Lifestyle RepublicLifestyle Republic
  • The Daily
  • Features
  • Self Essentials
  • Culture
  • About Lifestyle Republic
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Facebook Twitter Instagram
  • The Daily
  • Essentials
Lifestyle RepublicLifestyle Republic
  • Features
  • Culture
Lifestyle RepublicLifestyle Republic

The 5 Oldest Pizza Joints In New York City

Vivo ChuckitoJune 2014 Culture
Share Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Email

New York City is a tough market for restaurants — there’s an 80% fail rate — so even more props to these guys. It’s nearly impossible to duplicate the old-school pizzerias nowadays, since brick coal-ovens can only be rebuilt or replaced. When a pizza parlor has been around for decades, you know it’s got to be good.
 

Lombardi’s (32 Spring St, Manhattan) – Established 1905
American pizza in general, and New York in particular, owes a lot to Lombardi’s Pizza, first opened in 1905 in Little Italy, Manhattan. Gennaro Lombardi was granted the first mercantile license to sell pizza in New York. Lombardi’s is credited with the revolutionary use of the coal oven, and set the standard for selling pizza by the pie rather than the slice.

Lombardi’s, however, is not the longest continuously operating pizzeria: in 1984, Lombardi’s closed for a decade, reopening under the management of Lombardi’s grandson and his friend, John Brescio. Brescio said the original closed after not being able to survive economic downturns and a crumbling oven. Nowadays, Lombardi’s doesn’t have to advertise.
 

John’s of Bleecker St (278 Bleecker St, Manhattan) – Established 1929
John Sasso, an immigrant from Naples and another pizzamaker for Lombardi’s on Spring Street, sprang for his own coal-oven pizza place in 1929. John’s became a pizza mecca in its own right, though it kept the tradition of no slices, and it’s still cash only. John’s stayed open through the Great Depression, and hasn’t slowed since.

ADVERTISEMENT

That security comes from a combination of factors: reputation, star power (Danny Devito and Vanilla Ice are just two of the celebrities with their pictures on the wall), good prices (“You and I come here and can eat and drink for less than $20″) and a classic pie that can only come from a well-made 800-degree brick oven.
 

Denino’s Pizza (524 Port Richmond Ave, Staten Island) – Established 1937
Cross the Verrazano Bridge or take the ferry to reach the borough outpost that is Staten Island — it’ll be worth it for Denino’s alone. Opened first as a tavern in 1937, Carlo Denino introduced pizza to the family-owned restaurant after World War II. Like other pizzerias of the time, Denino’s pizza used a brick coal oven, producing New York-style thin crust. The sausage pizza in particular became a hit.

Despite being out of the way for many mainland New Yorkers, Denino’s made a trip across the river not only acceptable, but necessary. According to Denino’s website, they have been visited over the years by actors, mayors, borough presidents, and New York families again and again. At the end of the day, their quality product is what sustains them.
 

Arturo’s Pizza (106 W Houston St, Manhattan) – Established 1957
Arturo’s was started on $3,000 of borrowed money by Arthur “Arturo” Giunta and his fiancée, Betty Keefe in 1957. The Village locals pieced their restaurant together over the next few years, following in the tradition of the great pizza places of their time by using a brick coal oven and only selling by the pie. Arturo’s 900-degree oven put out crisp crusts that drew the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Julie Roberts to its plush booths.

Giunta passed in 2006, but his underdog pizzeria — which doesn’t get as much press as the older coal oven spots — lives on.
 

Patsy’s (2287 1st Ave, Manhattan) – Established 1933
Spanish Harlem — El Barrio — became home to one of the oldest pizza places in New York City (at one point it was the oldest running pizzeria) in 1933. Patsy Lancieri learned his “paper-thin crust” craft in Little Italy — another disciple of Lombardi’s — before opening his own uptown joint. Unlike other pizza godfathers, Patsy sold his pizza by the slice. Patsy’s became Frank Sinatra’s pizza of choice: the singer had pies flown out to him in L.A.

Patsy’s was bolstered in later years by legendary pieman José Jiminez, a maestro with the coal oven until his death in 2009. Some say that quality has since slipped. In the 1990s, the original Patsy died and the name was sold to Albanian Frank Brija, who has since opened multiple Patsy locations and gotten himself embroiled in a lawsuit. It’s said that true Patsy taste can still be found at the popular Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn.

Join The Lifestyle Republic Newsletter

Get the latest news from TLSR straight into your inbox.

Share. Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Pinterest Email

More from Lifestyle Republic

CANADIAN DANCER STEPPING IT UP IN THE BIG APPLE

Trader Joe’s Wine Shop in Union Square abruptly closes after 15 years

Savage X Fenty turns up the Heat in ‘Dolled Up’ Campaign

Marc Jacobs 2022 Denim Monogram Campaign

Lea Seydoux STUNS for the Louis Vuitton Capucines Bag Summer 2022 Campaign

These DJ’s (who are Women) Should be Curating At Least 1 of Your Playlists

Exes+Owes Podcast
The Date Sheet: Exes + Owes
The Date Sheet: Exes + Owes

Join veteran Television Producer / Award-Winning Photographer Chuck Holliday and Film Producer / Media Personality Shanda Foster as they discuss post-dating self awareness, avoiding toxic environments, relationship PTSD and CSS (“common sense s@#t”) in this happy hour format podcast.

Listen OnApple PodcastsListen OnGoogle PodcastsListen OniHeart RADIO
In Public (Nah, Right?)

Chuck Holliday and Shanda Foster discuss how many times is enough to accept a man’s cheating ways, why toxic energy is accepted over normalcy, the many red flags that are ignored in dating, and why men refuse to post women (and vice versa) on social media. (Season 1 Finale)

Produced by Chuck Holliday and Shanda Foster
Theme Music: “Peruvian Vacays” by Versa Jay Beats
Show Page: www.suite929.tv/podcasts/exesandowes

In Public (Nah, Right?)
Episode play icon
In Public (Nah, Right?)
Episode Description
Episode play icon
No Scrubs
Episode Description
Episode play icon
You're Makin' Me…Low
Episode Description
Search Results placeholder

Currenty Trending

ATHLETE TURNED ARTIST PAINTS A NEW FUTURE: MARK ANTHONY HILL

Motivator, Athlete and Life Changer: Fabian Thorne

Traveling In-Flight Beauty Essentials

Bella Twins rid themselves of WWE…and the Bella name

The Pitbull of Boxing Fabiano Pena Packing a Championship Punch

Sean “Diddy” Combs introduces new limited-edition CÎROC Honey Melon spirit

Features

Motivator, Athlete and Life Changer: Fabian Thorne

Diverse Producer / Filmmaker Gal Yefet Goes Global

February 2023

Artist David Craig Ellis is at it Again

February 2023

Imaginary Artist Looking to Expand her Talents

February 2023

   
About Lifestyle Republic  •  Contact Us  •  Privacy Policy  •  Corporate Website
© 2023 Lifestyle Republic, a unit of Suite929 LLC

OUR PUBLISHING NETWORK:
Suite929tv   •   Firm Biz   •   Tech We Like   •   G Style Magazine   •   The 9ine Podcast Network

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT