Alright, alright, alright... we're finally showing some love to our favorite spots around the New York City with traditional New York City style slices.
Nope, we're not tackling the brick-oven/boutique/fancy pants pizza scene with this one-- we're talking strictly old-school cheese slices-- the kind they make in those standard, double-stacked pizza ovens.
Because a pizza joint is really only as good as it's cheese slice, right? Right.
Seriously, we all know that you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still just a pig. And by most standards, the traditional cheese slice reigns supreme-- and we're sticking by that.
So line up the grated cheese, garlic powder, and the oregano, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Oh, and grab a stack of napkins.
We're going deep on this list, 5 of the most amazing cheese slices in NYC. So where do we begin?
1. Di Fara Pizza (1424 Avenue J - Brooklyn)
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Di Fara's has been on top of the Brooklyn pizza game for decades. Their near paramount position in the hierarchy of NYC pizza shops in general is pretty well-established, and so is the wait for a slice.
One of their claims to fame is the addition of fresh basil to every plain pie.
It's darn good. Though it's next to impossible to eat comfortably in the pizzeria, so we recommend you take your slice to go. Well, that is, after watching owner Domenico do his thing behind the counter.
Bottom line is, nobody wants to stand while eating their slice in the company of hoards of hungry people, so just go kick it out on the street to enjoy. Or bring it home. Either way, it's a win-win.
2. Lucia Pizza (136-55 Roosevelt Avenue - Queens)
This place absolutely screams the traditional NYC pizza parlor, and we wouldn't want to have it any other way.
The establishment itself is so small you usually can't even find a spot to sit down, but it's so good that it really doesn't even matter.
Constantly churning out pies at a pace that's hard to even comprehend, do yourself a favor and stop in here the next time you're in Queens. And don't forget to grab one of their Italian ices for dessert.
3. Joe's Pizza (various NYC locations)
It's known as a Village institution for a reason. One of those reasons is that it's been there for 40 years. You can't do anything badly for that long and stay in business.
Not only are their slices perhaps the best in the area, but they're open until the local bars close. For many, that's all you'll need to know.
For the rest, you should know the founder, Joe Pozzuoli, came from Naples-- also known as pizza's hometown. At Joe's, they don't mess around. You won't find trendy slices, nor will you find any gimmicks.
They're tried and true, perennially landing spots on best-of lists for years, including GQ's "Best 25 Pizzas on Earth."
4. Louie & Ernie's Pizza (1300 Crosby Avenue - the Bronx)
Basically everyone knows that if you want Italian food in NYC, the Bronx is where it's at. One perfect example of why that's a fact is Louie & Ernie's.
It's inexpensive but high-quality, which, for anything, is as common as a unicorn. You definitely want to go to Louie & Ernie's the next time you're in the hood.
Their Sicilian pie is widely recognized as very, very good. Plus, their sausage slices are so highly praised that we need to shout them out too.
Of course, like we mentioned above, the cheese slice is the universal litmus test of a pizza shop, and Louie & Ernie's cheese slice is iconic to the neighborhood and beyond. Go get some.
5. Denino's Pizzeria Tavern (524 Port Richmond Avenue - Staten Island)
There's not many things that pair better than booze and pizza. In Rob Schneider's famous words in Big Daddy, "... they go together like lamb and tuna fish."
So the next time you're on Staten Island, go grab a drink and slice from Denino's. It's a local landmark and indeed one of the best slices you can get in NYC. Plus, it's a bar. What else do you need to know besides the address?
Need more reasons to go to Staten Island? Here's 10 more. And while you're there, don't miss out on Denino's either.
Check out The Definitive Guide to the Best Pizza Joints in NYC-- by Borough.
[via Yelp]