The 4 Pizzerias Battling It Out for Bracket D of Our Pizza Cup

Just like a smoldering pizzeria oven, the heat is on and the competitive temperatures will continue to rise. As the sizzling deadline for the Elite Eight level of this year's Pizza Cup approaches, we're taking a look at the competitors vying to make it to that next round. That process involves 16 restaurants fighting it out in four brackets to make it to the Elite Eight. Here are the rivals for Bracket D:

The Kitchen Sink combo still reigns supreme

Kro's Nest
One of Beijing's longest-running and most widespread pizza chains, known for serving pizzas with massive diameters (12 to 28 inches anyone?) and for overloading those pies with plenty of ingredients (the aptly named Kitchen Sink being a prime example). Those of you who like the soft, wide, top-heavy crusts found in New York will enjoy what Kro's has in store for you. This helped the chain win Pizza Cup in the past.

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Luga's Villa
Another popular, long-standing Beijing brand, Luga's might be better known for its Mexican fare. But they're no slouch when it comes to the 'za. Their location just north of Dirty Bar Street also has a full Italian menu and is going strong (their more southern-situated Vietnamese/Mexican joint didn't survive this year's renovations though). You can read more about their pizza here, especially its spicy jalapeno Mexican style pies.

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Pizza Marzano
From 64th place to the Sweet 16? Yes, it can be done, a feat achieved by Pizza Marzano, vaulting several spots to become a prime contender. The chain's already established rep under their former moniker Pizza Express, of course, can't hurt. That brand has become a mainstay back in the UK, as a dominant pizza chain that is now slowly but surely earning similar success in China (you can read about their convoluted branding, rebranding and various name changes over the years in different territories in Wikipedia; for our purposes here in Beijing all you really need to know is it used to be called Pizza Express, it's now called Pizza Marzano, and it still tastes great).

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Eatalia
As the forebearers of pizza, Italians are certainly tough to top in any competition. This is especially true of Italian-run Beijing businesses that make authentic, "crisp, thin and crunchy Roman-style pizza for purists" as recently described by one of our writers. Enter Eatalia, which has locations in Di’anmen, 798 and a posh, stylish gallery-style joint near Hujialou subway station. Be it the Eatalia Margherita, Rustica, or Prosciutto e Funghi (with mozzarella, cooked ham, and mushrooms) you can't go wrong with the delicate, true-to-Rome pies at this well-regarded restaurant chain. Or, to put it more simply: "that's amore!"

Things are heating up! 16 contestants are now fighting for the Beijinger’s 2017 Pizza Cup, scan/extract the QR code below to vote. The Elite Eight will be announced on Oct 9 at 2pm.

Photos courtesy of the restaurants

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