This question can spiral foodies into a nervous sweat. You want me to pick just ONE type of food? My answer changes based on the day, the weather, my mood, what outfit I’m wearing, and the gravitational pull of the moon at that given moment.
However. If I’m FORCED to pick one food item because my life depends on it… I’m saying pizza. There’s something utterly euphoric about a slab of bread slathered with sauce, sprinkled with cheese, and perhaps loaded with toppings. It’s easy to eat. Usually affordable. And reliably delicious. Lucky for me, New York happens to have some of the best pizza in the world.
After being gone for 2 months, I embarked on a 7 days of 7 new-to-me-pizza spots in NYC challenge.
The task: try out 7 pizza spots that I’ve never been to before.
Criteria: I wanted to find some hidden gems. Spots that you won’t find on “Top 10 Pizza Spots in NYC” lists or all over social media.
I had some hits, I had some misses.
Let’s dive into 7 Days of Trying 7 New to Me Pizza Spots in NYC
I’m living in a brand new neighborhood, Washington Heights. So trying out the local pizza joint, Fresco’s Pizzeria, was the obvious choice for day 1 of trying new pizza spots in NYC.
As soon as I walked in, my nostrils were embraced by the sweet aromas of fresh baked pizza and my ears were greeted by loud voices that were either arguing or agreeing in Italian. I eyed all the circle and square pies glistening behind the glass, and sprung for one of each. I just pointed, so I’m not quite sure what I got. But whoa baby were both slices tasty!
The triangle slice had a delightful just-thick-enough crust that was slightly chewy without being too dense or too airy. The sauce tasted fresh, and there was the perfect amount of cheese to tie it all together. My Sicilian slice was even tastier. The sauce was on top of the cheese, and it had an ideal balance of acid, sweet, and savory. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese was sprinkled on top, and I could immediately tell that this stuff was the real deal.
Luv Pizza is a mega #trendy spot in Midtown Manhattan that’s a short walk away from Penn Station. The interior features colorful pop art that’s perfect for #instagram, and they serve up classic New York slices. (What’s a NY Slice?! Click HERE to find out!)
I ordered both cheese and pepperoni slices, and was surprised at how good they were. Usually trendy spots that deliver in ambiance fall short in quality. However, these slices had perfectly chewy crust, not too much sauce, and plenty of cheese without tasting rubbery or cardboardy.
Cost: $4 for the pepperoni, $3.50 for the cheese. VERY reasonable given the location and quality.
Cuts & Slices is DEEP in Brooklyn, and was recommended to me Instagram. After looking at the Caribbean inspired menu, I knew I had to go. We’re talking pies with toppings like chicken and waffles, fried salmon diavlo, and chop cheese.
I rolled up to find a huge camera crew. Turns out Cuts & Slices is doing a collaboration with Adidas (find out more HERE), and I happened to be there on filming day. I crept past the film crew and ordered a Jerk chicken slice. A woman with a clipboard asked if I’d be willing to film a testimonial. I shrugged and said, “Sure!” Which earned me a slice on the house! I picked the sweet chili oxtail.
I proceeded to go outside, stand in front of the camera, and answer a few questions about my experience. Cool!
I headed to a nearby park and dug in. The chicken on the jerk chicken slice was tender and juicy with a little kick. BBQ sauce added a zing of sweet and the peppers and onions gave a little crunch. It was quite tasty! However, the sweet chili oxtail blew it out of the water.
The oxtail was ultra tender and savory, and the sweet chili added the perfect spicy/sweet balance to tie it all together. I’ve never had a pizza slice THAT flavorful, and was very impressed! A pizza spot in NYC that you MUST add to your must-try list!
Price: Alright folks.. .this pizza spot in NYC is NOT frugal. The jerk chicken slice set me back $7, and the sweet chili oxtail would have been $11 had I actually paid for it.
Corner Slice is in the corner of Gotham West Market in Hell’s Kitchen. One look, and I had a feeling this pizza wasn’t going to be great. But that’s the point of this 7 days of 7 new to me pizza spots in NYC challenge. Finding random spots on a map and just going!
I ordered a square vodka slice, and it met my low expectations. The crust was a bit stale, the cheese had no flavor, and the vodka sauce was bland. It tasted like it had been sitting out all day, which is what it looked like too.
Austin Street Pizza is in Forest Hills, Queens, and they serve up all types of triangle and square slices. I’m usually a square gal, but the Margherita slice was superior. Amazing crust that had a thin center and thick edge, flavorful sauce, and fresh basil to add a lovely pop.
Is Austin Street Pizza worth the journey? Nah. But if you’re in Forest Hills, it’s worth a try!
Delmar Pizzeria is in Sheepshead Bay, which is DEEP into Brooklyn. It’s been a local favorite since 1957, and they certainly know pizza. The square slice (top right) had the best crust- pillowy yet crunchy. The grandma slice (bottom right) had the best flavor. The veggie slice didn’t do it for me… it tasted like sub-par chain pizza because the flavors were very one note.
Cost: $15 for 3 slices, garlic knots, and 2 soda! Holy Frugal!
7. Unregular Pizza
Unregular Pizza is a relatively new spot in Union Square, and you can get squares, triangles, salads, sandwiches, and even arancini! Their specialty are the slices topped with big balls of burrata. Burrata is have a moment right now, and while it’s not usually my favorite, the burrata slice was the best of the bunch. The creamy, smooth burrata complimented the spicy pepperoni and slightly crunchy crust beautifully.
The grandma slice and Margherita also deserve a shoutout for the fresh flavors, bold sauce, and solid crust.
Cost: All of this would have cost just over $30. The burrata slices aren’t cheap… we’re talking $10 a pop. However, I used the app Allset to order because I had a credit, which knocked the total to $20.06 (tax and tip included!)
Wrapping Up My 7 Days of 7 New to Me Pizza Spot in NYC Challenge
There were some hits, there were some misses. But 7 days of pizza was the perfect way to celebrate being back in NYC.
