Elizabeth Wellington Rollins

New York City is home to the largest population of Italian-Americans in the country, and the city’s food scene has always been synonymous with Italian-American dishes imported and adapted from the old country.  RECOMMENDED: The Feast of San Gennaro 2026 guide We asked five of the city’s most beloved Italian and Italian-American chefs for their hot takes on the best eats in their borough. They helped us curate a comprehensive list of favorites, from no-fuss pizza shops to old-school red sauce joints, tavernas, trattorias, delis, bakeries, and pasterias. ShutterstockNew York pizza The Bronx Christian Petroni, Petroni Foods Local chef and cookbook author Christian Petroni was born and raised in the Bronx and spent summers with his grandparents on the small island of Ponza off the coast of Naples. His cooking is a testament to the old world and the new, full of heart and lacking pretension. Here are his recommendations for the Bronx:  Best slices or pies Emilio’s of Morris Park Louie & Ernie’s Pizza  Zero Otto Nove  Red sauce joints Patrizia's (Tremont Location)  Enzo’s of Arthur Avenue The Venice Enzo’s of Williams Bridge Elevated Italian Roberto’s Restaurant  Italian pasticcerias and gelaterias Delillo Pastry Shop Conti's Pastry Shoppe Artuso's Pastry Shop  Italian delis or markets Calabria Pork Store Cerini Coffee & Gifts  Joe’s Italian Deli   Photograph: Courtesy Raffetto'sRaffetto's fresh pasta Manhattan Sarah Raffetto, Raffetto’s Pasta, Petite Pasta Joint, M