It took me multiple trips to DeLucia’s Brick Oven Pizza (3 1st Avenue) in Raritan, New Jersey before I was actually able to score a pie. In the fall of 2022, I drove to DeLucia’s from New York City on a Wednesday afternoon (it took over an hour), walked up to the counter, and asked for a large cheese pizza. “We’re sold out,” I was told. You see, the system for scoring a pie at DeLucia’s is bit non-traditional given that we’re living in the 21st century. You can either show up in person before the doors open or try placing an order over the phone. That is, if you can get through. I was determin ..read more

When Grimm Brewery opened in Williamsburg in 2018, the beer offerings certainly overshadowed the food (Middle Eastern bites from a nearby restaurant were originally available for purchase). But with the recent addition of a full rooftop restaurant — Lala’s (990 Metropolitan Avenue) — serving New Haven-inspired pizzas, the food at Grimm is now front and center. In fact, there might not be a better combo in Brooklyn than a Lala’s pie paired with a pour. What’s Unique? New Haven style pizza is under represented in New York City. And Lala’s is a welcome addition to a pizza scene that offers ..read more

This year was an epic year for pizza! It feels like a while since I’ve been able to say that. But the truth is that while many pizza places weathered the pandemic well enough to stay afloat, there haven’t been as many exciting openings and expansions since the pre-COVID days. But that all changed in 2023. A New Haven style spot on top of a brewery in Brooklyn? Check. A hip slice joint operating out of a basketball arena? Of course. A renowned chef known for his upscale restaurants pivoting to… what else… pizza? You bet. These are just a few of the spots that made my list this year. But I’m jus ..read more

Boomshakalaka! Fini Pizza (620 Atlantic Avenue) which opened its original location in Williamsburg last year, has a brand new offshoot at (but not “inside”) Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn. The shop overlooks the large and underutilized plaza by the arena’s main entrance in a space that was formerly a Starbucks. Might it be the best pizza in the country being served out of an arena? Possibly. Should it be an essential stop on your way into a Nets game this season? Definitely. What’s Unique? Fini Pizza’s second Brooklyn location is attached to the Barclays Center. But because you don’t ne ..read more

When you visit Chicago and think about getting some pizza, the first thing that probably comes to mind is deep dish. There is another popular type of pizza in Chicago known as “tavern style” which is essentially a thin crust bar pie that is traditionally cut into a grid of small squares. But there are other lesser known styles of pizza that are affiliated with the Chicago region too — including pan pies — and during I recent trip there I went to check out a place which has been generating a lot of buzz since opening in 2020: Milly’s Pizza In The Pan (1005 W Argyle Street). What’s Unique ..read more

I recently returned from a trip to the Greek Islands and had no intention of eating pizza there. However, those plans were foiled one evening on Santorini during a leisurely stroll from the town of Imerovigli to Fira, the island’s capital. About halfway through the 30 minute walk, I came across a sign that lured me in: Volkan Sourdough Pizza. The short description noting their use of “Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil” and “Fresh Basil From Our Little Garden” was too intriguing to pass on. And so my wife and I grabbed a table at the ungodly Greek dining hour of 6PM to see if these pies were worth t ..read more

Many of the pizza pop-ups that proliferated during the pandemic have gone into hibernation (although some expanded into brick and mortar shops like Brooklyn DOP). But one that is still going strong is La Rose Pizza in Park Slope, Brooklyn — which has been serving up delectable, Instagram-worthy Detroit style pies over the past two years. What’s Unique? Because La Rose is a pop up, details are subject to change without notice. However, typically the menu features seven pies, starting at $30 for a Plain Jane (Cheese Blend, Sauce, Pecorino, and Basil) and jumping up to $43 for a Lucia (Chee ..read more

When you think of Poughkeepsie, New York… what’s the first thing that comes to mind? If you said “Detroit Style Pizza,” I’d say you’re lying. But you could make the cast that Hudson & Packard (29 Academy Street), which opened its doors to the public at the start of the pandemic, should be synonymous with this Hudson Valley city. There is no trendier pizza style right now than pan cooked pies from the Motor City. And while the wave of revitalization that has swept over other waterfront towns like Beacon, Kingston and Hudson has not yet made its way to Poughkeepsie, a place like Hudson & ..read more

New York City is no stranger to pizza wars. While we can save the details of every spat for another time (i.e. Grimaldi’s versus Juliana’s, price wars over the $1 slice, and the fight for the use of the Ray’s and Joe’s names), it’s worth noting that battle of epic pizza proportions recently took place in Queens. While the details may evolve over time, here are the basics: It all centered around a man named Andrew Bellucci, who has worked at many of New York’s most famous pizza institutions. In 2020, Bellucci partnered with a man named Leo Dakmak to open a pizzeria in Astoria. A decision was ma ..read more

Another year. Another roundup of some of the best pies I ate. From ramps and pumpkin to crispy chicken cutlets, no topping was left uneaten this past year. Four of my top five pies were consumed in the Greater New York area, with a guest appearance from out West. Let’s count ’em down! 5) MUSHROOM PIZZA Folks Pizzeria Costa Mesa, CA In a shopping & dining complex about one hour south of Los Angeles — a few miles from the beaches of Orange County — you’ll find Folks Pizzeria. Nestled between a boutique clothing store and a fitness center, it might not be the likeliest of places to find some ..read more