01
Best overall pick
Oddfellows
Downtown Riverfront • Brick-Oven Pizzeria And Bowling Lounge • Destination Night-Out Spot
Bowling, cocktails, and thoughtfully made pies make Oddfellows the go-to downtown stop when you want more than just a quick slice.
Tucked into the riverfront district, Oddfellows pairs a small-city social club vibe with pizza that feels closer to a modern craft shop than a bar snack. Toppings lean generous without drowning the crust, and the specialty pies are where the kitchen shows off. It’s the place locals book when they want to impress out-of-town friends with a fun Portsmouth night out.
02
Classic Portsmouth staple
Mr Gatti's Pizza
11Th Street Corridor • Classic Family Pizza Parlor • Best For Families
Mr Gatti's is the kind of longtime local parlor where kids grow up on the buffet and adults keep coming back for the nostalgic crust and sauce.
This 11th Street standby has been feeding teams, birthday parties, and after-church crowds for generations, and it leans into that role with ease. The pizza runs classic American—chewy crust, plenty of cheese, and crowd-pleasing toppings that work well on big shareable pies. Go when you’re hungry, not picky, and in the mood for familiar flavors and roomy booths.
03
Old-school local favorite
Fred's Pizza Express
Scioto Trail Corridor • Takeout Pan-Pizza Joint • Best For Thick-Crust Fans
Fred's turns out hefty, sauce-forward pan pizzas that locals swear by when they want something cheesy, filling, and straight from a hot box.
Operating with a no-frills, all-flavor mindset, Fred's focuses on the kind of golden-edged pan crust that borders on addictive. The pies are built heavy on cheese and toppings, making a single slice feel like a full snack and a couple of pieces a proper meal. It’s especially popular for carryout on game nights, when a square-cut pepperoni can disappear in minutes.
04
Custom pie specialist
Rapid Fired Pizza
New Boston Shopping Strip • Fast-Casual Build-Your-Own Spot • Quick Custom Pies
Rapid Fired is where you build your own pizza and have it come out of the oven just minutes later, crisped to order.
Set amid the New Boston retail strip, this spot is the answer when your group can’t agree on toppings or crust. You move down the line choosing sauces, cheeses, and add-ons, then watch your pizza hit the high-heat oven and reappear in short order. It’s practical, consistent, and easy to fit in between errands or before a movie at the nearby shops.
05
Value-friendly buffet pick
Giovanni's Pizza
East Portsmouth • Buffet-Style Italian Pizza Restaurant • Best For Big Appetites
Giovanni's combines a steady flow of hot pizza with pastas, salads, and sides, making it a smart bet when everyone wants to try a bit of everything.
On 11th Street, Giovanni's works well for those nights when cooking is off the table and everyone wants to eat immediately. The buffet keeps fresh pizzas in rotation alongside simple pasta dishes, breadsticks, and a modest salad bar, so it’s easy to tailor a plate. It’s not fussy, but it is reliably filling and kind to the wallet, which explains its steady local following.