My girlfriend and I (an Italian couple from Milan) review New York's top 5 Pizza places. We love Italian Pizza, but how does the Pizza in New York City compare? What are the best Pizzeria in NYC? #pizza #nyc
A lot of non native English speakers take on accents from different areas when learning accents. Just off the top of my head Lennon was Russian but spoke like an Irishman when speaking in English.
It's good to see a video by an Italian who actually gives NY pizza a proper chance. Most of the other "Italian tries NY pizza" videos are of people acting like an exaggerated Italian stereotype, picking random spots and screaming how Neapolitan style is the only real pizza, while this is American garbage (even though most good NY pizza places are owned by Italian immigrants). So yeah, nice video.
Agreed, those ones are definitely worth checking out. I would also add Roberta’s (original) and then there are some very solid Napolitana style places now
Nice video by open-minded pizza fans from Italy. I've been going to no-slice John's on Bleecker St. for ca. 70 years (from when the murals of the Bay of Naples and Blue Grotto were the original dark ones, not the current bland replacements, and from when blind "Tiny" sat beside the oven all day. Anyone remember him?). All respect for maintaining the high quality. But pizza out of a takeout box carried home isn't a fair comparison, and neither is a slice taken out of a warming tray. And, as others point out below, you haven't really eaten the best U.S. "apizza" if you haven't gone to New Haven: Sally's, Pepe's, The Spot. I live on the West Coast now and I've eaten lots of pizza over many years. I come back East occasionally. There's simply none that compares.
Have a lot of good memories of John’s on Bleecker. Sad I won’t live in the city again, but it’s a different place e now anyway. Was nice to live there during the peak.
New Yorker here… enjoyed your review. It takes a lot to eat this many slices in 24 hours. My recommendation for Best New York Slice is called NY Suprema Pizza, across from Madison Square Gardens on 8th Ave. The pizza has a distinct nostalgic that reminds people of their first taste of pizza. For me, it reminds me of going roller skating in the early 1980s and having a slice 🍕 I know Anthony Bourdain considered it among his very favorites as well. Again, it won’t taste like Italy but certainly the flavor of NYC.
You'll find vastly different views on Suprema. I find the sauce WAY too sweet. I can't stand it. But a lot of people love it. A matter of personal taste.
@@Sam_on_RU-vid Everyone has different tastes and opinions. The sweetness in the sauce pairs well with the pecorino they sprinkle on top of it creating an intoxicating profile. Personally I’m not a fan of an acidic sauce with too many herbs. I’m lookin at you Two Boots 😒. As stated Suprema hits the nostalgia notes for me. I’ve held other pizzas in the #1 spot over the years. Various “Ray’s” …sadly the best ones have closed. John’s of Bleeker is excellent but I’m not always wanting to order a whole pie. There’s some new joints in Brooklyn that I like but I always come back to Suprema. What’s your favorite?
I’ve been to Italy and the USA many times and have tried different types of pizza in both countries. Roman style, Naples, New York, Detroit, Chicago. Hands down NYC is my favourite. I feel like they tried some old school ones but not the best old school ones and none of the “new school” ones either.
As a foreigner I also agree. I grew up eating American pizzas and the pizzas I had in NYC were the best I had in my life. Pizzas in Italy felt more like a bread
Italians hate to hear it but it was italian immigrants in the USA who made pizza super popular. In Italy at the time, it wasn't a famous dish. Then when it became popular in the USA and consequently in the world, Italy started promoting it. Rightfully so since they did create the dish. Italian style pizza is delicious too but I prefer American style, especially NYC or New Haven. Some people prefer neapolitan or some other Italian style and that's fine
I agree with you that American pizza is great. However if you can visit some less known parts of America like in far rural areas or less known parts. The pizza can be so bad that it’s fascinating.
Next time for sure! 🤗 if you come back to Italy and go to Rome I would suggest you trying Roscioli for pizza al taglio (sliced pizza) 🍕 take care and have a good one
Hi. Been living in nyc 48 years. There's a place on 40th btwn 5th Ave and Madison, south side of street, called _Upside Pizza_ . Sourdough crust, mozzarella and pecorino cheese, it REALLY stood out to me. If youve lived here your whole life...anything different is good, esp with pizza.
Great video, usually italians are just saying its garbage because of some silly insecurity. Lombardis actually has a claim to be the first pizzeria in america there is a whole lore behind it.
You need to visit the ones in Brooklyn. Brooklyn is on another level. If you are willing to endure the long wait, Difara's and Lucali are undisputed number 1 in my book. Then there is Juliana, best pizza... the list goes on. You just have to go to Brooklyn... I would recommend Difara the most. If you can make it to New Haven for the Apizza, Sallys and Frank pepes!
The last statement is so right, when you combine crust,tomato and cheese somehow it's magic and that's why pizza is the most popular food in the world, granted my opinion
I like your way to espone the topics and to describe the food, there is always some new words to learn that's why I subscribed to your channel. I try to use the words that I hear in your videos in my videos. Thank you both keep going like this!!!
Hi there from St Petersburg, Russia! I really like pizza but I also have severe congenital eating disorder and barely can eat only few variations of it, any garlic, onion is instant no no for me sadly ;c
I think what you’re trying to say at 5:29, is one of the most famous quotes I’ve ever heard. “pizzas is like sex, even if it’s cold, it’s good” (yes, this is coming from a male perspective😅)
Great video, I’ve lived in NYC about 12 years now and this is a really solid list if you’re picking 5 places. All awesome choices. Cheers, I hope you enjoyed the city 🗽👍 Ps: sorry the joes wasn’t fresh, it usually is because it sells fast
To those speculating on the couple's origins, there's little doubt: Rome; and, high class (not necessarily money, but upbringing and education). That said, I appreciated the production, the Vivaldi music in the background - and its strategic use to highlight the dramatic points of the taste experiment. As a neapolitan, I can appreciate pizza. Of course, I'll always prefer the Neapolitan DOP varieties, but, even a bad pizza can still be eaten and appreciated. The succss of the video's intent can be indicated by the fact that it's 5:46 AM, and I'm craving a Margherita with parmigiano and basilico right now.
reminds me of a video where chinese-american young adults and their older chinese immigrant parents ate at a Panda Express. the chinese-american kids decried it as swill. their parents very consistently said "it's good"
My home-made pizza is great fresh, but weirdly, a bit better reheated as left-overs for a day or two. I put a spoon-ful of water in the pan, just off on one side, where surface tension holds it together. I then lid the pan and heat on medium for 7 minutes. The bottom gets very crisp while the rest of the pizza is very hydrated. All that said, that's not what shops do so your advice is surely correct in shops.
@@vsmvrb Neapolitan is sloppy and floppy, Milanese is prebaked and sold by the dry slice, Italian pizza is nowhere near as good as New Haven or NY style. It just isn't bro..
@@multimidnight13 I have been to Italy more times than I care to remember, I live in the UK and do very well so can afford to travel all over the world, I have eaten pizza in all of these places multiple times including the US. My opinions are formed through actual experience.
Enjoyed your video. You’re right, with the right ingredients pizza is not hard to make. I make my own in a regular convection oven. It’s a fraction of the price and it’s a fun activity for the whole family
@@GhostSal understood. I work for a japanese company here in the US. All have an english name, like terry, or nathan. I never did that, i let the locals struggle with my first name :)
@@uliwehner Me too, today you can use your real first name but back in the day that made it much harder to get work. However, I do the same. I go by my actual name (shortened version for screen names though but not changed to something else, just shorter).
Glad you two approve! NY pizza shares similarity with pizza napolitana, but we almost exclusively use *low moisture* mozzarella while in Napoli, fresh mozzarella is used. Because of the lower water content in low moisture mozzarella, the cheese browns more, and more of it can be added without getting the dough soggy. The sauce in NY pizza also tends to have added herbs and *sometimes* sugar, while in Napoli, the sauce is almost always just san marzano tomatoes and salt. My girlfriend is also Italian, but she can get so snobby about NY pizza sometimes xD Lots of love from NY! If you're ever back in town, I highly recommend Bleecker Street Pizza, which is right next to John's!
The only similarity they share is that they are both pizza (bread, sauce cheese). Not only is Neapolitan pizza fresh mozzarella, the tomato sauce and dough is also very different. The tomato is canned San Marzano tomatoes that are crushed and only olive oil, a little basil and salt is added and it is never cooked. New york pizza sauce is always cooked, has oregano and other ingredients in it and is much thicker. Also the dough is VERY different. New York dough is generally about 60% hydration and tends to be more dense. Neapolitan is between 70% to 75% hydration and is a lot more airy and light. In any case, I enjoy both but yeah, a lot of key differences.
@@naro818 I already pointed out the differences in sauce and cheese xD Also, NY pizza sauce usually isn't cooked. It has herbs and sometimes sugar added, but the cooking typically happens in the oven.
@@arthropod-doctor you did mention the cheese and sauce, I was just expanding on it, not trying to call you out or anything. Regarding new york pizza sauce not being cooked, that’s not true my bro. I’ve been making pizza for several years and have looked into recipe’s by some of New York best pizza chefs. Most of them cook the sauce. Again, I’m not saying one is better than the other. They are just very different styles and I enjoy eating and making both.
The only pizza I spend money on is the pizza that my girlfriend and I prepare ourselves at home using an original Italian recipe for the dough with original Italian pizza flour “Tipo 00 or 0” and “Mutti” peeled tomatoes, freshly grated parmasan, mozzarella and basil and additional toppings depending on our mood and a pizza stone and that's what the people we invite say too... and we're German.
@@kylem1112 I've been to both most famous and oldest ones. Not even close to a pizza. Maybe from 10 meters away only. Hopefully there are some other ones newly opened now.
I'm Swiss but since I live near the border with Italy (and France) I've been there a bunch of times and I totally understood the Autogrill comment haha
One thing that I don't think you mentioned....the water in NYC is very clean. It comes from reservoirs in Upstate (Northern) NY. It's important because bad tasting water cannot give you a good tasting pizza. My Calabrian nonna (actually both of them) made a very simple rural pizza.....a base of bread with a little bit of tomato sauce and anchovies. Yes! Anchovies. Had it every friday night.
Thank you! I appreciate Italians understanding that we have really good pizza. This country has come very far in 40 years in our food culture. Btw I have been to Italy many times and love the pizza
I have lived in the UK and all I remember from their pizzas is that all of the ones I have tasted were very sweet, like candy. It is probably added sugar in the sauce. Here in Brazil, people use less sauce and the sauce is usually tomato puree with some spices, maybe some olive oil, but not sugar.
Great video, love your video style. Make sure to come out to Brooklyn next time, we have the best pizza in NYC imo. It's also nice to see Italians give NYC style a chance instead of just bashing it. I loved the Neapolitan and Roman Pizza I had in Italy but still prefer NYC style best on top of the fact that we also have so much variety; you can even get good Neapolitan style here at places like Ribalta! Cool spots to try out in Brooklyn would be L&B (Unique Sicilian slice though not as consistently good as it used to be), Di Fara, L'Industrie, Lucia Pizza and more. My wife's favorite slice is an Eggplant/Fresh Mozzarella from a local spot near my parent's house simply called Italia Pizza. Try some other slices next time other than regular/margherita such as Sicilian, Grandma (I really like this style) and more. Also could be fun to compare the difference in Italian American dish variations vs. how it is at home, for example Chicken Parmigiana vs. Italian Parmigiana di Melanzane.
If you are ever back wanting to find more delicious pizza, top recommendations my husband and I love are Babbalucci (Harlem), San Matteo (Upper East Side) & Cecconis (DUMBO); honorable mention: Sottocasa (Harlem)
I never went to any of those places and i lived in NY for 7 years and was very active. My favorite spot which not mentioned here and it was the only spot i would pay more than a dollar for.
My favorite was Totannos on Neptune Ave on Coney Island, but I'm not sure what it is like now as they are only open on weekends and there is no dine in. Rumor is that they wish to go into the processed food biz, which would simply ruin the name.
Mammas too is the most underrated pizza in NYC. And you did it right. The house pie is as good as Difaras. The other slices are closer to Detroit style and are excellent as well. Glad to see them 1st on your list.
I'm Mexican and my parents would get so mad that I only wanted to eat pizza as a kid. Also it didnt help that Ninja Turtles were my favorite at the time. 😊
There are a lot of unusual places, where you can get good pizza ... my favorite one over the last years ... i ate in Ireland and is was made with sourdough. If you mix high quality ingredients, a good amount of time and a wood fired oven ... you very rarely go wrong. Even it is not a authentic Neapoletana.
As someone that grew up in America that has been to Itality a couple of times(Sicily/Roma. Italian food is incredible and is better than American Italian in every aspect, except for Pizza. American Pizza clears Italian style every day aside from the michelin stars spots that plebs like me cannot access.
New York style pizza is most similar to what you would find in Napoli. The crust is thin, crunchy on the bottom, but still chewy. Don’t ruin your impression of American pizza by going to Chicago.
I just spent a month in NY and every time I'd be in the city I'd be grabbing a slice from a new pizza place. Shame I missed Mama's too, oh well next time!
Every time I go to NYC I try the pizza the locals suggest and I hadn't found a single slice which was good. Joe's Pizza was one of the ones I'd tried and thought it had less taste than a cheap frozen pizza. My last trip, I took some new suggestions and finally found two places that were actually good. First(and my favorite) was Scarr's. Their "Hot Boy" slice was excellent. Pepperoni, jalepno and hot honey. Next I tried L'Industrie. Also a very good slice, though their sauce was a bit on the salty side. The detroit style they had there, however, was terrible. I'll have to try the 4 you tried here(yeah not going back to Joe's) next time I'm in the city!
We need to distinguish between pizza and that shit they sell at Pizza Hut, Domino's or whatever place with triple cheese, cheese baked in the crust and any other disgusting ingredients that will make your heart explode at some point in time. Kind a refreshing to see there are still areas out there where fast food hasn't gotten a hold of yet.
NYC has great pizza, but the best pizza I've ever eaten was at a small shop in Florence called Pizza Napoli 1955. Located right across the street from the world-famous All’antico Vinaio.
Only thing I’ll say, I’m my experience, with Italians and Europeans in general is that they seem can’t wrap their heads around that a “transplant cuisine” in the U.S. is going to be different than the country that the cuisine originated in. So they always judge the transplant cuisine in terms of how closely it mimics the original cuisine.
I appreciate your fairness, my Italian friends come to America and want to eat Italian, how about try American food, you can eat past when you go home. Oh, and they complain about the food
I was born in Napoli and lived there until I was 5. My parents lived there on and off over my first 33 years. My favorite is Pizza Trianon in Vomero but maybe this is nostalgic memories, I just love the location and proximity to villa Floridiana. Either their classic bufala margherita or fiore di latte con melanzana. Or a good margherita con salsiccia napoletana e funghi. Now I’m hungry, but tickets to Naples from the US are too expensive … lol. PS I too have a brown hair and red beard, Greek mother Swiss American father.
