Anyone who wasn't born in Chicago knows the truth: if you want the best pizza you'll find it in New York. And it's not just about Ray's, Famous Ray's, Original Ray's or Original Famous Ray's Pizza. The real connoisseur won't send you to Little Italy either. Spectacular slices abound, especially in the West Village.
Don't be fooled by size. The biggest slices I have sampled usually have what I can only call the greasy hot dog flavor. Trust me on some of my personal prize pizza pleasures. Each of these pizzerias pondered presents its own unique version of this staple food in the city that never sleeps.
Joe's Pizza
7 Carmine Street(between 6th Avenue & Bleeker Street)
Manhattan, NY 10014
Neighborhood: West Village
(212) 255-3946
John's Pizza
278 Bleeker Street(between Jones and Morton Streets)
New York, NY 10014
Neighborhood: West Village
(212) 924-4466
(212) 243-2253
This is not the first of the "Ray's Pizzas" That is actually on Spring Street in SoHo. However this is definitely the best. Don't expect to get too comfortable as it's a mostly stand up operation. My choice here is always the Sicilian slice. It is oozing with cheese and often has an almost toasty crust.
Sal & Carmine's
2671 Broadway(between 101st St & 102nd St)
New York, NY 10025
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
(212) 663-7651
This institution has been serving Upper West-siders since at least the 1950's. Expect classic New York attitude from this neighborhood hole in the wall spot. Sit down space is limited. The crust has good texture and the slice is well seasoned. Don't plan on putting on extra Parmesan cheese as none is available.
Grimaldi's
19 Old Fulton StBrooklyn, NY 11201
Grimaldi's specialty is its coal fueled brick oven, a style it boasts using since 1905. It's practically just under the Brooklyn bridge so it's a great place for a slice before a stroll on the Brooklyn promenade or after a walk across the bridge from lower Manhattan. Like other great NY pizza preparers, Grimladi's has fanned out with branches in Queens, Long Island, Hoboken and even the southwestern United States. But make no mistakes; this is the original.
