Pi Day is coming up — for the non-nerds among you, that’s March 14 or 3.14 — and in its honor, we’re going through all of our hot, cheesy pizza data to see what it can tell us about the state of the slice today.
Of the thousands and thousands of pizza spots in North America, there is one that stands out from the rest — at least in terms of the most growth in riders visiting. Yeppa & Co. in Atlanta had more than seven times as many Lyft riders last year as the prior year, and while its menu isn’t pizza-centric, it has a delectable selection of focaccia — which looks very similar to Roman-style (thick crust, but not deep dish, with rectangular slices). And apparently, it’s gaining popularity in Atlanta, fast. Given the numbers, we’d keep an eye out for it coming to your hometown, too. All roads may just lead to Rome!
People also seem to be loving pan-style pizza nationwide. Flour + Water Pizzeria, the most popular pizza spot in San Francisco, employs a hybrid style that has some Neapolitan influences, but still ends up with a chewier crust. Pizzeria Beddia, the top spot in Philly (which Bon Appétit once called the best pizza in America), is similar; it uses a fermented dough that gives the diner a mouthful. Looks like the days of cracker-thin pizza may be on the wane, and folks want something with a bit more heft.
But looking across Lyft’s data, the real trend here may not be chunkier pizza — it’s Italian spots with big menus that are on the rise, rather than pizza-only joints. Across the country, the most growth among Lyft riders has come from these types of restaurants — see Pizzeria Portofino in Chicago, Pizzeria Stella in Philly, and Dimo’s Apizza in Portland.
And who is most likely to be going out for pizza? Well, it’s hardly a surprise that the answer is Chicagoans — by nearly double the next city. You probably wouldn’t guess the second- and third-place cities, though — it’s not L.A. or even New York, though they definitely love their ’za. Coming in second for most likely to ride to pies? Omaha, Nebraska. Third? London, Ontario. We know how you all will be celebrating the holiday this year!
