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The Best Pizza In The City
Welcome!
For my senior initiative in 2011, I went around all five boroughs of New York City to find the best pizza. After testing each venue, I updated the blog with my review of the slice and some photos of the pizzeria. I already visited a huge list of places, but if you have any recommendations, don't hesitate to e-mail me at dso35@cornell.edu
Thanks for visiting the blog and giving me your support. Please comment on the reviews, to do so, click on the title of a post and scroll to the bottom. Be sure to come back for more updates!
-Daniel Ortega
Thanks for visiting the blog and giving me your support. Please comment on the reviews, to do so, click on the title of a post and scroll to the bottom. Be sure to come back for more updates!
-Daniel Ortega
Friday, June 7, 2019
Friday, August 24, 2018
Roberta's
The aroma of Roberta's pizza with draw you out of the Morgan Avenue stop along the L line. The pizzeria is a favorite of Bushwick natives and Brooklyn residents, and will even have some outer-borough fans make the trip for some good pizza and drinks. Roberta's presence expands outside of Bushwick by often serving their food at all-day music festivals like Panorama.
Roberta's is all about the full pizza-eating experience. It's a place where you want to pull up with a group of friends, grab some drinks, order some pizzas, and chat over the long wooden picnic tables. Even if you come alone or in a party of two, you may be surrounded by fellow pizza lovers all sitting along the same bench. The pizzeria is open for lunch, dinner, and even brunch on the weekends, something I haven't seen too often of other pizzerias in the city.
Roberta's closest "plain" pie that they offered was their Margherita pie. The sauce on the pizza was the highlight for me at Roberta's, as I noticed the sweet and tangy original flavor with my first bite into the personal pie. The cheese certainly looked and tasted great, but there was not enough of it on the pie which was a bit disappointing. I did not notice the bread in my first initial bites, but the crust was full of that delicious smoky flavor from Roberta's signature bright red wood-burning pizza oven.
Roberta's offers patons indoor and outdoor seating, but table service is only offered indoors. There are plenty of seats outside but much fewer inside, often leading to wait times during typical lunch and dinner hours. Although I had to wait 15 minutes for my table, Roberta's took my number and notified me via text when my table was ready. When I returned back to Roberta's for my table, I was seated immediately. Given that it is located in Bushwickh, expect a hipster, down-to-earth crowd and waitstaff.
I gave Roberta's a B/B+ because the sauce was definitely among my favorites and the overall pie was good. Roberta's could add some more cheese to their pies and should consider allowing table service to patrons seated outside. Bushwick's favorite pizzeria is definitely worth a visit, be sure to go before the L train shutdown!
Roberta's is located at 261 Moore Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Pizza Overall Grade: B/B+
Cheese: 3
Cheese: 3
Sauce: 4.5
Bread/Crust: 3.5
Presentation: 3.5
Pizzeria: 4.5
Service: 4
Service: 4
Roberta's is all about the full pizza-eating experience. It's a place where you want to pull up with a group of friends, grab some drinks, order some pizzas, and chat over the long wooden picnic tables. Even if you come alone or in a party of two, you may be surrounded by fellow pizza lovers all sitting along the same bench. The pizzeria is open for lunch, dinner, and even brunch on the weekends, something I haven't seen too often of other pizzerias in the city.
Roberta's closest "plain" pie that they offered was their Margherita pie. The sauce on the pizza was the highlight for me at Roberta's, as I noticed the sweet and tangy original flavor with my first bite into the personal pie. The cheese certainly looked and tasted great, but there was not enough of it on the pie which was a bit disappointing. I did not notice the bread in my first initial bites, but the crust was full of that delicious smoky flavor from Roberta's signature bright red wood-burning pizza oven.
Roberta's offers patons indoor and outdoor seating, but table service is only offered indoors. There are plenty of seats outside but much fewer inside, often leading to wait times during typical lunch and dinner hours. Although I had to wait 15 minutes for my table, Roberta's took my number and notified me via text when my table was ready. When I returned back to Roberta's for my table, I was seated immediately. Given that it is located in Bushwickh, expect a hipster, down-to-earth crowd and waitstaff.
I gave Roberta's a B/B+ because the sauce was definitely among my favorites and the overall pie was good. Roberta's could add some more cheese to their pies and should consider allowing table service to patrons seated outside. Bushwick's favorite pizzeria is definitely worth a visit, be sure to go before the L train shutdown!
Roberta's is located at 261 Moore Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Phone: (718) 417-1118
Delivery, Take-out, Eat-in
Cost of Pie: Margherita - $16
Dept. of Health Grade: A
Dept. of Health Grade: A
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Nicoletta
One of the thicker, deeper pizza pies offered in NYC comes from Nicoletta, a cozy spot in the East Village on 2nd Ave between 10th and 11th street. The menu here offers patrons over 20 different toppings for your pizza: you can choose one of the restaurant's specialty pizzas or make your own creation if you wish. The Chicago-influenced pizzeria serves a different take on NYC pizza.
Nicoletta takes pride in the endless combinations you can make from their various toppings. The pizzeria suggests you supplement your main course with a side dish from their appetizer or salad menu. Just like their pizzas, the side dishes like meatballs or cauliflower are made from a collection of rich ingredients (unlike your local pizzeria down the block). From my own experience, ordering a salad and a pizza pie was more than enough food for 2.
The cheese was melted to a nearly perfect crisp on the pizza, with mozzarella stretching on every bite. The sauce was rich in flavor and you can find chunks of fresh tomatoes over the entire pie. However, the sauce was too plentiful, overpowering the taste of the cheese. The bread was thick and doughy, which is unusual for most NYC pizzerias, making it a bigger part of the pizza eating experience (compared to other pizzerias).
Nicoletta's venue is a bit small but can fit a good amount of people when the outdoor seating is available. Most of the tables are meant for parties of 2 or less, so if you are coming with more people, make a reservation or prepare to wait. The restaurant gives off a young and chic vibe, hosting people who are looking to change up their standard NYC pizzas. The service was great, we got our salad and pizza exactly when we started to crave them.
I gave Nicoletta an A- because the cheese and sauce were both incredibly delicious and plentiful. I think Nicoletta could ease up a bit on the sauce for their pizza, and perhaps find someway to make more room for the demand they attract. Be sure to try one of their side dishes with your pizza!
Nicoletta is located at 160 Second Ave between 10th and 11th streets.
Pizza Overall Grade: A-
Cheese: 4
Cheese: 4
Sauce: 4.5
Bread/Crust: 3
Presentation: 5
Pizzeria: 4
Service: 4.5
Service: 4.5
Nicoletta takes pride in the endless combinations you can make from their various toppings. The pizzeria suggests you supplement your main course with a side dish from their appetizer or salad menu. Just like their pizzas, the side dishes like meatballs or cauliflower are made from a collection of rich ingredients (unlike your local pizzeria down the block). From my own experience, ordering a salad and a pizza pie was more than enough food for 2.
The cheese was melted to a nearly perfect crisp on the pizza, with mozzarella stretching on every bite. The sauce was rich in flavor and you can find chunks of fresh tomatoes over the entire pie. However, the sauce was too plentiful, overpowering the taste of the cheese. The bread was thick and doughy, which is unusual for most NYC pizzerias, making it a bigger part of the pizza eating experience (compared to other pizzerias).
Nicoletta's venue is a bit small but can fit a good amount of people when the outdoor seating is available. Most of the tables are meant for parties of 2 or less, so if you are coming with more people, make a reservation or prepare to wait. The restaurant gives off a young and chic vibe, hosting people who are looking to change up their standard NYC pizzas. The service was great, we got our salad and pizza exactly when we started to crave them.
I gave Nicoletta an A- because the cheese and sauce were both incredibly delicious and plentiful. I think Nicoletta could ease up a bit on the sauce for their pizza, and perhaps find someway to make more room for the demand they attract. Be sure to try one of their side dishes with your pizza!
Nicoletta is located at 160 Second Ave between 10th and 11th streets.
Phone: (212) 432-1600
Delivery, Take-out, Eat-in
Cost of Pie: Classica Pie - $17
Dept. of Health Grade: A
Dept. of Health Grade: A
Monday, March 30, 2015
Numero 28
The Numero 28 chain is known for its great pizza made with wood-fired ovens and ingredients imported from Italy. Although Numero 28 has locations throughout the United States (and one in London), the majority of its pizzerias can be found in Manhattan. Today I ended my long hiatus of pizza blogging with my visit to the Numero 28 in the East Village, located on 2nd Ave and 11th street.
Numero 28 has over 15 different types of pizza pies, sold at 3 different sizes: 14, 18, and 29 inches. I ordered the 14 inch Margherita/Plain cheese pie, which was cut into four wide slices. The pie itself looked delicious and well-made, as you can see in the picture below. I think the best aspect of Numero 28's pizza was their pizza sauce, which had a strong flavor of freshly cut tomatoes. Despite using the sauce sparingly on the pie, it had a great impact on my experience.
The crust and the cheese were both tasty but not memorable like the sauce. The crust did have a nice smoky flavor to it, thanks to the wood-fired ovens of Numero 28. However, the dough was slightly more oily than it should've been. In addition, all of the ingredients were used sparingly: thin layers of sauce and cheese on a thin crust means there isn't much pizza there at all.
The East Village pizzeria can seat about 50 guests and some more outside during the warmer months in New York City. The service I had was pretty standard; the restaurant was not crowded at all for lunch during the week. One of the big issues I have with Numero 28 is that they do not accept credit cards. Given that their pies are quite pricey (generally $15 for the smallest pie), it can be a hassle for someone to use an ATM if they do not have enough cash on them to pay.
I gave Numero 28 a B because I loved the way the pizza looked and I enjoyed how delicious their sauce was. The bread and cheese were also pretty good, but not too special either. If you visit, remember to bring enough cash to pay for your meal!
Numero 28 pizza is located at 176 Second Ave between 11th and 12th streets. Other locations can be found at http://www.numero28.com/intro/index.php
Pizza Overall Grade: B
Cheese: 3.5
Cheese: 3.5
Sauce: 5
Bread/Crust: 3.5
Presentation: 5
Pizzeria: 3.5
Service: 3
Service: 3
Numero 28 has over 15 different types of pizza pies, sold at 3 different sizes: 14, 18, and 29 inches. I ordered the 14 inch Margherita/Plain cheese pie, which was cut into four wide slices. The pie itself looked delicious and well-made, as you can see in the picture below. I think the best aspect of Numero 28's pizza was their pizza sauce, which had a strong flavor of freshly cut tomatoes. Despite using the sauce sparingly on the pie, it had a great impact on my experience.
The crust and the cheese were both tasty but not memorable like the sauce. The crust did have a nice smoky flavor to it, thanks to the wood-fired ovens of Numero 28. However, the dough was slightly more oily than it should've been. In addition, all of the ingredients were used sparingly: thin layers of sauce and cheese on a thin crust means there isn't much pizza there at all.
The East Village pizzeria can seat about 50 guests and some more outside during the warmer months in New York City. The service I had was pretty standard; the restaurant was not crowded at all for lunch during the week. One of the big issues I have with Numero 28 is that they do not accept credit cards. Given that their pies are quite pricey (generally $15 for the smallest pie), it can be a hassle for someone to use an ATM if they do not have enough cash on them to pay.
I gave Numero 28 a B because I loved the way the pizza looked and I enjoyed how delicious their sauce was. The bread and cheese were also pretty good, but not too special either. If you visit, remember to bring enough cash to pay for your meal!
Numero 28 pizza is located at 176 Second Ave between 11th and 12th streets. Other locations can be found at http://www.numero28.com/intro/index.php
Phone: (212) 777-1555
Delivery, Take-out, Eat-in
Cost of Pie: Margherita/Plain Cheese Pie (14-18-29 inches): $12-$21-$30
Dept. of Health Grade: A
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Motorino Pizza
A pizzeria with multiple locations in New York City and in Hong Kong, Motorino has taken its recipe for success international. Here in the city, you can visit Motorino in either the East Village or in Willaimsburg, giving pizza lovers two more ways to find their fix. Tucked away near the corner of 12th street and 1st Avenue, Motorino is a cozy venue for a simple dinner outing.
Motorino offers a small selection of pizza pies to the customer. The closest I could find to a plain pie was the Margherita pie, which contains the three main ingredients of pizza: cheese, sauce, and bread. When I first looked at the pie, I was impressed by how vivid the colors of the sauce and cheese were, a sign that the ingredients were fresh. The crust and bread were my favorite part of the pizza. Although very thin, I loved how the crust was crunchy and soft, allowing for the perfect bite. Also, a touch of smokiness added a ton of flavor to the pizza.
The cheese and the sauce, however, did not impress me. The cheese lacked flavor and came off as just another ingredient to the pie. The sauce, while tangy with chunks of tomatoes, was lightly spread on the pie. These ingredients (cheese and sauce) did not blow me away but they did not disappoint me either.
The venue was welcoming, clean, and bright. The Motorino I visited in the East Village is quite small, and it seems to be the same with the one in Williamsburg. During peak hours it might be difficult to get a table in a pizzeria, since it has about 20 seats. I visited at around 5:00pm on a weekday, so the pizzeria was nearly empty. Given this, our service was incredibly quick, which should be expected under those conditions.
I gave Motorino a B/B+ because I loved the taste and texture of the bread and crust. The cheese and sauce were very plain, and did not add much to the overall quality of the pizza. This place is great to visit for a small outing and simple dinner plans.
Motorino Pizza is located at 349 East 12th St at 1st avenue in Manhattan and at 139 Broadway near Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn.
Pizza Overall Grade: B/B+
Cheese: 3.5
Cheese: 3.5
Sauce: 3.5
Bread/Crust: 4
Presentation: 4
Pizzeria: 3
Service: 4.5
Service: 4.5
Motorino offers a small selection of pizza pies to the customer. The closest I could find to a plain pie was the Margherita pie, which contains the three main ingredients of pizza: cheese, sauce, and bread. When I first looked at the pie, I was impressed by how vivid the colors of the sauce and cheese were, a sign that the ingredients were fresh. The crust and bread were my favorite part of the pizza. Although very thin, I loved how the crust was crunchy and soft, allowing for the perfect bite. Also, a touch of smokiness added a ton of flavor to the pizza.
The cheese and the sauce, however, did not impress me. The cheese lacked flavor and came off as just another ingredient to the pie. The sauce, while tangy with chunks of tomatoes, was lightly spread on the pie. These ingredients (cheese and sauce) did not blow me away but they did not disappoint me either.
The venue was welcoming, clean, and bright. The Motorino I visited in the East Village is quite small, and it seems to be the same with the one in Williamsburg. During peak hours it might be difficult to get a table in a pizzeria, since it has about 20 seats. I visited at around 5:00pm on a weekday, so the pizzeria was nearly empty. Given this, our service was incredibly quick, which should be expected under those conditions.
I gave Motorino a B/B+ because I loved the taste and texture of the bread and crust. The cheese and sauce were very plain, and did not add much to the overall quality of the pizza. This place is great to visit for a small outing and simple dinner plans.
Motorino Pizza is located at 349 East 12th St at 1st avenue in Manhattan and at 139 Broadway near Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn.
Phone: Manhattan--(212) 777-2644, Brooklyn-- (718) 599-8899
Delivery, Take-out, Eat-in
Cost of Pie: Margherita Pie: $15
Dept. of Health Grade: A
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Lucali
Hidden in the residential sector of Carroll Gardens lie the pizzeria called Lucali. The small venue fits about 20-30 people inside, promoting a relaxing night out to dinner. The candle-lit tables, BYOB policy and lack of menu options (just pizza pies or calzones) all exhibit the simplicity that defines Lucali. The restaurant has a way of making a simple meal seem classy.
BYOB
Pizza Overall Grade: B/B+
Cheese: 4
Cheese: 4
Sauce: 3.5
Bread/Crust: 4
Presentation: 4.5
Pizzeria: 3.5
Service: 3
Pizzeria: 3.5
Service: 3
Lucali's small venue definitely made my pizza pie feel more special. With one oven and one preparation station in the back of the restaurant, it was clear that each and every pie was made with care. When I first saw the pie, it looked well-made, clean, and most importantly, delicious. The cheese was not only melted perfectly, but it was also rich in flavor, which is rare from the other pizzerias I have visited. The sauce was also tasty, but not as noticeable as the taste of the cheese. However, the bread was my favorite part of the pizza. The thin crust and smoky flavor really set this pizza apart from the competition. The combination of all these factors made for a great slice.
That being said, each slice didn't hold all three of these components for too long. It seemed like each slice only was covered with cheese and sauce on the bottom half. While the cheese and sauce were both great, there wasn't much of it to eat with each slice. The bread, or crust per slice was much larger than any other of the pizzerias I have visited. Combine this with the fact that thin sliced pizza doesn't fill you up very easily, and you'll be asking for more.
The pizzeria is away from the busy main streets of the neighborhood and is nicely organized inside, but it is very small. To eat in, you will probably have to call for reservations, especially on the weekends. The service is good, but there is only one waitress for the restaurant, along with one pizza oven, so wait times for your food could get long.
I gave Lucali a B/B+ because I really enjoyed the key ingredients of the pizza. However, Lucali would have had a much better grade if they used more cheese and sauce to fill up their pizza.
Lucali is located at 575 Henry Street in Brooklyn.
Phone: (718) 858-4086
Take-out, Eat-in, No Delivery
Cost of Pie: $24
Dept. of Health Grade: A
Phone:
E-mail Suggestions!
Hello everyone!
It has been two years since I last embarked on my hunt for the best pizzerias in New York City. This summer I want to reopen the project and visit some places I have not been before, especially those that viewers like you have recommended time and time again. Please comment on this post or e-mail me suggestions for pizzerias to review in the city, I am open to all suggestions.
I just visited Lucali's pizzeria in Brooklyn on Spring Break, the review will be up shortly.
Here are some of the suggestions I have received:
-Two Boots
-Totonno's
-Joe's (The Village)
-Motorino
Once again, comment on the blog or e-mail suggestions to dso35@cornell.edu.
Thanks,
Daniel
It has been two years since I last embarked on my hunt for the best pizzerias in New York City. This summer I want to reopen the project and visit some places I have not been before, especially those that viewers like you have recommended time and time again. Please comment on this post or e-mail me suggestions for pizzerias to review in the city, I am open to all suggestions.
I just visited Lucali's pizzeria in Brooklyn on Spring Break, the review will be up shortly.
Here are some of the suggestions I have received:
-Two Boots
-Totonno's
-Joe's (The Village)
-Motorino
Once again, comment on the blog or e-mail suggestions to dso35@cornell.edu.
Thanks,
Daniel
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