Partenope Ristorante Is Back on 50 Top Pizza USA, and It Also Won a Special Award
Every summer, an Italian organization sends anonymous inspectors across the United States to eat pizza and rank what they find. Every summer, Partenope Ristorante on Main Street in downtown Dallas shows up on the resulting list. This year is no exception. The 50 Top Pizza USA 2026 rankings, released this week, place Partenope at No. 18 among the 50 best pizzerias in the country. It’s the only Texas restaurant on the list.
This is the sixth consecutive year Partenope has made the cut. The rankings have moved: No. 25 in 2021, No. 17 in 2022, No. 16 in 2023, No. 12 in 2024, No. 17 in 2025, and now No. 18. EscapeHatch first covered the recognition in 2022 and again last summer. The number moves. The restaurant doesn’t change, which is more or less the point.
The 2026 listing comes with something extra. Partenope also took home the Made in Italy 2026 Salumi Coati Award, a special distinction handed out alongside the main rankings. It’s a category that rewards fidelity to Italian tradition, which is a fair description of what Dino Santonicola has been doing at 1903 Main St. since he and his wife Megan opened the place. The inspectors called out the margherita and marinara as benchmarks for what a true Neapolitan pizza should be, and noted the spaghetti alla Nerano as a particular standout among the pastas.
The pizza itself earns the attention. The dough is classic Neapolitan: fermented long enough to mean something, cooked in a way that produces the char on the edge and the soft collapse at the center that separates competent pizza from the kind you think about afterward. At Eataly’s Pizza Festival earlier this year, Partenope’s was the best pizza under the tent, and it wasn’t particularly close.
Partenope now has three locations: the original downtown Dallas at 1903 Main St., a Richardson outpost at 110 S. Greenville Ave., and a Fort Worth location at 2949 Crockett St. The full 2026 list is at 50toppizza.it. The ranking is what it is. The pizza is better than the number suggests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Partenope Ristorante located?
Partenope has three locations: 1903 Main St. in downtown Dallas (75201), 110 S. Greenville Ave. in Richardson (75081), and 2949 Crockett St. in Fort Worth (76107).
What is the official website for Partenope Ristorante?
The official website is partenopedallas.com.
What phone number can I call to reach Partenope in Dallas?
The downtown Dallas location can be reached at +1 214-463-6222.
What are Partenope’s hours?
The downtown Dallas location is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. Hours may vary by location.
How did Partenope rank on the 50 Top Pizza USA 2026 list?
Partenope Ristorante ranked No. 18 on the 50 Top Pizza USA 2026 list, making it the only Texas restaurant included and the sixth consecutive year the restaurant has appeared on the ranking.
Did Partenope win any special awards in 2026?
Yes. In addition to the No. 18 ranking, Partenope received the Made in Italy 2026 Salumi Coati Award, a special distinction that recognizes adherence to Italian culinary tradition.
Who owns Partenope Ristorante?
Partenope is owned and operated by Dino and Megan Santonicola. Dino Santonicola is a Naples-born pizzaiolo who has led the restaurant since it opened in 2019.
What kind of pizza does Partenope serve?
Partenope specializes in Verace Pizza Napoletana, or true Neapolitan pizza, using traditional dough fermentation and wood-fired cooking. The menu includes classic pies like the margherita and marinara, along with calzone, pastas, and an all-Italian wine list.
