These days, the term "grandma slice" seems to be the hot catchphrase to get New Yorkers into pizza joints across the city. According to most New York City pizza "experts" (from frat boys to hipsters to 90-year-old Billysburg natives), the term simply refers to any square slice.

How can you tell what's a "grandma slice" and what's not? It's simple.

The "grandma slices" you'll find around this city are on the thin side with a crispy crust. (Sadly enough, those thick and chewy "Sicilian slices" are getting harder and harder to come by-- but not impossible to find.)

When you think of a "grandma slice," here's what should come to mind: a rectangular-ish, thin, crispy pie (because grandma pies are never round) which feature fresh-from-the-garden vegetables and herbs.

As another aside (and we probably don't have to tell you this), New York pizza will forever taste different than the pizza in Italy because our water is treated very differently.

[anad]

Also, Italian pizza chefs tend to use copper ovens, while New York pizzerias use brick or hi-tech ovens-- which are not much different than a modern-day gas stove broiler.

Finally, the more authentic "grandma slices" are currently found in the traditional Italian-American Brooklyn neighborhoods, as opposed to in Manhattan (where Italian neighborhoods have all but died out).

So now that you've been properly schooled on a "grandma slice," you're probably wondering where to find the most authentic ones in New York City. Well, you've come to the right place.

Here are our selections for the top 5 "grandma slice" spots in NYC. Now Buon' appetito! 

---

1. Prince Street Pizza (27 Prince Street)

This small and unpretentious pizza restaurant once housed the first Ray's (and we mean the real Ray's-- before all the Ray pizza wars broke out in the 80s).

Frank, the current owner, visited there as a a kid and even had his wedding reception there-- when the space was twice the size.

(Insider's tip: if you are nice to him, he will take you downstairs to see an old tree that has been growing through the basement ceiling for the past 90 years.)

So what makes Prince Street Pizza so great-- besides the homey feeling from the exposed brick walls and signed pictures of the owner with The Sopranos cast members?

Well, there's the affable, multi-tasking Frank (who seems to be there 24/7), and then there's that perfectly-seasoned, homemade tomato sauce.

The fresh mozzarella is soft and ooey-gooey when melted just right-- and they always use fresh pieces of basil. In one word, perfection.

---

2. Francesco's (531 Henry Street - Brooklyn)

This has quickly become a Carroll Gardens institution.

Francesco's sauce is chunky and not sweet-- and slices are loaded with fresh mozzarella-- but what sets it apart from other pizzerias offering "grandma slices" is that the crust has that old-school, super firmness to it.

When you bite the crust, it almost pulls away from you a bit-- as if it has a life of its own. All the pizza (and the atmosphere) at Francesco's is totally old-school, so we simply can't recommend it enough.

---

3. Di Fara Pizza (1424 Avenue J - Brooklyn)

Folks wait on long lines for what Di Fara simply calls a "square slice," and they pay five bucks for it as well.

(That's about $1.50 over the going rate for most grandma slices, but this is a New York City legend we're talking about here, right?)

Everything is homemade and you'll get crispy mozzarella on your slice alongside nice, big pieces of basil.

[anad2]

The crust is also considered the best in New York by a lot of Yelpers because of its dense consistency.

This place definitely lives up to its reputation; by the way, don't ruin the pureness in a plain cheese slice with too many toppings.

Bottom line is, this slice really does taste just like grandma made it, all those years back.

,

4. L&B Spumoni Gardens (2725 86th Street - Brooklyn)

This old-school legend does not disappoint.

Their grandma slices appear "plain" upon first viewing, but that is because there's a reverse order of mozzarella and sauce.

[anad]

The slices are sprinkled on top with grated parmesan cheese and there are beautiful, crispy black baking marks on the sides of the outer slices.

The L&B grandma slice crust is dense and slices are super-filling. Customers get a pie that gets cut up into 24 full size slices for only $36, making it the most inexpensive amongst this list at only $1.50 a slice.

You simply feel as if you stepped back in time when visiting L&B. (By the way, don't forget to actually order some spumoni to end your night here!)

---

5. Pizza Boss (1467 2nd Avenue)

This six-month-old pizzeria is right in the heart of the Upper East Side, and it probably has the biggest selection of "ready-to-go" grandma slices out there.

It's called "Home of the Grandma Slice" for a reason-- the typical round pie is simply secondary here.

When you check out the pies in the front glass counters, you will notice at least a dozen selections of grandma slices with all different configurations of veggies and meat.

[anad2]

Be sure to ask for a grandma slice loaded with roasted peppers and you won't be disappointed.

Oh, and this grandma slice is fairly thick-- we'd say halfway between that of a traditional round pizza and a Sicilian-- but that doesn't stop it from being delicious and worthy of rounding out this absolutely delicious list.

Read The Definitive Guide to the Best Pizza Joints in NYC– by Borough. 

[Feature Image Courtesy: EatLoveNY]