SC pizza shop pinches first-place prize at Pizza World Cup in Rome. Here’s where, what to know
A Conway, South Carolina, pizzeria has brought home top international honors, winning first place in the focaccia category at the prestigious Pizza World Cup in Rome, Italy.
Anto’s Pizza Romana and Italian Market, owned by Anthony Ludovici-DeBrigida, took home the title in their first international competition after competing against elite teams from Italy, France and beyond.
The global competition, which draws some of the world’s best pizza makers, awarded the Conway-based eatery for its expertly crafted Roman-style focaccia dough, putting this South Carolina pizza destination on the map.
Ludovici-DeBrigida also competed in the margherita, Roman and pala metro pizza categories, with this win in the focaccia category coming about a year after opening their doors in Oct. 2024.
What sets Anto’s dough apart?
Ludovici-DeBrigida honed his craft at the Scuola Italiana Pizzaioli, translated as the Italian Pizza Maker School.
A big part of what makes Anto’s dough special is invisible to the average customer. Suspended above the back kitchen door is a piece of high-tech equipment that looks like it belongs in a science lab: a NY WaterMaker filtration system.
This system alters South Carolina water to mimic the properties of New York water. NY WaterMaker customizes each unit by testing local water samples and adjusting for mineral content, helping Ludovici-DeBrigida achieve the crisp, chewy dough texture that New York pizza is famed for.
On the menu, folks will find thin and crispy New York-style pies and Roman-style squares that are light, airy and crisp squares using imported Italian flour. They also offer sandwiches, salads and fried dough sweets.
About the Pizza World Cup
The Pizza World Cup states it is a prestigious culinary competition providing chefs with a space to celebrate pizza.
Founded 23 years ago by Director Mario Folliero and Maestro Alfredo Folliero, the event celebrates the global diversity of pizza-making, inviting chefs to present pies rooted in their own culture and creativity.
Entries are judged by a jury of world-renowned chefs and pizza masters, with scoring based on technical skill, taste and cooking technique.
Anto’s is located at 1129 3rd Avenue in Conway. The shop is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. – or until the dough runs out.
This story was originally published October 19, 2025 at 5:09 AM with the headline "SC pizza shop pinches first-place prize at Pizza World Cup in Rome. Here’s where, what to know."
