Top 5 NYC Pizza Joints You Have to Try

If there's one thing New York is known for, it's its pizza. From the thin, savory slices of Brooklyn, to the fat, greasy pies of Manhattan, New York has become known the world over for its unique and diverse take on this traditional Italian treat, marking it as a cultural and culinary destination for the last hundred years.

It is in honor of that tradition that, below, we rank the Top 5 Places in the New York to grab a slice, a list that is sure to leave your mouth-watering and your stomach growling with the kind of urge only a genuine New York pizza can satisfy.

5. Joe & Pat's

The first pizzeria on the list, the Staten Island landmark Joe & Pat's has been around just about as long as anyone can remember (technically 1960). Combining a deliciously thin crust with a delectably chewy composition (probably the function of the fresh mozzarella sprinkled on each pizza), Joe & Pat's will serve you a pie you'll never forget. Who knows, it just might be worth a trip out to Staten Island.

4. Paulie Gee's

Paulie Gee's in Brooklyn definitely gets bonus points for style and fun. With a menu full of puns like the "Brian deParma" and "Ricotta be Kiddin' Me," Paulie Gee's serves slices that are as fun to order as they are to eat. But let's be clear, they're not lightweights in the taste department either. Emphasizing traditional New York pizza's with an exotic twist, their pies are mouth-watering to say the least, providing every true New Yorker with the perfect pizza-going experience.

3. Patsy's

Located on 1^st Avenue in East Harlem, Manhattan's first entry on the list, Patsy's, provides an old-school charm that it's hard to get at the more modern Pizzeria's. And you can see why it's lasted so long since its 1933 opening. With piping hot, melt-in-your-mouth pizza's and a take-out counter that offers slices as cheap as $1.75, Patsy's provides affordability along with flavor, a perfect combo that will keep the institution in business for many years to come.

2. Lucali's

Perhaps the most famous pizzeria on the list, this Brooklyn institution is famous for its celebrity customers, prices, and long-lines. But once you're there, it's more than worth the wait. The basil pizza is particularly worth the price of admission, combining a subtle chewiness provided by two different types of mozzarella with a crispy crust, just the kind of artisan experience you would expect coming from this landmark.

1. Di Fara's

However, the highest quality slice in the city has to go to the legendary Di Fara's, a pizzeria that perfectly combines old-school charm with delicious taste. Home to the $5 slice, Di Fara's is famous for owner Don DeMarco who sits at the counter and tops your pizza with olive oil and basil. It's no wonder why the Village Voice recently ranked it as the absolute best slice in the city. In short, if you're trying to get a slice in New York, there's no better place to go than Di Fara's, an institution emblematic of everything New York pizza has been and can be.