces how much neighborhood loyalty matters in NEPA. In a city with no shortage of pizza options, the restaurants that endure tend to do so because customers trust them for reliable food, familiar flavors, and the kind of comfort that turns a casual order into a regular routine.
While my recent review context at Samario’s was not centered on its Vodka Sauce Pizza, the community’s support deserves attention. A great vodka pie needs to feel indulgent without becoming too heavy, and it needs enough pizzeria fundamentals behind it to make the sauce more than a novelty. Samario’s has earned its place in the conversation as another Scranton stop worth trying for local pink-sauce fans.
T-6. La Rocca Pizza – Scranton
La Rocca Pizza and Pasta has found its groove in North Scranton. I first visited shortly after the shop opened, then returned in 2026 to see a more settled, busy neighborhood pizzeria with a welcoming owner, quick service, a well-stocked slice case, and a steady stream of customers.
This time, I listened to the readers who kept telling me to order the Grandma Pizza. It delivered a deeply golden, almost fried bottom crust, mellow savory sauce, creamy mozzarella, pesto drizzle, and a finishing touch of extra virgin olive oil. While I have not reviewed La Rocca’s Vodka Sauce Pizza specifically, its community support fits a shop that is clearly comfortable producing flavorful, carefully built specialty trays.
Final Thoughts
This list proves that Vodka Sauce Pizza is no longer a niche specialty in NEPA. It is now a category with its own history, its own regional leaders, and its own fiercely loyal customers. The results also show how much variety exists within one simple name. A Vodka Sauce Pizza can be a thin New York-style pie, a crisp Grandma square, a rich Detroit-style creation, an Old Forge-inspired tray, or a gourmet slice loaded with toppings.
Rosario’s and Basilico’s set the standard at the top, carrying a shared local pizza lineage while offering their own distinct identities. Pi on the Fly showed that a mobile operation from Berwick can crash the podium through creativity and serious crust work. And the rest of the list shows just how many neighborhoods across NEPA have a restaurant worth visiting when the craving for creamy pink sauce hits.
The best part of a community-voted list is that it is never really finished. Every voter has a hometown favorite, every pizzeria has a pie someone swears by, and there is always another Vodka Sauce Pizza waiting to be tried.
My Personal Top 5 Vodka Sauce Pizzas in NEPA
The ranking above reflects the NEPA Pizza Review community vote. But because pizza opinions are supposed to be personal—and because I have spent years chasing great pies across the region—here is how my own current Vodka Sauce Pizza top five (that I have personally reviewed) would look:
- Rosario’s Pizzeria – Clarks Summit
- Basilico’s Pizzeria – Dickson City
- Luca Pizza – West Pittston
- Cosmo’s Cheesesteaks – Scranton
- Crust & Co. – Jermyn
Rosario’s and Basilico’s remain the standard-setters for me, with both restaurants offering the kind of rich, balanced, New York-influenced Vodka Sauce Pizza that has helped define the style in NEPA. Luca Pizza is my biggest difference from the community ranking: it landed in the tie for sixth in the voting, but I would personally place its Vodka Sauce Pizza third.
Cosmo’s Cheesesteaks and Crust & Co. did not make the community-voted Top 12, but both belong in any serious local vodka-pizza discussion. Cosmo’s brings a creative Scranton personality to the category, while Crust & Co. in Jermyn has quickly become one of NEPA’s most promising newer pizza destinations. Its Vodka Margherita is worth making a dedicated trip for.nepapizzareview+1
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.