The original Punch opened on Cleveland Avenue in Highland Park long before it became a popular Twin Cities pizza chain (still only in the Twin Cities), and long before receiving national praise (and an invitation to the White House for co-owner John Sorrano) from President Obama. The original location offers table-side service, different than the offshoots, but the classic, no-frills Margherita Extra, with fresh basil, their famous mozzarella di bufala, and Mt. Vesuvio tomatoes, remains simple, and simply the best, no matter where you are. Punch Pizza | 704 Cleveland Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116 | (651) 696-1066

Punch Pizza is a hugely popular local chain, famous for their delicious thin-crust, wood-fired, authentic Neapolitan style pizza. Speaking of which, you know that authentic claim is legit, as Punch is one of the only places around that allows you to top your pizza creation with Mozzerella Di Bufala cheese. (That’s Mozzerrella cheese made directly from the milk of Italian Mediterranean Buffalo! Talk about dedication!) The result is a cheesy, always fantastic thin crust pizza.

Ten additional locations across the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It’s only appropriate that local family-owned pizza chain, Punch Neopolitan Pizza, has a couple of locations in St. Paul: Punch Pizza Grand Avenue and Punch Pizza Highland Park. I’ve spoken on this wood-fired fast-casual pizza joint in my guide to the best pizza in Minneapolis and my roundup of top restaurants in Eden Prairie, so I’ll spare you another in-depth description of this beloved pizza chain.

There are plenty of great pizza places in the Twin Cities, but this will always be my favorite. Though there are quite a few branches around the cities, I fell in love with the only sit-down location in Highland Park. Their Neapolitan-style pizzas are topped with San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and more fantastic ingredients, and then fired in a wood-burning oven at a blistering 800 degrees for 90 to 120 seconds.

Perhaps the only thing more impressive to Portnoy in this video than Punch Pizza's Neapolitan Pizza is the Christmas lights still up in February in St. Paul. "House after house after house after house after house...they're never taking their Christmas lights down!. I've never seen anything like it!. " Finally getting to the pizza, he's not blown away. "Neapolitan-style pizza, it all tastes the same. It's all, like, a 6.8.

With 10 area locations from Maple Grove to St. Paul, some of the best pizza in the Twin Cities is closer than you think. Punch has been firing pizzas in wood-burning ovens at a blistering 900 degrees for years, and they never disappoint. Punch uses the same techniques that Neapolitan masters use to create a truly authentic pizza experience, and it’s on all three of my kids’ go-to lists for dining out.

Punch Neapolitan Pizza is a must-visit for pizza lovers in St. Paul, and the good news is that they're also dog-friendly!. The outdoor seating area is a great place to dine with your pup, and the restaurant even offers water bowls for thirsty dogs. When it comes to pizza, Punch is known for its thin crust and delicious toppings, such as the Margherita or the Salsiccia.

It would be impossible to create this list without mentioning Punch Pizza. Punch is one of the very few pizzerias outside of Italy with the Vera Pizza Napoletana certification, so you can be assured it is authentic. I have eaten at the best pizzeria in Naples (yes, the one famously shown in Eat, Pray, Love) and Punch is just as delicious!

So this one is a chain and has started spreading outside of the Twin Cities and even outside of MN, but it started here and will forever be one of our favorites. Neapolitan style pizza made the right way. Wood burning ovens brought from Italy and bufala mozzarella is flown in weekly.

Originating in Saint Paul, Punch Pizza has grown to include 10 locations. With one on Grand and one on Cleveland, you have double the options on where to indulge in delicious Neapolitan pizza fresh from a 900-degree wood-burning oven.