Old Forge calls itself the pizza capital of the world, and once you understand the local rules, it starts to make sense. The pizza here comes in rectangular trays, gets cut into squares, and locals order it by the cut instead of the slice.
The crust runs light and airy with a crisp bottom, and the cheese blend is a little different from what you find anywhere else. If you have never tried it, the eight spots below are a great place to start, spread across Old Forge, Scranton, Moosic, and Moscow.
1. Arcaro and Genell, Old Forge, PA
A good starting line for anyone new to the region runs right through the door here on South Main Street. Arcaro and Genell is a family-owned, casual eatery that serves both the red and white styles of Old Forge tray pizza along with other Italian standards.
The crust stays light, the sauce leans tangy, and the portions are generous. Regulars point to the Tray Red Thin Crust and the Double Crust White, but the menu reaches well beyond pizza.
Steak and cheese hoagies, porketta hoagies, and homemade manicotti with meatballs or sausage round things out, and the homemade cannoli is a fitting finish. Service here moves fast, which helps because the place fills up.
You will find it at 443 S Main St in Old Forge. Hours run Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM.
There are no reservations, but parking is rarely a problem, and Friday afternoons and Saturday evenings are the busiest windows.
2. Revello’s Pizza Cafe, Old Forge, PA
Slinging tray pizza since 1967, this is one of the names people mean when they talk about Old Forge as a pizza destination. Revello’s Pizza Cafe is a family-owned pizzeria that makes its pizzas, pastas, and sandwiches from scratch.
The signature crust falls in the medium-thickness range with a crisp finish, and the cheese blend is part of what sets it apart. Order it the local way and you will get a cut, not a slice.
Beyond the pizza, the spot is set up for a relaxed evening, with a solid beer selection, room for groups, and live music at times. The atmosphere is casual, cozy, and clearly historic.
Find it at 502 S Main St in Old Forge. Hours vary by day, opening at 4:30 PM on Mondays and running as late as 11 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Unlike many of its neighbors, this one accepts reservations, which helps on busy Friday evenings.
3. Mary Lou’s Pizza, Old Forge, PA
Curious cooks tend to linger here because the staff will actually walk you through the history of the style while your pie bakes. Mary Lou’s Pizza is a casual spot dispensing pies in several styles, including Old Forge and Sicilian, along with pasta and a take-out window.
The kitchen is open to the dining room, so you can watch the pizzas being made. The crust comes out light and airy with a nice crisp, and the cheese blend gets plenty of attention.
The Double Crust White Pie is a standout, and options like white pizza with spinach and garlic show off the range. Orders are made fresh, often in around 15 minutes.
You will find it at 209 Dunn Ave in Old Forge. A heads-up on hours: it is closed Monday and Sunday, open Tuesday through Thursday 11 AM to 6:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 8:30 PM.
4. Salerno’s Cafe, Old Forge, PA
Sitting a little off the main pizza row on Moosic Road, this cafe leans into the cheesier end of the local spectrum. Salerno’s Cafe specializes in red and white pizzas made in the Old Forge style, plus homemade pasta dinners.
The crust runs thick but stays airy, and the cheese comes on a touch heavier than some other tray pizzas in town. That sauce-and-dough combination is what regulars keep coming back for.
The menu stays focused, pairing the Old Forge Style Pizza with pasta dinners and sandwiches like the porketta. There is a bar on site, and the room works well for groups watching a game.
The address is 139 Moosic Rd in Old Forge. Hours run Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM, and it is closed on Sundays.
Friday and Saturday evenings draw the biggest crowds, and parking is generally easy.
5. Alfredo’s Pizza, Scranton, PA
Not every great tray pizza sits inside the Old Forge borough line, and this Scranton stop proves the point. Alfredo’s Pizza is a casual spot offering pizza and other Italian eats, and it has built a loyal following that reaches well beyond the neighborhood.
Square cuts are the headliner, with the Old Forge White Cut and Old Forge Red Cut on the order pad. The kitchen also turns out a thin round pizza, stromboli, and an award-winning thick pan pizza that uses cheddar in the local tradition.
Sides like breaded asparagus, pretzel chicken, and mozzarella sticks give the menu some reach, and there is a full bar. Everything is made to order.
You can find it in the South Side Shopping Center at 1040 S Washington Ave in Scranton. Hours run daily, closing at 9 PM most nights and 10 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Reservations are accepted.
6. Brick Oven – Pizzeria & Restaurant, Scranton, PA
Fans of vintage decor get a bonus here, since the dining room is filled with old relics that make the wait a little more interesting. Brick Oven is a nostalgic option for pizza, Italian dishes, and chicken wings, set up for dine-in, takeout, and delivery.
The Old Forge style tray pizza shows up in square cuts like the Old Forge Red Cut, but the kitchen ranges wide. Round pizzas, Sicilian pizza, garlic knots, the Italian roll, and generous plates of wings all get regular orders.
Portions run large and the ingredients hold up, which makes it an easy stop for a group. The atmosphere stays casual and comfortable.
Look for it at 1106 S Washington Ave in Scranton, just up the road from Alfredo’s. It keeps long, simple hours, open every day from 10 AM to 10 PM, with Friday afternoons and evenings the busiest stretch.
7. That Guy With the Dough, Moosic, PA
The name alone earns a smile, and the pizza backs it up. That Guy With the Dough is a small counter-service eatery in Moosic known for pizza in both New York and Old Forge styles, plus subs and stromboli.
The Old Forge inspired tray comes out thick and square with a great crust and generous toppings. There is even a sweet sauce option for people who want to lean into that side of the local tradition.
Value is a big part of the draw here, with combinations that can pack in multiple trays and sandwiches without stretching the wallet. One thing to plan for: it is a cash-only spot.
The address is 4949 Birney Ave in Moosic. Hours are limited, closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday and Thursday 11 AM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday noon to 7 PM.
8. Ferri’s Pizza, Moscow, PA
A short drive out to Moscow rewards you with tray pizza and a room full of coal mining history. Ferri’s Pizza is a longstanding, family-run eatery serving Old Forge-style pizza along with hoagies, hot dogs, and cheesesteaks.
The space carries a coal mining theme, and the walls are packed with memorabilia that give the small eat-in area real character. It is the kind of setting that makes the meal feel like a little detour into local history.
The pizza puts a distinctive cheese blend on a classic regional crust, and specialty pies like the potato pizza and the hot wing pizza give you reasons to order beyond the standard tray. The hoagies and wings are worth a look too.
Find it at 106 Church St in Moscow. Hours are limited, so check before you go: open Tuesday 11 AM to 7 PM, Friday 11 AM to 9 PM, Saturday 11 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday noon to 7 PM, closed the rest of the week.
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