New York City
If you are just coming to New York for the first time, I mean, you gotta have the pizza(in my opinion). So please enjoy your elite slices and pies from the list below, but do not forget to snag a few $1 slices from random street spots because those will still be better than most pizzas you can get outside of the city and are just part of the beauty of this city. In addition to pizza, there are some other nice spots I have for you, from bagels to burgers.
Pizza
Rank: 14
The pizza at Scarr’s is the best pizza of my life. Scarr’s is absolutely fabulous, and right near the Brooklyn Bridge on the Lower East Side (Manhatten Side), you will find this glorious pizza. The pie was absolutely fantastic, and I highly recommend getting a whole pepperoni pie from Scarr’s. You will not be disappointed in any way. While Brooklyn may get mad at me for saying that the Lower East Side boasts a better slice, I cannot lie that Scarr’s is just significantly better than any pizza I have had in my life. You will not regret making a stop down at Scarr’s. Just be prepared for your taste buds to be taken on a glorious journey.
Pizza
Rank: 31
Mimi’s pizza is an iconic New York slice. You can fold it in half and walk around the city with it; it’s exactly the kind of pizza you want in NYC. The crust has a perfect crunch, and the cheese and sauce are proportioned just right. This is the second-best pizza of my life for a reason. It has exceptional flavor and an exquisite texture and is an all-around perfect slice.
I had the Margherita slice, and I highly recommend trying that one. However, I also had other slices, and they were all noteworthy. The Margherita definitely takes the top spot, and you really need to try this joint for yourself.
Pizza
Rank: 41
Prince Street is number two for NYC pizza, and its spot is rightfully owned. The square pies are not traditional for New York, but that does not detract from any of the flavors. Prince Street is quite close to Scarr’s, and going from one to another would have been enough to make a fantastic day, but Prince itself should not be overlooked here. The pepperoni is that perfect black around the edge, and the sauce is spectacular. I mean it is the second-best pizza I ate in New York, do you expect any of it not to be outstanding? It will demolish most pizzas you and I have ever eaten. I don’t need to say much more besides that if you love pizza, or even if you don’t(what is wrong with you?), come to Prince Street after Scarr’s and be ready for a fantastic day.
Pizza
Rank: 47
I have heard John’s of Bleeker from many New Yorkers, is their favorite. And to be honest with you, every one of those New Yorkers has yet to have Scarr’s, and I fully believe their mind will change immediately following Scarr’s. However, the New Yorkers I know are not wrong with how amazing the pies are at John’s. While it seems anti-New York not to serve slices, John’s gets a pass for how damn tasty these pies are. You will certainly enjoy yourself sitting down for a pie at John's, and I definitely did when I sat down. The pizza has an amazing balance of everything you want in a pie. It comes in as the seventh-best pizza on my rankings, which is absolutely outstanding, and sitting just inside the top 50 definitely shows you how great New York is at pizza, John’s included.
Deli/Pastrami
Rank: 73
Finally, we’ve come to world-famous Katz’s Deli. Expect a line of at least 30 minutes, and if you’re here in the winter months, you will be waiting outside in the cold. I know this because it is exactly what I did, and I would do it again every day if I could. This is the best pastrami I’ve had in my life, and I would be shocked if you thought any different after devouring the pastrami sandwich. If you did any food research outside of this site, I’m confident Katz’s showed up on many a list, clearly for a good reason.
Burger
Rank: 112
There are a few 7th St Burgers throughout NYC, and I am confident all of them have perfected the smash burger formula. This is another installment of a noteworthy smash burger joint that pairs its incredible sauce with a well-cooked stove-top patty. I would only say a ‘must’ here is ensuring you have sauce on your burger. Check out my live reaction here.
Bagels
Rank: 128
The best bagel of my life resides here at a well-visited bagel shop amongst New Yorkers who know their bagels. This cash-only hole-in-the-wall joint often has long lines, and while they move quickly, it wouldn’t matter if it took all day—the wait would still be worth it. Every bagel you get from here will suit anyone’s bagel needs. I would only recommend trying as many different cream cheeses as possible.
Pizza
Rank: 182
Oh, my, Brooklyn is going to be mad at me. Juliana’s is the only pizza in Brooklyn on this list, and coming as the second-to-last restaurant may anger some people. But I do not make these rankings to tell lies, and the top three pizzas happen to be across the bridge. However, Juliana’s is an amazing spot to snag a pie. Just across the Brooklyn Bridge also makes it highly accessible if you are not planning on straying too far from Manhattan. Juliana’s is the real deal; however, you are in NY, and the pizza will definitely take you to places most pizzas will never take you. The pie was just a unique thin slice, classic NY pizza. Once again, like John’s, you will have to get a whole pie, but that shouldn’t be a problem as you will surely enjoy yourself gorging on any of the pies from Juliana’s.
Bagels
Rank: 209
Although Ess-a-Bagel ranks after Absolute, that does not mean it isn’t worth going out of your way to procure. Ess-a has something for everybody, and once again, whatever bagel suits your fancy will leave you satisfied here. These bagels epitomize a New York City bagel and are definitely worth getting when you are craving a bagel in the city.
Pizza
Rank: 334
Joe’s may come last in my NY rankings and near the bottom of my total list. But that is not to degrade the slice you can snag at Joe’s. Featured in Spiderman 2 and countless other movies, shows, and discussions. It is an iconic home for slices in NYC, and rightfully so. The pizza is very good, and I have had a few pizzas that were better than Joe’s, namely, only fourteen. This ranking is saying a lot, considering how much pizza I have eaten. Joe’s is a NYC staple and while it doesn’t top any of my rankings you will not be upset snagging a slice from Joe’s, enjoy a very iconic joint, that serves a standard NYC slice.