Mayo brothers feted at world's top pizzeria awards

Galway’s The Dough Bros have been crowned one the finest pizzerias in the entire world this week, and the single best in the country.

The Dough Bros, run by Ronan and Eugene Greaney, who grew up in Swinford, journeyed to Naples for the Top 50 Pizza event and were listed as the No. 79 best pizzeria in the world.

They were also named the Top Pizzeria in Ireland 2022 with judges citing their “dough is made to perfection and the selection of raw ingredients is always top quality.”

The 50 Top Pizza is an online guide to the best pizzerias in Italy and the world, without preference to style.

The guide is inspired by the general concept of quality in its broadest sense giving preference to establishments that use locally sourced and seasonal products.

The inspectors for the guide, one thousand experts spread throughout the world, are invited to consider each pizzeria on the whole, and to make an assessment based on its capacity to guarantee the well-being of the customer based on their informed selection from the menu.

Then, the visits to the pizzerias are carried out anonymously.

On Monday of last week, they flew back to Naples, where they fell in love with pizza as kids, where Ronan trained in 2015 and where they go often to try pizzerias and get inspiration.

“We have flown across the world to New York, Italy, Copenhagen to eat and soak up what these guys do. We have ordered their cookbooks. And there we are on stage with them,” remarked Eugene.

These awards are judged on the quality of the pizza (leavening and primary ingredients), the service, the location, the wait, and the beverage lists.

“We have some of the best dairy, meat, veg in the world right here, on our doorstep. So why can't one of the world's best Pizzerias be right here in Galway, on the west coast of Ireland?

"Sounded crazy but that has been our goal from day one, and now we have seen that materialise,” he added.

The Bros were joined by their mother Eileen and sister Ailise, who have been there with them from the start when they were a humble food truck and operating at the various markets learning their trade.

Eugene reflected a very focused mindset from the outset.

“We started with a mission to change people’s perceptions of what pizza could be when it's done right.

"When it's done with craft, dedication and the best of Irish ingredients. We wanted to shake things up in the Irish Pizza scene but also to put Irish Pizza on the international map.

“After our training in Naples in 2015, and numerous trips to Italy, the States and more, we had a quiet confidence in the Irish Food scene and felt what some of our peers were doing here at home was up there with anything we had tried.

"The Irish food scene gave us huge confidence and inspired us like nowhere else. We started to ask why the best Pizzerias in the world have to always be in Naples, New York, London? And now Ireland and Galway is there.”

The Bros had also already been named the Best in Ireland at the 2021 awards, and held onto their title.

There was big praise too for their pivot during 2020 for their at home pizza kits, which proved a huge hit when lockdown kept people from their favourite restaurants.

You can find The Dough Bros who have just renovated their base at Cathedral Buildings on Middle Street and at O’Connells Bar in Eyre Square in Galway. They open Tuesday to Sunday from 12 noon to 10 p.m.