New York City Pizza Crawl

Rosario’s – Astoria, Queens

Rosario’s is a family-run Sicilian deli located right in front of the Subway entrance of the last stop on the N Train in Astoria, Queens. It’s about a fifteen-minute train ride from Midtown Manhattan (depending on train traffic/construction). Rosario’s is a full-fledged deli serving not only pizza but sandwiches, gourmet and imported Italian products, cheeses, cold cuts, salads and more. However, I would stop here multiple times a week while living in Astoria for a slice of margherita, which is typically served hot right out of the oven. They have a variety of pizzas, most of them only sold as whole pies, but there are a few other options for pizza by the slice, such as pepperoni, mushrooms and grandma. Their margherita pizza is probably the best, or at least most memorable slice of pizza I’ve ever had the privilege of devouring (and I’ve visited Italy three times). The combination of the crunchy crust, high-quality fresh mozzarella cheese and homemade tomato sauce will cause your taste buds to dance in delight. A fun fact about Rosario’s is that it was the featured set for Red’s café in the Netflix Original Series, Orange is the New Black.

Patsy’s Pizzeria – Manhattan / Brooklyn

Patsy’s Pizzeria opened its first location in Harlem in 1933, by Italian husband and wife immigrants Pasquale (Patsy) and Carmella Lancieri. It now has seven locations, six of which are dispersed throughout the island of Manhattan, and one located in downtown Brooklyn. I worked at the East 60th Street location in the early 2000s as a college student. Patsy’s success relies on the old-world way of making southern, Italian-style pizza baked in coal-fired ovens. The pizza menu is extensive, with dozens of toppings and styles to choose from. It is also a family-friendly restaurant with pasta dishes, salads, appetizers and entrées. This is more of a sit-down restaurant, as opposed to the grab-and-go pizza by the slice. I recommend any one of the Patsy’s locations for those traveling with their families or in a group to taste a slice of New York City’s history. I answered the phone to take delivery orders for Patsy’s while I worked there and I noticed some high-profile names on the delivery list, one being Liza Minelli.

L&B Spumoni Gardens – Brooklyn

L&B Spumoni Gardens is an old-school Italian pizzeria with the original restaurant located in the South Brooklyn neighborhood of Bensonhurst. There are also current plans to open up a new location soon in Dumbo, Brooklyn. It serves mostly local and multi-generational Brooklynites but welcomes folks from all over. Ludovico Barbati immigrated to New York City in the early nineteen-hundreds and opened his restaurant in 1939. His legacy is carried out by his children and grandchildren, who have kept the original location in Bensonhurst running. L&B Spumoni Gardens is famous for its thick, square Sicilian slices but also has the more common round, thin-sliced pizzas. I would opt for the thick Sicilian slice; the dough is pillowy, on top and in the center, with a satisfying crunch on the bottom. The ratio of sauce-cheese is absolute perfection, and the flavor has not been compromised over the decades. It’s not only famous for its pizza but also for its spumoni ice cream, which combines chocolate, cherry and pistachio together – a must-try during the summer and even winter months. Ludovico was taught and trained to make this ice-cream, pizza dough and sauce from scratch. His children and grandchildren dare not stray from these original recipes of his to ensure their life-long clientele the same quality and flavors that they grew up with. L&B’s also has a full menu with selections of pastas, salads, appetizers, entrées and meat and seafood dishes. It’s run by a family who is dedicated to serving all customers, but it definitely has a strong family vibe. No matter who you’re traveling with in New York or even if you’re flying solo, I highly recommend trekking out to Bensonhurst to experience one of Brooklyn’s most iconic restaurants.

Dollar Slice – Manhattan

Dollar Slice Pizza – When I was living in New York City and often struggling to pay the sky-high rent of my shoebox-sized apartment, Manhattan streets offered me a saving grace with 2 Bros. Dollar Slice Pizza options. There are street-side carts and food shacks all over the island of Manhattan advertising slices of pizza for just one dollar, or two slices and a soda for $2.50. I read recently that now 2 Bros. Pizza is raising its prices to $1.50. It doesn’t seem like a massive difference, but the nostalgia of getting a quick slice for a dollar will be a hard pill for New Yorkers to swallow. However, the price of the pizza does not at all determine the quality of the pizza. These slices are baked in the classic New York Style for a crunchy crust, gooey cheese and savory sauce. If you’re visiting New York City on a budget or just want a less-expensive meal option, seeking out the dollar slice carts is a great and authentic New York option. One of the more famous 2 Bros. Pizza location is in downtown Manhattan on St. Mark’s Place.

Joe’s Pizza – Manhattan / Brooklyn

Joe’s Pizza was opened in 1975 in Greenwich Village by Joe Pozzuoli, a native-born Italian. Today, there are several Joe’s Pizza locations throughout Manhattan, one in Brooklyn, and even locations in other parts of the U.S., including Miami, Florida and Ann Arbor, Michigan (the last two were news to me). Joe highly influenced the New York style of pizza all around, keeping with his Italian roots, yet making pizza accessible and delicious for locals who speed-walk at the rate of cheetahs. My favorite location of Joe’s is the original one in Greenwich Village, but all locations will have the same quality and flavors. Most Joe’s customers order pizza by the slice, as opposed to sitting down with a group or family and ordering a whole pie; however, the latter option is, of course, available. Today, Joe is 75 years old and still running and operating his pizzerias.