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New Yorkers' love for pizza is certainly something to be studied—which is exactly what I did throughout the summer, while visiting all types of slice shops, sit-down pizzerias and even waiting on line for over an hour just to get my name on the list at one joint, all in an effort to update our list of best pizzerias in NYC.
After many street-side slices and candlelight dinners starring pizza, we found a single offering that rose above the rest: Mama’s Too.
You see, the Upper West Side and West Village pizzeria from Frank Tuttolomondo doesn’t necessarily adhere to any labels. Sure, the triangle slice is close to a New York slice, it has the ability to fold with ease yet still retains that telltale crispness. The square versions easily draw similarities to Detroit slices, with their sharp caramelized edges that encase a puffed-up center of dough. But, however you want to slice it (see what we did there?), we call it seriously good. Because what seals the deal for us is how Tuttolomondo tops his pies. The Angry Nonna is a solid trifecta of hot soppressata, Calabrian chili oil and hot honey. But one bite of the Cacio E Pepe with its creamy base of marscapone, aged mozz and a literal shower of Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano Reggiano ranked in the life-changing category.
A close second on the list is the one and only L’Industrie Pizzeria. Regardless of its 2017 opening date, both of Massimo Laveglia’s shops draw steady single-file lines every day.
Before you utter the phrase, “I don’t do lines,” we are here to report that the slices are absolutely worth waiting for. Laveglia’s long-fermented doughs lead to a crispy thin, shattery crust that you can quite literally hear. And Laveglia’s leans on his Tuscan roots for toppings, as slices don strips of prosciutto, fig jam and truffle. But the best in the house has to be the Burrata Pie, which always comes dressed with two creamy dollops of the cold stuff on it.
Coming in at number three is another pizzeria that also demands some waiting: Lucali’s. Made by “accidental pizzaiolo” Mark Iacono, the Carroll Gardens pizzeria is a simple operation in theory (the menu features a single pizza, a calzone and sometimes a special on the daily), but the food it slings out is anything but ordinary.
Sure, we have thoughts about the perpetual line, no matter the season, but when you finally make it past the threshold of the red velvet rope at the door, Lucali's charming candelit hub and table-sized pies make it all worth it.
Want to see who else made it on our list? Click here to browse through the top 20 pizzerias in NYC.