First United States Pizzeria

mmm…do you smell that? Fresh out of the oven, a steaming pie sits waiting to be devoured. Your senses are overtaken by the aroma of hot bread, melted cheese, simmering tomato sauce, spicy garlic, and sizzling pepperoni. Are you ready to dig into that favorite of all foods? What are we talking about? Pizza of course.


                                                                   


The pizza we're all familiar with — the kind with tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings — did originate in Italy. Specifically, baker Raffaele Esposito from Naples is often given credit for creating the first such pizza pie. Historians note, however, that flat breads with a variety of toppings had been sold by street vendors and eaten by the poor workers of Naples for many years.

The first United States pizzeria — G. Lombardi's — was opened in 1905 by Gennaro Lombardi at 53 1/3 Spring Street in New York City. It is still open today using its original oven, although it has changed location.