Rochester Pizza Spots Offer Unique Slices for National Pizza Day

From classic New York-style to creative toppings, Rochester has plenty of pizza options to celebrate the annual food holiday.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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With National Pizza Day coming up on February 9th, food writer Holly Ebel highlights two popular Rochester pizza spots - Pasquale's Neighborhood Pizzeria and North Mr. Pizza. Pasquale's focuses on high-quality, imported Italian ingredients for their New York-style pies, while North Mr. Pizza is known for their unique and creative topping combinations. Both restaurants make their dough and sauces in-house, elevating the pizza experience.

Why it matters

Pizza has become one of the most popular fast foods in the U.S., with 3 billion slices sold annually. National Pizza Day is a chance to celebrate this versatile dish and the local restaurants that put their own spin on classic recipes. Rochester's pizza scene reflects the city's growing foodie culture and commitment to quality ingredients.

The details

Pasquale's Neighborhood Pizzeria prides itself on using high-quality, natural ingredients, with 90% of its products imported from Italy. Owner Pasquale Presa says "The most important thing are clean, natural products. At the end of the day it doesn't pay to skimp on buying ingredients." North Mr. Pizza is known for their creative topping combinations, like the Aloha Brah (Canadian bacon, pineapple, parmesan, mozzarella, alfredo) and Backyard Barbecue (grilled chicken, onion, Gouda, mozzarella, barbecue sauce). Both restaurants make their dough and sauces in-house.

  • National Pizza Day is on February 9, 2026.
  • The busiest pizza delivery day is Super Bowl Sunday.

The players

Pasquale's Neighborhood Pizzeria

A Rochester pizza restaurant known for its high-quality, New York-style pizzas made with imported Italian ingredients.

North Mr. Pizza

A Rochester pizza restaurant that offers unique and creative topping combinations on their homemade dough and sauces.

Pasquale Presa

The owner of Pasquale's Neighborhood Pizzeria who emphasizes the importance of using clean, natural ingredients.

Justin Schoville and Lindsay Zubay

The owners of North Mr. Pizza who bring an exciting, foodie-focused vibe to their restaurant.

Kara Mischke

The pastry chef at North Mr. Pizza known for her New York-style cheesecakes, cookies, and brownies.

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What they’re saying

“The most important thing are clean, natural products. At the end of the day it doesn't pay to skimp on buying ingredients. You get what you pay for, that's always been true.”

— Pasquale Presa, Owner, Pasquale's Neighborhood Pizzeria

“This is such a great place We are all pretty much foodies and like to play around with different and unusual ingredient combinations.”

— Amie, Manager, North Mr. Pizza

What’s next

National Pizza Day is on February 9, 2026, so Rochester residents should plan to visit their favorite local pizza spots to celebrate the holiday.

The takeaway

Rochester's pizza scene reflects the city's growing foodie culture, with local restaurants like Pasquale's Neighborhood Pizzeria and North Mr. Pizza offering high-quality ingredients, creative toppings, and a commitment to making everything in-house. These spots prove that pizza can be an elevated, artisanal experience.