Medford was welcoming Italian migrants who moved on from Boston and abroad in both the 19th and 20th centuries. Some arrived directly from the southern regions of Italy and Sicily to look for work and hopefully to have a better life. Others moved there after being demobbed from the army when WW2 was over. While some labored to earn money to start their own businesses others managed to get one foot on the ladder after receiving funding from the GI Bill. When the first pizzerias started to open in Medford, making a living was more important than creative cooking. The pizza chefs replicated the pies they'd been eating all their lives and Medford has become known for its traditional-style thick crust pizzas. It's the most common pizza served in the city, but not far behind it is another which hails from the island that sits on the toe of Italy's boot, and is known as Sicilian-style pizza.

Best delivery pizza in Medford, Massachusetts

Trying to get hold of the best delivery pizza in Medford isn't difficult. All you have to do is give Pinky's Famous Pizza on Main Street a call and when the delivery guy rings your doorbell, you'll have achieved it. Pinky's is housed in a white-painted corner unit that takes up part of Main Street and the adjoining Summer Street. The black canvas canopies shade the panoramic windows and help stop the glare of the sun from dazzling the diners. Preventing customers from being totally bedazzled by Pinky's pies though is practically impossible as you'll discover for yourself when you get one delivered. Their signature pizzas all have entertaining names like Elvis Pesto, Rebel Without the Sauce, and Greece Lightning. Try not to get too distracted by them when reading the menu or you could end up with a mystery pizza for dinner.

Best takeout pizza in Medford, Massachusetts

Eddy's Place is a pizzeria that likes to fly the flag. As they should, since they make one of the best take-out pizzas in Medford. While Salem Street might not be the easiest or most spacious street for parking on in the city, there's usually a couple of spaces out front of Eddy's where you can pull up. If there's not, it's worth driving round and round the block until one's vacant. Your initial impression of Eddy's when you walk through the door could be that it looks like a garage sale gone awry. Nothing could be further from the truth though, because when it comes to baking great pizzas, Eddy's is totally organized even if their premises aren't. Eddy's has a good selection of gourmet pies like their Florentina with such tempting toppings as chicken, bacon and mushrooms that, once you've had one, you'll be coming back for more.

Best pizza near Medford, Massachusetts

Winchester

Drive the three-point-something miles from Medford to Winchester and you'll be in for a particularly scenic ride. Winchester sits on the northern shore of the Upper Mystic Lake and is bordered by the Mystic Lakes State Park. It's a super place to go hiking or just spend the day on Shannon Beach before tucking into a pie at Joe's Main Street Pizza. That alone will make it worth the short trip.

Cambridge

Cambridge, five miles south of Medford, is the home of Harvard University and a city with a plethora of cultural activities. Take a tour around the Harvard Arts Museum, the Boston Museum of Fine Art, or the Harvard Museum of Natural History, to name just three of the many there are to see. When you've had enough history, jump aboard a cruise down the Charles River or devour a pizza at Ciao Pizza and Pasta on Williams Street.

Maynard

Forget the humdrum of the city for a while and head twenty miles west of Medford to Maynard. Maynard sits in the midst of the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. Stop by the information center to pick up some brochures then set out into the wetlands and forest while forgetting about the world. When hunger strikes, drive back to civilization and grab a pie at the Maynard Pizza House on Main Street.