Erie pizza fans showed up, voted for their favorite pie… and made their order clear.
After hundreds of votes in our Ultimate Pizza Showdown, Ippa Pizza Napoletana has officially been named Erie’s Best Pizza for 2026.
I stopped by the downtown food hall to share the news in person and chat with co-owner Bobby Holmes — and, of course, to try some pizza.
Ippa Pizza Napoletana opened in the food hall in 2024 after starting as a food truck, and it’s quickly become a local favorite for good reason. Pizzas cook in just a few minutes in their blazing-hot oven, the staff is incredibly friendly, and the bar sits right in the middle of the food hall so you can grab a drink while you wait.
As a Macaroni KID family, I especially appreciated the kid-friendly touches: a $13 cheese pizza that easily feeds two (or even three) kids, cheesy bread, gelato, and a fun mocktail the bartender recommended for kids called the “Orange Sunrise.” Bonus points: owners Danielle and Bobby Holmes are parents themselves, with kids ages 8 and 14 in the Millcreek School District. And on Tuesday nights, kids are more than welcome to jump in on karaoke night and belt out their favorite songs.
My husband and I ordered the namesake Ippa pizza — a beautifully balanced pie topped with milled tomato, hand-stretched mozzarella, basil, panna (their house Italian cream sauce), pine nut basil pesto, and pecorino. It’s rich without being heavy, classic with just enough flair, and absolutely worth the hype. It came out in just a few minutes… and we polished it off a few minutes later.
What Voters Are Ordering at Ippa
The love for Ippa showed up loud and clear in the comments.
One voter wrote:
“Everything at Ippa’s! But Chicken Bacon Ranch, The Rita, and Buffalo Chicken are my top three!!”
Another shared:
“Everything they make is beyond fabulous. My go-to is The Rita with cup-and-char pepperoni, ricotta, black olives, and a garlic oil drizzle.”
Consider my next Ippa order officially decided.
You can see their full menu, hours, and more info here.
Erie’s Favorite Pizza Orders & Topping Combos
Voters kept their orders pretty classic. Pepperoni and cheese led the way (often with sweet sauce or extra cheese), while specialty pies like Pickle Pizza, Bianca, Chicken Bacon Ranch, Buffalo Chicken, The Rita, and the Spitziano/Spiziono also showed up. A few mix-and-match combos and even stromboli earned shoutouts too.
A Huge Thank You to Everyone Who Voted
We loved seeing the enthusiasm for local pizza places, and this contest was a great reminder of just how many fantastic pizzerias we have in Erie. While Ippa Pizza Napoletana takes home the top honor for 2026, more than 20 local restaurants and pizzerias received votes.
Rounding out the top vote-getters after Ippa were John’s Wildwood Pizza, Colony Pizza & Catering (our 2025 winner!), and Passalinqua’s Pizzeria.
And the $25 Pizza Gift Card Winner Is…
This showdown wasn’t just about crowning Erie’s best pizza — it was also about treating one lucky voter to free pizza. 🎉
Congratulations to Rae Ann G., the winner of a $25 gift card to Ippa Pizza Napoletana!
Thanks for making Erie’s Ultimate Pizza Showdown such a success. Stay tuned for more fun contests, local favorites, and all the family-friendly finds you expect from Macaroni KID Erie. 🍕🎉
