THE JOURNAL
Where To Eat Pizza (Phaidon) by Mr Daniel Young
Three of the best New York pizza places that should be kept a secret.
It’s hard to knock a disc of carbohydrate slathered with cheese, tomato and assorted vegetables and meat. But what makes the pizza – a concept that dates back to 997 AD – so enduring? Maybe it’s the infinite topping combinations and the fierce debate that accompanies them. (Have whatever you fancy, we say. Apart from pineapple. Pineapple is never, ever OK.) Or perhaps it’s the fact that you can consume pizza pretty much anywhere – standing in a taxi queue, sitting on the sofa or in a restaurant. Indeed, pizza is one of the most popular things to eat, and whether it’s the traditional Neapolitan pizzeria or a modern sourdough pop-up, the pizza joint is here to stay.
If proof were needed, read Where To Eat Pizza by Mr Daniel Young, published in the US this week. After asking local experts, from chefs to food writers, he came up with 1,705 amazing places to eat the circular treats. In the interests of brevity, we’ve picked the best ones in New York, selected by Mr Scott Wiener, a columnist for Pizza Today magazine and a Guinness World Record pizza box collector. The man clearly knows his stuff, so, if you’re in NYC, here’s where to get a slice of the action.
NY PIZZA SUPREMA
Where: 413 Eighth Avenue, Manhattan, New York 10001 (+1 212 594 8939).
What to order: the cheese pizza.
The expert’s opinion: “Suprema is special because it looks and feels like any other typical New York pizzeria, but there’s way more going on behind the scenes. These guys make four different sauces, one for each pie. It’s hidden in plain sight, right next to Madison Square Garden. It’s like an oasis in a food desert.”
LOUIE & ERNIE’S Pizza
Where: 1,300 Crosby Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461 (+1 718 829 6230).
What to order: the plain cheese with sausage.
The expert’s opinion: “An absolute classic neighbourhood slice shop. The sauce gets seasoned on the spot when each pie is made.”
SAM’S RESTAURANT
Where: 238 Court Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201 (+1 718 596 3458).
What to order: the regular.
The expert’s opinion: “Sam’s looks like a diner from the outside and a set from The Sopranos on the inside. The pizza is as simple as it gets, but it’s perfect just the way it is.”