PrintTop Manhattan Slices by Neighborhood
I'm glad that so many of you share my concern for the state of the pizza slice in Manhattan, but as a number of you pointed out, there are still a few spots serving slices worth eating:
- Patsy's: (East Harlem) The only coal-fired slice I know of in NYC.
- Sal and Carmine's: (Upper West Side) Solid slice, canned mushrooms, no delivery.
- Mimi's: (Upper East Side) Too much cheese, but that's true all over (pun intended)
- Maffei: (Chelsea) Best grandma slice in Manhattan
- Joe's: (West Village) As a reader pointed out, it seems unfair that the original Joe's location is now an Abitino's, one of those less than mediocre mini-chains spreading like pizza cheese.
- Bleecker St. Pizza: (West Village) Crisp-crusted Long Island-style slice transplanted to Manhattan
- Vinny Vincenz: (East Village) Unheralded but noteworthy thin-crusted Sicilian haven
- Famous Ben's: (Soho) I particularly like the Palermo Pizza, made with seasoned breadcrumbs and a sweet onion sauce.
- Pizza Suprema: (Midtown West) Fine sliceria that's good to know about when you're going to the Garden.
DeMarco's is okay, but it pales in comparison to DiFara.
Stromboli is no longer what it once was.
I can't think of a good slice in Tribeca.
Any other noteworthy slices?
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13 Comments:
No slice suggestions for the UWS?
floretbroc at 9:57AM on 09/29/06
Ed, how can you forget Arturo's in the Village on West Houston? They've been doing coal-fired slices since 1957. And their clam pie is just killer.
Here's an eGullet post from 2004 where we went on a group outing, with photos:
http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=35551&st=270#
Arturo's is so underrated its crazy. Everyone always talks about Patsy's and its coal oven (which deserves its praise rightfully) but little Arturo's always gets the short shrift. That ain't right.
OffTheBroi at 10:00AM on 09/29/06
Sal & Carmine's is UWS. Arturo's doesn't do slices. Little Italy Pizza-a very good mini-chain has a store in Tribeca. Farther south I like Underground Pizza (formerly Pizza Pizza) at 3 Hanover Square although the real find there is the spinach calzone (ask for a slice of pepperoni in it). I'm told Adrienne's sometimes does slices. I'd also recommend Posto and it's sister Gruppo for thin crust slices and interesting toppings.-guttergourmet
guttergour at 10:58AM on 09/29/06
You've got to try Little Vincent's on the Upper East Side at 73rd and 2nd. Amazing slices, just the right amount of cheese, great crust and they're open until 4 am. It's the best slice in the neighborhood!
Try it, Ed, you'll like it.
traceyp at 11:09AM on 09/29/06
Must try Bella Vita!
(two locations - 43rd St. betw. 8th and Bway; 58th St. betw. 6th and 7th Ave.)
sbayer at 12:38PM on 09/29/06
Rosario's on the Lower East Side. Amazing, crispy slices, perfect crust, fresh ingredients. They do not deliver because quite simply they do not have to. Haven't worked up the nerve to try the cheeseburger pizza. Btw, there is an article in this month's Gourmet where 4 elite Italian chefs are taken to Rosario's and although they are horrified by the cheeseburger pizza and plebian atmosphere, they cannot help but compliment the slice.
And upon moving back to the area (but first time in Manhattan), I was amazed at how easy it is to buy a truly awful slice of pizza if you're not careful.
smalera at 12:55PM on 09/29/06
Famous Ben's is awful! Their slice is so doughy and bland I can't bear it - and they're right down the street from me! I go up to Pizza Box on Bleeker for a slice instead. Or DeMarco's if I'm feeing extra lazy and rich :)
It's such a shame Arturo's doesn't have a little window for slices opening onto the street, right there in the back. It's the closest place to me and walking past that heavenly smell is torture, knowing I can't buy a slice!
TrishMvhl at 10:34AM on 09/30/06
Arturo's is too chewy, not enough char. They have a coal oven, but you'd never know it. It's like owning a Ferrari and driving and driving the speed limit.
Adam Kuban at 12:30PM on 09/30/06
The slices Ed describes can still be found, but not on every corner. They compete with not just the Indo-Pak pizzarias he describes as Ray-style, but also disgustingly thick and greasy efforts from traditionally italian neighborhood instituions like Vinnie's on the UWS or the place by the Bedford St. station in Williamsburg. On the other hand, I can think of a number of new places that have terrific slices that have opened up though -- and may do something about it on Grub Street. But don't underrate De Marco's. If you didn't know who it was associated with, it would register on you as a huge find, esp. the round slices.
A shout-out, too, to Vinnie Vincenz's grandma slice, the Joe's in Park Slope, and the Two Boots chain, which though trendy and unorthodox, produces some of the city's better slices, objectively speaking.
And a thumb's-down to Spumoni Gardens, which has disappointed more imaginations than Halle Berry in Swordfish. A slice of white bread with chef arturo sauce and no cheese. And they compare it to Dom!
Mr_Cutlets at 12:47PM on 09/30/06
I agree that L&B Spumoni slice is obviously something you had to grow up with to appreciate. I actually prefer the tomato slice at the various pizza trucks that you can find off of Park Avenue from time to time. I am a huge supporter of DeMarco's. It's not DiFara's but if you wait for a fresh pie for 10 minutes at the take-out side, it's 80% as good as Difara's and 80% of perfection is pretty damn close.
guttergour at 8:21AM on 10/02/06
to: ELE - on 1 hand, u state we are in a pizza slice crisis, on the other, u list possibly 1 of the worst offenders on your "tops" list - sal & carmine's uws - either u have some criteria or u don't?????????????
baruch at 11:51AM on 10/03/06
I don't live in NYC, so maybe I don't know what the heck I'm talking about, but I always look forward to Pizza 33 for a slice when I'm in town... often one of the first things I inhale on my way from airport to hotel if it's remotely convenient to stop...
Am I clueless?
LoCo at 7:47PM on 10/02/07
I haven't scoured the city for the best slice, however, I have a fine palette for pizza.
These are my picks (in no particular order):
Fornino
187 Bedford Ave (off L Bedford Stop)
Brooklyn, NY 11211-2946
Phone: (718) 384-6004
-brick oven pizza with modern topping choices (e.g. truffle oil)
Grimaldi's (over Brooklyn Bridge)
http://www.grimaldis.com/brooklyn.htm
-brick oven pizza - classic New York pizza eating experience
Totono's in Coney Island
1524 Neptune Ave.
Brooklyn, NY
718.372.8606
-brick oven pizza - in fun coney island setting
Decca at 4:41PM on 12/30/07