Best NY Pizza in Las Vegas - Got to Be!

I had one chance to get away from the strip while in Vegas, and I took advantage of the opportunity by going to the original NY Pizza & Pasta on S. Jones Blvd, about a mile west of the Vegas Strip.  What a treat!   

I knew the minute I walked in that it was a 100 on the Sliker Scale, and it turned out to be a perfect 5 stars on the Yummy Scale. 

The place is family owned and run and served up the perfect pie.  We received a complimentary basket of garlic knots that were delicious as well.  GO TO THIS PLACE WHEN YOU’RE IN VEGAS!   You’ll get lucky here.

New York Pizza in Raleigh, NC

We attempted to try 3 pizza places in one evening here in the Raleigh area. First up was NY Pizza which has 3 places in Cary. (Read the reviews on Google!)  We stopped at the one close to I-40 and it was excellent. It scored a 100 on the Sliker Scale and 4.5 stars on the Yummy scale.

Next stop was down on the campus of NC State, where on Hillsborough Street there are at probably a dozen or more piza places such as Amore’s, Marco’s, & Sylvia’s. We stopped at I Love NY Pizza. As we walked in we immediately saw the giant-sized 24″ slice pies. Nonetheless, the look of the pies and the spanish-speaking help behind the counter made me think this wasn’t what we were looking for. No Sicilian, no Italians to be found… The place scored 80 on the Sliker Scale but just 3.5 stars for the Yummy factor.

Lastly we stopped at Lilly’s Pizza near the five points area.  It wasn’t really New York Style.  It seemed like a cool place to hang out with some friends and get pizza and a beer.  We ate outside and I enjoyed a slice, but again, not New York Style Pizza.  Lilly’s scored a 65 on the Sliker Scale and 3.5 stars for the Yummy factor.

New York Style Pizza in Salt Lake City Anyone?

On the New York Pizza Finder site I recently received the following comment from Dave regarding Este Pizza in Salt Lake City:

you guys should check out Este Pizzeria in Salt Lake City, big thin slices baked in a bakers pride deck oven, they offer sicilian semi regularly, basically the locals here don’t get it, these guys have it. just a suggestion

I just checked out the Este Web Page, www.estepizzacompany.com, and it appears they had a fire and had to close down temporarily.

Anyone know any other New York Style Pizza places in the Salt Lake area of Utah?  Pizza Therapy mentions a place called Big Apple Pizza– any good?  Any others out there? 

Finally! Two Vinnie’s in Savannah

I made it to Savannah for a few days last week and managed to get to both Cousin Vinnie’s Jersey Style Pizza and Vinnie Van Go-Gos.  I took a big group with me to Cousin Vinnie’s for lunch and I have to say I was a little disappointed.  They scored only an 80 on the Sliker Scale, and a 3.5 Stars on the Yummy Scale.  The biggest problem, and I have to say this is a pretty big problem, is that they DID NOT use traditional pizza ovens.  They used ovens with conveyor belts.  As I’ve stated in the past, the conveyor belt method may make things easier for the cook but it makes a big difference in the crust, and not for better. 

This experience was enough to make me rething my rating scale.  I’m not happy about the “Run by Italians” indicator because frankly, these days, it’s just not that simple.  If the guy behind the counter has blonde hair do I assume he’s not Italian?  This is making me thing about removing the “Run by Italians” rating and doubling the importance of the Traditional Pizza Oven– what do you think? 

Vinnie Van Go-Go’s, on the other hand, was a most excellent slice!  Unfortunately I didn’t have the opportunity to try a fresh pie, but I’m sure I will eventually.  The biggest problem with Vinnie Van Go-Go’s is that they don’t open until 4:00 pm.  One time I was heading to Florida and I wanted to stop there for a slice but they were closed. 

Hero’s - New York Style Pizza in Louisville, KY

We timed our drive from Michigan to South Carolina PERFECTLY so that we could stop for dinner at Hero’s New York Pizza and Pub in Louisville, KY.  I blogged recently about a comment from Kirk where he was so elated to find good New York Style pizza right there in Louisville.  Turns out that Hero’s is just a couple miles from I-64, and we were able to stop in there on a Friday night around 8:00 pm.   Unfortunately the owners of Hero’s had stepped out for a few minutes so I wasn’t able to talk to them, but I can tell you that the pizza was delicious, the service was excellent, and I recommend it for anyone seeking genuine New York Style Pizza in Louisville. 

 I had been Googling Hero’s numerous times over the last few weeks and never could find a Web site, so I was please to see a sign when we entered, saying Please visit our web site at www.herospizzapub.com.    I checked out the site and it looks great.  Hopefully this post and a little bit of time will help Hero’s get some Google love…

Cafe Luigi - Best NY Pizza in Chicago?

I took the family to Cafe Luigi and we were very impressed with the pies.  We got one cheese and one with pepperoni.    I’m giving it a 100 on the Sliker Scale and 5 stars on the Yummy Scale.   I’m giving them credit for having Sicilian even thought it was really probably “Chicago Style” pizza, ie., it was thick crust but it was round instead of square.  I’m giving them credit since they’re in Chicago and a lot of people like Chicago-style around here.

I really like Cafe Luigi.  I’ve always thought I’d have trouble living in Chicago due to the lack of good New York Style Pizza, but now I’m confident that CHICAGO HAS EVERYTHING.   It was extremely difficult to park in the area around Cafe Luigi.  There was metered parking but nobody was moving.  I literally drove around for 20 minutes then had to park a half-mile away. 

 I don’t think we’ll make it to NY Slices out in the ‘burbs, as we are heading in the opposite direction. 

Pizza be with you!

Finding New York Pizza in Chicago

Well, here we are in Chicago.    Through this blog I’ve received many comments about where to find New York Style Pizza in Chicago.    So tonight we will check out Cafe Luigi right here in the Gold Coast / Miracle Mile area.    Tomorrow, I hope to drive to the suburbs and check out New York Slices up in Highland Park.

 I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes!!

Found! NY Style Pizza in Louisville, KY

I love this blog, and it’s companion site the New York Pizza Finder. 

 I received a comment from Kirk in Louisville, Kentucky, who said he found a great place in Louisville– Hero’s Pizza.

 I responded by email asking for more information and this was his response:
Sure- here ya go. Pictures of the slices included.

http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/?p=157

I tried this place 2 weeks ago and was pleased to find real NY style in Louisville.

I am vacationing in Manhattan 3 weeks from now. I am heading to Patsy’s East Harlem first!

You have a cool site. Thanks.

So as luck would have it, I will be passing through Louisville twice in the next couple weeks.  I plan to stop by Hero’s and give it a try.

So tell me about YOUR favorite New York Style Pizza Place that makes you feel like home….

Walking NYC for Slices of Pizza

On Saturday my friend Reiner and I went into New York and spent the day exploring the length of Manhattan Island.  After my prior two days eating pizza non-stop, I wasn’t too hungry for pizza, but I did manage to get a couple slices in.

 

 My first slice (above) was from a pier near the Brooklyn Bridge.  My second slice, much later in the day, was from Ray’s Pizza near Greenwich Village (see below.)

New York Style Pizza in Jersey and NYC

I made a quick trip to NJ and NYC this past week and was truly in Pizza Heaven.   My brother picked me up at the train station and we had reservations at Delorenzo’s on Hamilton Ave in “the Berg” section of Trenton.    A picture of DeLorenzo’s Tomatoe Pie is below:

That night he picked up another couple pies from JoJo’s Tavern and it was excellent.  The next day we were taking a drive down to the shore and we stopped by Iccarra Pizza in Yardville for another slice.

Dorothy was right– There truly is no place like home…