The best bar pizza on the South Shore, and the 6 that came close
One 10-inch pan, a laced cheddar edge, and a rivalry bigger than the Sox and Yankees. We crowned a winner and named the six spots right behind it.
The 30-second version: South Shore bar pizza is a 10-inch personal pie cooked in a seasoned steel pan, with a buttery, cracker-crisp crust and cheddar-blend cheese pushed all the way to the edge so it caramelizes into a lacy, burnt rim (locals order it "laced"). After reviewing the region's most recommended spots, the Lynwood Cafe in Randolph takes our top spot. Right behind it: Cape Cod Cafe in Brockton, Town Spa in Stoughton, Poopsie's in Pembroke, Hoey's in Randolph, Next Page Cafe in Weymouth, and O'Toole's in Whitman.
The winner: Lynwood Cafe, Randolph
The Lynwood has been family-run since 1949, using the same recipe since the 1960s and, by its own account, the original ovens. The result is the pie every other bar pizza gets measured against: a buttery biscuit crust, zesty sauce, and aged cheddar with edges that crisp into lace. NBC Boston's review called it "sublime" and put it at the very top of the list, and New England Magazine calls it the most legendary spot for the style. It sits at 320 Center St. in Randolph, per the Lynwood's own site.
The 6 that came close
Cape Cod Cafe, Brockton
The self-described originator. Opened in 1939 on Route 28, the original road to the Cape, and run by the Jamoulis family since 1947, it claims the original Brockton bar pizza: thin, 10-inch, oregano-based sauce, cheddar blend, deck oven, per its own history. The Boston Globe and NBC Boston both put it in the style's holy trinity.
Town Spa, Stoughton
The other half of the South Shore's great pizza rivalry, which WBSM documented as bigger than Sox vs. Yankees. Family-run since 1955 at 1119 Washington St., with a secret spice blend one family member mixes, per the Globe. It will even ship pies by mail.
Poopsie's, Pembroke
A fixture on every serious bar pizza list, from Eater Boston's map to NBC Boston's rundown. The Globe noted its pans come from the same Brockton supplier as the icons, per its profile of Bay State Restaurant Products.
Hoey's, Randolph
Served at the AmVets in Randolph and a cult favorite. NBC Boston names it among the outstanding spots behind the big three, and longtime locals on Hidden Boston put it in the "holy trinity" with Lynwood and the Cod.
Next Page Cafe, Weymouth
The Weymouth contender, singled out by NBC Boston as one of the cream of the crop and backed by South Shore locals on Reddit as an excellent bar pie.
O'Toole's, Whitman
Whitman's entry in the canon, rounding out NBC Boston's list of outstanding spots. Whitman also claims the Venus Cafe, one of the originals named by the Globe.
How we picked
We reviewed published rankings and reviews from NBC Boston, the Boston Globe, Eater Boston, New England Magazine, and local polls, plus each restaurant's own history. New England Press did not conduct a formal taste test for this list, and bar pizza loyalty is famously personal, so treat the order as a starting point, not scripture. Hours and menus change; check each spot before you go.
Cover image is an AI-generated illustration, not a photo of any restaurant listed.