State of the Slice
December 3, 2018 4:03 AM Subscribe
The 27 Pizza Spots That Define New York Slice Culture
What's the best way to set New Yorkers to bickering? Ask where to find the best slice of pizza in the city. No subject starts a battle faster—not bagels or hot dogs or chopped liver, not even the primacy of the Rangers or the fastest route to J.F.K. Pizza, introduced to New York in 1905 by Gennaro Lombardi, who saw it as a way to use up the day-old bread in his Spring Street grocery store, has long been the affordable, satisfying food of choice for peripatetic New Yorkers of every age, sex, race, and class.
What's the best way to set New Yorkers to bickering? Ask where to find the best slice of pizza in the city. No subject starts a battle faster—not bagels or hot dogs or chopped liver, not even the primacy of the Rangers or the fastest route to J.F.K. Pizza, introduced to New York in 1905 by Gennaro Lombardi, who saw it as a way to use up the day-old bread in his Spring Street grocery store, has long been the affordable, satisfying food of choice for peripatetic New Yorkers of every age, sex, race, and class.
In this genre, I'd also recommend Colin Atrophy Hagendorf's blog, now book, Slice Harvester:
"Over the course of two years, a twenty-something punk rocker eats a cheese slice from every pizzeria in New York City, gets sober, falls in love, and starts a blog that captures headlines around the world—he is the Slice Harvester, and this is his story."
posted by ITheCosmos at 5:04 AM on December 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
"Over the course of two years, a twenty-something punk rocker eats a cheese slice from every pizzeria in New York City, gets sober, falls in love, and starts a blog that captures headlines around the world—he is the Slice Harvester, and this is his story."
posted by ITheCosmos at 5:04 AM on December 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
With that title I kind of expected a picture of one of my t-shirts.
posted by srboisvert at 5:44 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 5:44 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
sounds like I gotta top my next thai meal with a grandma from Louie's
I generally think slice pizza in NYC has dramatically declined trough the years. The revivalists are all great, but in real terms they represent massive price increases over classic slices in the 80's and 90's.
(and I'm sure people older than me would complain about the same thing. But dammit I'm right)
posted by JPD at 6:21 AM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
I generally think slice pizza in NYC has dramatically declined trough the years. The revivalists are all great, but in real terms they represent massive price increases over classic slices in the 80's and 90's.
(and I'm sure people older than me would complain about the same thing. But dammit I'm right)
posted by JPD at 6:21 AM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
All the magic went out of the slice harvester when they got so expensive a family operation couldn’t afford one, and now they are so locked down with technology when something breaks you have to wait for a guy from Giovanni Deere to take care of it. Thanks, Big Pie!
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:26 AM on December 3, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:26 AM on December 3, 2018 [13 favorites]
What, no Koronet? I finally made it to Scarr’s this week. Great vibe for an off hour slice.
posted by Roger_Mexico at 6:34 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Roger_Mexico at 6:34 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
NY style 4ever. I will fight people over it. All the most favored pizzerias here are just too puffy and cheesy and gooey. Just, too much everything (which is sort of Pittsburgh's motto when it comes to food). I want a pizza so thin and restrained that I can eat half a pie and not feel like I should just give up on life forever afterwards. Because I am going to eat half the pie.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:37 AM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:37 AM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
When I say that I haven't ever had a decent slice in my city in the three decades since I moved from the east coast, people get all huffy and say that I'm a NY/NJ snob but it is true. I've really never had a slice that I really loved outside of the NYC areas.
posted by octothorpe at 6:40 AM on December 3, 2018
posted by octothorpe at 6:40 AM on December 3, 2018
When it comes to the thoughtful reinvention of the classic New York slice here in the city, Frank Pinello may be Patient Zero. In retrospect, it seems inevitable. He was raised in Bensonhurst, trained at the CIA, and opened a slice shop in Williamsburg at the height of Brooklyn's mid-aughts renaissance.
I take it he went to a culinary institute, not the Central Intelligence Agency?
posted by gucci mane at 6:59 AM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
I take it he went to a culinary institute, not the Central Intelligence Agency?
posted by gucci mane at 6:59 AM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
What, no Koronet?
I went to Koronet for the first time a few weeks ago with a friend. He was very disappointed that I didn't order a jumbo slice. I was happy with my two regular slices and enjoyed watching him wrestle with a slice of pizza the size of a pillowcase.
posted by Drab_Parts at 7:03 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
I went to Koronet for the first time a few weeks ago with a friend. He was very disappointed that I didn't order a jumbo slice. I was happy with my two regular slices and enjoyed watching him wrestle with a slice of pizza the size of a pillowcase.
posted by Drab_Parts at 7:03 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
everything I know about New York pizza I learned from Michael Scott
posted by namewithoutwords at 7:21 AM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by namewithoutwords at 7:21 AM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
I take it he went to a culinary institute, not the Central Intelligence Agency?
The Culinary Institute of America.
I live upstate and you forget how much better NYC pizza is. Like you take a bite and--oh yeah, there's that thing you've been missing.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:32 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
The Culinary Institute of America.
I live upstate and you forget how much better NYC pizza is. Like you take a bite and--oh yeah, there's that thing you've been missing.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:32 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'm pretty sure the best place for a slice in New York is Napoli Pizza on Nostrand. It's a few blocks from my grandma's old house, and what we'd eat immediately after getting out of the car after the drive from Michigan or New Hampshire, and I promise you nothing has ever tasted more glorious.
posted by ChuraChura at 7:39 AM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ChuraChura at 7:39 AM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
My Pie is a godsend.
A pay what you want worker co-operative pizza joint stuffed with revolutionary literature called RED SLICE let’s do this people
posted by The Whelk at 7:46 AM on December 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
A pay what you want worker co-operative pizza joint stuffed with revolutionary literature called RED SLICE let’s do this people
posted by The Whelk at 7:46 AM on December 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
Mama's Too is terrible, and they're always out!
posted by praemunire at 8:12 AM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 8:12 AM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
Like everybody else here has already said: The point of New York Pizza isn't that the best pizza place in New York has great pizza. Mercifully, most major US cities now have one or two really good pizza places in them.
The point of NYC pizza is that the worst pizza place in NYC still has incredibly-decent pizza. The baseline for pizza in New York is about a mile higher in New York than it is anyplace else in the country.
posted by schmod at 8:25 AM on December 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
The point of NYC pizza is that the worst pizza place in NYC still has incredibly-decent pizza. The baseline for pizza in New York is about a mile higher in New York than it is anyplace else in the country.
posted by schmod at 8:25 AM on December 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
See also, tacos in L.A
posted by The Whelk at 8:27 AM on December 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 8:27 AM on December 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
The very best New York slices are not all that much better than just OK New York slices. They are industrial food for working people in a hurry. There is not a whole lot of point in getting all excited about them.
posted by ckridge at 8:27 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ckridge at 8:27 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
27 Pizza Spots
they're called pepperonis
posted by gaybobbie at 8:34 AM on December 3, 2018 [19 favorites]
they're called pepperonis
posted by gaybobbie at 8:34 AM on December 3, 2018 [19 favorites]
The very best New York slices are not all that much better than just OK New York slices. They are industrial food for working people in a hurry. There is not a whole lot of point in getting all excited about them.
I get excited over the nonpareil aspect of something that is a commodity perfectly executed and delivered. Beats the snot out of anything from a Chain Place with no heart.
See also, egg sandwichs from a bodega, HOT BAGELS, and Gus's Hot Dogs in Watervliet NY.
posted by mikelieman at 8:35 AM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
I get excited over the nonpareil aspect of something that is a commodity perfectly executed and delivered. Beats the snot out of anything from a Chain Place with no heart.
See also, egg sandwichs from a bodega, HOT BAGELS, and Gus's Hot Dogs in Watervliet NY.
posted by mikelieman at 8:35 AM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
peppers oni, surely?
posted by some loser at 8:35 AM on December 3, 2018
posted by some loser at 8:35 AM on December 3, 2018
I'm just happy all 5 boroughs are represented. These sort of lists almost always just concentrate on Manhattan and Brooklyn.
posted by cazoo at 8:57 AM on December 3, 2018
posted by cazoo at 8:57 AM on December 3, 2018
The only thing wrong with New York Pizza is, if you're a tourist, you have to sign a "confession of judgement" to buy a slice.
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:03 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:03 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Loaded the page, searched for "Spumoni Gardens," saw it was mentioned...no need to comment further this list is approved. ;)
posted by trackofalljades at 9:09 AM on December 3, 2018
posted by trackofalljades at 9:09 AM on December 3, 2018
Ive eaten a fair number of these slices, and respect the ever loving shit out of ed levine (seriously he was eating at Una Pizza Napoletana when i went a few months back and my friends couldnt understand why i was so excited) but i just dont get the hype for Paulie Gees slice shop- i love Paulie's original pies but just dont think i get what hes trying to do with the slice shop. this is not a genre that needed reinvention. this article makes that point pretty well.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:17 AM on December 3, 2018
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:17 AM on December 3, 2018
"One bite, everybody knows the rules" is basically my entire understand of NYC pizza.
posted by ShakeyJake at 10:04 AM on December 3, 2018
posted by ShakeyJake at 10:04 AM on December 3, 2018
So how much is a slice these days? When I was consuming them regularly the going rate was $1.50-$2.00 IIRC, but that was, shall we say, a little while ago.
posted by five toed sloth at 10:19 AM on December 3, 2018
posted by five toed sloth at 10:19 AM on December 3, 2018
It’s a derail, sure, but tacos in LA? Really, Whelk?
San Antonio might have a thing or two to say about that.
posted by sudogeek at 10:27 AM on December 3, 2018
San Antonio might have a thing or two to say about that.
posted by sudogeek at 10:27 AM on December 3, 2018
$2.75-$3.00
Relevant: It's called the Pizza Principle.
Here's the theory: Since the 1960s, the price of a slice of pizza has risen in tandem with the cost of a subway ride with startling similarity.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:27 AM on December 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
Relevant: It's called the Pizza Principle.
Here's the theory: Since the 1960s, the price of a slice of pizza has risen in tandem with the cost of a subway ride with startling similarity.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:27 AM on December 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
I'm just happy all 5 boroughs are represented. These sort of lists almost always just concentrate on Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Yeah... This time they mentioned TWO places on Staten Island!
posted by mikelieman at 11:08 AM on December 3, 2018
Yeah... This time they mentioned TWO places on Staten Island!
posted by mikelieman at 11:08 AM on December 3, 2018
San Antonio might have a thing or two to say about that.
San Antonio has good tacos, but LA just has so many good tacos.
But the best tacos in the world are so obviously in Mexico City that it's just silly to compare otherwise.
posted by aspersioncast at 4:26 PM on December 3, 2018
San Antonio has good tacos, but LA just has so many good tacos.
But the best tacos in the world are so obviously in Mexico City that it's just silly to compare otherwise.
posted by aspersioncast at 4:26 PM on December 3, 2018
Schmod: The point of NYC pizza is that the worst pizza place in NYC still has incredibly-decent pizza.
I dunno, there’s a place near me that is genuinely awful. I’m not even gonna name it, all I’ll say is it’s near City College. Koronet is not much better.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:37 PM on December 3, 2018
I dunno, there’s a place near me that is genuinely awful. I’m not even gonna name it, all I’ll say is it’s near City College. Koronet is not much better.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:37 PM on December 3, 2018
So how much is a slice these days
One Dollar.
OMFGWTH it's gone up to a buck and a quarter, but it's a solid cheese slice!
posted by sammyo at 6:37 AM on December 5, 2018
One Dollar.
OMFGWTH it's gone up to a buck and a quarter, but it's a solid cheese slice!
posted by sammyo at 6:37 AM on December 5, 2018
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I was pleased to hit up an unassuming slice joint in my new neighborhood and found the slices to be perfect: just a hint of a brittle edge to the crust, sweet sauce with that perfect cheese integration.
The beauty of the NYC slice is that you don't have to go to a place on a list to find it, and you can get great slices at places that would disappoint you if you read about them on a list. Somehow that common denominator gets lost when you leave NYC. I don't know what it is.
I do love a good slice hunt but if I go to one of these places and there's a line, I'll go to the okay place around the corner, pay $.75 less for a slice, and be just as happy.
posted by entropone at 4:42 AM on December 3, 2018 [16 favorites]