The first pizzerias arrived on Cape Cod in the post-War era as the pizza phenomenon was spreading across the country. The pizza influences on the Cape draw on styles from across the Northeast.
The primary type of pizza found here is Greek-style pizza pies baked in thin pans with plenty of oil. In the 1960s, as tourism on the Cape accelerated, second and third-generation Italian Americans were less interested in pizzerias, leaving that market to Greek immigrants. Across New England, "pizza houses" began selling Greek-style pies. These pizzas were pan-baked with a healthy dose of oil and topped with a combination of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Greek pies are also known for heavy-handed oregano seasoning.
Spiritus Pizza, Provincetown
One of the few places offering pizza by the slice, Spiritus is well regarded in Provincetown. Cheese, pepperoni, and Greek slices are available, but any more customization means ordering a whole pie.
Provincetown House of Pizza, Provincetown
This classic Greek-style pizzeria first opened in Provincetown in 1996, and offers a mix of heroes, pasta, and calzones. Following the tradition of Greek-style pizzerias, the restaurant has the name “house.”
That's not the only style of pizza available on the Cape, however. Drawing visitors from nearby Connecticut has meant New Haven-style pizza can also be found on this spit of sand. The thin crust is made from a watery dough and is made famous by pizzerias like Frank Pepe, Modern Apizza, and Sally's Apizza. Since the 1930s, the style of pizza has spread across Connecticut and onto the Cape.
Sweet Tomatoes, Chatham or Yarmouth
Serving up New Haven-style pizza, the thin-crust pies come with a wide range of toppings. Confusingly, the shops offer a Greek pizza, but this describes the toppings of feta, olives, and spinach rather than the similarly named local pizza style. The pizza is a fairly good representation of the type of thin-crust pies better known across Connecticut.
Red Barn, Eastham
This year-round pizzeria makes its mark with unique combinations of toppings. Located inside a literal red barn, the pizzeria is part of a larger tourist trap with a gift shop and entertainment like arcade games. The pies are full-size and have a thick doughy crust, but the menu includes Italian heroes like eggplant and meatball parmigiana.
Another common type of pie is the bar pie. These ultra thin crust pies are topped with a sweet sauce and often have cheddar in place of or in addition to mozzarella cheese. They usually are smaller, about 10 inches. And finally, there are even a few slice joints offering New York style pizza, or at least an interpretation of it. Many of the pizzerias also offer hot Italian hero sandwiches better known in New England as grinders.
Carmine's, Chatham
If you go looking for New York Style pizza more than twenty miles from Manhattan, there is a good chance you will be disappointed, but Carmine's just might satisfy that craving. There's a wide variety of pizzas available by the slice as well as calzones and meatball hero sandwiches. Be warned, however, red sauce is hard to remove from pastel knit sweaters and white tennis shoes.
Ember, Harwich Port
This coal-oven pizza is something of a unique experience on Cape Cod. Pizzas bake in a 1,000-degree oven leaving a soft center and crispy bottom. These pies overflow with toppings, and there are plenty to choose from. The restaurant offers a wide selection of unexpected combinations including all sorts of seafood toppings like scallops or barbecue like pulled pork or sweet pies featuring fig puree. A large outdoor garden and firepit make this a memorable pizza destination but don't expect to find a typical pizza style here.
Paul's Pizza and Seafood, Falmouth
Paul's offers a classic bar-style pie, and one that's well regarded across the Cape. Paul's has classic spaghetti dishes too, as well as a selection of seafood.
Ian MacAllen
Ian MacAllen is America Domani's Senior Correspondent and the author of Red Sauce: How Italian Food Became American. He is a writer, editor, and graphic designer living in Brooklyn. Connect with him at IanMacAllen.com or on Twitter @IanMacAllen.