Dough, sauce, cheese: the foundation of pizza. Now, these three ingredients are getting an upgrade.
Pizzas with spaghetti noodles and tandoori chicken may seem a little avant-garde if you’re a pie purist, but they pack plenty of flavor. Order one of these unorthodox pizzas for lunch or dinner (or even breakfast or dessert).
Benny Vitali’s
This Fredericksburg pizza joint will never have to go home, since it always goes big. Benny Vitali’s is best known for its 28-inch pies. Go for the classic cheese, get it Hawaiian style, or order it topped with broccoli, beer cheese, and fried onions. Whatever your topping preference, make sure to bring a sizable appetite. There’s also one “coming soon” to Alexandria. 722 Caroline St., Fredericksburg
Fire Works Pizza
This wood-fired pizza emphasizes Virginia-sourced ingredients, including local country ham and lamb sausage, alongside signature toppings like brie and spicy cherry peppers. Adventurous eaters can try the Peruvian chicken pizza or the Guadalajara, which comes with taco-spiced beef, jalapeños, and pico de gallo. 2350 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington; 201 Harrison St. SE, Leesburg; 21475 Epicerie Plz., Ste. 100, Sterling
Knead Wine
Named the best craft pizza by Northern Virginia Magazine, Middleburg’s Knead Wine serves quality slices with Mexican street corn and shrimp scampi. But what truly sets this pizza apart from the rest is its supporting character: wine. One of less than 280 Master Sommeliers worldwide, owner Jarad Slipp will pair your pizza with the perfect red or white partner. 5 W. Washington St., Middleburg
Malawi’s Pizza
This restaurant’s tastes aren’t just limited to Italian. Take a trip to paradise with the island retreat pizza, which is covered in roasted pineapple, almonds, Canadian bacon, and barbecue tomato sauce. And at Malawi’s Pizza, the best dessert is more pizza. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Reese’s peanut butter s’more, raspberry white chocolate cheesecake, and Oreo cookie crumble pizzas. 1 Towne Centre Blvd., Fredericksburg
Malek’s Pizza Palace
Pizza or pasta? The debate is settled at Malek’s Pizza Palace, where you can enjoy both in the same dish. Try pizzas covered in spaghetti noodles and alfredo sauce. Or eat breakfast for dinner by ordering the breakfast lover’s pizza, which comes with whipped garlic egg sauce and bacon. 7118 Old Keene Mill Rd., Springfield
Pizza 360
At this Ashburn spot, travel the world one slice at a time. Get American-inspired classics — like steak and cheese and Buffalo chicken — and Indian-inspired pizzas, each cooked with a housemade dough and curry sauce. Try flavors like tandoori chicken, paneer butter masala, and malai kofta. 21760 Beaumeade Cir., Ste. 130, Ashburn
Wiseguy Pizza
With extravagant topping combinations and top-notch ingredients, Wiseguy Pizza is a must-visit. Each pie is cooked in a stone deck oven, which allows for a crisp yet chewy New York-style crust. Flavors like paneer tikka and Korean chicken make it worth branching out from plain cheese. 1735 N. Lynn St., Arlington; 710 12th St. S., Arlington
Feature image courtesy Malawi’s Pizza
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