The best pizza on the planet is in Brooklyn. That's not one girl's opinion, it's a fact. Many of these places have existed for decades. To get your hands on one of these, you may have to wait hours. You may have to travel to the furthest corners of Brooklyn. The wait & the pilgrimage are worth it. Here are my picks:
L&B Spumoni Gardens - this place has been around since 1939. The thick-crusted, rectangular Sicilian-style pizza is upside-down style. The cheese is baked right next to the crust and the tomato sauce is on top. They purposely under cook the crust a bit so that it's extra soft and doughy. It's perfection
Paulie Gee's - you'll find this pizza heaven in Greenpoint. The pizza itself is Neapolitan style. The exciting thing here is the toppings, they go wild. The Cherry Jones (mozz, gorgonzola, dried cherries & prosciutto) and the Monte Cristo (gouda, canadian bacon & maple syrup) are particularly tasty.
Roberta's - this Bushwick establishment is iconic. It's a pleasure to sit outside there and listen to music on their outdoor benches. You'll get Neapolitan style pizza here with killer ingredients. Try the Speckenwolf with speck, criminis, and mozzarella or the Beastmaster with mozz, gorgonzola, capers, jalapenos, onions,and sausage.
Motorino - the crust on these Neapolitan style pies are incredible. They have a great antipasti menu and a range of options for pizza toppings. My favorite is the Soppressata Piccante with tomato sauce, fior di latte, spicy soppressata & chili flakes. The runner up is easily the Brussels Sprout with fior di latte, pecorino, and smoked pancetta
Di Fara - you'll have to travel for this one and wait for over an hour. It's worth it. If you are a serious student of NY pizza, you go here. The owner Domenico DeMarco has been the sole pizza maker here for over 50 years. The crust is thin and the ingredients are uber fresh. You can enjoy the show watching Domenico cut each piece of basil and drizzling olive oil on all his pies.
Lucali - I've waited over 2 hours to eat here before. That means I have something in common with Jay Z. It is old fashioned, thin-crust, brick-over pizzas. The oven is in the center of the room so that you can watch the action
Totonno's Pizzeria Napolitano – this place is as old school as it gets. They have been operating in Coney Island for decades. This is coal oven pizza with fresh mozz and perfect tomato sauce. I imagine that this is what childhood in Brooklyn tastes like.
Franny's - This Flatbush Ave eatery is rustic & comfortable. The dough is Neapolitan style- thin and chewy. Try the clam pie with chii and parsley. They also have great appetizers and salads on the menu.
Speedy Romeo - this is a newcomer to the game, but definitely worth mentioning. This pizza is wood fire grilled. Don't miss the White Album pizza : roast garlic, ricotta, provel, pecorino, bechame. They have a full menu of dishes also not to be missed.
Emily - This tiny establishment is in Clinton Hill and definitely worth the visit. Like Speedy Romeo, they are a newcomer to the pizza scene. Try the colony topped with pepperoni and pickled chilis. Or, the Emily made with mozzarella, pistachios, truffle sottocenere, & honey. They also have one of the best burgers in New York, not to be missed.
Some honorable mentions : Juliana's, Patsy's Pizzeria, Artichoke Pizza, Best Pizza, Grimaldi's, Giuseppina's
