Regina Pizzeria

Regina Pizzeria
Original pizzeria in the North End of Boston
Restaurant information
Established1926; 98 years ago (1926)
Food typeItalian, pizzeria
Dress codeCasual
CountryUnited States

Regina Pizzeria, also known as Pizzeria Regina, and originally called Regina Pizza, is a regional pizza chain in New England. The company was founded in 1926 by Luigi D'Auria in Boston's North End neighborhood.[1] It has been run by the Polcari family since 1956.[2] The chain is a part of Boston Restaurant Associates and is headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.[3]

The Regina Pizzeria's first location, at 11 1/2 Thacher Street in Boston's North End, is the best known. The company also boasts that it makes its own sausage and dough daily from fresh ingredients.[4]

Regina Pizzeria is widely known, and has a rivalry with Santarpio's Pizza.[citation needed]

History

Location in Quincy Market in Boston

Regina Pizzeria was established in 1926 by Luigi D'Auria, originally under the name Regina Pizza ("Queen Pizza" in Italian).[1] It is located at 11 1/2 Thacher Street in Boston's North End, and is Boston's oldest pizzeria.[2] When D'Auria died he left the restaurant to his grandson, Luigi D'Auria. In 1956, the grandson sold Regina Pizza to the Polcari family, who have operated the restaurant since.[1]

In May 2015, the parent company filed for bankruptcy protection, closing four underperforming locations (Emerald Square Mall in North Attleborough; Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua; Mall of New Hampshire in Manchester; and the Arsenal Project mall in Watertown) and saving $70,000 a month. They hoped to renegotiate leases at Independence Mall in Kingston, Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers, and Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough.[5][6]

In 2018, Regina Pizzeria was declared the best pizza restaurant in the United States by TripAdvisor, though a Boston Globe critic pointed out that this is partly due to fame rather than quality.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c "MACRIS Details". Massachusetts Historical Commission. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  2. ^ a b "Pizzeria Regina". Pizzeria Regina. Archived from the original on September 19, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
  3. ^ "Privacy Policy Archived 2010-02-14 at the Wayback Machine." Regina Pizzeria. Retrieved on February 26, 2010.
  4. ^ "Pizzeria Regina in Boston". Frommer's Guide. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
  5. ^ Adams, Dan; Shulman, Eden (May 21, 2015). "Regina Pizzeria parent files for bankruptcy". The Boston Globe.
  6. ^ "Iconic pizza chain Pizzeria Regina files for bankruptcy". WCVB.com. May 22, 2015.
  7. ^ First, Devra (18 Oct 2018). "Is Regina Pizzeria really the best in the country?". The Boston Globe.