LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) — Kentucky may not be the first state that comes to mind when thinking about pizza, but a restaurant in Louisville is putting its name on the map.

According to Fine Dining Lovers’ 50 Top Pizza USA 2022 list, Coals Artisan Pizza ranked 35 in the list of top pizzas. The pizzeria is not a newbie to the list though, ranking 43 in the previous year’s list.

Coals Artisan Pizza said they serve “fresh, regionally sourced, specialty Pizzas in a classy-yet-casual setting with a full bar, extensive wine list & local draft beers.”

The ranking is the result of a year of anonymous inspections of pizzerias located throughout the U.S. by Top 50 Pizza inspectors. The pizzerias are assessed on the quality of the dough and toppings, customer service, and the wine and beer selection offered.

To outsiders, it may come as a surprise to see a Kentucky pizzeria on the list, but for those who have dined at Coals Artisan, it’s no surprise at all.

“This is my favorite pizza restaurant in Louisville, and I have tried them all. First of all the pizza itself, particularly the crust is just different from anything I have tried before. I assume this is a result of the coal-fired oven. The crust just comes out perfectly charred and crispy, but soft on the inside,” Jason G. of Louisville said in a Yelp review.

“Such a great pizza joint! My boyfriend and I wanted something light, fresh, and thin crust — and that’s exactly what we got! The server was excellent and really friendly. The service was super quick and we received our pizza in great time. The place is very well-designed — cozy, elegant, and charming. The music was relaxing and enjoyable, really suiting the mood. We ordered a pizza our server recommended and we weren’t disappointed,” said Catherine T. another happy customer.

Coals Artisan has two locations in the city of Louisville; one in St. Matthews and one in Middletown.