UPPER MANHATTAN — Whether it’s Greek or Italian style, pizza allegiance is serious business uptown.
Plain and simple slices, both thin crust and thick, are the favorites in Washington Heights and Inwood where the top eight pies are made at pizza joints that have been in business for more than 45 years in most cases.
DNAinfo took to Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to ask who makes the best slice in Washington Heights and Inwood and found everyone has an opinion on the cheesy goodness.
Here’s a taste of the top eight favorites from 155th Street to the northern end of the island.
Pizza Palace
121 Dyckman Street, 212.567.9588
Hours: Sun, Sat 10–1 a.m.; Mon-Fri 10–12 a.m.
Slice: $2.50 Pie: $14
Hands down, Pizza Palace received the most acclaim for its thick and cheesy pizza, which is sold at an old fashioned shop on Dyckman Street. Pizza Palace, also known as Johnny’s and Pizza Heroes, was opened by a Greek man from the Island of Kos more than 70 years ago and was ultimately purchased by another Greek man from the same village 30 years ago with hopes of keeping the Greek pizza tradition alive.
Fans of the shop are so fervent in their love of the pizza that they actually created a Facebook page for the shop just so they could rave about their dining experiences.
“Their sauce is superb, their dough melts in your mouth. They live on the promise to satisfy their customers,” wrote Inwood resident Regina Christoforatos on Facebook.
But if you want to taste the deliciousness, which is Pizza Palace, you’ll have to head on over.
“Call ahead,” wrote Inwood resident John Shortall on Facebook. “They don't deliver... Don't have tooo.”
Tony’s Pizza
4771 Broadway near Dyckman Street, 212.569.3720
Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs, Fri. and Sat. 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Weds. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Slice: $2.25 Pie: $14
Whether it’s a quick slice or a pie to take out, Inwood residents say Tony’s Pizza ranks high on the list of favorites. The after school crowd piles in for $1 slices during the week and old timers swear by traditional, no fuss pizza.
“I consider the different styles of pizza to basically be different foods. Tony's [makes] good NY slices,” Washington Heights resident Andrea Kornbluth said on Google+.
Owned by Tony Anton, whose Greek family has owned several Inwood restaurants since the ‘60s (including Park View Diner, Garden Café, and Inwood Local), the restaurant also offers up a selection of Greek specialties, including Moussaka, Spanakopita, gyro and grape leaves.
Grandpa’s Pizza
4973 Broadway near Isham Street, 212.304.1185
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to midnight
Slice: $2.72 Pie: $19.60
Grandpa’s pizza bakes thin crust pies for those who like to savor a lighter slice.
While lovers of thick crusts may turn up their nose, the line at the counter is proof positive of the pizza’s popularity.
“I'm a sucker for thin-crust, brick oven pizza,” wrote Bob Matsuoka on Facebook.
“Grandpa's does it well. Good sauce, ingredients.”
1611 Saint Nicholas Avenue near West 191st Street, 212.923.4441
Hours:10 a.m. to midnight
Slice: $2.25 Pie: $13
Neighbors sing the cheesy praises of Arcade Pizza when it comes to the cheesy garlic knots, plain slices or the bargain $5 mini-pie, which is described as a “extremely generous” by Washington Heights resident Javier Peña.
“Not too cheesy, crust not too hard, plus super friendly and v[ery] convenient,” tweeted Washington Heights resident Jonathan Rabinowitz about Arcade, who also has a tip for 1 train commuters, “Call from 125th [Street] & pie is ready when getting off no 1.”
Charlie’s
1501 St. Nicholas Avenue at West 186th Street, 212.781.9089
Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Slice: $2.25 Pie: $11.50
This small and intimate parlor serves up a mean slice along with traditional Italian pizzeria dishes like lasagna, ziti and garlic knots.
Led Black of the Uptown Collective said he was torn between the pizza at Pizza Palace (above) and Charlie’s, which he called an “old school” pizza joint.
“It is a somewhat thin crust with just the right proportion of cheese and just slightly sweet sauce,” Black tweeted.
Tommy’s
4185 Broadway at West 177th Street, 212.781.0005
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Slice: $2.25 Pie: $13
Tommy’s has a loyal following some might call religious.
Harlem resident Jennifer says she eats a slice every Sunday after church across the street at the United Palace Cathedral.
“It’s not too thick and it’s just the right amount of sauce,” she said. “I go to church and then I come right over here. It’s the only place I eat pizza.”
Como Pizza
4035 Broadway at West 170th Street, 212.92.7867
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Slice: $2.25 Pie: $22
Open since 1963, Como has been serving up a picture-perfect slice for generations in Washington Heights, something their following says comes down to the science of pizza preparation.
“The crispy crust [and] their sauce:cheese ratio is perfect,” tweeted Washington Heights self-described foodie @saritology.
George’s Pizza
726 West 181st Street, between Bennett Avenue and Colonel Robert Magaw Place, 212.568.6891
Hours: 10 a.m. to midnight
Slice: $2 Pie: $13
There is more to this small and cramped Hudson Heights pizza shop than meets the eye.
The parlor has been serving pies for more than 50 years made by the same Greek family, something that owner Manolo, whose father George opened the shop in 1960, hopes he will pass down to his son.
And the pies are something to be celebrated, say locals, with its creamy cheese and thick slices.
“It’s all in the sauce,” said owner Manolo.
Inwood resident Rich Herrera is a longtime fan and sings praises for George’s.
“Classic NY slice. Free garlic knots,” he wrote on Google+.
Enough said.
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