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Down North Pizza in North Philly is more than just a comfortable neighborhood slice shop where you’ll hear staff cracking jokes and possibly catch a few seconds of Modern Family on the TV. It’s also one of the first places we recommend whenever somebody wants a great pizza in Philly.
Each pie—ranging from $22-$27—comes with six thick slices and makes us feel like we’re watching the Iverson step over for the first time when lifting the brim on the takeout box. No matter which pizza you pick here, you’re guaranteed to get a slice with a super-doughy center, copious amounts of cheese, and a charred outer crust acting as a crackly border.
The 10 Detroit-style specialty pizzas here, named after songs by Meek Mill, Freeway, Major Figgas, and a few other rappers, come topped with a garlic honey drizzle, beef pepperoni, onions, peppers, lamb sausage, and plenty of other options. But it’s one of their simpler cheese pizzas, Roc The Mic, that's our favorite and really shows why the pizzas here are some of the finest in the city. It only has three toppings on it–beef pepperoni, mozzarella, and Norf Sauce–but it’s overflowing with flavor. The pepperoni is razor-thin and the subtly sweet red sauce, which is zigzagged over the pizza, drenches every crunchy edge and has a distinct basil flavor. It’s really the sauce that makes this pie the headliner and better than any similar option at a corner slice shop—it has a honeyed tanginess that we plan our weeks around just so we can taste it again.
While the pizza is the main event here, the rest of the menu has worthwhile add-ons that can round out a meal. The hand-cut fries can be sprinkled with Old Bay, moist chunks of crab, chips of beef bacon, or cheese. But since most of the pizzas juggle a few toppings, you’re better off going for the naked fries. They’re shoestring-style and maintain their crunch better than other choices that come bathing in a few sauces. And with a vegan section on the menu, featuring things like oyster mushroom and vegan cheese-topped pizzas to cauliflower wings, there’s enough range on the menu for most groups to find something they’ll want.
Down North is also a place that’s not shy about its mission. Any person heading into the neighborhood takeout spot will see a mural with the bold letters, “The Journey To End Mass Incarceration” behind the counter. At its core, Down North Pizza has an empowering workforce development plan which includes hiring solely previously incarcerated individuals.
While that quest is one of the reasons we’re talking about this spot nonstop, we have another one: whether you’re walking in for a quick weekday bite or coming here as a reward for sending two emails before noon, Down North serves some of the best pizza in the city—perfect for any game day, night in with a glass of merlot, or picnic in FDR Park.