It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Aaron Fiorini dreams of pizza. A Spokane native with Italian heritage, Fiorini grew up cooking and says he became “infatuated” with pizza. As a child, he often dined at Five Mile Heights Pizza Parlor, a once-beloved spot in North Spokane. Though that restaurant has long since closed, much of its legacy lives on in Market Street Pizza.

“Pretty much everything we’ve built over here all came from my childhood love of the classic pizzerias that had all the arcade games,” Fiorini says.

Even Fiorini’s love story with his wife and now business partner, Angel, stems from pizza. The two both grew up in the Hillyard neighborhood and reconnected shortly after high school when Fiorini ordered pizza, and Angel happened to be the delivery person.

“I guess you could say it was love at first slice,” he says with a smile. “My wife is the backbone of the business. She’s the one that does the day-to-day — the payroll, the taxes and the logistical nightmare of running a restaurant.”

Fiorini describes himself as the “dreamer.” He created the menu for Market Street Pizza using his own recipes. Through careful research of other pizzerias and hand selection of all his ingredients, Fiorini created a niche for Market Street’s pizzas.

“I practiced pizza every day,” he says. “I looked into who makes the best pizza. I’m goal-focused on doing an Italian-American pizza, what everybody considers New York-style. Then, I started learning the regions of pizza. I started learning I actually didn’t want New York pizza. I like a more charred pizza, and not too thin crust.”

Market Street Pizza opened in November 2019, just a few months before the pandemic’s onset. Once mask and social-distancing mandates set in, Fiorini says the business was “thoroughly, absolutely [and] totally” affected.

Fiorini describes having to let staff go, give away his food stock and close the business for a month. Once he returned to the restaurant, he was on the verge of losing the building completely. That’s when the Fiorinis did some brainstorming and decided to do deliveries, including pizza, lasagnas, loaves of bread and even cocktails.

“We’re lucky enough to have food that was deliverable,” he says. “It saved us.”

Through the dedication and hard work of their crew, Market Street Pizza emerged from the pandemic, perhaps stronger than ever. They continue serving customers at their flagship Hillyard location, and now, after months of preparation, are sharing the Market Street Pizza experience with Spokane Valley at a new location near Sprague and Bowdish.

“We’ve already created a brand. You know what you’re getting when you go into a Market Street Pizza,” Fiorini says. “It’s relaxed, it’s blue collar, but you can come here and get a great martini.” (The Inlander)

Excerpt from the 2023 Inlander Best Of Readers Poll. For more Inlnader coverage, visit www.theinlander.com.

The Flying Goat is one of the most beloved pizza places in Spokane, and it's not hard to see why. Their menu is packed with delicious options, from their classic Kerri Lynn Margherita pizza to more adventurous combinations like the Kiernan, a heavy cream pie with house cheese blend, Italian sausage, over medium egg, and truffle oil tossed arugula. You might also try the Dalton pizza, made with honey apple bbq sauce, house cheese blend, pulled pork, caramelized onion and coleslaw. Yes, coleslaw on pizza. But, hey! Don't knock it til you try it.

It's not just the food that draws locals in – the atmosphere at The Flying Goat is always buzzing with energy, thanks to its prime location in the Audubon Downriver neighborhood. And during the warmer months, the restaurant's outdoor patio seating is the perfect place to enjoy a slice of pizza and a cold beer. Whether you're a Spokane native or just passing through, The Flying Goat is a must-visit destination for any pizza lover. (Visit Spokane)

If you're in the mood for authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, look no further than Versalia Pizza. This pizza spot offers a menu full of classic toppings as well as options like the Panopoulos, made with prosciutto and pineapple on savory red sauce with their classic three-cheese blend. If you're not a pineapple-on-pizza type of person, we'd also recommend trying their chicken pesto pizza as their pesto is made in-house.

But what really sets Versalia apart is their artisan thin crust, which is made with imported Italian flour and baked to perfection in a wood-fired oven. And with a location in Kendall Yards overlooking the Spokane River and the Centennial Trail, this restaurant offers stunning views to enjoy while you dine. Plus, if you can't make it to their Kendall Yards location, they also have a spot in Liberty Lake to satisfy your pizza cravings. (Visit Spokane)

Spokane is home to some truly incredible pizza places. From the family-owned Market Street Pizza to the trendy Flying Goat to the authentic Neapolitan-style pies at Versalia Pizza, each of these pizzerias has something special to offer. Whether you're a Spokane local or just passing through, a visit to one of these top-notch pizza joints is an absolute must. Gather your friends and family, try some of these delicious pies, and discover why Spokane is an undiscovered pizza destination.