Best pizza in Rowlett — and yes, I've tried them all

After losing Sammy's, the pizza conversation in Rowlett is wide open. I have eaten pizza from every option in the Rowlett area in the last month. Here is the definitive ranking.

1. Napoli's Italian (Rowlett Rd near Main St) The best pizza in Rowlett and it is not close. Hand-tossed, proper brick oven, real mozzarella. The margherita is simple and perfect. The meat lovers is loaded without being greasy. This is an actual Italian restaurant that happens to make excellent pizza, not a pizza chain that pretends to be Italian.

• Best pizza: Margherita, meat lovers
• Price: $14-18 for a large
• Vibe: Sit-down family restaurant

2. Torchy's Tacos (Lakeview Pkwy) Wait, Torchy's is not a pizza place. Correct. I am including it because their queso + chips is what you order when you realize Rowlett's pizza options are limited. Just kidding. Sort of.

2. (Actual) Domino's (Lakeview Pkwy) Look, sometimes you need delivery pizza at 10 PM and your options in Rowlett are Domino's or Pizza Hut. The Rowlett Domino's on Lakeview is actually one of the better-run locations I have used. Consistent, fast, and the pan pizza with extra cheese is a reliable late-night choice.

• Best pizza: Pan pizza extra cheese, the chicken alfredo is surprisingly decent
• Price: $8-15 depending on deals
• Vibe: Delivery or carryout

3. Pizza Hut (Dalrock Rd) The Pizza Hut on Dalrock is fine. Not great, not terrible. The stuffed crust is still the stuffed crust. It is here because it exists and sometimes that is enough.

• Best pizza: Stuffed crust pepperoni
• Price: $10-16
• Vibe: Does anyone dine in at Pizza Hut anymore?

What Rowlett desperately needs:

• A proper New York style slice shop. Walk in, order two slices and a drink for $8, eat standing at a counter. This format does not exist anywhere in Rowlett.
• A wood-fired Neapolitan pizza spot. The nearest one is Cane Rosso in Deep Ellum.
• A late-night pizza option that is not a delivery chain.

Sapphire Bay prediction: One of the first restaurants to open in the Sapphire Bay development will be a pizza place. Lakeside pizza with a view is an obvious concept. If it is good, it immediately takes the #1 spot.

Until then, Napoli's is the answer. Support them while they are here.