Pizza
The classics like Lucali in Carroll Gardens and Di Fara in Midwood are always worth the pilgrimage. Both are old-school, both have lines, both deserve them.
For the new wave: Lucky Charlie in Bushwick, Mano's in Ridgewood, L'Industrie (the burrata slice is the move; the line is real but moves fast), Mama's TOO! on the Upper West Side, Ceres in Tribeca, and Chrissy's in Greenpoint.
Lucali
Lucali has been the Brooklyn pizza pilgrimage for the last fifteen years. The setup is simple. Walk in, put your name down, come back when they call. Mark Iacono makes each pie himself in the open kitchen. There are no slices. There is no real menu past margherita and a calzone. BYOB, cash-friendly. It still works.
Must order: The margherita, The calzone (split it), Whatever wine you BYO from the shop next door
Di Fara Pizza
Domenico DeMarco started Di Fara in 1965 and hand-made every pie himself until he passed in 2022. His sons run it now and the pies still carry his fingerprints. Basil is snipped fresh at the counter. The square is good. The round pie is the whole point. Expect a long wait. It still works.
Must order: The classic round pie, The square slice if the line for a round is too long, Watch them snip the basil
Lucky Charlie
Lucky Charlie is the newer entrant in the Brooklyn new-wave pizza conversation. Bushwick, Neapolitan-inspired, blistered crust, restrained toppings. The room is small. The pies come out fast. Worth the trek.
Must order: The plain margherita, Anything with the seasonal special, One pie per person; they are not huge
Mano's Pizzeria
Mano's is the Ridgewood Detroit-style pizza spot. Square pies, crisp-edged corners, focaccia-level crust on the bottom. There is no real menu beyond a few rotating combos. The pies sell out. Show up early or accept that you might miss the special.
Must order: Whatever the daily square pie is, Take a corner piece, A red sauce slice if it is on
L'Industrie Pizzeria
Little Italy outpost of the Williamsburg pizzeria favorite, with crispy pies and creative toppings.
Mama's TOO!
Mama's TOO is the Upper West Side slice shop you go to for a square. It's right next door to the original Mama's, run by the next generation. The Grandma and the Sicilian-pepperoni are why it's there. The line moves fast. The slices are big enough that one is dinner.
Must order: The Grandma slice, The Sicilian pepperoni, Whatever the daily special is
Ceres
Nolita pizza spot with creative, seasonal pies and a focus on high-quality, local ingredients.
Chrissy’s Pizza
Chrissy's is a throwback slice shop in Greenpoint. Pies only, dialed-in New York style, sturdy crust, restrained sauce. The opposite direction from the new-wave crust race. Often a wait. Always worth it.
Must order: The plain, A square slice for the road, Whatever they have on the daily blackboard
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