Joe's Pizza
The Greenwich Village slice shop operating since 1975, widely cited as the benchmark for the classic New York plain slice.
Example
You walk into the Carmine Street shop, ask for a plain, and a fresh slice comes off the tray in under a minute with nowhere to sit.
Related terms
NYC slang
Slice Joint
A no-frills pizzeria selling pizza by the slice over the counter, eaten standing up or folded on the go.
Pizza
Scarr's Pizza
The Lower East Side slice shop milling its own flour, a retro-styled favorite of pizza obsessives since 2016.
Neighborhoods
Greenwich Village
The bohemian heart of Manhattan, crooked tree-lined streets that hosted the folk revival, Stonewall and a century of...
Pizza
Lombardi's
America's first licensed pizzeria, opened in 1905 in Nolita, still baking coal-oven pies with fresh mozzarella.
Frequently asked questions
Is the line at Joe's worth it?
Yes, because it moves in minutes. Slices come out constantly and there is no seating ritual to slow things down.
Plain or fresh mozzarella slice at Joe's?
Plain first. It is the benchmark. The fresh mozzarella slice is the upgrade on a second visit.
Is Joe's Pizza good with kids or a group?
Yes for speed, no for seating. It is standing room, so buy slices and walk two minutes to Father Demo Square or Washington Square Park to sit down.
