# best pizza in NYC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 5, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155 "2006-03-05T18:10:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/41 "2006-03-07T23:22:28Z")
I have to agree that pizza from Northern NJ is the best. I’d recommend Secaucus Pizza, it’s in the middle of town. If you drive into NYC from the west on Route 3, take the service road after the bridge over the Hackensack river, hang a right after the Sunoco station, go 20 yards and make a right into the shopping center & you’re there. In Manhatten there’s a place on the northeast corner of 33rd & 3rd thats pretty good, I don’t recall the name of it. I’ll have to try Ichbin Dubist’s place in Jersey City on Newark St. although I haven’t been in JC for years. You’re going to come back and tell us who your winner is, right? ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/42 "2006-03-09T06:32:59Z")
I wouldn’t call this representative of the quintessential New York pizza, but if you want creative toppings (by the slice or by the pie), you can’t beat [Two Boots](http://www.twoboots.com/HTML/Main_HTML/Restmain.html). There you will find the “Bayou Beast,” mentioned upthread, and my personal favorite, “The Dude.” There are a few locations around town, though for authenticity I’d stick with the East Village (Avenue A) branches. The one on 3rd street is attached to a [video store](http://www.twoboots.com/HTML/Main_HTML/videomain.html) and [a movie theater](http://www.twoboots.com/pioneer/) that shows quirky independent films. It is a good way to take in the New York scene AND some good pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/43 "2006-03-09T14:46:58Z")
[QUOTE=SeeNoReason] In Manhatten there’s a place on the northeast corner of 33rd & 3rd thats pretty good, I don’t recall the name of it. [QUOTE] I think it has been replaced by a Gray’s Papaya “inspired” hot dog place recently. Hot dogs and Papaya drink – a refreshing snack between pizzas. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/44 "2006-03-09T16:45:14Z")
> [@Sir Prize](#): > > THE Ray’s is at the corner of 6th Ave and 11th Street. Glad to know it’s still there! I moved out of NYC in 1989, so I’m not up to speed on what’s still around and what’s gone the way of renovation/gentrification. Quick story: the last time I visited was 1995 on a vacation with the first Mrs. Know. We were staying with my dad on Staten Island; one night, I suggested driving into Manhattan. Going up 6th Avenue, I suggested getting some food. We pulled up to Ray’s, ordered a couple of slices, and dug in. The look on her face after that first bite was _priceless_ (she’d spent her whole life in the South). I looked her in the eye and said, “Beats the crap outta Pizza Hut, don’t it?” And as I write this and read the other posts, I am looking at the leftover Pizza Hut in my lunchbag today and getting _very_ depressed! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/45 "2006-03-09T18:08:05Z")
> [@The Swan](#): > > What kind of oven do they use if not brick? Almost every pizza place I’ve visited in NYC uses a stone, or “brick” oven. There’s the [gas ovens](http://www.abestkitchen.com/store/pizza-ovens.html) and then the [wood-fired](http://www.earthstoneovens.com/comgallery.html). And apparently there are ones that look wood-fired but are a wood/gas combo. And then, it’s the wood-fired style–thin, burnt taste, more crust showing and more delicate ingredients. It’s more popular up here in New England and I truly miss a good old NYC slice. And it’s true almost any neighborhood will have a great spot for it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/46 "2018-08-23T21:16:22Z")
Resurrecting this thread because I was in NY yesterday and had a couple of slices at NY Pizza Suprema, which has been at the top of some internet lists. It’s definitely up there among the best pizza I’ve ever had. Any updated thoughts about NYC pizza? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/47 "2018-08-23T21:28:28Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > [Grimaldi’s](http://www.grimaldis.com/brooklyn.htm) is the best pizza I’ve had in NY; just across the bridge in Brooklyn. > [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > I also second the above vote for Patsy Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn. You can walk or bike across the Brooklyn Bridge and make an afternoon of it. (It’s going to be in the 60s this weekend!) Keep in mind that you will wait in line for at least 20 minutes in all likelihood, and (like the others I mentioned, and many of those that others mentioned) they do not sell slices. You can get it to go and eat it on the waterfront, though. You’re not missing anything as far as atmosphere goes, the decor is strictly 1970s Convenience Store. For years I’d heard good things about Grimaldi’s, even mentioned on an episode of _Law & Order_, but I’ve never been. From what I can find online, the original owner sold the location and name, and opened a new place next door called Juliana’s. I’d love to try it if I ever make it back to NYC. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/48 "2018-08-23T22:33:50Z")
The thing about NYC is that if you avoid the chains it’s damn near impossible not to get a good slice of.pizza. Except for places like Totonno’s and Gimaldi’s I’d be hard pressed to give you a name. Walk down any street in the outer boroughs, to in the first pizza place you see that’s not a chain, and you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/49 "2018-08-23T22:40:23Z")
L&B Spumoni Gardens on Stillwell Ave between West 10th and West 11th in the Grave’s End section of Brooklyn. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/50 "2018-08-23T22:43:35Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > For years I’d heard good things about Grimaldi’s, even mentioned on an episode of _Law & Order_, but I’ve never been. From what I can find online, the original owner sold the location and name, and opened a new place next door called Juliana’s. I’d love to try it if I ever make it back to NYC. Right, it’s now Juliana’s, and is IMO The Best Pizza In The World. Fresh mozzarella, coal oven. Awesome. Expect to wait, and they don’t do slices. Not cheap, either. But so, so worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/51 "2018-08-23T22:48:33Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > L&B Spumoni Gardens on Stillwell Ave between West 10th and West 11th in the Grave’s End section of Brooklyn. Whoops! It’s not on Stillwell, it’s on 86th St. Darn my aging memory! ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/52 "2018-08-23T22:52:12Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > The thing about NYC is that if you avoid the chains it’s damn near impossible not to get a good slice of.pizza. Except for places like Totonno’s and Gimaldi’s I’d be hard pressed to give you a name. Walk down any street in the outer boroughs, to in the first pizza place you see that’s not a chain, and you’ll be fine. ^ this. Our first night in NYC a few years ago my son and I were hungry, so we left our hotel and hit the first pizza place within sight - Cavallo’s at 7th and W 28th, down the street from Penn station. He still measures every west coast pizza according to how good that was. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/53 "2018-08-23T22:57:00Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Whoops! It’s not on Stillwell, it’s on 86th St. Darn my aging memory! I’ve heard great things about L&B Spumoni Gardens, but have not yet tried it! Be warned, they only do Sicilian style…thick chewy dough (1/2 to 3/4 inch), covered with sauce and a little more cheese than a regular pie. My Chicago father-in-law tried Sicilian years ago and complained that it was “all bread.” ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/54 "2018-08-23T23:10:22Z")
Something new in NYC since this thread started in 2006 is the Grandma pie, aka Nonna-style. The dough is stretched into a rectangular pan, over a good juicing of olive oil, and not allowed to rise. The result is a dense, chewy underpinning, and crispy crust. This is a real treat, and is becoming a serious rival to the tradition Neapolitan style. The classic version is topped with uncooked tomatoes, herbs, and fresh mozzarella, but it’s available with anything you want. Don’t overdo the toppings, though, because the crust will collapse under them. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/55 "2018-08-23T23:16:41Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > I’ve heard great things about L&B Spumoni Gardens, but have not yet tried it! > > Be warned, they only do Sicilian style They do round also. Picked up a few Sicilian and a round a few weeks ago. Not a fan of their Sicilian. Too doughy for me. Their round id just okay. iiandyiiii resurrected this thread regarding Pizza Suprema. Meh. Overly sweet sauce. Really sweet! Not much flavor otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/56 "2018-08-23T23:22:27Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Something new in NYC since this thread started in 2006 is the Grandma pie, aka Nonna-style. Nah. Maybe they weren’t as popular, but I remember ordering them forever. Here’s an article from 2003: > **[Stories in the Garden • Brooklyn Paper](https://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories-in-the-garden/?story=26%2F34%2F26_34lavillapizzeria.html)** > > Come to the Hoyt Street Association’s free “Stories in the Garden” series, every Tuesday at 7 p.m., now to July 29 at the Hoyt Street ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/57 "2018-08-23T23:34:13Z")
La Villa DOES make good pizza, and it’s only two blocks from me. I’ve had dinner there maybe a half dozen times since 2003. But their “focaccia da Nonna” is a thick crust, similar to Sicilian. Which you get if you give a nonna crust time to rise in the pan. I wouldn’t kick it out of bed, but it’s not the nonna-style that started popping up around 7-8 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/58 "2018-08-23T23:34:56Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > ^ this. Our first night in NYC a few years ago my son and I were hungry, so we left our hotel and hit the first pizza place within sight - Cavallo’s at 7th and W 28th, down the street from Penn station. He still measures every west coast pizza according to how good that was. When my sons and I got to Port Authority late one evening we turned our nose up at the Sbarro’s, even though we were starving. Catty-corner from the exit their was a parlor so small people were elbow to elbow. It was so good I wanted to slap my grandmother. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/59 "2018-08-23T23:37:49Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > La Villa DOES make good pizza, and it’s only two blocks from me. Which one? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155/60 "2018-08-23T23:41:48Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > When my sons and I got to Port Authority late one evening we turned our nose up at the Sbarro’s, even though we were starving. Catty-corner from the exit their was a parlor so small people were elbow to elbow. It was so good I wanted to slap my grandmother. Was it Kiss My Slice on the corner of 8th and 40th? Really good NYC style pizza! This is a pic of a slice I had their last Friday. > **[20180819 232156 hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/Qj80CxY)** > > Image 20180819 232156 hosted in ImgBB [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-nyc/347155.md?page=4)