My 5 fav NYC Pizzas!
A friend recently asked me why I don’t promote Pizza Friday™ more, and she’s right! Pizza Friday™ is exactly what it sounds like… every Friday my husband and I eat pizza. No matter what’s going on, no matter where we are in the world, it’s pizza time. We even have a dumb little song we sing when we eat the pizza that most of our friends and family have had to sing with us at some point. Add in the fact that I’m a New Yorker, I should, no, I do, know what I’m talking about when it comes to pizza. So the time has come to list my definitive favorite pizzas in New York City. The keywords here are my favorites. This is not the best, cheapest, coolest, or anything else other than my favorites! So with that in mind, I bring you my five favorite pizzas in NYC… (completely changeable anytime I see fit 🤓)
Lucali
Lucali is hands down my favorite pizza in the city. No doubt you’ve heard so much about it already but what can I say, it’s perfect. THE SAUCE, I can slurp that sauce like a soup. And I have. Unfortunately, the line sucks. But if you’re willing to wait (or are lucky enough to have a partner who will for you) it really is worth it. And if you can’t get in, try ordering a pie at the door, grabbing a few beers from the bodega, and sitting down on a nearby stoop. It’s worked for me several times!
Mano’s
I think your favorite slice should probably be your local, neighborhood slice. And as a Ridgewood resident, Mano’s is my go-to. Nick is doing some amazing pizza making with 36-hour dough ferments, Caputo flour, and more, but nothing too fancy! Mano’s is just starting to get the attention it deserves, so go check it out now before the lines get wild.
Ops
This is my favorite “fancy pizza” in the city. And I guess by fancy I mean you can sit and have a glass of wine or a cocktail and get a wonderful Neapolitan pizza all to yourself. The crust is just so good and fluffy. One time I took my dad there when he was in town and he said it was the best crust he ever had!
Louie & Ernie’s
Admittedly I don’t get here as much as I’d like. But when I finally make the trek up to the Bronx, I am so happy I can reward myself with one of these slices. Louie & Ernie’s has been open since 1959 and they make an excellent New York pie. I’ve been told the sausage slice is the way to go but I prefer getting a regular, covering it in red pepper flakes, grabbing a seltzer from the fridge, and sitting down at one of the tables in the backyard.
Arturo’s
Last but not least, Arturo’s Coal Oven Pizza on Houston. Now Arturo’s has good pizza, I like it. But what I’m going here for is the scene. I like sitting at the bar and getting a straightforward Negroni. I like gabbing with the bartender and then seeing him go up to sing a few tunes at the piano later. I like that it’s always buzzy but not annoying. And I like that I can get a whole pie with onions, garlic, and hot peppers, and have some to take home for lunch cold the next day.
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