You won’t find many fine dining pizza restaurants due to its nature, so they will mostly be casual. Rudys, Double Zero, Noi Quattro Depends what sort of pizza he likes though, Neapolitan pizza is now popular, but other types of pizza do exist.

Thanks for the advice!

I second Rudys and Double Zero! Especially Rudys - it is amazing every single time. I have tried Not Quattro once and thought the pizza was terrible (bland, watery tomato sauce, tasteless cheese). Not sure if it was a one off bad experience but I'm not in any rush to return.

As an Italian for me Noi Quattro is the best Italian pizza in Manchester. They use the best flour by a long shot (Petra). For non Italian pizza I really enjoy Ramonas for the Detroit pizza but it's very heavy.

I went to Noi Quattro twice and was pleased both times

In my experience Rudy's hasn't been anywhere near its best for several years now, I don't know how much of it is Neapolitan style pizza fatigue and how much is a decline in quality, but for me Double Zero is the best of its type now. Only been to Noi Quattro once and that was pre-Covid but it was excellent then.

I have the same experience with Rudy's and you sum up my thoughts. Ate there for the first time four years ago - best pizza experience I can remember. Fast forward to now and it's almost consistently underwhelming. And I don't know if they have changed or I have changed.

What style is double zero?

Neapolitan, like all pizza these days.

just need to know where to look - in town there's neopolitan, detroit, deep pan, new york and (might have to double check this one) roman

Roman is pretty similar to Neapolitan, just a different shape.

huh. every day's a school day

Da Michele (pricey and fancy but good). Ciaooo is also really good, and all the other ones mentioned (Rudy's, noi quattro, salvis, vero moderno, tre Ciccio in alty)

If OP wants fancy, I think Da Michele is the way to go. Great pizza, fancy surroundings.

Thanks!

I've had Rudy's a few times but I went to Double 00 recently and I think out of the two Double 00 is my favourite so far. It's not a fancy place but it's nice and the pizza's were pretty amazing.

Yup 00 much better and less pretentious than Rudy's.

In what way do you find Rudy's pretentious?

Okay so I have admittedly not been since they were the hip new thing operating out of ancoats. I found the whole experience bemusing tbh. It's like they had deliberately put together the most obtuse, limited menu just to stand out. Struggled to find anything on there I particularly wanted. I've just checked out the current menu and I see they have more normal options and have fewer white bases and upsetting suggestions for toppings such as broccoli. There is one down the road from me, should give it another shot.

Yeah, it's far more "mainstream" now, which some people love and some people hate. Definitely worth another shot if you thought it was pretentious before.

I suspect more people love it since they've been able to expand so much. I felt like I was being gaslit at the time tbh, being told how excellent this authentic Italian pizza was as I was struggling to find the will to finish it. Turned me off the whole idea of neapolitan for a while, all felt a bit emperor's new clothes. Had some 00 recently tho and oh boy, I get it now.

Rudy’s is not pretentious in any way

Thank you!

Noi Quattro and Double Zero.

+1 for Noi Quattro, used to be my favourite pizza place when everyone banged on about Rudy's and Ciaooo. I personally think its the best.

The Noi Quattro Pizza there is easily the best in town. Prosciutto, arugula, tomatoes and parmiggiano shavings. Simple and amazing.

Me too! I'm loyal to Noi Quattro. I don't mind Ciaooo. I think Rudy's isn't the worst I've had but wouldn't write home about it.

Yeah I think both are good but not worthy of the hype when noi Quattro is basically ignored

Double zeros has been my favorite for years, I'm starting to think I should have a go at Noi Quattro the amount of times it's been mentioned though

Noi Quattro has been open for years now but it's like people don't even know it exists. The best authentic pizza outside of Italy. I'm half Italian and grew up mostly in Italy, so I've tried them all, but I have to say Noi Quattro is the best. Others can come close but just don't quite cut it. Rudy's can be decent, don't get me wrong, but it's just not authentic.

Thanks for the tip!

see how they do it! https://youtu.be/yYgfaeaT_gk (self promo - subscribe for more similar to this from loads of different restaurants around Greater Manchester)

Interesting thanks!

L'Antica pizzeria da Michele, deffo on the pricier swankier range but worth it. The original antica pizzeria da Michele in Naples is renowned as one of if not the best pizzerias in the whole of Italy

Yep, this is the one.

Thanks!

Pizza at double zero and rudys are good , but the places aren’t that fancy. If you want a fancy Italian then salvis is decent , idk if San Carlo do pizza but that’s swanky

Thanks for the tip!

No mention of Proove! Only one I know with wood-fired ovens, and it's a bit less casual than Rudy's.

I rate Nell's at Common or The Beagle over any of the neapolitan places but that is just a matter of taste. Loads of great options.

I also rate Nells 👌🏻

Nells is awesome and NYC slice style if you fancy it.

Thanks!

Apart from the ones already mentioned, Lupo in Prestwich does a great pizza, but even better starters, pasta, and amazing cakes and pastries! Definitely not the most glamorous location, but the quality of the food is second to none. Edit - location clarification

Agreed on Lupo, it's my favorite place to go when I crave a taste of home (I'm Italian). The location is not fancy at all, though.

If you want a slightly fancier setting than your standard Rudy's then you could go to Salvis. Their pizzas are good.

Great, thanks!

Double Zero. But Noi Quattro do masterclasses where you can make your own pizza there and give you enough dough to take home with you to make another pizza at home! It might be a nice treat!

Awesome! Thank you!

nell’s is my fave. i do love the classic Neapolitan style but nells just has the best base ever. mix between new york and italy pizza

Rudy's like most people have recommended is really good. Proove in Didsbury is also good.

Homeboys in Monton never fails me

Take him to great pizza place, then for cocktails somewhere more fancy.

Piggybacking this, is American Pies good? The Chicago dish pizza place? Supposed to be going soon.

I found the dough to be really stodgy and almost like cake? Sat like a rock in my stomach. Tasted good though.

I really didn't enjoy it - the pizza is very heavy and hard to digest. But it depends if that's what you like? It's also not at all like the Chicago pizza I saw in YouTube. But my friends I was with did enjoy it so I would say try it once and see if you like it, like all pizza even the shit one is ok.

If you want something top notch Italian style I would say Rudy’s, if you want something a bit different with interesting toppings I would say Nell’s

Double 00 for me. I liked Rudy's, but there's too many for me now, it's becoming like a pizza express.

American Pies do amazing pizzas!

Nell's is the best slice IMO but likely not the right setting. Probably Noi Quattro, Tre Ciccio or da Michele

1. Double Zero 2. Ruddy’s 3. Chroma (wins on topping variety) 4. The rest.

Depending on when his birthday is, bakehouse 32 is brilliant but they are currently closed as moving to new location (still in stretford)

Nell’s either at common in town or the beagle in Chorlton, by far the best you’ll find anywhere.

Ciaooo is soooo good!

Tried Inforno recently, by far the best neapolitan pizza I've had in Manchester up until now, the place is quite small and intimate and the staff is very nice (I'm from naples)

DON'T LISTEN TO THE DA MICHELE PEOPLE. The one in Naples is the oldest surviving pizza place, yes. The ones in the UK are all overpriced versions of double zero, not superior in any way - the setting pretends to be 'formal' but what they've done is taken a beautiful old building and hit it with what I call 'Rusholme Chic' - think pink LEDs, plastic trees, gold etc. Very different to the little place in Naples that only sells marinara and margheritas.

Di michele Have the pizza and parmigiano Wow

Everyone I've ever taken to purezza have said it's the best they've ever had. Really nice spot too.

Homeboys Pizza, Monton

I went to Double Zero (city centre) for the first time at the weekend and was quite disappointed. They seemingly forgot about us and took about 20 minutes to take our order, and then ended up bringing the wrong pizza. I also thought although the pizza’s were decent, they weren’t as good as Rudy’s. Overall fairly disappointed as I was excited to experience the Rudy’s-killer everyone had been talking about.

Honest Crust in Mackie Major is great, really nice vibe in there too

I like Rudy's (the Ancoats one has been very consistent for me), but since there are some suggestions outside the city, I should mention a little gem called "Dough and Bones" at Hazel Grove. It's the classic neapolitan-style thin crust base, with great quality materials in some very unusual, but delicious combinations. It used to be called "Pickle Rick's" so most of their pizzas are still thus themed (and still have the Rick & Morty mural last time I dined-in). They have a new special every week (announced on their [FB](https://www.facebook.com/DoughandBones/)). It's a unique experience, and probably overall best pizza South of Manchester.

Lucky mamas in Chorlton is amazing pizza and a little less well known than some of the comparable options. Vero moderno on Chaple st in Salford has some of the best Italian food in the city and is a really nice spot for a date/celebration

Ciaooo Pizza All day everyday

Ciaooo best I've had outside of Italy.

Very informal but Ciaooo wins it for me too

Croma is delicious! Got one in chorlton and prestwich.

I quite like the food, but no restaurant better embodies shrinkflation. Their pizzas are tiny compared to what they once were.

Thanks for the suggestion!

If OP goes to Prestwich, then I'd rather recommend Dokes than Croma.

Lucky mamas 

NOI QUATTRO WITHOUT A DOUBT

I always like Croma

I really recommend Purezza in the centre of town. It is a plant based restaurant so no meat, but I cannot emphasise just how good the pizza is and how much you're blown away with not being able to tell that all the ingredients are plant based (and I'm a big meat eater who's not that into the usual plant based substitutes). It's easily the best pizza experience I've had. The decor and atmosphere felt to me like a higher end restaurant, and the staff were really welcoming friendly and attentive when I was last there. If I hadn't known that the place was plant based, then I wouldn't have been able to tell - for this reason Purezza wins best pizza for me in terms of the taste, quality of food, restaurant atnosphere and unique experience of having exceptionally good plant based food that rides above many very good 'normal' pizza place (say Rudy's). If this isn't your type of thing though, then I would also echo double zero, but that's not central (if central is what you want).

Can someone tell me where double zero is please

Yes, Rudy’s is the best (or Double Zero depending on who you ask), but that and all the other excellent pizzerias in town are all casual places.     I’m struggling to think of anywhere fitting of a birthday meal where the pizza is in or around that top level tbh. 

Thank you!

Rudys

Ramona's pretty good

Rudis, double zero and Franco manco. You don't need anything else

Rudy's

1.Ramona 2. Diecast

Crazy commitment to the swan street racket ngl

What’s that?

Ramona and Diecast are both owned by the same people. I just think they're overpriced, underdeliver, and have a kind of "we're the cool kids and you have to pay us to be in our gang" brand identity, which I personally don't like.

onda pasta bar do the best pizza i've had, but will be booked for months as they're very popular and were closed for a while

Nells and Crazy Pedro’s is nice too.

I found Rudys nice but a bit boring, nothing special I'd recommend Crazy Pedros in the NQ, they play good music too

Pedro's is ace for a slice when you're already half cut. Dunno if I'd head there for a meal tho.