Immigrating from Naples, Italy, Pino "Joe" Pozzuoli dove right into New York, floured hands first, kneading, tossing and baking dough at pizzerias across the city. In 1975, he established his own at Bleecker and Carmine Street, eventually moving down to 7 Carmine Street, and has become an icon in his own right. At this classic slice joint, the crust is just stretchy-chewy enough for folding, and the slightly sweet sauce is overlaid with a perfect web of drippy cheese. Two caveats: Slices here are burn-your-tongue fresh, so be forewarned; and to this day, the cash is the only form of currency that talks here. The only tables to be found are outside and there are no chairs. But really, there is nothing like eating a standing slice on the street, now is there? That, and there is truly something special about the fact that we've been able to do so for almost 50 years at Joe's.
Updated with reporting by Morgan Carter