Valentina’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar has been ranked the No. 12 pizza restaurant in the United States by 50 Top Pizza USA for 2026, marking the third consecutive year the Madison restaurant has been recognized by the international pizza ranking guide.

According to the announcement, the restaurant also earned the organization’s Best Dessert List 2026 award during Wednesday night’s ceremony.

Owner Joe Carlucci said the recognition reflects years of work by the restaurant’s staff and support from the North Alabama community.

“To achieve this once is beyond what most pizza operators ever dream of,” Carlucci said. “To do it three consecutive years and continue climbing the rankings while representing a smaller market like North Alabama is incredibly humbling. This recognition belongs to our staff, our guests, and the entire community that has supported us since day one.”

According to 50 Top Pizza USA, the rankings evaluate restaurants on craftsmanship, hospitality, ingredient quality, consistency, service and overall dining experience. The annual rankings include restaurants from major culinary markets such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami.

Una Pizza Napoletana in New York City claimed the top spot, followed by Pizzeria Sei in Los Angeles and Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco, which tied for second place.

“What makes this special is where we’re doing it,” Carlucci said. “We’re not in Manhattan or downtown Chicago. We built this one guest at a time, one pizza at a time, and we’re proud to represent Alabama on a national stage.”

Valentina’s is located on Huntsville Brownsferry Road in Madison.