Warwick Pizza Shop Wins National Culinary Title
Joe's Pizza earned top honors for its signature thin-crust creation at the Great American Pizza Challenge.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Italian Food
Live Poll
Would you be more likely to visit a local restaurant after it wins a national award?
Joe's Pizza of Warwick secured first place in the non-traditional thin New Haven-style pizza category at the recent Great American Pizza Challenge. The shop's signature Polpette Rustica outperformed other competitors to take the top spot.
Why it matters
This award highlights the culinary success of a local business that has been operating for less than a year. Winning a national title provides significant recognition for the shop's specific approach to pizza craft.
Joe's Pizza secured the win with a score of 49.46, narrowly beating the second-place finisher who scored 49.13. The Polpette Rustica is prepared with thin crust, sauce, shredded mozzarella, meatballs, pecorino cheese, and fresh basil.
The players
Joe's Pizza
Located at 163 Kilvert St. in Warwick, the shop has gained national recognition after less than a year of operation.
Joe Boisvert
He is the owner of Joe's Pizza and the lead chef behind the award-winning Polpette Rustica recipe.
The details
The winning entry, the Polpette Rustica, features a thin crust topped with sauce, shredded mozzarella, meatballs, pecorino cheese, and fresh basil. Owner Joe Boisvert also saw success in the Northeast division of the America's Best Pepperoni Slice competition, finishing in second place.
Timeline
November 28, 2025: Joe's Pizza opened for business.
October 11-12, 2026: The Great American Pizza Challenge took place in Columbus, Ohio.
Culture Shift
The growing national expansion of regional pizza styles marks a departure from traditional local-only preferences as shops increasingly compete on national stages. This success highlights how small, independent businesses are finding prominence in broader culinary movements.
Residents can visit the award-winning shop at 163 Kilvert St. to try the signature Polpette Rustica that claimed the top national prize. The shop's recent success may lead to increased local demand and potentially longer wait times for dining.
The takeaway
National awards often serve as a significant indicator of a high-quality local dining destination. Customers looking to support award-winning local businesses should check for updated hours as the shop navigates increased attention following its victory.
Further reading
Learn more about the local culinary scene in our Italian Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WJAR.
Live Poll
Would you be more likely to visit a local restaurant after it wins a national award?
