Columbus, Georgia found its pizza soul when a fourth-generation Italian-American named Leo DiCesaris decided to bring authentic New York brick oven pizza to the South: Cerrone’s Brick Oven Pizzeria
With a genuine brick oven transported from New York and recipes passed down through his family lineage, DiCesaris transformed what started as a passion project into Columbus’s most celebrated pizzeria.
His dedication to traditional techniques and imported Italian ingredients has earned world-class recognition, making Cerrone’s a true gem in Georgia’s dining landscape.
How Cerrone’s They Won Locals’ Hearts
Cerrone’s captured Columbus hearts through genuine authenticity and uncompromising quality.
Leo DiCesaris didn’t just open another pizza restaurant—he brought his family’s century-old traditions from Ellis Island immigrants Giovanni and Carmello Cerrone straight to Veterans Parkway.
The secret wasn’t just the New York-built brick oven or imported Italian ingredients, but DiCesaris’s commitment to hand-making everything daily using traditional methods from Italy’s Abruzzo region.
What truly sealed their reputation was DiCesaris’s competitive spirit and perfectionist approach.
After years of placing well but never quite getting the finish they were after, Cerrone’s finally broke through when DiCesaris became the 2025 World Pizza Champion in the Non-Traditional Division.
His award-winning creation featured week-long fermented dough using yeast harvested from apples, grapes, and pears, topped with hickory and cherry smoked mozzarella, Spanish Ibérico chorizo, and garnished with pistachios, pears, and aged Manchego. 🏆
This world title, combined with multiple “Best in the Southeast” honors, proved that Columbus locals had discovered something truly extraordinary.
Food Highlights
- The Alla Vodka: This sophisticated pie combines fresh mozzarella with house-made vodka cream sauce crafted using Belvedere Vodka, accompanied by fresh seasoned crimini mushrooms and imported Prosciutto di Parma, finished with a fresh basil garnish for an elevated Italian experience.
- Smoking Cerrone: Their signature creation features smoked mozzarella and roasted red pepper cream sauce, enhanced with hand-pinched Italian sausage, oven-roasted red bell peppers, fresh chopped basil, and red onions for a complex flavor profile that balances smokiness with fresh ingredients.
- Quattro Formaggi (Four Cheese): A cheese lover’s dream featuring fresh mozzarella, plum tomato sauce, and a rich blend of imported provolone, creamy ricotta, aged Parmesan, and sharp Asiago cheese, creating layers of complementary dairy flavors in true Italian tradition.
- Bianca (White Pie): This sauceless masterpiece showcases 100% whole milk mozzarella, imported provolone, and rich ricotta cheese, topped with delicate Prosciutto Di Parma and finished with 100% extra virgin olive oil for a pure expression of quality ingredients.
- Spicy Hawaiian: Their creative twist on the controversial classic features fresh mozzarella, house-aged tomato sauce, spicy capicola, fresh pineapple, jalapeños, and a drizzle of hot infused honey, balancing sweet, spicy, and savory elements perfectly.
Atmosphere
Cerrone’s offers a comfortable, family-friendly environment that feels authentically Italian without pretension.
The restaurant features both indoor seating and outdoor patio options, with the dramatic centerpiece being their genuine brick oven imported from New York. 🎵
The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between casual neighborhood joint and serious pizzeria, where locals feel like family and visitors immediately understand why this place has such a devoted following.
Guests enjoy classic music playing softly in the background while watching pizzaiolos craft each pie by hand.
The space accommodates families with highchairs available, while also serving as a welcoming spot for couples and friends to share craft beers, Georgia wines, and world-class pizza.
Bottom Line
- World Champion Quality: Home to the 2025 World Pizza Champion, proving you’re getting internationally recognized excellence
- Authentic Family Recipes: Fourth-generation Italian-American traditions using imported ingredients and time-honored techniques
- Hand-Crafted Daily: Everything made fresh each day, from hand-pinched sausage to house-made sauces
- Award-Winning Recognition: Multiple “Best in Southeast” titles and top International Pizza Challenge placements
- Unique Imported Oven: Genuine New York brick oven creating that distinctive smoky flavor profile
- Local Community Focus: Family-owned business deeply rooted in Columbus with genuine care for every customer
Address: 7830 Veterans Pkwy Suite G, Columbus, GA 31909
📞 (706) 221-2778
🕔 Mon-Thu & Sat 3:00 PM–8:30 PM, Fri-Sat 3:00 PM–9:30 PM (Closed Sun)