NYC Pizza Recommendations by Larry

This may be our family blog, but Kim does the bulk of the content. Today, however, we have a very special post, by my favorite guy on one of his favorite topics: NYC pizza. Larry was recently asked to give his recommendations for pizza in NY. This was the result of that simple request. You may want to clear a little time as Larry has opinions. Enjoy!

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(v1.0) Updated: January 16, 2025 

Why Trust Me?

  1. I have the gene expression for “love things too much – take them too far.” 
  1. I’ve baked enough bread and pizza that over the years I have done things like approach restaurant managers to buy 50 lb sacks of their (excellent, Champlain Valley grown wheat) flour so I can bake with it at home. 
  1. My home cooked pizza is good enough that I describe it as, “could probably win my freedom in a hostage situation.” Friends agree; more than a few have told me that I’ve “ruint” their enjoyment of Civilian Pizza.
  1. Over the course of 2023 and 2024, Kim and I spent an aggregate of 15 weeks working and playing in Manhattan. Since I’m a grown-ass man with a professional salary and executive function, I was able to make lists and visit lots of pizza shops to assess their pies/slices. 
  1. These shenanigans (and other personal failings) have created the mythical man, Otto Rivers, a (mostly fake, but kinda not) tour guide. My friends like me, but they love Otto.  

Disclaimers / Negatives: My list is overly biased towards Manhattan because that is where my lodging has been while I stayed in the city the past few years. I’m only reviewing places that I have eaten and despite what my spouse will tell you, I’m not actually thrilled to ride the MTA over all 5 boroughs to try all the places I hear my fellow pizza obsessives caterwauling about. I have to save some energy for craft cocktails and guitar stores. 

Enough. Let’s not sell past the close. 

The Pizza

Things here in the city are too good for a strictly ordered list. Also, some people really like the softer/wetter Neapolitan style and others like the thinner, crisper Classic NYC styles. I mean, hell, I’m even seeing really good Detroit-style pizza here in the city. So! I’ve just divided this into “Essentials”, “Very Good”, and “Good.”

Read the descriptions, check the locations to see if it is convenient or worth the walk/train from where you are, and then go give it a shot. 

I also recommend that you use the reviews in Google Maps + blogs and/or Instagram to get more of a feeling for a place. Please remember that things like a “4.6 rating” on Google reviews can be misleading (meaning that rating under-values a place). Morons can write reviews too, you know. 

Essentials

If these places are having a non-bad day in the kitchen, then you are going to get truly world class pizza. 

  • Una Pizza Napoletana:  175 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
    • Larry notes: Dinner with the Turners
    • Style: Neopolitan
    • Reservations required. Limited walk-ins. 
    • Review: OH MY LORD. It lived up to the hype. There is a reason why fancy industry people call it the “best pizza in the world.” We ordered almost all of the pies (4 of the 5) and shared. Matched wines, ciders, and beers were good. When we ordered an espresso, they had one of the owner’s right-hand-men come up from making pizzas in the back to operate the espresso machine. Apparently it is some type of Formula 1 level of beast that the front of house staff is forbidden from operating 😀
      • The pies we tried: Margherita, Bianca, Filetti, & Daily Special.  
    • Additional notes: They are only open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The owner (Anthony Mangieri) makes every single pie. They only make as many pizzas in a night as the number of dough balls they made that day. They make enough dough for all the reservations to have 1 pie per person and they have some extra (variable) for walk-ins. For reservations you will need to use Resy, and good luck to you. They open up 2 weeks in advance at 9am and in a few minutes all the reservations are snatched up. If you queue up at the restaurant before they open then you might get a walk-in. Or heck, maybe The Lord is smiling on you that day and you just get lucky and can score a walk-in. 
    • Additional Resources
  • L’Industrie: 104 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
    • Note: Their original location is in Brooklyn. We didn’t go there, but assume it is the same quality based on reviews. 
    • 254 S 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
    • Larry notes: Multiple times with multiple groups + solo
    • Style: Modern NYC slices + whole pies
    • Walk in only. No reservations. Dining in standing up. Basically always with lines. Often long.
    • Review: As a general rule I really hate waiting in lines. I also dislike when Instagram popularity blows a place up. Doesn’t matter here. I (mostly) happily wait in line. These guys know how to do very high quality at very high volume. It is super impressive. We tried all of their pies. The burrata, bacon + fig jam, and “the New Yorker” (pepperoni, sausage, ricotta) were insanely good.
      • The pies we tried: Burrata, Fig Jam and Bacon, New Yorker, L’industrie, Margherita
    • Additional notes 1:  Perhaps the best slice (Burrata says Larry. New Yorker says Kim.) in NYC? Larry doesn’t really like to have favorite children, but Kim does; she is emphatic that this is the best NYC slice. 
    • Additional notes 2: The absolute pro move here is to have one person in your party go stand in line (but you need to know what to order) while the other goes to the Talea Beer Co next door and orders you some beers and grabs you a table. Talea will let you bring in the pizza to eat while you drink their beers. 
    • Additional Resources
  • Paulie Gee’s: 60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
    • Larry notes: dinner with the Turners
    • Style: Neo Neapolitan meets modern NYC (pies) 
    • Reservations strongly encouraged, but not required; you can get walk-ins.
    • Review: First note that there is a sister operation next door that sells slices; you can go for that as well because they are great. The main operation is a sit down restaurant with good beers. The pies here are a kind of blend of neo-neapolitan and modern NYC to my way of thinking. Lots of inventive toppings/combinations. Dough has a little bit more of a chew to it. They don’t run their ovens as hot as traditional Neapolitan, so less spring to the dough and less wet. The “Hell Boy” is a stand out pie. Also, I have something of a man crush on Paulie Gee himself.
      • The pies we tried: Hell Boy, Grapeful Dead, Sake Mountain Way, The Mootz
    • Additional Resources
  • Don Antonio: 309 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019
    • Larry notes: Multiple times with multiple groups + solo
    • Style: Neapolitan 
    • Reservations strongly encouraged, but not required; you can get walk-ins.
    • Review: This is the sister restaurant to the famous Starita in Naples, Italy. That place blew my head off and this one is equally good IMO. The move here is that you must try the Montorano Classic. They deep fry the dough, then lightly top with sauce and smoked mozz. INCREDIBLE. If you have 2 or more people, then you should also order one of their Neapolitan style pies. They are likewise fantastic. And, if you care, their owner/pizza maker (Giorgia Caporuscio) just received the 2024 Pizza Maker of the Year award by 50 Top Pizza USA.
      • The pies we tried: Montorano Classic, The Butcher, Quattro Formaggi, Diavola
    • Additional notes: They are also located near Broadway so if you are going to watch a show, I highly encourage it (but they are not in the midtown madness so you can be safe in knowing you are avoiding that particular dog pile of humanity…)  
    • Additional Resources
  • Sullivan Street Bakery: (bread is pizza, fools!) – 533 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036
    • Larry notes: Multiple times with multiple groups + solo
    • Style: Modern NYC take on Roman 
    • Walk in only. No reservations. Often with lines.
    • Review: Anger inducing. All of the breads, sandwiches, and cakes were top-of-the-pile outstanding. The olive oil cake was the best I’ve ever had. You don’t only go here for pizza (but you should try them all basically). You go because Jim Lahey (the owner and baker) is a God Who Walks Amongst Men (admittedly a strange, ADHD god that Terry Pratchett might create). And personally, watching my buddy Kevin Ege order the whole 6 foot long Pizza Bianca was amusing and lovely. A tribute to greatness.
      • The pies we tried: Mushroom, Zucchini, Potato, Pomodoro. 
    • Additional notes: Jim Lahey invented and popularized the “no knead” bread method for cooking top-shelf bread at home. 
    • Additional Resources
  • Song’E Napule: 464 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024
    • Larry notes: Dinner as a couple + with Turners
    • Style: Neapolitan 
    • Reservations strongly encouraged, but not required; you can get walk-ins
    • Review: Top notch. We have the Diavola and Eggplant w/ Sausage pies. Tiramisu and espressos for dessert. A perfect lunch meal on a perfect fall day.
      • The pies we tried: DIAVOLA, PIZZA PARMIGIANA, MELANZANE E SALSICCE, COTTO E FUNGHI
    • Additional notes: You want to come here for amazing Neapolitan pie because you can’t get into Una Pizza Napoletana and your little Instagram-heart (or obsessive Pizza Nerd-heart) is sad. You are going to get 95% of the awesomeness and be super super happy. Also I might add that this place is right next door to Jin’s Ramen – my favorite Ramen shop in NYC. Heck, this whole little stretch of Amsterdam is loaded with great food and drink. 
    • Additional Resources
  • Rubirosa: 235 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012
    • Larry notes: Dinner as a couple
    • Style: Modern NYC
    • Reservations are absolutely required. Walk-ins are limited. 
    • Review: AMAZING. We had a large pie that was split between The Tie Dye & The Supreme. The crust was crackly with a great snap. The combo of vodka, regular, and pesto on The Tie Dye was compelling. The small meatballs, cupped peperoni, and garlic on the Supreme was surprisingly good for me (was anticipating heavier ground meat. The sliced garlic gave a nice flavor and heat.
      • The pies we tried: The Tie Dye & The Supreme
    • Additional Resources
  • Prince Street Pizza: 27 Prince St A, New York, NY 10012
    • Larry notes: Multiple times with multiple groups + solo
    • Style: Sicilian squares
    • Walk in only. No reservations. Dining in standing up. Basically always with lines. Often long
    • Review: LEGENDARY. I think that the Spicy Spring is the top of the mountain. Kim thinks that the Naughty is the best. Thick pan Sicilian squares. This is one of the first places that I want to go to in NYC. Do not bother with the normal slices. Always get Sicilian style.
      • The pies we tried: Spicy Spring, The Naughty, Spicy Vodka, Fancy Prince.
    • Additional Resources
  • Juliana’s Pizza – 19 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
    • Larry notes: Lunch with the Townes
      Style: Classic NYC pies 
    • Walk in only. No reservations. Dining in standing up. Basically always with lines. Often long
    • Review: This was truly an amazing pie. Margherita is actually the star of the show. Thin , crackly perfect crust with balance of sauce. Also, their operations and building was the best of all the pizza joints we went to. Can’t wait to go back.
      • The pies we tried: Margherita, White Pizza
    • Additional notes: “We are closed each day beginning at 3:15pm to stoke our coal oven. We are unable to bake or serve pizza during this time. We reopen to new guests at 4pm.”
    • Additional Resources
      • Menu
      • New York Magazine – review (article) 
      • Rando Youtuber – review (video) 
  • L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele: 2 Bank St, New York, NY 10014
    • Larry notes: Dinner as a couple
    • Style: Neapolitan
    • Reservations strongly encouraged, but not required; you can get walk-ins
    • Review: We’ve eaten at the original in Naples. Hoping for something similar here … We got the double mozz pizza. It was thinner than I remembered. Soft. Absolutely fucking delicious. Kim’s comment (and I completely agree) is that it could have had more basil to truly put it at the top of the mountain. Such a good pie.
      • The pies we tried: MARGHERITA DOUBLE
    • Additional Resources
  • Scarr’s Pizza: 35 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
    • Larry notes: Dinner as a couple
    • Style: Modern NYC slices + whole pies
    • Reservations strongly encouraged, but not required; you can get walk-ins
    • Review: Kim and I walked in and ate at the bar. Pizza was excellent. Just ordered the cheese pie. You must go play the Mikes Hot Honey video game (a Galaga rip off with slices instead of aliens). I think the quality of the dough was very very very high. This is a take away slice shop + restaurant. Choose your own adventure.
      • The pies we tried: Original, Margherita 
    • Additional Resources
  • Joe’s Pizza: 7 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014
    • Larry notes: Multiple times with multiple groups + solo 
    • Style: Classic NYC slice
    • Walk in only. Cash only. No reservations. Dining in standing up. Basically always with lines.
    • Review: This is famous for a reason. There are always lines, but whatever, You’re in The Village. Hopefully you have some happy juice in you. Everybody from every country in the world is queued up. You are most likely going to get a movie-quality Classic NYC slice (get the cheese and get a pepperoni) and you are going to keep walking and be happy to be alive.
      • The pies we tried: Cheese, Pepperoni 
    • Additional Resources

Very Good

These pies would blow your head off in any other part of the country. They are truly excellent. 

  • Cello’s Pizzeria: 36 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003
    • Larry notes: Otto Rivers preparation 
    • Style: Modern NYC slices
    • Walk in only. No reservations. Dining in standing up or with limited tables. 
    • Review: Yeah, this was great. Similar in style and execution to L’Industrie, but a tad bit lower on the awesome scale.  I want to be careful with any qualifications here though. I would have been very happy to eat that pie after waiting in a queue. And if you ate this in Columbus Ohio, you would be shouting about it to all your friends. The singular reason that it is not in the Essentials list is that you should go walk over to L’Industrie for 5% more awesomeness. 
  • Parla: 320 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023
    • Larry notes: With Eges exploring UWS
    • Style: Modern NYC (pies only IIRC) + pastas & salads
    • Reservations strongly encouraged, but not required; you can get walk-ins
    • Review: We dropped in our UWS neighborhood for lunch before we started walking all day. It was super busy, we were second in line before the place opened. With no reservations, we sat at the bar and within 15 minutes the place was loaded with everybody. We had some apps – all good. Roasted eggplant on ricotta was great. They did a riff on arancini but used spaghetti with cacio e pepe. We had a square pie with eggplant parmigiana and a round pie with stracciatella and cherry tomatoes – both were very good but the square pie was the winner. My Hot Honey Margarita was also on point. Great neighborhood place. 
  • Motorino: 349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003
    • Larry notes: Dinner as a couple
    • Style: Neo Neapolitan 
    • Reservations strongly encouraged, but not required; you can get walk-ins
    • Review: I think I can take this out of the Pantheon (this place makes tons of “best of NYC lists”). Was merely Very Good. Kim rated it lower than me. Might be worth checking for current reviews and we simply caught them on a bad night. They persistently make these lists for a reason. 
  • Famous Original Ray’s Pizza: 811 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10065
    • Larry notes: Shared a slice while out walking The Upper East Side
    • Style: Classic NYC Slice
    • Walk in only. No reservations. Dining in standing up or with limited tables. 
    • Review: I think of this slice as something of a standard bearer. Good clean tastes, simple, very high quality. 

Good

Pizza shouldn’t always be a “peak experience.” It is a good food that can make you happy when executed at a competent level. 

  • Artichoke Basille’s Pizza: 114 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011
    • Larry notes: Shared a slice while out walking The High Line
    • Style: It’s its own thing. Go and google it. 
    • Review:  Got the eponymous slice. It was as expected. Very good. Heavy bechamel sauce and associated mouth feel. Glad I had it for the novelty of it. Would not seek out again. 
  • Pizza Collective: 2060 Broadway, New York, NY 10023
    • Larry notes: Walking back to the apartment after running some errands. 
    • Style: Variety, Slices
    • Review:  Located in the UWS neighborhood. Stopped on the way home after a morning of walking with Kim. Split a slice of Caccio e Pepe pizza with her. Very good square, takeaway slice. Crispy, airy, focaccia like dough. Clever take on the famous pasta dish.  
  • Frank and Pepper’s Pizza: Amsterdam Ave, next to Sala Thai
    • Larry notes: Lunch with Kim 
    • Style: NYC Slice
    • Review:  old school. No website. Good UWS neighborhood pies, crust a little bit thicker than I like, no not a classic NYC slice. Wide range of flavors. I had the margarita, Kim had a pepperoni and sausage. 
  • Made In New York Pizza: 421 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024
    • Larry notes: Solo lunch
    • Style: NYC Slice
    • Review:  Upper tertile NYC slice. Very average square slice (ala spicy spring). Great lunch / casual option. Ate while standing at the counter on a very warm November day. 
  • East Village Pizza: 145 1st Ave., New York, NY 10003
    • Larry notes: With Adam 
    • Style: NYC Slice
    • Review:  Opportunistic slice on the way back to the apartment – it was amazing in any other part of the country. Merely good for NYC.
  • Romano Pizza: 489 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016
    • Larry notes: 3 times – various folks
    • Style: Variety, Slices
    • Review: Very solid takeaway pies. Great anchor of a Murray Hill neighborhood joint. Excellent late night drunk fare. 
  • 99 CENT 4 BOY PIZZA – 252 W 31st St, Manhattan, NY 10001
    • Larry notes: Late night bites with Townes
    • Style: CHEAP
    • Review:  We were drunk and on our way home. I had to try it. It was as expected. Pizza is like sex. 

Map

My son, Elliot, was gracious enough to create this custom Google Map of the places in this list for us. 

Other Resources

(My) Trusted Pizza/Food Voices

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