Italy and America Go to the Mattresses for the Title of 2017 Pizza Cup Champion

It's all come down to this: over 100 pizzerias whittled all the way down to the very top two. And it really was an edge-of-your-seat showdown in the Final Four, with no predictable front-runners as Tube Station faced off with Bottega and Pie Squared had a stare-down with Eatalia.

In the end, Bottega and Pie Squared won in their respective brackets, meaning the Neapolitan pie purveyors will square off against the Detroit-style pizzeria for the title of 2017 Pizza Cup champion.

To make it to the final round, returning champ Bottega kicked off the 2017 Pizza Cup by thawing out Frost, chai-ing Hutong Pizza, defeating their fellow Italian eatery La Pizza, before sending Tube Station on an outbound train.

Pie Squared had an underdog status that continued to surprise onlookers, as the popular-for-its-neighborhood, but comparatively less-known restaurant staved off Eudora Station, leaped over Great Leap, gave Gung Ho! the old heave-ho, and defeated Eatalia.

Now it's a time for you to decide: should this year's winner be the formidable returning champ, or an ever-tenacious dark horse? 
 

To vote for this year's champion, scan the QR code below!
Voting closes at noon on Oct 19

To get a better visual of how your favorite pizzerias fared throughout each round of voting, check out this bracket-by-bracket map:

In terms of other fresh-out-the-oven stats: New York-style pizza was voted the most popular pie variety at about 51 percent, with Neapolitan coming in second at 36 percent (which sadly didn't help the American-style Tube Station beat Italian restaurant Bottega). Chicago deep-dish was a close third at 35 percent, being followed by Roman at 29, Sicilian at 25, and Detroit at 23. 

We also asked you in the last round to rank the contestants that didn’t make it into the Final Four. Here's what you had to say, and these rankings serve as these venues' final standings in the 2017 Pizza Cup:

5. Gung Ho! Pizza
6. Annie's
7. La Pizza
8. Kro's Nest

Add these to our previously settled rankings and you have the complete list of Beijing's best pizzas, right through #105:

9. Great Leap Brewing #45
10. Pyro Pizza
11. Ramo
12. The Local
13. Pizza Marzano
14. Luga's Villa
15. Hutong Pizza
16. Yummy Box
17. Q Mex
18. The Tree
19. Pizza Saporita
20. Papa John's
21. Pizza Factory
22. Tiago
23. Mao Mao Chong
24. Paddy O'Shea's
25. Pizza View
26. Tavola
27. Xian at East, Beijing
28. Frost
29. Bene
30. Eudora Station
31. VSports
32. Agrilandia
33. Sureno 
34. Flypizza & Hoodakdak Chicken 
35. Mio, Four Seasons Hotel 
36. Bocca Della Verita 
37. Grandma's Kitchen 
38. Stuff'd 
39. Vineyard Café 
40. The Rug 
41. Yellow Cab 
42. Pizza Hut 
43. Tim's Texas BBQ 
44. Pizza by LMPlus 
45. Domino's 
46. New York Style Pizza 
47. Lily's American Diner 
48. Lakers 
49. Passby Bar 
50. Mr Pizza 
51. Pizza Buona 
52. The Irish Volunteer 
53. Nasca Cafe 
54. Jazz-Ya 
55. Scott's Family Ristorante Italiano 
56. Radici 
57. Fratelli Fresh 
58. Legend Beer 
59. La Rucola 
60. 789 (A-Life)
61. Buddy Bar 
62. Jushi Pizza Just in Time! 
63. Le Fromager de Pékin 
64. Leos Pizza 
65. Tribe 
66. iFresh Pizza 
67. Panda Brew 
68. Ahava Bistro + Café 
69. Alley Ale Taproom 
70. Botany 
71. Flying Kangaroo 
72. Max Pizza 
73. Miss Pizza 
74. Elisa's 
75. Four Ace 
76. Napa 
77. Park 17 
78. The Veggie Table 
79. 1st Floor 
80. Atta BJ 
81. Ebeiguo 
82. Via Roma, Kempinski Hotel 
83. Mrs Shanen's / Green Cow Cafe 
84. Loft Eatalicious  
85. BK's Tavern 
86. Doppio Sete Pizza 
87. Yun Brew 
88. Nine Road Pizzeria 
89. Assaggi 
90. PBD Pizza Bar 
91. Peter Pan 
92. Casalingo 
93. Isola 
94. Pizza Now 
95. Pizza Maru 
96. FA Cafe 
97. Michael’s Place 
98. Whale's Pizza 
99. Mix's Italian Grill 
100. Charlie's 
101. Pomona 
102. Prego, Westin Financial Street 
103. Ricci Café 
104. Kitchen Igosso 
105. Byone

Check back here on Thursday for news about the champion, and don't forget to vote for your favorite in the meantime!

Images: the Beijinger