Here in Western Nassau the best place to go for a traditional pie is Grimaldis in Garden City. Coal fired, just like its alter ego in Brooklyn, the pies are sensational and simple. No pinapple and ham, broccoli and lemon etc. The best place for a slice is Positanos in Williston Park followed very closely by Umbertos in New Hyde Park. In Queens the best slice IMHO, is still at New Park on Cross Bay Blvd.
But NY has competition. Pizzeria Regina in the North End of Boston is sensational.
New York pizza is an abomination. Take a trip to Chicago. Hit Pizzeria Uno, or better, Giordano's. Thick, stuffed, chewy bread crust. Heaven.
And I said, if you recall, that I have never liked Pizza Hut. I said that if there were one here (which there is not), I'd patronize them just to support the reading program -- and honk off the "anti-corporatist" loons.
The first commenter got it right. Grimaldi's is the best. And, if you go during happy hour, personal pizzas are only $5, beer 2 for 1 and George the bartender is the best!!!!!
I'll go along with all the other choices too, and add one more--La Vera on Hillside and Marcus Ave. The owner there used to own Gloria's in Flushing and the sauce and recipes are the same.
Raimo's in Freeport was rated no. 1 by the cable news cahnnel, and justifuiably so. I'm gonna have to try that Grimaldi's, though/
Isn't Pizza Uno a chain?
Go to Brooklyn for real Italian pizza!
Bensonhurst to be exact! Europa on 65th Street makes a great pie.
In fact any Italian bakery will sell pizza dough for those of us who make our own.
Don't forget to stop off at Pastosa's on New Utrect Avenue for the best manicotti(please use correct Italian pronunciation) and ravioli.
Uno has become a chain -- but don't go to any but the originals, Uno and Due, in Chicago.
As an Italian American who has loved pizza since I can remember, there is no argument: NY pizza is the best. Sorry Chicago; you have a great city but NY rules in pizza. When I come home from a trip anywhere, I always look forward to my first real slice of NY pizza. I'm partial to Valentinos here in Flushing but there are so many fine local pizza shops.
I'd love to try them all.
As a native Bushwick guy and world traveler, I can tell you nothing compares to New York pizza. But arguing with Chicago is unnecessary. Let's just agree that California is a pizza wasteland. Out here, it's all about toppings (sun-dried tomatoes and tandoori chicken, for chrissakes). The pizza is an afterthought.
The only place in the world with worse pizza is Japan. They put potatoes and tuna on it.
I haven't had a Sicilian pizza in decades! Or a decent potato knish, but that's another rant.
Hot knishes, cold drinks!!!!
Oh the memories of Coney Island, Nathan's franks and of course Brighton Beach knishes.
Yo! It's Brooklyn baby for the best pizza and knishes!
And NYC ED, don't put down our Yankees either!! That billy goat has nuttin' over our Babe or our pizza!
Every once in a while we have an industrious New York transplant here to attend Palmer College of Chiropraactic who longs for some good pizza and will open up an NY style pizzeria. It's usually short lived, though, because once they graduate, they tend to move back east.
The Crossroads hotel in Hellertown (close to Allentown/Bethlehem) PA has awesome pizza.
3 hours from Chicago- we've got lots of deep dish here. I like it every now and again, but I place it in a separate category.
Pizza Hut? Yuck.
I will admit that NY pizza is a vast improvement over authentic Italian pizza, which is one of the most boring food items ever invented -- and thank God Americans made it something edible. Pizza, like fruit tarts, are one of those essentially dull food items Americans turned into food.
And I know all about Japanese pizza (try Korean pizza sometime). Then, the Japanese have had to build a whole cuisine around things no human being should ever eat, so why not do it to pizza?
Personally, I would kill for sushi. But incorporating it into a pizza holds little allure for me.
Manhattan pizzaria charging $1,000 per pie!
Mama Mia!!!!
New York City pizza is the best! Only thing that comes close in Northern CA is Amici's.
Back in 1950, when I was a teensy tyke living 'way out on Long Island in an apartment over my grandparents' house, my Grampa would sometimes bring home a new-fangled 'snack food' called pizza. It came from a bar and grill in Patchogue called Sal's. As far as I know, it only came in one flavor: what we today call plain cheese pizza. It was amazing. Lovely supple crust, the underneath dusted with corn meal; piping hot spicy tomato sauce covered with luscious melted cheese.
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My mother (who for medical reasons cannot have any food with artery-clogging potential) has declared that when she is on her deathbed, as soon as the doctor pronounces the word "Terminal" in regard to her prospects, one of her children must IMMEDIATELY leave her bedside and swiftly bring her a New York pizza.
I always enjoyed the little mom and pop pizza parlors. For years I would go to Mariella on West 57th Street, but alas that location is now gone due to high rents.
I shall be on a New York State and NYC historic tour in April. We'll stop at Grant's Tomb (after our West Point visit) and then take them to Koronet on Broadway and they'll have to eat on the street. No one is allowed to eat a slice with a knife and fork! Their slices are extra large. My students from California started to call New York pizza, 'wet pizza'. One fella actually looked at his slice and said, "It's still alive!"
I was brought up that the only acceptable beverages to be served with pizza are root beer, beer, or that non-descript grape drink!
I now live in Alexandria, Va and there is a real New York Style Pizza place called Valentino's in the local strip mall!(Pretty expensive, but all pure ingrediants!) You can smell the garlic when you walk in, and the cheese slides off the slice beautifully! They play Frank Sinatra Vic Damone, Dean Martin, and Connie Francis CD's.
Nowa that's Italian!
GRIMALDI'S IN GARDEN CITY--ON FRANKLIN AVE IS THE BEST--THEIR COAL OVEN PIZZA HAS A TASTE LIKE NO OTHER PIZZA. TRY THEIR ROASTED PEPPERS!!! OUTSTANDING!
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