READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: Zachary's Pizza, 1019 E. Sixth St..

STAFF PICK: Once again, we tip our hats to Pete Picurro, the mastermind behind Picurro Pizzerias, where the Eastern transplant has taken the humble pie to new heights. We can't get enough of it! Feta and garlic with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes; marinated chunks of chicken smothered with smoked mozzarella, green chiles and pine nuts; the tender zucchini, mushrooms and juicy red onion of the Very Veggie...no culinary region of the world is left untouched; but all begin with that yeasty crust made fresh daily. Crispy on the outside and doughy everywhere else, this New York-style marvel of flour and water is the perfect compromise between thick and thin.

Not content after four years of perfection, Picurro's has branched out with pasta, salad and sandwich combinations that'll keep you salivating into the middle of next week. Call for free delivery, or ferret out one of their two locations: 2921 E. Fort Lowell Road, or 3011 E. Speedway. A third location is rumored to open mid-October on Wilmot Road.

1998 Winner: Magpies Gourmet Pizza 1997 Winner: Magpies Gourmet Pizza 1995 Winner: Magpies Gourmet Pizza

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