Vote for the Best Pizza in Lee County in Our Sweet 16 Bracket

Lee County's top pizza places are battling it out in the annual News-Press bracket challenge.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:08am

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After receiving hundreds of nominations from pizza lovers across Lee County, the News-Press has seeded the top 16 pizza places into a bracket challenge to determine the best pizza in the area. Familiar names like Uncle Rico's, Little Sicily, and Pezzo Pizza earned top seeds, while newcomers like Lombardough's and Mamma Anna Trattoria also made the cut. Voting is now open for the Sweet 16 round, with the winner to be announced on April 13.

Why it matters

The annual News-Press pizza bracket challenge has become a highly anticipated event for the local community, sparking friendly debates and celebrating the diverse pizza scene in Lee County. The competition not only determines the best pizza, but also highlights the resilience and creativity of small, independent pizza shops in the face of changing consumer trends and the rise of national chains.

The details

The bracket challenge features 16 of the top pizza places in Lee County, as nominated by readers. The top seeds include Uncle Rico's, the 2025 bracket winner; Little Sicily, last year's runner-up; and Pezzo Pizza. Other notable entrants include Lombardough's, a newcomer with a wood-fired oven, and Mamma Anna Trattoria, a Coconut Point favorite. Voting is now open for the Sweet 16 round, with subsequent rounds of the Elite Eight, Final Four, and Championship to follow over the next few weeks.

  • Nominations for the Sweet 16 are closed.
  • Sweet 16 voting begins online on Monday, March 16.
  • Sweet 16 voting closes at noon on Thursday, March 19.
  • Elite Eight voting begins online on Monday, March 23.
  • Elite Eight voting ends at noon on Thursday, March 26.

The players

Uncle Rico's

This old school pizza shop is the top seed, favored to win it all. Enrico Aguila's pies have been winning awards and honors since he opened the shop near downtown four years ago.

Luciano's

This Pine Island Road staple in Lighthouse Plaza has been feeding the Cape since 2017 with its popular N.Y. style pizzas.

Mangia Bene

This longtime Italian restaurant recently rebranded and remodeled into a cool new slice shop, and customers are loving the huge slices served all day.

DHOP

This longtime downtown pizza joint has reached the Sweet 16 all three years of the contest, known for its huge, fresh, flavorful, thin-crust slices available 24/7.

Lombardough's

A newcomer to the bracket, this fast-casual south Fort Myers pizza joint with outdoor seating uses fresh ingredients on wood-fired pies made in a 700-degree handcrafted custom brick oven.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This annual News-Press pizza bracket challenge has become a beloved community event, celebrating the diverse and resilient pizza scene in Lee County and determining the area's best pie through friendly competition and the votes of local pizza lovers.