Where can I find the best pizza in NYC?

I prefer John's (many locations)

Now you've done it - You've asked New Yorkers to express an opinion! Gone and opened up the can of worms!

You'll get a variety of answers. My choices would be John's, specifically the orginal Greenwich Village location. They only sell pies, so don't even ask for a slice!

I've always thought that Little Italy Pizza on Vanderbilt by Grand Central had really good pizza.

Before we went to NYC in '87, one of my transplanted (to LA) New Yorker friends insisted we go to "Famous Rays" for the best pizza. Well, let me tell you, there's about 8 million of these places all over NY, but some are called Famous Rays; others are called the Original Famous Rays; and still others are called the One and Only Famous Rays. Naturally we were confused, so we tried all of them. 10 lbs. later, we decided that the one down the street from Times Square was the best of the Famous Rays.

The only "real Ray's" is the Ray's Pizza at Sixth Avenue and 11th Street. Not bad, but the rep is maybe better than the reality (at least for me) That is the original location and everyone else basically stole the name.

Grimaldi's in Brooklyn.

I used to enjoy V&T Pizzeria up near Columbia University.

Grimaldi's in Brookyn. It's almost under the Brooklyn Bridge, so you can take a walk over if you like. Like Johns, it pies only. There's also a fabulous chocolate maker down the block on Front Street.

Johns on Bleecker Street in Manhattan also makes a nice pie.

My current favorites for slices are Joes at Sixth Ave and Bleecker and Maffeis at Sixth Ave and 22nd - ask for a Grandma slice.

Rays at 6th and 11th was best about 20 years ago and is living on past glory.

1. Lombardi's on Spring Street.
2. Grimaldi's in Brooklyn.

I've been to both in the past 2 weeks and it's a tie.

For really interesting non-traditional slices, try Two Boots.

And when you go to Grimaldi's, walk across the BBridge and then take the water taxi back to Manhattan (only $4, one block from retaurant).

Bon Appetit!

Almost anywhere in Brooklyn's Bay Ridge section!

For pizza by the slice, Joe's on Carmine St (near 6th av and Bleecker, there are 2 locations). I'm also a fan of John's on Bleecker.

I hate to admit this publicly: Patsy's! A chain - ack! I can't help it, I love thin crusts and it's just so good.

Anyway, does anyone remember the Seinfeld episode featuring Ray's? I'm sure every New Yorker could identify with it:

JERRY: What's around you?

KRAMER: I'm lookin' at Ray's Pizza. You know where that is?

JERRY: Is it Famous Ray's?

KRAMER: No. It's Original Ray's.

JERRY: Famous Original Ray's?

KRAMER: It's just Original, Jerry!

JERRY: Well, what street are you on?

KRAMER: Hey, I'm on first and first. How can the same street intersect with itself? I must be at the nexus of the universe.

JERRY: Just wait there. I'll pick you up, and, Kramer, stay alive no matter what occurs, I will find you!

1. Lombardi's.
2 Grimaldi's

(Arguably a tie)

3. John's and Joe's Pizza(s)on Bleeker, Serafina Fabulous Grill uptown if you want "an environment".

4. Honorable mention: "Napoli 39 @ Met Life (flour and tomatoes from Naples, hard water from Nova Scotia.

i think lately two boots has the best pizza over all. there's a certain spice to the sauce. peppery. very nice. if you're in brooklyn, do your own taste test, i think Sal's on Court St. (cor. DeGraw) has the best over all pizza in Downtown brooklyn. and maybe someone knows the name of that brick oven joint on houston just east of 6th ave? they make a darn good pie, too.