Italians arrived in Lancaster during the time when New York-style pizza was topping the popularity stakes. It was an innovative form of presenting pies that captured the hearts, and taste buds, of the American public. Different from a traditional pizza because of its thinner base, it was a style adopted by many pizzerias nationwide, but not by the pizza chefs in Lancaster. Pizzerias in Lancaster veered away from the trend of extra-large pies, maintaining the standard pizza size, but adjusted the thickness of the dough, and consequently, Lancaster has become known for its thin-crust pizzas. The thin-crust pizzas served in Lancaster are usually left with a crust bare of ingredients which crisps up when baked while the inner part that's covered with the tomato sauce stays slightly softer. Brick ovens and coal-fired are favorites for cooking but ones that require extra skill from the chefs, as a pie can char in less than two minutes in the intense heat.

Best delivery pizza in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

When Finazzo's Italian Restaurant and Pizza set out to deliver a pie they'll bring you the best delivery pizza in Lancaster. There's really no messing with these guys on New Holland Pike when it comes down to dispatching quality dough. They do it time and time again without fail. Finazzo's is housed in an independent premises which screams modern until you open the door. Inside it's about as traditional a trattoria as you can get with Mediterranean-style wall tiles and arches everywhere. There's even an open fireplace for those chilly winter days. Finazzo's pies arrive as hot as their fireplace is when it's lit so no risk of getting a cold pie delivered. For a warming and very satisfying meal, try their Texas Steak or Taco pizza. The additional touch of spice and piquant sauce they use combine to make a pizza that's a little hotter than the rest.

Best takeout pizza in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Deciding just which pizzeria in Lancaster to get a take-out pizza from is never going to be an easy decision. If you want the best take-out pizza in Lancaster then it's simple. To get the best take-out pizza in Lancaster all you have to do is go to Vinny and ThozeGuyz Pizzeria on Lincoln Highway East. Pull off the highway into the parking lot and you'll spot Vinny's straight away. It's the place where folks are queuing to grab a pie. Not many choose to eat there as the pale yellow, train-station-waiting-room-style décor is not very inviting. But no-one misses out on Vinny's pies. Vinny and ThozeGuyz like to produce as many types of pizza as they possibly can, so you'll be spoiled for choice on what to pick up. Whether you go for a regular, a Sicilian, a grandma or even an upside-down pizza, guaranteed it'll be made with a generous helping of Italian love.

Best pizza near Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Strasburg

Get a blast of the past by taking a trip ten miles east out of Lancaster to Strasburg. This quaint village is full of historic buildings and streets where folks still get around with horses and carts. If you're with the family, take them for a ride on the steam locomotive of the Strasburg Railroad or go to feed the animals at the Cherry Crest Adventure Farm. Finish your outing to Amish lands by picking up a pizza from Pizza City on East Main Street.

Mount Hope

Combine history with wine tasting by driving fifteen miles north of Lancaster to Mount Hope. Admire the 18th-century Gothic architecture of the Mount Hope Estate mansion with its castle-like turrets, then tour around the renovated barn which has now been converted into a winery. If you're not the one behind the wheel, indulge in a tasting session of the wine or cider before heading to nearby Mount Gretna for a pizza at the Mount Gretna Pizzeria.

Morgantown

If lakes, forests, and miles of open countryside sound good, leave Lancaster behind and head east to Morgantown. The rural town is right on the edge of the scenic French Creek State Park where there are acres of wilderness and wetlands to explore. Pick up a pizza from AJ's Family Pizzeria on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and find the perfect spot for a pie picnic. Watch out for bears who want to share and any hitchhiking lanternflies.