We’re bringing a very important topic to the table today, folks: Pizza! The pizza slice is perhaps one of the most iconic NYC foods, and with a pizzeria (or three!) on practically every corner, it’s tough to narrow down from the good to the great.
Frankly, I’m not picky when it comes to pizza. In fact, when posed with the question “If you were on death row, what would be your last meal request?”, it’s undoubtably always going to be pizza. I’ve rarely met a slice I don’t like (and in that case, it’s probably because it’s been sitting out too long.) SO, I turned to the experts: New Yorkers themselves! Here’s what they had to say via Twitter:
Queens
Picking your favorite pizza is like picking your favorite child: Everyone has one, but no one wants to tell. I’m always on the search for a great NY slice that only locals know about. John’s of Elmhurst, Pizzeria Classica in Glendale are great ones, but my latest obsession is Mama Carmela’s in Astoria. It’s in a totally impractical spot but stays in business because of an incredible loyal, local following. Trying the slice, I loved the clean, sweet sauce and the cheese which gave me one of those burn bubbles on the roof of my mouth. It reminded me of the pizza of my childhood. – Jeff @JeffreyTastes + I Want More Food
Brooklyn
Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn for the thin style brick oven pizza. Worth traveling over to. Love the slightly charred bottom and the history behind the place. -Phil @RegularGuyNYC + The Regular Guy NYC
Manhattan
DiFaras #nycpizza best ever. Thin crunchy crust, perfect sauce, Parma and fresh basil, beautiful EVVO. Flavor burst 9.5! -Steve @ssinkoff
Margarita from Keste. The quintessential pizza done perfectly. Proof of the power of simplicity and great ingredients. -Paul @TheCityLane
After stumbling upon this rustic yet chic, chandelier clad pizza joint, Forcella Eatery, we were overjoyed by the menu. Pizza Sandwiches? WHAT. Signature Pizzas? Yes Please. Create Your Own Pie? PERF. This Naples-style brick oven pizza was crunchy, delicious and included an array of toppings to complete the perfect personal pie. Our go-to favorite, the Porta Capuana, has burrata, arugula, prosciutoo, and pecorino, need I say more? Oh and they have gluten free options! -Ricki + Sophia @chow_down_nyc
Motorino–best balance of downtown cool and purist pies! -@PieNearby
Joe’s Pizza on Carmine Street is still my favorite. -@TheGirlinNYC
Can’t deny that it’s 2 Bros. Maybe I’m just broke, but it’s only $1 a slice and pretty damn delicious. Def beats other $1 ‘za. -Shanna @BananaintheCity
My choice will be My Pie Pizzeria in Midtown East. I might be slightly obsessed with them. Sooo delish! -@FacelessNYer
Luzzo’s!! -Amanda @ManhattanTwist
Real #nycpizza at Empire Pizza…greasy, cheesy, crispy- that’s what I’m talking about! -Amelia @amelianycmadrid
Still having trouble deciding where to grab your next slice? In our quest for the best pizzeria, we came across 2 must-have apps for any NYC pizza lover that will narrow it down even more: Cheazza, which tells you where to find all the dollar slices in the city, and Real Pizza of New York, an app that gives the user the best pizza recommendations in the city, broken up by neighborhood. Buon appetitio my friends!
Jessica Tiare Bowen lives in the juicy Big Apple with her adorable pink-nosed chihuahua, Gillman. He’s the inspiration for her first published children’s book, “Park Avenue Pound Puppy.” The book is the combined result of her two greatest passions: pooches and penning stories.
Her passions include art, urban hikes through Manhattan, drinking coffee with 3 creams and 6 sugars, making extremely detailed itineraries and traveling to far away places, singing along to Broadway shows, Netflix movie nights, discovering incredible treasures at Goodwill and thrift stores, and listening to stories from little people under 7 and big people over 70.
She started her career as New York City Teaching Fellow, teaching elementary school and theater arts at a special education school in the South Bronx for 6 years. She is now a Special Education School Improvement Specialist working in public schools throughout New York City. She is the Editor-In-Chief of the online New York City travel magazine, Used York City. The magazine focuses on finding the best of New York…as used by New Yorkers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and an ASPCA Ambassador.
