Look, I’ll say it straight: I ate a comical amount of pizza for this list, and the stretch of highway around Pineville’s Carowinds exits has never looked so good. You’ve got your post-ride slices at Empire, the game-day chaos of Carolina Steel, and then the fancy cocktail situation at Postino that feels like it belongs in SouthPark.

My stomach kept a brutal scorecard. The crust at Intermezzo alone is worth the drive.

So, grab a friend and clear your schedule. Here’s the rundown on where to get your fix.

Empire Pizza Pineville

Highlights
Great pizza slices
Huge, clean space
Plenty of parking
Full bar and games
Solid for hangouts

Empire Pizza is the kind of place you walk into and immediately go, "oh, this is where we're hanging out." The space is huge and clean, which matters when you're dragging a crew along. The slices are great, honestly some of the best in town for a quick bite. Plenty of parking, so no circling the lot like a weirdo. And there's a full bar plus games, which turns a simple pizza run into an accidental two-hour hangout. Solid choice if you want options without the fuss. I left full and slightly more social than I arrived.

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Wolfman Pizza

Highlights
Best pizza ever, period
Incredible, speedy service
Delicious wolf bites too
Fun werewolf theme
Staff treats you like family

Wolfman Pizza flat-out ruined me for other pizza. The best pie I've ever had, period. The crust has this perfect chew, the sauce is tangy, and the cheese just melts right. Service was incredibly speedy, which is rare when the place is busy. And the wolf bites? Delicious little things, get them. The whole werewolf theme is goofy and fun, but the staff treat you like family, so it never feels gimmicky. I walked in as a customer and left feeling like a regular. That's good eating and good company all in one.

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Vito's Pizza Shop

Highlights
Hot, fresh, tasty pizza
Excellent garlic sauce
Great cheese bread
Quick, hot delivery

Vito's Pizza Shop gets points for speed and heat. My pizza arrived hot, fresh, and tasting like it just came out of the oven, even though I ordered delivery. The garlic sauce is excellent, the kind you want to drink with a straw. And the cheese bread? A carb bomb of happiness. It's not fancy, but it hits the spot every single time. Quick delivery too, which is huge when you're starving and impatient like me. If you want a reliable, tasty, no-drama pizza night, Vito's has your back. Just have napkins ready, it's messy and glorious.

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Kit’s Trackside Crafts

Highlights
Huge craft beer variety
Friendly, knowledgeable staff
Clean taproom, posted line care
Cozy indoor and outdoor seating
Perfect spot to unwind

Kit's Trackside Crafts is less about pizza and more about the beer, but hear me out. The craft beer variety is wild, like a library of hops and stouts. The staff behind the bar is friendly and shockingly knowledgeable, so you won't stand there guessing. The taproom is clean, and they actually pay attention to line care, which I respect. Cozy indoor spots and a chill outdoor seating area make it a perfect place to unwind after work. I didn't go for the pizza, but I went for the vibe and left happy. This is my new pre-dinner stop.

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Brooklyn Pizza Parlor (Colony road)

Highlights
Crust crunch, sauce spot-on
Garlic knots are the move
Reminds me of childhood
Slices need more value

Brooklyn Pizza Parlor on Colony Road brings me straight back to childhood. The crust has that perfect crunch, and the sauce is spot-on, tangy and rich. The garlic knots are the move, don't even think about skipping them. Every bite feels nostalgic, like I'm eight years old again, sitting in a booth with my dad. My only gripe is that the slices could be bigger for the price. But honestly, the flavor makes up for it. I'll keep coming back, just maybe with a coupon app open. Solid pie, good memories, worth the trip.

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Carmella's Fort Mill

Highlights
Best gluten-free pizza ever
Warm, flavorful gyro toppings
Fantastic service from Stephanie
Crispy waffle fries done right
Tasty buffalo chicken option

Carmella's in Fort Mill surprised me in the best way. The gluten-free pizza is the best I've ever had, and I've had some sad cardboard versions. This one actually holds up. I tried the gyro toppings, warm and flavorful, which is a fun twist. The service from Stephanie was fantastic, she made the whole visit a breeze. And the waffle fries? Crispy and done right, not soggy like most places. Also, the buffalo chicken option is tasty if you want some heat. This place cares about detail, and it shows. I'd drive the extra few minutes for this.

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Librettos Pizzeria

Highlights
Game-day energy rocks
Catering crew pleaser
Thick, meaty sandwiches
Pesto pasta salad wins

Librettos Pizzeria gets the game-day energy right. The place rocks on game days, full of cheering fans and good vibes. But they also do catering, which apparently makes everyone happy at parties. I grabbed a thick, meaty sandwich and it was hefty enough to feed a small army. The pesto pasta salad is the real winner, though, creamy and herby with just the right bite. This isn't my first choice for a plain slice, but for a fun crowd-pleasing meal, it's hard to beat. I left stuffed and satisfied.

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Krazy Curry - Pineville

Highlights
Great Indian food nearby
Friendly and helpful staff
Cozy, pleasant dining space
Perfect heat and flavor
Worth a return trip

Krazy Curry in Pineville isn't a pizza place, but I'm including it because it's right nearby and worth your time. The Indian food is great, full of perfect heat and deep flavor. The staff is friendly and helpful, even when I asked a dozen questions. The dining space is cozy and pleasant, not too loud, not too cramped. I got a good sense of the place and left planning my return trip. It's a nice change when you need a break from dough and cheese. Just saying, keep it on your radar.

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Flip-a-Lo’s

Highlights
Solid pizza, sloppy service
Crispy tenders, missing flavor
Sauces save the show
Hot, seasoned fries shine
Fun spot, not wing champs

Flip-a-Lo's is a mixed bag, but not a bad one. The pizza is solid, nothing mind-blowing but it does the job. The service was sloppy, though, slow and a bit scattered. The chicken tenders are crispy but missing flavor, so they lean on the sauces to save them. And the sauces do save the show, honestly. The fries are hot, seasoned, and shine bright. It's a fun spot to hang out, but they're not the wing champs of Pineville by any stretch. I'd come back for the fries and the vibe, just not for top-tier food.

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Intermezzo

Highlights
Top three pizzeria in city
Best pizza I’ve ever had
Great service, friendly staff
Delicious cocktails, clean restrooms
Convenient on-site parking lot

Intermezzo is in my top three pizzerias in the whole city, and I don't say that lightly. This is the best pizza I've ever had, period. The crust is blistered and chewy, the sauce is bright, and the toppings are generous. Service was great, friendly staff, quick on refills. They've got delicious cocktails too, which makes it feel fancy without being pretentious. And the restrooms are clean, which is a dealbreaker for me. Plus, there's plenty of on-site parking, so no stress. This is my new go-to for special slices. I'm already planning my next visit.

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Carolina Steel Sports Bar

Highlights
Cold cheap Iron City beer
Packed for NFL Sundays
Friendly staff, even rivals
Great food, fair prices
Tons of TVs for games

Carolina Steel Sports Bar is the move on a Sunday. NFL games everywhere you look, plus a ton of TVs so you never miss a play. The Iron City beer is cold and cheap, which is my love language. The place gets packed, but the staff handles the chaos with a smile, even when you're rooting for the rival team. I appreciated that. Food is solid and the prices are fair, so you can eat well without blowing your budget. It's loud, it's rowdy, and it's exactly what you want from a sports bar. Go for the game, stay for the vibe.

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Postino Ballantyne

Highlights
Attentive, friendly, knowledgeable staff
Great for date night
Delicious bruschetta boards
Cozy patio with wrap-around bar
Worth a return visit

Postino Ballantyne is where I take someone I want to impress. The staff is attentive, friendly, and actually knows the menu, which counts for a lot. The bruschetta boards are the real draw, piled high with creative combos that make my taste buds do a little dance. There's a cozy patio with a wrap-around bar, perfect for a slow afternoon or a classy date night. I had a delicious cocktail and my restroom check passed. It's not your typical Pineville slice joint, but it deserves a spot here for the pure quality. I'll be back, no question.

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