NYC: Best Pizza
When it comes to pizza, every New Yorker has a strong opinion, and mine is probably not popular: I think cheese slices are overrated. Yes, you read that correctly. Those thin, foldable, greasy once-upon-a-time $1 slices don’t do it for me. That being said, I love pizza (it’s a carb, after all), and here are my go-to spots.
Rubirosa (235 Mulberry St.)
Rubirosa is one of the few NYC restaurants I feel is worthy of all of it’s hype. I’ve dined here on 10+ separate occasions and can confidently say there is nothing they don’t do well. I’m a sucker for their Tie Dye Pizza made with their homemade vodka, marinara, and pesto sauces. The crust is thin and crispy, the cheese fresh, and the sauces flavorful. It even delivers well (if you can tolerate the 90-minute wait). They take a limited number of reservations per evening, and save room for walk-ins. I recommend putting your name on the list right when they open.
Fini Pizza (multiple locations)
Fini Pizza, owner-and-operated by Lilia co-owner Sean Feeney, is not your average slice shop. Yes, Fini offers traditional slices like cheese and pepperoni, but their menu also features out-of-the-box combos like Tomato with calabrian oil and garlic bread crumbs (pictured above), White with three cheeses and lemon, and Long Hot Pepper and Shallot. In addition to slices, they serve Sicilian style pies, salads, homemade gelatos and Italian ices, and bagels on the weekends.
Mama’s Too (2750 Broadway, New York)
Mama’s Too is a tiny slice shop with well-deserved long lines on the Upper West Side. They’re best known for their thick and heavily topped square slices, but they do serve traditional thin crust, triangular slices as well. My favorite items here are the Vodka and Cacio e Pepe square slices, but you can’t go wrong. Their homemade gelato is also divine and worth saving room for.
L’industrie (multiple locations)
L’industrie is a slice shop with locations in the West Village and in Williamsburg. They offer classic slices like Margherita, as well as unique flavors like Fig Jam and Bacon. My favorite slice here is the Burrata, but there’s no “wrong” order here! I also recommend saving room for their homemade pistachio soft serve gelato topped with olive oil and sea salt!
Lucia Pizza (multiple locations)
Don’t be fooled by appearances- Lucia Pizza is not your average slice shop. They’re churning out pies all day long, in addition to occasional sandwiches, and the sauces here are among some of the most flavorful I’ve had. The “Creamed Spinach” slice is a must. The creamed spinach is rich and garlicky like your favorite side at a steakhouse, and makes for the perfect pizza topping. I also loved the Margherita, Vodka, and Poblano slices.
See full review here.
Emmy Squared (multiple locations)
While I know it’s become a bit commercial, there are few Detroit pizzas I enjoy more than those from Emmy Squared! Detroit-style pizzas are thick with crispy, chewy, cheesy edges. The Classic, Vodka, and MVP pies are my go-tos, and all travel well for take-out too if you’re in the mood for delivery.
Emmett’s (50 MacDougal Street)
Deep dish pizzas have a nearly non-existent presence in NYC. The best (and one of the only) I’ve found is from Emmett’s. You can build your own deep dish pie here, choosing from a list of 20+ toppings, or you can go with one of their pre-designed specialty pies. If you visit around Valentine’s day, your pizza will be heart-shaped, as pictured above. They also serve thin crust “tavern-style” pizzas here, as well as at their sister restaurant Emmett’s on Grove.