The pizza in New York is as diverse as the people that live there. Ask ten New Yorkers where their favorite pizza is and you’ll get eleven different answers.
We each have our favorite pizza place (or four). We argue about which is the best and which is the original, but the one thing we can all agree on is that none of it is bad. You really can’t get a bad slice in NY. Sure, the $1 slices aren’t mind-blowing, but they’re still better than a lot of the pizza out there.
This is my list of my current top four pizza places in Manhattan. I say current because it changes a little every time I go back.
Joe’s Pizza is the quintessential slice of NYC pizza; huge, bendable, just the right amount of cheese and grease. It is literally like a slice of heaven. They also have a Sicilian pizza that is pretty darn delicious too.
Instructions: Order either just cheese or with pepperoni, sprinkle on some crushed red pepper, fold in half, and savor the perfection. That’s a NY slice.
If you want to try something different, order a slice of Sicilian. But make sure you get a regular slice too!
No pizza list is complete without John’s on it. Generally regarded as the best pizza in NYC, and rightfully so. You can’t order by the slice so grab some cash (they don’t take cards), find a table, and get ready for deliciousness. Like Joe’s, it’s best to keep it simple and just get cheese and one topping. But if you’re really hungry or with a few people, order a second pie with lots of ingredients on it.
The perfect crust, fabulous tomato sauce and fresh toppings make this pizza consistently one of the best in NY. Look at how beautiful it is!
3. Rubirosa
A newcomer to my list, Rubirosa is a fabulous pie that brought me straight back to Napoli. (Can you tell how much I love pizza??) I had read about Rubirosa during my search for new pizza places for our trip to NYC, and I’m so glad I did. Reservations are absolutely necessary (it’s VERY popular) and I was fortunate that I could make one. The pizza was true perfection. If Naples and NYC pizza got together and made a baby, it would be Rubirosa’s pizza. It had a slightly thicker crust than pizza in Naples, more reminiscent of NY pizza. The sauce, cheese, and basil were just like Italy.
Hello gorgeous!
When I lived in Manhattan I worked at Beth Israel Hospital on the night shift. I was quickly introduced to what became one of my favorite middle of the night lunch break spots, Artichoke. You can’t go wrong with the classic Margherita pizza. It’s delicious and just what you would expect. But my favorite pizza and the reason it’s on my list is the artichoke pizza. It’s a huge slice of white pizza with artichokes and it’s amazing. Think spinach artichoke dip on a pizza! Not only are the slices huge, but they are very heavy, and one is plenty. You will not find a slice of pizza like this one anywhere else. It’s one of my must-haves every time I visit the city.
They also have a pretty delicious crab pizza. But if you can only go once, get a slice of the artichoke.
I would do ANYTHING to have a slice of this right now! The website has said for a while that they sell frozen pizzas in grocery stores now, but I have yet to see it in Tampa. Sal and Francis, if you read this, PLEASE send some artichoke pizza to Tampa!
Everyone has a different opinion of the best pizza in NY. The Husband puts John’s first, Joe’s second, and doesn’t like artichoke at all (he doesn’t like cream sauces or any vegetable). One of the best things about NYC is the acceptance of all things different, and pizza is a great example of that.
Do you have a favorite NYC pizza place that I missed? Let me know and I’ll add it to my to-do list for my next trip!