Greenville voters have decided this restaurant has the best pizza in the city. Here’s why

Potito Leccese may have Anglicized his first name to Pat but there is no mistaking his roots — not far from Campania in Southern Italy — or his ability to create authentic Italian food.

Just ask the people who voted in The State’s best pizza poll — Greenville edition.

His Belladina’s Pizzeria in downtown Greenville was the overwhelming favorite.

It is a family owned business that opened in 2020, during the pandemic, and has been plugging away with Detroit-Style Pizza, a classic Margherita Pizza with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and olive oil from a Stockton, California, grower.

The Vesuvio Pizza has San Marizano tomatoes, hot cherry peppers, Italian sausage, pancetta, fresh garlic and fresh honey.

He also makes stromboli and paninis. Eggplant parm, anyone?

You can also get pizza by the slice.

Leccese, 69, has been in the restaurant business for 53 years. He’s cooked in Brooklyn, Myrtle Beach, Charleston and was taken with Greenville after visiting his brother.

He has worked to stay true to “the Italian Ways and offer the same Old School ways that I experienced growing up.”

“I try to make people happy with food,” Leccese said.

One of his secrets to success could be his commitment to keep learning. Even after more than half a century he thinks about ways to make his recipes taste even better.

The name Belladina’s is a tribute to his granddaughters, Karabella and Sabadina.

The Whaley Group, a real estate company, says on its Living in Greenville website, “What makes Belladina’s truly unique is the combination of family heritage, authentic Italian recipes, and a wide variety of pizza styles you won’t find everywhere.”

It is the No. 1 ranked pizza place in Greenville on Yelp.

One Yelper said, “My pizza was made quickly and served piping hot! It had really good, fresh, and tasty ingredients. I asked for cherry peppers and this was the first time I’ve ever gotten cherry peppers without getting any stem - I loved this! The heat and flavor of them was great too. The crust was perfect! A slight crisp and a great flavor and not too thick. Sauce and cheese were excellent as well. Highly recommend pizza here!”

The other top restaurants in The State’s poll were Sidewall Pizza in downtown Greenville, Antonio Bertolo’s Pizza and Wine Bar, Myles Pizza Pub and Bertolo’s Pizza on Pelham.