After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last…read moreyear, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Benny Adelina's Pizza is the perfect example.
One of the most loved foods in America is the pizza. As a matter of fact, according to a most recent poll, pizza is officially America's favorite food. And the most popular pizza here is the Pepperoni Pizza. But where can you find the largest Pepperoni Pizza in America?
One of the places is Benny Adelina's, located at the West Lake Shopping Center next to the Kroger in Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.
Benny Adelina's is known for its oversized New York-style pizza. The New York style pizza is characterized by its thin, crisp-edged yet pliable crust, and is the dominant style for slices, because of being ideal for folding and eating on the go.
A whole pizza at Benny Adelina's is 28 inches in diameter, which is described as being like the size of "3 normally large pizzas". One slice from a 28" Benny Adelina's pizza is considered a full meal. For context, standard pizza sizes typically range from 6-8 inches for a personal size to over 18 inches for extra-large.
Benny Adelina's opened in the Summer of 2014 and is part of a New York-style pizza chain founded in 2011 by two Virginia Tech Alumni in Blacksburg, Virginia. Benny's aim was to be more than just a pizza shop, but to become a central gathering spot for students and residents in college towns and revitalized downtown areas.
Benny Adelina's, besides being the home of its large 28-inch pizzas, it is one of the homes of the famous "Virginia's Slice". A slice of pizza so big that you need two paper plates to be able to serve it. Yet a substantial slice designed for a quick and satisfying meal, at an affordable price.
A friend of mine invited me to Benny Adelina's for pizza and what I found there was more than just the largest pizza in America and the famous "Virginia's Slice." I found the realization of the dream of the pizza chain founders'. I found how a slice of one of the best pizzas that I have ever tasted and seen being made, cooked and served by friendly and knowledgeable staff who provided exceptional customer service, had become a gathering spot for people of all ages and relationships, spending quality time together, enjoying an exciting meal.
When we arrived at the West Lake Shopping Center, the place looked very clean and well-maintained. In front of the restaurant it had a large light blue sign that read "PIZZA." Then on the window next to the door it had engraved over a shape of a pizza design: Benny Adelina's ... Home of the Virginia Slice." There was an outdoor dining area with round tables with blue colored umbrellas and chairs.There was another outdoor dining area with nicer outdoor furniture under the porch ceiling.
Inside, the restaurant was very clean and yet rustic looking at the same time. Again, very well maintained. It had tables and chairs throughout, and was decorated with a Community Bulletin Board, a collage on a wall with photos taken at the restaurant of customers with their giant slice of pizza, and other framed articles about the pizza chain and about the restaurant.
As we arrived, two young ladies, Paige and Makenzie gave us a warm and friendly welcome and took our order from behind the ordering counter. My friend ordered one of their special of the day slice and I ordered a pepperoni slice and asked if they could make it pepperoni and mushroom (my favorite) and they most graciously complied. I was impressed with the quality of the dough and of the ingredients used for the toppings. My friend treated the first round of a slice and a Dr Pepper and I liked it so much that I treated a second round. By the time we had finished eating the second round I was extremely full. I don't know how one could eat a whole pizza.
Then my friend treated for ice-cream sandwiches for dessert. What a wonderful meal we had. I highly recommend this place for not only the largest slice of pizza you will ever have but also for the best pizza, an excellent customer service, and an amazing dining experience in a fun and relaxing environment.