WAKEFIELD, R.I. — Pasquale’s Pizzeria Napoletana, a Rhode Island favorite, has been ranked among the top 15 pizzerias in the United States for the fifth consecutive year.
The restaurant tied for 15th place, making it the highest-ranked pizzeria in New England. The annual rankings are considered among the most respected in the pizza industry and evaluate restaurants across the United States.
The achievement also secures Pasquale’s a place on the list of the world’s 100 best pizzerias. Those restaurants will be recognized at the 50 Top Pizza World awards ceremony scheduled for Sept. 15 in Naples, Italy.
Owner Pasquale Illiano received additional recognition after being awarded the Pastificio Di Martino Award for Best Pasta 2026. Judges highlighted his Tonnarelli dish, which combines Piennolo, Datterino and Cannellino tomatoes with basil and fresh pasta.
The ranking organization also praised the restaurant’s focus on high-quality ingredients, particularly its imported Italian tomatoes, cheeses and mozzarella. The restaurant has repeatedly been recognized for its attention to sourcing authentic products from Italy.
One pizza singled out by reviewers was the Capricciosa, topped with olives, mushrooms, prosciutto cotto, salami and artichokes.
Illiano holds certification from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, an organization dedicated to preserving authentic Neapolitan pizza-making standards. He also serves on the association’s board.
Only four other New England restaurants made this year’s Top 50 Pizza USA list. They include Zaneli in New Haven, Connecticut; Posto in Somerville, Massachusetts; Si Cara in Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Quattro in Boston.
The top-ranked pizzeria in the United States for 2026 was Una Pizza Napoletana in New York City.
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