Punch Pizza, a Neapolitan pizzeria chain with a shop in Woodbury, has excelled to Round 2 of the 2021 Pizza Bracket Challenge.

The 2021 Pizza Bracket Challenge is courtesy of Minnesota Monthly. It is a virtual competition in which state residents vote for their favorite pizzerias until the “most popular pizza in Minnesota” is determined. Minnesota Monthly’s editorial team nominated a variety of businesses for the tournament. The bracket included oldies but goodies, young restaurants, and even pizzerias in close proximity to Cottage Grove.

Situated in Woodbury, MN are franchises of Red’s Savoy Pizza (Queens Dr), Davanni’s (Donegal Dr), Punch Pizza (City Centre Dr), and Pizzeria Pezzo (Valley Creek Rd). Green Mill Restaurant and Bar is pinpointed on Hudson Rd in Woodbury as well as Vermillion St in Hastings, MN. These are the local pizza places that were featured in the 2021 Pizza Bracket Challenge.

The first round of voting launched on June 21 and ended on June 27. In this match, all 32 of Minnesota Monthly’s nominees were pinned up against one another. The Journal focused on where the pizzerias close to Cottage Grove were positioned in the tournament. It was Red’s Savoy Pizza versus Cossetta Alimentari, Davanni’s versus Red Wagon Pizza, Punch Pizza versus ElMar’s New York Pizza, Pizzeria Pezzo versus Fire & Nice Alehouse, and Green Mill versus Parkway Pizza during that week. After Round 1, Punch Pizza was the only nearby business that advanced to Round 2.

The Journal reached out to Punch Pizza in Woodbury. They refrained to comment on the matter.

Will Punch Pizza be deemed as the most popular pizza in Minnesota? To know how Minnesota Monthly’s Pizza Bracket Challenge progresses or to vote, one can navigate to minnesotamonthly. com/pizza. Round 2 finished on July 4. By July 25, Rounds 3-5 will have wrapped up. A victor will be announced on Monday, July 26.