Best pizza competition ends in victory for Rockaway Beach joint
/
Jo-Ann Cotrone is the co-owner of Rocco’s of Roc Beach, which won the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Best Pizza Competition last week. Photo via Queens Chamber
By Jacob Kaye
For now, the debate has ended. Rocco’s of Roc Beach is the best pizza joint in all of Queens, according to the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s first-ever Best Pizza Competition, which wrapped up last week.
Rocco’s, located in Rockaway Beach and owned by Jo-Ann Cotrone and Louis Cotrone, beat out dozens of pizza shops throughout the World’s Borough in a month-long online voting process.
The Queens Chamber of Commerce celebrated the victory alongside local leaders and elected officials inside the restaurant on Thursday, which happened to be National .
“We’re delighted to honor Rocco’s of Roc Beach as the inaugural winner of the Queens’ Best Pizza Competition,” said Tom Grech, the president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
“Queens undoubtedly has the best pizza around, and every neighborhood has several great places to grab a slice or a pie,” Grech added. Congratulations to Jo-Anne Cotrone and Louis Cotrone and everyone at Rocco’s on winning this coveted title.”
Not only was Rocco’s presented with a plaque in honor of their award-winning pies, but they also received a year of free membership to the Queens Chamber.
“To our loyal customers who patronize and support us, we appreciate you and are forever grateful for taking the time to vote for us, and a big thank you goes to our dedicated staff at Rocco’s of Roc Beach, and our 5-star Chef Bruno Milone and Pizzaiola Angelo for their craft of old world coal brick oven pizza," Louis Cotrone said.
Rocco’s of Roc Beach won the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Best Pizza Competition last week. Photo via Queens Chamber
And while Rocco’s took the ultimate honor, a number of other Rockaway pizza eateries also finished high in the voting.
Pizza D’Amore, also in Rockaway Beach, finished second. Pizza on the Point, located in Breezy Point, took the number nine spot.
“Everyone knows that Queens, specifically Southeast Queens and Rockaway, has some of the best pizza in the world – and now, everyone knows that Rocco’s of Roc Beach has an unbeatable slice,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. “I look forward to pizza lovers from all across the city coming down to Rockaway this year to support local small businesses like Rocco’s of Roc Beach and get a taste of what makes the peninsula so great.”
But mainland Queens also got its due.
Gaby’s Pizza on Hillside Avenue in Hollis finishing third, Dee's Wood Fired Pizza + Kitchen in Forest Hills finished fourth, Phil & Sons on Main in Flushing finished fifth, Pizza Sam in Jackson Heights finished sixth, Andrew Bellucci's Pizzeria in Astoria finished seventh, Joe & John’s Pizzeria in Ridgewood finished eighth and Austin Street Pizza in Forest Hills finished tenth.
The Queens Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Best Pizza Competition involved a nomination process and an online voting process. About three dozen shops were entered into the competition.
