The Highest-Reviewed Pizzerias For Your New York City Foodie Bucket List

Ask any New Yorker to state the best pizzeria in the city, and you're bound to get a slew of different answers. With over 2,000 pizza shops, every spot has a secret (tomato) sauce, and they serve everything from Sicilian and Neapolitan to New York-style pies. We have Gennaro Lombardi, a Neapolitan immigrant, to thank for that. After moving to the Big Apple from Italy, he opened America's first pizzeria in 1905.

Today, although pizza is served throughout the United States, New York City remains the culinary capital of American pizza. According to the 50 Top Pizza USA 2022 ranking published by 50 Top Pizza, nearly 20% of the best pizzerias in the United States are in Manhattan and Brooklyn alone. We even highlighted the New York pizza spot Anthony Bourdain called "the best of the best."

But of course, not every New York City combination of cheese, sauce, and dough is created equally. So, Explore asked the most trustworthy judges — the customers — which New York City pizzerias were the best. We first evaluated which Big Apple pizzerias had the most reviews (at least hundreds) on sites such as Tripadvisor and Google. Then, we considered which ones had the highest ratings, at least four stars. Finally, we studied which pizzerias had the most acclaim from food media, such as Time Out, the Daily Meal, PMQ, and more. Here's which slices are worth the grease.

Since 1951, Denino's Pizzeria & Tavern has been known for its thin-crust, crispy pies comprising freshly made housemade dough and tomato sauce. Its pizza is so good that it has won AOL's "City's Best" (all Boroughs) Award for the best pizza in New York City multiple times. It has also been recognized in Zagat, Time Out, the New York Times, and other media. 

Denino's Pizzeria & Tavern is so beloved by Staten Island that a nearby road is now called Carlo Denino's Way. But surprisingly enough, Denino's didn't start as a pizzeria. It was founded in 1923 as a candy store by Sicilian immigrant John Denino before he transformed it into a pool hall and then a tavern. His son Carlo decided to introduce pizza, and today, his grandson, Michael, continues his legacy alongside other family members.

Besides classic cheese pizza, patrons can order items like the Garbage Pie, topped with sausage, pepperoni, meatballs, mushrooms, and onions. There's also the Clam Pie with garlic, parsley, olive oil, and grated cheese. Denino's Pizzeria & Tavern has earned 4.6 stars on Google through more than 2,700 reviews. "I had a few different slices and it was the best pizza I've ever had," wrote one Google reviewer. "The crust had a crisp I haven't experienced before. I might make trips back to SI just to get Denino's pizza. Why can't this be replicated anywhere else?"

Don Antonio in Hell's Kitchen has more than a few claims to fame. Besides being one of the first American pizzerias to offer fried pizza, it's also run by one of the few female pizzaiolos. Giorgia Caporuscio was born near Rome and is the only woman pizza cook featured in the Michelin Guide. Thanks to her expertise, Don Antonio has been named the seventh-best pizzeria in the United States and 30^th-best in the world by 50 Top Pizza. 

Besides Don Antonio's fried pizza, its 12-inch Neapolitan pies are what you should be clamoring for. They're made in an 850-degree wood-fired oven for just a minute and a half for a crispy yet airy bite. Caporuscio uses only the best ingredients, which are all from Italy. This includes Neapolitan and century-old company Mulino Caputo's non-GMO flour, which Don Antonio uses to make dough that's fermented for 24 hours. Caporuscio also utilizes Ciao tomatoes grown near Mt. Vesuvius and Deliziosa's burrata and Stracciatella. While on the subject of Caporuscio's penchant for premium Boot country ingredients, here's the biggest presentational change to expect when ordering pizza in Italy. 

Don Antonio has earned 4.3 stars from more than 2,300 reviews on Tripadvisor. One past visitor on Tripadvisor wrote, "If you're in New York City and craving real Italian pizza, Don Antonio is a must! They don't take reservations, but honestly, it's worth the wait if there is one. We went with friends from Italy, and even they said it tasted just like home!"

Joe's Pizza's pies, served at five New York City locations, often with long lines, are as straightforwardly delicious as the pizzeria's name. The shop was founded in 1975 by Naples native Joe Pozzuoli and served $0.10 slices. Since then, Joe's Pizza has offered classically light, greasy, New York-style pizza on humble paper plates — and Pozzuoli still runs it. His shop is so renowned that it has been featured in "Spider-Man 2," "Along Came Polly," "Sex and the City," and "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." 

Joe's Pizza slices can be enjoyed pretty much whenever, as the shop is open daily from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Visitors can choose from simple pies like pepperoni and cheese or other varieties like the meat lover's pie, white pie, or half-inch-thick Sicilian square pie. Joe's Pizza also offers vegan and gluten-free options. Fans can find the shop outside New York City, with locations in Ann Arbor, Miami, and Boston.

Whatever you're craving, it's sure to be a good bite. Just ask the whopping 21,000 people who have given the pizzeria a culmination of 4.5 stars on Google. One past visitor wrote on Google, "Despite the line wrapping around the corner, the wait moved surprisingly fast—about 40-45 minutes tops. But trust me, it's worth every minute. It's that authentic, no-frills, delicious pizza you dream of when you think of New York. We grabbed two slices, and they were perfection."

A step into John's of Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village is like walking into a history book of New York pizza. Outfitted with black-and-white art deco floors, original wood booths covered in etches by regulars, Italian murals, and tin ceilings, the pizzeria looks much as it did when it opened in 1929. It was the creation of Giovanni "John" Sasso, an Italian immigrant, who later sold it to the Vesce brothers. The Vesce family continues to run it today. You won't find that kind of history in many other New York City spots, as John's of Bleecker Street is the third-oldest pizzeria in the Big Apple. Its pizza is still made in a built-in coal-fired oven, resulting in a pie known for its chewy, flavorful dough.

In another nod to history, it still only serves whole pies, and they can only be paid for in cash. Hundreds of pies are sold here every day, which results in long but worth-it lines. Just ask Tripadvisor reviewers. John's of Bleecker Street has earned 4.4 stars on Tripadvisor through more than 1,900 reviews. As one past visitor wrote on Tripadvisor, "The pinnacle of New York pizza. The crust, crisp and also chewy... the cheese, robust and balanced, the sauce bracing and tangy."

The aforementioned pizzerias on this list often have lines — but none compare to that of Lucali in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. With a no-reservation, BYOB, and cash-only policy, people start lining up as early as two hours before opening to try and snag one of the restaurant's 30 tables. They're in good company. Since Lucali opened in 2006, it's been visited by stars like Jay-Z, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and Travis Kelce. So many people even hire Taskrabbits to hold their place in line here that Lucali has become one of the most popular requests on the site. 

But good things come to those who wait when it involves food and ambiance. At Lucali, simple wood tables are adorned with candles and warmed by a brick oven. And the super-thin pizza with an airy, charred crust is only accentuated by fresh tomato sauce. It's made by restaurant owner and pizzaiolo Mark Iacono, who was born and raised in the neighborhood.

Google reviewers are loving Lucali. The pizzeria has earned 4.3 stars on the site through more than 2,700 reviews. One past customer wrote on Google, "I am a pizza maker myself, and I [have] tried every well-known pizza restaurant in NYC ... this one was the last one because I didn't like the idea of waiting for over an hour, but I am very happy that I did. I can say that this is the best NYC-style pizza that I've ever had in my life."

Lucia Pizza owner Salvatore Carlino has tomato sauce running through his veins. His parents owned Papa Leone Pizzeria in Brooklyn a half-century ago, and now, he's taking the New York pizza style he learned from them and giving it new life at his own pizzeria. That starts with the pizzeria's name, which means "light" in Italian. It all began when Carlino's work as a musician, producer, and DJ halted due to the pandemic. So, back home in Brooklyn, he bought a brick oven and decided to take up a new hobby. The hobby soon outgrew itself, and Lucia Pizza was born. It now has locations in Brooklyn, Soho, and the Upper East Side.

Seasonal pies are offered on everchanging menus, although there are a few must-try staples. Those include clam pie and salsiccia white pie with ricotta, pork sausage, parsley, red onions, and Calabrian chiles. The former features clams atop melted mozzarella with fried garlic, cherrystones, white wine, and butter. If you love white pies and are not a fan of tomato sauce, then try this authentic pizza if you're in Italy. 

With nearly 1,200 reviews on Google, Lucia Pizza has earned 4.4 stars. One past visitor wrote on Google, "Lucia is a tiny place with just a half dozen stools to sit, but the pizza here is delicious. The cheese is extremely hot, gooey, and floating on the sauce, but the taste makes it one of my favorite Queens Pizzerias ... It's my go-to for a quick slice and coke in the downtown Flushing area."

Not many people can say they've been working at the same place since they were teenagers — but brothers John and Cosimo Tiso can. They started working at Louie & Ernie's Pizza decades ago when it was owned by founders Ernie and Louie Ottuso, who were also brothers. Just a few years after they began working at the Bronx pizzeria, they bought it. Today, they are continuing the Louie & Ernie's Pizza legacy that dates back to 1947. Its menu is simple but delicious, offering pizza mainstays like cheese, meatball, garlic, Godfather, Sicilian, and eggplant pies. But clearly, that's all they need. Louie & Ernie's Pizza has earned tons of acclaim, such as being named the 37^th best pizzeria in America by the Daily Meal and a member of the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ.

It has acclaim from customers, too. Louie & Ernie's Pizza has earned 4.7 stars on Google from more than 1,600 reviews. One past visitor wrote on Google, "Louie & Ernie's doesn't set out to impress, yet it manages to leave a lasting impression. Louie & Ernie's embodies the spirit of old New York, where the pies have character, the sauce has perfect balance of flavor, and the cheese has just the right "sheen" and nuttiness. This establishment isn't about reinventing the wheel; it celebrates the beauty of tradition and the pleasure of savoring a slice that takes its time."

If you eat at Patsy's Pizzeria, which has more than a dozen locations throughout New York City, you'll be in good company. The legendary pizzeria has been visited by Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Lauren Bacall, Blake Lively, and Ryan Reynolds — to name just a few customers. Frank Sinatra was the only customer the pizzeria made an exception for when it came to its no-delivery policy. Its list of famous faces is as long as its history. 

Patsy's Pizzeria was one of the first pizzerias to open in the Big Apple when it was founded in 1933 by Italian immigrant Pasquale 'Patsy' Lancieri. Since then, it's used the same 1,000-degree Fahrenheit coal-fired oven, which is credited for the pizza's thin, crispy crust. Even the dough machine dates back to the 1940s. It's used many of the same vendors and recipes for decades, too.

Garnered from more than 3,400 Google reviews, Patsy's Pizzeria has 4.5 stars. "Patsy's Pizzeria serves some of the best pizza in town hands down!" wrote one past visitor on Google. "From the perfectly crisp, coal fired crust to the rich tomato sauce and high quality cheese, every bite is a hit. The flavors are perfectly balanced, and you can taste the freshness in every ingredient."

With just a few basic ingredients, pizza is the hallmark of straightforward food. But at Philomena's Pizza in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Queens, pizzaiolo Dave Acocella thoughtfully designs every step of the pizza-making process. Acocella, an Italian-American, opened Philomena's Pizza in 2018 and named it after his daughter. 

Acocella famously employs Grande whole-milk low-moisture mozzarella and Alta Cucina tomatoes. His dough isn't made with any additives or enrichments. It's fermented for three to five days, which allows it to mature into a more multifaceted flavor. And his celebrated square pie has a 90% hydration level, resulting in an airier slice. He also offers more creative pies, like one with escarole and zucchini, on the weekends. His pizza-making process is so complicated and nuanced that only a limited number of square pies are available daily. Some people get there as soon as the shop opens to try and secure their pie.

Philomena's Pizza has earned 4.7 stars on Google through nearly 500 reviews. One past visitor described on Google, "Always amazing pizza. Dave cares about his craft! Flavors are balanced, toppings are classic with a subtle delightful twist sometimes, and the crust is always on point. Get a square and a slice, they're very different experiences and you owe it to yourself to try both."

You can't judge a book by its cover — or even by its lineage — at Scarr's Pizza. The Upper East Side pizzeria features the typical New York pizza shop's bare-bones façade. It's run by a Dominican-American named Scarr Pimentel, who doesn't have a drop of Italian in his blood. But thanks to the native New Yorker's commitment to perfection, as well as his training at several of New York City's most revered pizza joints, his pizzeria is known as one of the best. 

According to Time Out, it's the second-best pizzeria on the planet, only behind Pizzeria da Attilio in Naples, Italy. (Here's the gold standard of the best pizza to order if you are in Italy.) One of the reasons why Scarr's Pizza is so good is because Pimentel mills his own grains daily. He combines it with heritage, organic, non-GMO wheat flour from an upstate New York farm.

With more than 3,900 reviews on Google, Scarr's Pizza has 4.4 stars. "I think I just found one of my favorite pizza spots," wrote one past visitor on Google. "Amazing pizza!!! I had the pepperoni and jalapeno square slice with hot honey ... my friend had pepperoni with hot honey. My slice was UNBELIEVABLY delicious, will be coming back as soon as I can ..."

Una Pizza Napoletana on the Lower East Side is beating the Italians at their own game. According to Top 50 Pizza, it was the best pizzeria on the planet in 2022 and 2024 — defeating several legendary Italian spots. But owner Anthony Mangieri keeps things simple and personal. He sticks to classic yet high-quality ingredients and is the only person to have ever made the pizzeria's dough.

His wood-fired pizzas are always naturally leavened, and just three are made at a time. The only pizzas on the menu at all times are Marinara, Margherita, Cosacca, and daily rotational pie. They're complemented by specialty wines and beers sourced from Campania. Check out the iconic drink you might get side-eyed for ordering alongside pizza in Italy.

Una Pizza Napoletana has more than 750 reviews on Google and 4.3 stars. Wrote one past customer on Google, "When we came we thought that it is going to be like many other good Neapolitan pizzas but it was simply THE BEST. Very nice environment and great service. The pizzas were so good and delicious and [and so were] the desserts. The many attempts we did for getting a reservation were completely worth it. Highly recommended!"

Evaluating New York City pizza is like evaluating Porsches (minus the paper plates). They're all amazing, they're all beautiful, and no matter what, you're probably going to finish off the ride with a smile on your face. That made our job of deciding the best Big Apple pizzerias incredibly challenging. So, we took to the experts — you — to make it happen.

We combed through countless Tripadvisor and Google reviews to see which New York City pizzerias had the most customer feedback, at least hundreds. While many pizzerias on this list have thousands of reviews, one has an astounding 21,000. Then, we checked out which pizzerias had the highest rating, with at least 4 stars. However, some pizzerias on this list blow that out of the oven, as two have 4.7 stars. 

Lastly, we considered which pizzerias were known as icons. For instance, Louie & Ernie's Pizza is in the PMQ Pizza Hall of Fame, while Joe's Pizza has been featured in countless movies and television shows. What resulted is this seriously drool-worthy list that will give you an excuse to go to New York City for a pizza slice. Next time, follow this locals' guide to New York City's most underrated pizza joints.