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This Brooklyn pizza stalwart was just named New York's best slice—but don't forget to order their signature dessert, too

Despite a slew of worthy contenders, this neighborhood joint tops them all

Gerrish Lopez
Written by
Gerrish Lopez
Time Out Contributor, US
L&B Spumoni Gardens
Photograph: Courtesy L&B Spumoni Gardens | L&B Spumoni Gardens
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From corner slice shops to sit-down red-sauce joints, New York City is a never-ending competition of bubbling cheese and blistered crusts. Many New York pizza places deserve accolades, but Food Network has spoken, and the crown for best slice in all of New York State goes to none other than L&B Spumoni Gardens in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

This neighborhood legend has been around since 1939, starting as a humble pushcart before evolving into a three-in-one institution: ice cream parlor, restaurant and, of course, pizzeria. The star of the show? The world-famous Sicilian slicean upside-down masterpiece where cheese goes down first, sweet tomato sauce lands on top, and everything gets finished with a hefty snowing of Parmesanseals the deal. The result is a thick, springy square with golden-brown edges and a flavor that’s more layered than your standard New York triangle. It’s not your everyday slice—but that’s exactly why people line up for it.

RECOMMENDED: Six NYC pizzerias were just named among the best pizza in the world

And beyond that stellar Sicilian, Spumoni Gardens is beloved for just that: the spumoni, squeezable paper cups of creamy, dreamy tricolor gelato in pistachio, chocolate and vanilla. It's just the thing to cap off that savory pizza feast.

Contenders could have easily included Di Fara, where the late Dom DeMarco’s legendary hand-cut basil slices defined a generation of pizza lovers, or Joe’s Pizza, the Greenwich Village standby that’s basically shorthand for the “classic New York slice.” Even the no-frills, old-school John’s of Bleecker Street, or Prince Street Pizza with its famed pepperoni cups, could have made the cut. But when it came down to one slice to rule them all, Spumoni Gardens took it.

Curious how New York's neighbors fared? Dominick’s over in New Jersey, run by Brooklyn-born Peter and Sal Lombardo, has the Garden State buzzing with spicy Brooklyn-style pies and rare Palermo squares. And up in Connecticut, New Haven’s legendary pie culture is strong with Da Legna, bringing its New Haven-meets-Neapolitan style pizza featuring buffalo mozzarella and San Daniele cured meats to the slice crowd.

Find the full list of the bests slices in the U.S., according to Food Network, here.

Still, if you want the best slice in New York, the verdict is in. Head to Bensonhurst, grab that upside-down Sicilian square, and taste why Spumoni Gardens has been the city’s not-so-secret treasure for over 80 years.

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