Murphy’s pizza game is a weird, wonderful gamble. You can grab a life-changing white pie at Angelo’s, then wander into a place on Hiwassee Street that serves warm cheese on cardboard and calls it a day.

I’ve eaten my weight in mediocre slices here, so trust the list. We’re talking fennel-kick sausage at Cuzzino’s and a pistachio pasta at Ciao Bella that humbles the entire downtown strip.

One bite will make you forgive the parking lot at Sal’s. The other will make you swear off chains forever.

Go forth and order boldly.

Cuzzino's Cafe & Pizzeria

Highlights
Fresh dough, generous toppings
Authentic Italian sausage flavor
Friendly owner and staff
Creative specialty pizza combinations
Tender crust, standout quality

I walked into Cuzzino's expecting a standard slice. I was wrong. The crust is a marvel, tender with just enough chew. Toppings are generous, not scattered like an afterthought. The Italian sausage has a real fennel kick, a proper old-school flavor. The owner actually came by to check on us, a rare thing these days. Their specialty pies? Creative without being absurd. You want a solid, honest pizza in Murphy? This is the place. I’d order the whole thing again. And again.

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Ciao Bella

Highlights
Pistachio pasta and martini
Authentic Italian, years-best
Holly's bartending, delicious martinis
Surprising find in Murphy

I went to Ciao Bella for the pizza. I stayed for the martini. Holly, the bartender, pours a mean one, icy and precise. But let's talk about the pistachio pasta, because that's the real revelation. It's creamy, nutty, and completely unexpected. The pizza is good, authentic Italian, but it's the side dishes that steal the show. This place feels like a genuine surprise in Murphy, a little pocket of Italy that you stumble upon. I'll be back. With an empty stomach.

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Downtown Pizza Co

Highlights
Salad bar worth the trip
Toppings fresh, generous, varied
Cheese pizza is serviceable
Staff diligent with salad bar
Takeout boxes, dirty tables

Downtown Pizza Co. The pizza is decent, serviceable even. The cheese pizza is fine, nothing to write home about. But the salad bar? That's the real draw. Fresh, well-stocked, and surprisingly good. The staff keep it clean and organized, which is a small miracle. I noticed the takeout boxes were a bit grimy, though. That's a detail that matters. If you're just in for the salad bar, you'll be happy. If you come for the pizza, you might leave wondering what the fuss is about.

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Mariolino's Italian Cuisine

Highlights
Reliable quality, year after year
Swift seating even on holidays
Fair prices, easy parking
Dishes executed with precision
Portions that demand a stretcher

Mariolino's Italian Cuisine is a study in consistency. The quality is reliable, year after year. Even on a busy holiday, they get you seated quickly, which is no small feat. The portions are generous, almost laughably so, and the prices won't break the bank. The dishes are executed with precision, each plate looking like it was plated by a professional. It's not flashy, but it's dependable. Sometimes that's exactly what you want.

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Sal's Brooklyn Pizza

Highlights
Beats big chains easily
Worth the parking lot gamble
Owner’s humor is free
One bite, pure delight
Makes you wish you lived closer

Sal's Brooklyn Pizza claims to beat the big chains. I'll give them that. The pizza is solid, with a real New York quality. The owner has a sharp sense of humor, and the whole experience feels authentic. But arriving is a gamble. The parking lot is a mess, and you might find yourself circling for a spot. Still, one bite of that slice, and you'll forget the hassle. It might even make you wish you lived closer. A worthy pilgrimage.

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Valley River Brewery

Highlights
Stout and Porter shine
Pierogies cooked to perfection
Handcrafted sausage plate triumphs
Vast, delicious beer selection
Pizza polarizes, cheese overload

Valley River Brewery is a beer lover's paradise. The stout and porter are exceptional, rich and full-bodied. They also have a surprising selection of pierogies, cooked perfectly. The sausage plate is a triumph, a hearty, savory feast. But the pizza? It's polarizing. Some might love it, others might find it lacking. The cheese overload is indulgent, but it might be too much for a purist. Go for the beer, enjoy the pierogies, and approach the pizza with an open mind.

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Mountain Vale Lodge

Highlights
Best burger and grilled cheese
Amazing vibes, friendly staff
1950’s Mai Tai recommended
Bartending classes starting soon

Mountain Vale Lodge is an unexpected find. The burger is arguably the best in Murphy, and the grilled cheese is a childhood dream. The staff are friendly, and the whole vibe is welcoming. They even have a 1950's Mai Tai that's worth trying, a sweet, retro cocktail. If you're looking for a new skill, they're starting bartending classes soon. It's not a pizza place, but you didn't come here for pizza. You came for the comfort food, and you'll leave satisfied.

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The Mason Bar

Highlights
Solid food, lively crowd
Cuban midnight hits fresh
Quick Friday seating available
Friendly staff, festive lights
Bar selection, cocktail misses

The Mason Bar is a lively spot. The crowd is energetic, the food is solid, and the Friday night seating is surprisingly quick. The Cuban midnight sandwich is a standout, fresh and flavorful. The staff are friendly, and the festive lights add a nice touch. The bar selection is decent, though the cocktails are a bit hit or miss. Drink a beer, soak in the atmosphere, and grab a sandwich. Skip the fancy cocktails.

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Yogi's Neighborhood Grill

Highlights
Dog-themed decor honoring Yogi
Warm, attentive service from staff
Appalachian Honey Clouds standout
Generous kids’ pancake option
Biscuits and gravy worth revisiting

Yogi's Neighborhood Grill is a quirky, dog-themed spot with a warm heart. The service is genuinely attentive, and the decor is a loving tribute to a good boy. The Appalachian Honey Clouds are a must-try, a sweet, unique treat. The kids' pancake option is generous, and the biscuits and gravy are some of the best I've had. It's not a pizza joint, so come for the comfort food and leave your pizza expectations at the door.

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Papa's Pizza To Go

Highlights
Out-of-this-world cooked pizza
Handmade breadsticks, genuinely delicious
Calzones that win spouses
Friendly chaos, worth the wait

Papa's Pizza To Go is chaotic, I'll admit. The place is a buzz of activity, and you might wait a few extra minutes. But that wait is worth it. The pizza is cooked to perfection, with a crispy crust and fresh toppings. The breadsticks are handmade, genuinely delicious, and the calzones might just win you over. This is a place that earns its chaos through quality. Go hungry, be patient, and you'll be rewarded.

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ChinaTown Buffet 福臨門

Highlights
Fresh, well-stocked buffet with wide variety.
Attentive staff constantly clearing and refilling.
Clean, welcoming atmosphere that invites repeat visits.
Standout condiment: wasabi mustard, a rare find.
Worth the drive from Blairsville, hands down.

I had low expectations. A buffet in a small town? Usually a sad affair. ChinaTown Buffet proved me wrong. The spread is vast and, shockingly, fresh. They keep the trays stocked and the tables clean, which is more than I can say for other places. The wasabi mustard is a bold condiment, a little kick that wakes up your palate. It's worth the drive from Blairsville, yes, but if you're local, you have no excuse. This is a buffet done right. No sad lettuce. Just good food.

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Angelo's

Highlights
Quality rivals St. Augustine
White cheese pizza stands out
Cozy family spot, fair prices
Service exceeds expectations
Breadsticks worth the trip

Angelo's is the kind of place you hope exists in your town. It's cozy, sure, but the pizza rivals anything I had in St. Augustine. The white cheese pie is the standout, a gorgeous blend of cheeses on a crackly crust. The service is attentive without hovering, and the prices are more than fair. If I lived here, I'd be a regular, working my way through the menu one slice at a time. The breadsticks alone are worth the trip. A true neighborhood gem.

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Main Street USA

Main Street USA. The name promises a slice of the American dream. It's not a dream. It's a room. On Hiwassee Street, this place is more about the history of the building than the pizza on your plate. The pizza is what you'd expect from a spot that seems to serve everyone who wanders in off the sidewalk. It's edible. It's warm. There's cheese. Calories consumed. The server tripped over a chair and blamed the floor. I wanted to blame the last ten minutes of my life. If you're here because you're near the courthouse, fine. Don't get lost in a false sense of nostalgia. Your mouth won't feel nostalgic.

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