John's Pizzeria

In a country that loves to rank everything I went to what so called "the best pizza place of Manhattan": John's Pizzeria (http://www.johnspizzerianyc.com/).

John's opened in 1997 and is located in Times Square at 260W 44th Street and has 3 other branches, including one in New Jersey. The pizza is really good, tiny crispy charred crust, which makes us almost forgot the "normal American pizza" with pan crust (or Chicago-style Pizza) that we are used to see in Pizza Hut, Domino's or Papa Johns. Actually John's Pizzeria stress the fact they are not a Chicago Pizzeria, with pan crust or too many toppings. As they recall, they are a New York Pizzeria.

1/2 Mozzarela and 1/2 Pepperoni

Based on that, their pizza are really good and tasty and worth a visit, and is a good option of an after Broadway dinner. Or if you prefer, you can order, since they are accepting deliveries now.

I don't know if they really have the best pizza of NYC; but sure the price difference among John's and the $1 pizzas I reviewed weeks a go is recognizable, both by the taste and freshness of the ingredients.

They also serve pasta, salads and sandwiches, but come one, don't let anyone see you ordering a salad on a pizza place! Ah, and don't forget to order their signature "garlic bread"!



A melted mozzarela cheese over a tiny crispy crust. How about a bite?



Why Spend More? II - 2 Bros Pizza

Continuing the review I initiated in the last post (Why Spend More?), this pizza place is located at the corner of 40^th Street and 9^th Avenue and its called “2 Bros. Pizza”. They have another branch really closed to this one at 38^th Street and 8^th Avenue..

The place is larger than $.99 Fresh Pizza. Here you can “enter into” the place, you can seat if you want, or just eat standing in one of the standing tables. One more time, it is not a wood burning brick oven, but I was not expecting that anyway.

Regarding the pizza, before get into the oven they stay at the balcony, close to the people. Not that I am a guy who thinks about health concerns, but for sure I prefer the way .99 Fresh Pizza does it. And after they are ready they stayed over the oven, I don't know why, maybe to cool it down?!



My Mushroom Pizza. As you can see, not so fresh.



But, whatever, I went for the pizza, so I ordered one. A mushroom pizza. The slice was the same price as .99, $1.50. If you go for cheese than you gonna pay a buck. The slice didn’t came so fresh. It appeared the pizza was hanging there for at least 10 to 20 minutes. Not cold, but not fresh. A disappointment in comparison with .99.

So, the final thought. If you are there, move your legs 100 meters northwest and go for .99 Fresh Pizza, it will worth. Trust me.

Why Spend More? $.99 Fresh Pizza

This will be a two part post, reviewing two places to go when your money is short and your hungry is huge! Both are in the region of Port Authority (on 9^th Ave).

Let’s first talk about .99 Fresh Pizza.

It is a place at the corner of 41^st and 9^th avenue (they are also in other locations as MidEast and Village).

At this location There is just a balcony, where you can order your pizza through a window. The attendant and the pizzaiolo stay in a tiny space, and you stare them wondering how they make to stay there all day long – specially the pizzaiolo.

Of course, it is not a wood burning brick oven. They use just a regular one.

You have almost a full option menu (the US standard pizzas are all there - pepperoni, sausage, cheese, shrooms, black olive, pineapple) and the price starts at $.99 – for a cheese pizza. If you want a pepperoni or something else the price goes up to $1.50.

Normally people ask for the pizza and eat it while they walk in the streets. But there is no problem to stay at the balcony enjoying your slice. You can order an entire pizza as well.

The pizzas are really fresh and you can feel that while you taste it. And they offer you a whole bunch of seasonings, herbs and spices, so you can just throw them over it.

My Pepperoni Pizza

For $2.50 I ate a cheese and a pepperoni slice. Don’t expect a gourmet pizza, but a decent slice for the price they ask. Both great. And believe me, all fresh!