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Jun 17 2009, 8:14 AM EDT (current) Anonymous
Jun 17 2009, 8:13 AM EDT Anonymous

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This is my list of my Top 10 favorite authentic Italian pizzeria's in New York City, Brooklyn, and New Haven, CT. Listed from best to last favorite, most of these pizza joints consistently appear in the top listings for the Best Pizza in Manhattan, but these are really the ones that I actually return to over and over when old buddies come to town. The emphasis in judging the top pizza prioritizes the best pizza dough, freshest toppings, best Italian food and quality consistency over the decor and service. Most or all of these are kid and family friendly. I tend to avoid the ones which grow into tourist traps. Another great resource for Best Pizza in New York and beyond is the pizza blog http://slice.seriouseats.com/ I'm still searching for the brave restauranteur who will perfect the Pizza-In-A-Cup from the movie "The Jerk".
  • Pizza Mezzaluna146 West Houston Street,NY,NY

    Ingenious toppings on artisanal pizzas that I would not think to combine, and the best Tiramisu in NYC. Really fine dough, which in the hands of a true pizzaiolo from Naples, is transformed in wood fire brick ovens into food of the Gods. Mezzaluna is on a different level than the greasy slices served by John's Pizza or Joe's Famous Pizza and the other Bleecker Street pizza places in SoHo and West Greenwich Village. But brush up on your Italian, because the staff hails from the Old Country and even the Fashionista's sipping cafe at the bar are trying out their Italian. I usually just keep the menu, order take out and use the free pizza delivery for a fast office lunch.
  • Slice.SeriousEats.com gave this a smashing review with great pictures, too. http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2009/03/pizza-mezzuluna-greenwich-village-nyc.html
    "Mezzaluna . . . specializes in pizza and features eight different kinds, but its trump card is really its bistro atmosphere(with lots of European-style cheek kissing, noise and tables)." -Women's Wear Daily
    "Mezzaluna is the place to be . . . Its cramped, narrow quarters provide New York with the closest thing to an Italian café and some highly engaging food . . . the pastas and pizzas at Mezzluna . . . are light and imaginative, after the fashion of nuova cucina."
    -- The New York Times, by Marian Burros

  • 2.Totonno Pizzeria Napolitano1524 Neptune Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224, USA

    True thin crust pizza with prosciutto and fresh mozzarella in my favorite Brooklyn trattoria, which seems like Napoli or Rome. Great cappucino or cafe latte after a little black lung coal oven pizza never tasted so good!

  • 3.Frank Pepe's The Spot163 Wooster St, New Haven, CT 06511, USA

    My favorite stop on the drive to Boston. Best patio and sidewalk dining on a summer night with the kids, and the winning white clam pizza in New Haven. Zagat and other restaurant reviews seem to consistently say that Pepe's is the favorite and original pizza place, but I don't believe it.

  • 4.DiFara Pizza1424 Ave J, Brooklyn, NY 11230, USA

    Yes, the wait is really long for this famous New York pizza, so get there early so you don't have to fight Japanese tourists. It's an institution and the ovens are considered Brooklyn landmarks, so try it once. Look at the Dom DeMarco reviews on Chow.com, Yelp.com and Urbanspoon.com for when to avoid the crowds and get the freshest pizza.

  • 5.Mezzaluna1295 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10021, USA

    My original introduction to how authentic Italian pizza really tastes! This famous Upper East Side Italian restaurant truly changed the direction of my life. I could not have gotten through medical school without the brick oven pizza and Italian seafood. The Mezzaluna Cookbook taught me the light Italian sauces from Rome, Tuscany, Northern and Southern Italy. "Mezzaluna is like a Fellini movie - it's crowded, lively, and sexy . . ." -- Women's Wear Daily

  • 6.Patsy's2287 1st Ave, New York, NY 10035, USA

    If you feel a little dangerous and lucky, try Patsy's in Harlem. Adrenaline can heighten the pizza experience! I wish they would transplant a new pizza joint in Tribeca. It puts Ray's Pizza to shame and wins hands down.

  • 7.Grimaldi's19 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA

    Coal oven blackened New York Style Pizza heaven, but over in Brooklyn and not close to the shopping, offices and hospitals where we've all got to work.

  • 8.Lombardi's32 Spring St, New York, NY 10012, USA

    Friends rave about Lombardi's pizza, but I rarely make it over there... Their pizza delivery area is not large, so they just need to open a pizza shop in Midtown or Downtown.

  • 9.Lucali's575 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11231, USA

    Awesome and my favorite margherita and quattro formaggi pizza in Brooklyn. If only it were in Greenwich Village or SoHo...

  • 10.Una Pizza Napoletana349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003, USA

    Great concept -- make one pizza really well, limit the choice and treat the customers like cattle until you sell out for the night. Only open for dinner and personal pizza's are over $20 bucks, but it is delicious pizza. No pizza delivery.