Readers have spoken: Favorites repeats as 'WNY's Best Pizza'

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

Favorites Pizza is once again the apple of our pie.

As is custom, Niagara Frontier Publications held its annual local football season “Best of” food competition. The pizzeria, with locations in Lewiston and Amherst, repeated as winner of “WNY’s Best Pizza.”

“It means a lot knowing that there's so many great pizza places in the area,” Lewiston co-manager Aurora Campbell said. “We know that Western New York has the best pizza in the world. If you travel outside, you're not going to find what you find here.

“It means a lot to us, just because we love our customers. And like I said, there is a lot of competition. … There's so many great pizzerias. For us to be compared to them is amazing.

“Working in a pizzeria, we know what it takes, and we know that all the other places work so hard, too, and they put out a really good product. So, for (readers) to choose us is a big deal.”

The key to victory, co-manager John “JT” Tall noted, is “Consistency.”

“Always making sure the pizza (is right),” he said. “I'll put other guys on the line with me. I don't do this alone. If I'm making it, the guy in the middle, the guy cooking it, everything has to be right.

“I hear it so much. People see me, I have a Favorites hoodie on, and they're like, ‘You're from Favorites? Your pizza is so great.’ ”

While Campbell said she was happy to hear the good news, she noted it’s the bad news that equally drives Favorites to be Western New York’s – you guessed it – favorite.

“We have an incident report binder, and we take them very seriously,” Campbell said of criticism. “If a customer calls in with a complaint, we don't take it as something negative. We appreciate the feedback. And we see what we can do with the negative comments that we get, and we try to work toward being the best that we can. When someone says, ‘Hey, we had a problem with your pizza,’ we appreciate those phone calls the most, because we want to know how can we make it better, and how can we change it to accommodate the customer.”

In Lewiston, Favorites is located a bit off the main stretch, situated in the Cayuga Street mini-plaza. However customers arrive at the eatery, they have to pass by several other restaurants – and almost a half-dozen other places serving pizza.

“We call ourselves the hidden gem back here,” Campbell said. “I know we're hard to find, but it's worth it when you do find us – and we hope to keep you as a customer for life, when you do find us.

“I think it's the pizza, and just our establishment as a whole, our customer service. We want to make sure everyone feels like family to us, and they're welcome. Even the pizza guys will get to know the customers.

“Our pizza is amazing, and these guys are consistent, and they know exactly what they're doing. They know how much cheese goes on a pizza. They know how much sauce should go on a pizza.

“I think you take each pizza, and if you care about every single pizza you're making, then it's going to come out good.”

Favorites is well-known for its slices – and the unique toppings one can find daily. Some examples include honey garlic chicken, chicken wing dip, royal sub (sausage and capicola with lettuce and tomato), and bruschetta.

“People can walk in the door, and we kind of know – we get a sense of what they're going to order,” Tall said. “I think it's pretty cool that we can say, ‘Try this new one that we just figured out,’ and take the feedback from the customers.”

He added, “The No. 1 thing I was always taught was don't serve something to somebody that you wouldn't eat yourself. I've been in this business for over 30 years. You don't get to this point without taking pride in what you're doing.”

Campbell said, “Our customers mean the world to us, and we want them to come in here and feel like family; and we do feel like they're family to us. And getting to know them, and what they like. And I always say, ‘You're allowed to be picky when it comes to food.’

“We appreciate all of their feedback – and their everything. We appreciate everything.”

Super fan Florence Lorenz said, “I think the pizza at Favorites is the best in every way. I enjoy it by the slice on a festival day, or the full pie for family dinner. I am so glad that I can get the same great flavor and choices at both locations.”

Favorites Pizza & Wings is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.