The Art of Finding the BEST Pizza in NYC !

Let's get down to some serious business, people.

Whethere you have lived in NYC all of your life or you are planning to visit, you can't deny that pizza is the favorite food of the common man! (and woman, excuse me!)

There are probably about 500 actual pizza parlors in the five boroughs (for our foreign friends, that includes Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx and Staten Island) and about another 500 restaurants that include pizza on their menu. So, my job, which is such a terrible one, is to taste a few pies, go to a few places and pass this information to you. But I must warn you, eating pizza is a tough job, but hey...somebody has to do it.

For the purpose of not turning this blog into a novel, we will discuss only those establishments that sell pizza as their specialty, not the restaurants that include it on their menus. Some of these places are spotless clean, others you may have to bring some paper towels and antibacterial cleanser but I'm not going to slander anyone by singling them out. I'm just going to give you the names and locations what I believe are some the finest, tastiest pizza establishments in New York City, period! Please don't bash me if I don't include your pizzeria but I can only eat so much pizza in one lifetime but I will try to update this list shortly.

Now it's not that I'm partial to Brooklyn but, hey...fuggedaboutit!, most of the pizzerias are here and many of the best as well.

Let's start with what I think is the best sicilian (square pie) in NYC and that's at the famous L & B SPUMONI GARDENS at 2725 86th St Brooklyn, NY 11223. It's an outdoor patio style parlor that has plenty of seating outside and the tastiest sauce that could ever go on a square pie. I could sit here and eat 4 or 5 slices like nothing. I really love the sauce and the Brooklyn atmosphere...remember, folks, this is Bensonhurst! They sell the traditional round slice as well, for those that fear the unknown taste of the square.

DEFARO's PIZZA on Avenue J and East 15th St in Midwood, a pizza landmark, has great round (Napolitan) pie and best crust I've tasted but be prepared to wait upwards of 2 hours for a whole pie and sometimes 30 minutes or more just to have a slice. Well worth it though as the best ingredients and the pizza is carefully made by master craftsman Domenico DeMarco...no assembly line production here. Don't expect anything fancy either.

For great brick oven pizza, GRIMALDI'S at 19 Old Fulton St. in Brooklyn Heights has lines but it's well worth the wait just to be in this beautiful landmark area that has a pristine view of the Manhattan skyline.

Coney Island is home to the beaches and amusement rides but in pizzaland, TOTONNO'S PIZZERIA draws crowds from opening to closing. Located at 1524 Neptune Ave, TOTONNO'S still has outstanding pizza with crust and sauce that Zagat's says "Only God makes better pizza". A bit pricey and the staff is not as friendly as the other places but the pizza is outstanding and a landmark location as well.

For the more tradional pizza, PIZZAWAGON on 5th Ave and 86th St in Bay Ridge makes excellent square pie (Sicilian) and the pizza is always fresh due to the heavy traffic. Never a wait and service is good.

Remember, if the place isn't busy, you not going to get a fresh pizza...it may be old and heated up from hours before so have some patience when trying some of these establishments.

Okey, now to Queens..NICK'S PIZZA is my Queens favorite, located at 108-26 Ascan Ave in Forest Hills. The thin crusted pizza will make your mouth water. Only problem here is you can't buy pizza by the slice, so make sure you are really hungry! Parking is difficult but the quality of the pie is worth the aggravation.

Another good place for a solid pizza is LUCIA'S PIZZA at 13655B Roosevelt Ave in Flushing. LUCIA'S has been there for years. Although I believe the pie was better a few years ago, it's still tasty, always crowded and the products are always fresh.

At PEPPINO'S in Woodside, 39-63 61st St, believe it or not... Italians still actually make the pizza! The tasty crust and the tomotoes used allows this pie to taste is like the old time pizza from 30 years ago. By the way, the thin crusted Grandma slice is outrageously delicious with plenty of onions and you will go back for more!

As we go over the Verazanno Bridge (also know as the forgotten bridge) to Staten Island, GRANDMA'S ORIGINAL PIZZA at 987 Bay St. in Clifton has tasty Sicilian pizza (remember, the square type) and also a delicious vodka pizza. Try it, you'll like it!

If your looking for a cheap place to eat and don't mind slow service, then try JOE & PAT'S PIZZERIA at 1758 Victory Blvd. Tasty sauce and nice crust. Don't expect atmosphere here, just good pizza!

Last place in Staten Island, will be the famous NUNZIO'S PIZZERIA at 2155 Hylan Blvd. A Hylan Blvd. staple for many years, the pizza is good and nice family place to bring the kids. Place used to be shabby but since they renovated it a few years back the atmosphere has brightened up a bit. Good staff and conveniently located on south shore.

The blue ribbon in the Bronx goes to BROTHER'S PIZZERIA at 27 E. Kingsbridge Rd. You will fall in love with the sauce and the service is excellent. Once you try it, you may make going to the Bronx a habit.

Whenever in the Gun Hill Section of the Bronx, try NICK'S PIZZA at 1356 E. Gun Hill Rd. A little pricey for a slice but hey, listen....who said good pizza was cheap. Enjoyable Sicilian pie (square) with the right combo of tasty sauce and lots of cheese make this the reason why this place has been around forever.

Final stop in the Bronx, PRESIDENTIAL PIZZA at 357 W. 125 St. Nice gourmet style pizza and service is commendable. Good sauce and tasty pie considering these guys are not Italian.

Pizzerias in Manhattan are plentiful as well but only a handful make the cut.

LOMBARDI'S at 32 Spring St. has been around forever. Be prepared to wait for your pizza but all good things are worth waiting for. Delicious thin crusted pizza and only fresh mozzerrella is used that they make on a daily basis! You will love the ambiance and New York feeling of the place.

JOHN'S PIZZA at 278 Bleecker St. has one of the best brick oven thin crusted pizzas in the city. Tangy tomato sauce and late hours allows you to have JOHN'S until the wee hours. Again, no slices here, so starve yourself all day to enjoy this Italian feasting event.

My personal favorite pizzeria in Manhattan is SAL'S PIZZA at 369 Broome St. Nice location in an area that encompasses Chinatown and Little Italy, the pizza is out of this world. Nice people and pleasant waitresses make you want to go back whenever your in the area. Non-descript small pizzeria that is frequented by movie stars such as Al Pacino and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Well, this has been a delicious experience! I love PIZZA and as a third generation Italian, I will continue to eat my favorite food forever or until the doctor say I'm getting to fat or that my head is starting to look like a Napolitan pie.

In closing....there are lot's of great place in New York City to eat pizza. I have only touched the surface. If you have a recommendation, please let me know so I can try it! But to be honest with all of you....BROOKLYN PIZZA IS THE FINEST!