A Modo Mio lands No. 37 on 50 Top Pizza USA 2026 list

Arlington’s A Modo Mio was named No. 37 on 50 Top Pizza USA 2026, making it the only Virginia pizzeria on the list and one of the few in the region to earn the recognition. The award spotlights not just pizza quality, but also service, atmosphere and overall dining experience.

Why it matters: - A Modo Mio’s ranking on the 50 Top Pizza USA 2026 list puts the Arlington restaurant among the country’s top pizza destinations. - The recognition is especially notable because A Modo Mio is the only Virginia pizzeria included, and no Washington, DC pizzerias made the list. - The award can strengthen the restaurant’s reputation with local diners and out-of-town visitors looking for standout Italian food.

What happened: - 50 Top Pizza named A Modo Mio No. 37 on its 2026 list of the best pizzerias in America. - The Arlington restaurant said the honor places it among more than 75,000 pizza restaurants in the U.S. - The list is part of 50 Top Pizza’s annual guides to the best pizzerias in the world.

The details: - 50 Top Pizza evaluates more than pizza alone. - The ranking also considers atmosphere, service and ambiance. - A Modo Mio was founded in 1978 by Joe Farruggio and his two brothers. - The Farruggio family came from Agrigento, Italy, and built the restaurant around authentic Italian flavors. - Co-owners and managing partners Rosario Farruggio and Antonio Biglietto now run the restaurant with general manager Mikki Durdevic. - Executive Chef and co-owner Antonio Biglietto and Chef Antonio Riccio, both from Naples, oversee the food program. - A Modo Mio has been featured in several local and national publications. - The restaurant offers Neapolitan-style pizza, lunch items, happy hour fare, Italian dinner dishes and an Italian-focused wine list. - Weekday lunches include panini made with house-made dough, gnocchi, meatballs, pasta with fresh sauces and seafood. - Dinner service adds Italian appetizers, house-made lasagna, pasta, chicken, seafood and steak specialties. - Dessert options include Torta Di Carote, tiramisú and crème brûlée. - The menu also includes cannoli made with Sicilian sheep’s milk ricotta and Nutellone, a half-moon pizza dough dessert filled with Nutella and topped with pistachios and strawberries. - Weekday happy hour runs from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and offers 30% off the entire menu. - The kitchen uses authentic Italian ingredients and fresh local produce. - A Modo Mio partners with Latteria Sorrentina for Fior di latte cheese from Campania. - The restaurant also serves Farrarelle, a naturally sparkling mineral water from Italy’s Riardo basin in Campania. - The restaurant opened 41 years ago as Joe’s Place Pizza & Pasta. - In 2020, the restaurant shifted from New York-style pizza and subs to authentic Neapolitan pizza and Italian dishes. - The restaurant reopened in October 2020 under the name A Modo Mio, which means “My Way” in Italian. - A Modo Mio describes its goal as delivering authentic quality, community and Italian-style hospitality in a casual setting. - The company website is More information.

Between the lines: - The ranking reflects a broader trend in which pizza awards now value the full dining experience, not only the slice. - A Modo Mio’s shift to Neapolitan pizza and traditional Italian cooking appears to have aligned the restaurant with the standards used by specialty pizza guides. - Being the lone Virginia winner gives A Modo Mio a regional distinction that may help it stand out in the Washington-area dining market.

What’s next: - A Modo Mio is likely to use the new ranking to reinforce its position as a destination for Italian food in Arlington. - The restaurant is offering interviews through Rosario@amodomiopizza.com. - The restaurant’s main contact is Rosario Farruggio at +1 301-910-8560.