Where to find New York-style pizza?
Where’s the best place around to get New York-style pizza?
It’s a question I hear frequently from newcomers – and
they’re not all necessarily from New York.
"We have tried Fuel (which is probably the best so far), but we are still in seach of that perfect pizza!" wrote one Connecticut transplant. "We have gone to Ballantyne to try an advertised 'New York Style' pizza which did not measure up."
Besides Fuel (1501 Central Avenue, and five other locations
in Charlotte, Davidson and Gastonia), common suggestions include: Hawthorne’s New York Pizza and Bar (1701 E. Seventh St.
and another in Highland Creek), Portofino’s Italian Restaurant
(3124 Eastway Drive plus others in Charlotte and Gastonia) and Zio
(116 Middleton Drive – it’s owned by Endicott natives).
While searching around, I also found this link to a New York pizza blog.
Now it’s your turn – where did I miss?
It’s a question I hear frequently from newcomers – and
they’re not all necessarily from New York.
"We have tried Fuel (which is probably the best so far), but we are still in seach of that perfect pizza!" wrote one Connecticut transplant. "We have gone to Ballantyne to try an advertised 'New York Style' pizza which did not measure up."
Besides Fuel (1501 Central Avenue, and five other locations
in Charlotte, Davidson and Gastonia), common suggestions include: Hawthorne’s New York Pizza and Bar (1701 E. Seventh St.
and another in Highland Creek), Portofino’s Italian Restaurant
(3124 Eastway Drive plus others in Charlotte and Gastonia) and Zio
(116 Middleton Drive – it’s owned by Endicott natives).
While searching around, I also found this link to a New York pizza blog.
Now it’s your turn – where did I miss?
posted by Leigh at
3:03 PM
60 Comments:
DaVinci's Pizza by Northlake Mall,
8511 Davis Lake Pkwy. Great pizza, great prices. By the slice or the pie, it's good stuff. I also like Fuel on Central Ave. Enjoy!
ANZI in Stonecrest shopping center on Rea Road and LaRoma on Hwy 49 in Harrisburg.
Tony's Pizza on Mount Holly-Huntersville Rd. Definitely as good as the Connecticut Pizza Parlors we remember.
Brooklyn South Pizza in Cornelius, Brooklyn Boys in Mooresville and Brooklyn Pizza Parlor in Charlotte. These places have the real stuff, the owners are all from Long Island and truly make the best Pie there is in our area.
Carmella's on Carmel Road (Carmel & Hwy 51)is by far the best NY pizza in Charlotte. They are from Long Island. Better than Brooklyn South which is not worthy of its hype.
Ohio Pizza is the Best; Yes Folks if you ever go to Columbus , Ohio where we do everything perfect one time; Get PIZZA at TOMMYS on LANE AVENUE by "the Ohio State University". Yes Folks we had 350 pizza shops at one time with the best called "Pizza House" but it moved and went down hill sorry folks about that ; and we had Donatos Pizza but Mc donalds bought them out and Mcee Dees sent the PIZZA to hamburger HELL. Tommys has five locations DUBLIN , Ohio , Lane Avenue university area where MAYOR McROY is really from worthington, Ohio
Absolutely "the best" New York style pizza in Charlotte is at Paventi's in the Unversity Area (in the Bloom shopping center at Harris Blvd and W Sugar Creek). However, I'll be totally honest; they also sell slices and for some reason the slices never seem quite as good as their whole pies. But buy and whole pizza you will love it!!!
Have to try some of these places. Of the ones I've tried, Hawthorne's was forgettable, Fuel's was surprisingly good (but 3 out of 3 times they didn't have any Strombolis, so just take them off the menu already!). Portofinos's was by far the best,
Tony's in Mooresville
Brooklyn Boys and Tony's in Mooresville, both are always crowded with Northerners here and they are both owned by New Yorkers. Tony's has a mean slice with a great crust!
Tony's Pizza in Ballantyne is decent. Thin pie, not much sauce. tasty tho
I was born and raised on Long Island. Out of the ones I have tried in Charlotte:
#1. Luigi's S. Tryon/ Arrowood near Wal-mart. They are right out of Brooklyn. Thin crust, HUGE slice. 20 inch pies for $15
#2. Anzi's @ Stone Crest. Good stuffed pizza but the regular is too thick.
Haven't been to Brooklyn Boys, Carmella's or Tony's.
But I will try them this weekend.
The only Portifino's that is good is the Eastway Drive location. Fuel is just horrible anytime, any location.
Paventi's is total garbage.
I second the Brooklyn South (exit 25 on I-77) and Brooklyn Boys (Mooresville) recommendations! Awesome NY style pizza.
P.S., not as "NY" maybe, but Mellow Mushroom has AMAZING pizza.
Tony's Pizza in Ballantyne off Johnston is the closest we've seen.
Does anyone know what happend to Nirchi's that used to be on South Blvd? I loved that place...
Okay, born and raised on Long Isand. I've been in the South for 20 years now. First it was South Florida so I had no problem getting NY pizza there. But I've been in Charlotte for 18 years and it's been impossible.
I went around this weekend and tried Luigi's, Brooklyn Pizza Palor, Tony's, Paventi's, Carmella's, Anzi's and Portifino's.
Fuel is total crap so I didn't even bother. They should be fined by the city for trying to pass off such garbage as pizza.
Here's the deal,
Luigi's is absolutely HUGE. Biggest slices this side of NYC. Their crust is just a bit to hard. Other than that it's awesome.
Brooklyn was okay, slices were the smallest I've ever seen. Crust was a little to dry. But it was "okay". I only tried the cheese. They have a wide variety so I will be back to check out another type.
Tony's, I don't know what to say to the poster that loved this place ? I think it was actually Tony's frozen pizza from the grocery store. GARBAGE BUDDY. I didn't even eat half the tiny slice. Pitched it in the trash. Was that ketchup on it or what ?!?!? Then came Paventi's. It's okay, nothing special. Again, who are these people trying to fool with these tiny slices ? Give me a break guys !
Yesterday I tried Carmella's. I've got to say they had the best sauce, cheese and crust of anyone in Charlotte. It was exactly like NYC. Except, here we go again, too small. But besides that Carmella's has NAILED IT. But these guys are from Cincinnati , go figure !!!
Anzi's had a great meat stuffed pie. I couldn't walk after eating one slice. It was a total meal. Great flavor. Their regular slices looked good as well. Maybe slightly too thick ?
Portifino's on Eastway is usually pretty good. But this weekend they were off. Maybe it's new help in the kitchen ? Who knows. But I agree with the other poster. Eastway is their only location that's ever good. The other ones are the pits.
So for this NYC pizza connoisseur it will be Carmella's and Luigi's for the most part.
Don't EVER waste your time with Tony's. PLEASE !!!!
Just walking up to it you can tell it's a dive. Looks like a joint in a food court.
Mario's on route 74 (next to the Township Grill) is the closest I have had since leaving WNY.
Ahhhhhh, Mario's. I forgot all about them. Aren't they the one's behind Carabba's ?
I went there for dinner and dessert some time ago.
The desserts were great. The dinner wasn't too shabby either. But I didn't try the pizza.
How about wherever they moved from?
Howzabouts I knock ya on your FREAKIN' ASS ?
You Freaky Freakin' Freak !
Lighten up Bud. We are here to stay. Get used to it. We're good guys. Get past the differences in accents and give it a try.
Everyone is different.
Carmella's hands down.
The places you mention are all okay, but definitely not in the running for being the best. As I’m sure many of your respondents are, I am from the New York area and consider myself an expert in good New York style pizza. I move here in 1989 and have searched for many years to find “the best!”
Fuel and Hawthorne are okay and Zio is fair. Bar isn’t bad and Zio can best be described as a pretender as is Brooklyn South
Da Vinci's isn't even worth discussing and Paventi's, well let's just say it's not up to snuff.
I had thought that Anzi's was the best - that is until I tried Tony's in Huntersville. There are a couple of them (one in Mooresville and another in Balantyne) and they're all supposed to have the same recipe, but the Tony's in Huntersville is definitely the best of the three.
For those who tried any of the other Tony's, try this one before passing judgement - it's the original.
I have not tried Carmellas yet, but it sounds interesting, I'll have to give it a try.
As for the blogger from Ohio, well ...snap out of it!
Fuel is just not New York style pizza. It's horrible. I lived in Manhattan for 8 years and never saw a pizzeria put pineapple on a slab. I used to eat at Lombardi's (Spring and Mulberry)once and sometimes twice a week. There is no comparison. John's on Bleeker Street? Amazing pizza. I've tried quite a bit here, except for Carmella's (which I've heard is delicious), and the only two legitimate NY-style pizzerias are Luigi's and Hawthorne's. The knock on Luigi's - it's tucked in back of a Walmart strip mall. Then again, isn't everything in this town located in a strip mall? Hawthorne's is a cozy spot in a cool neighborhood - great beer on tap. It's irrational to import the water from NY (which makes the amazing crust), but a quick tip to pizza makers out there: san marzano tomatoes, whole-milk mozzarella, and a coal-fired oven. Otherwise, get out of the game.
I am a Luigi's FAN but Carmella's actually has a better taste and the crust isn't quite so tough. Luigi's needs to add a bit more olive oil to the dough.
All Carmella's needs to do now is make the slice a real BIG NYC slice. Step it up. We will pay a little extra for the BIG slices.
Oh, I just don't know if I can try Tony's in Huntersville. The one in Ballantyne is just so horrible I can't imagine the others being that much better. It was the equivalent to frozen pizza.
Someone needs to take Fuel out. The city shouldn't even allow such garbage to flood uptown. If Luigi's or Carmella's opened uptown Fuel would be over and out within a month.
I am sure that day is coming soon. Someone that knows real pizza will be uptown. The market for a Luigi's sized slice is there. The lunch crowd and late night partiers would be eating pizza with a frenzy.
Luigi !!!
Carmella !!
Are you listening ??? We need you !
UPSTATE PIZZA in Pineville!! We drive all the way from Rock Vegas to get our pizza there. They have a great pie and great cannolli, too! It's in the BiLo shopping center across from CMC Pineville. I think they are from Syracuse. We are really picky about pizza - grew up on LI with fantastic pizza on every corner. When you ask someone to recommend good pizza from here, they send you to Papa John's. NASTY!!
Have none of you been to Luisa's Pizza? It is the best pizza in Charlotte! I agree that Charlotte is lacking in the good pizza area, Raleigh, North Carolina has much better pizza, but in Charlotte Luisa's is the best, hands down.
Luisa's is very good pizza but it is in no way NY style. If you want brick oven then YES it's got to be Luisa's.
I went to Du Amici this weekend.
Ehhhhhh....okay. Not the greatest. Crust is way to hard. This is the problem with most in this area. It's got to be the NY water that does it ?
Carmella's for some reason has nailed the crust.It's chewy but soft at the same time and the sauce is fantastic.
It's still.......
LUIGI'S and CARMELLA'S
Move your butts uptown or in a close neighborhood. We will eat more pizza than you can imagine.
Brand new to Charlotte is Palone's Pizza at the Fountains off Ardrey Kell Rd. Pizza is fantastic and the pastries are like my Grandmother used to make.
pAre you ready for the best, then try a brand new place called Palone's. They have THE BEST pizza I have ever had. They even have pastries and they are delicous. Trust me you will not be disappointed!!!
For anyone just at the south edge of the University area at I-485 and Rocky River Rd there's Capriccio's in the Brookdale Shopping Ctr, next to Harris-Teeter. The round comes very close with the crust and the Sicilian, square thick crust, is definitely worth trying.
Avanti's in Arboretum is the closest i have come to NY style
Big humbs down on Tony's in Mooresville. Extremely overrated.
These aren't NY pizzas, but I really like both Mellow Mushroom (wish there was one in the Lake Norman area) and Wolfman in Mooresville.
I haven't found any good NY pizzas in Mooresville. Anyone (other than Tony's and Brooklyn Boys)?
PIATZA's PIZZA on Albemarle Rd has great pizza, dough is not thin NY style, but little thicker, good sauce, toppings,etc. Has no inside dining, mainly take-out and delivery, WINGS are pretty darn good as well. They are from Rochester,NY, and there pizza reminds me of the good pies made back from my hometown of Binghamton, New York. Its worth checking it out!
This comment has been removed by the author.
Have any of you tried House of Pizza on Central Ave? In my humble opinion, it's the best in Charlotte...would like a New Yorker's opinion...
When it comes to New York Style pizza that tastes exactly the same it is the new Wally's Pizza in the Columbus, Ohio area. New Yorkers and Pennsylvania natives seem to really LOVE this pizza because it is a traditional pizzeria that captures the taste. The only difference is that it is cut into squares. Give them a try if you are searching for that perfect pizza around Columbus, Ohio.
Wally's Pizza
4333 Cosgray Road
Hilliard, Ohio 43026
(614) 527-7999
Tony's Pizza Of Ballantyne is by far the best pizza in all of NC. Someone posted that it was horrible. This person must not know his a-- from a hole in the ground! I have tried every pizza in charlotte even the new ones except for the place that sells frozen pizza to go, and I have yet to taste a better pizza than Tony's Ballantyne. Pizza is suppossed to be simple not fru fru with this and that added to hide the poor ingred.Tony's is a straight forward Brooklyn pie and I should know I grew up in Bensonhurst.
Oh and by the way the slices are HUGE at Tony's in ballantyne you must eaten somewhere else pal.
or your a competetor!
OK, there must be confusion. There are a few "TONY'S PIZZA" places. Tony's in Ballantyne is by far the best. Fresh, made from scratch sauce, top of line toppings and REAL PIZZA...frozen? Not tihs place. Really Italian, really family owned and operated and really the best. They have 7 locations to proove it. try the lasagna...no skimp there. Spotless, spunky and super delicious.Any New Yorker (no just some disgruntled wanna be) can tell you this...hand streched dough, best mozzarella, made from scratch sauce, thin and crsip & slices so big you can fold them! Who is better than them? No one baby! Avid Pizza lover!
Yea, Tried Palones. It was ok for the average joe. I gotta say it was better than DaVinci's for sure also better than Luigi's on tryon. But Tony's in Ballantyne is by far the best pie we've ever tasted in Charlotte. Even Better than Ray's in Manhatten only those of us from NY no about them. Tony's in Ballantyne tops the charts.
I can't believe that I'm even going to post on this blog, it amazes me how opinionated all of you are about pizza. Paventi's is fantastic, we go there at least once a week. I know we're talking pizza, but their wings are out of this world and the pizza is always great.
Fuel is so overrated I won;t even comment any further. Tony's in Ballantyne is the same as the guys in Huntersville and it's decent at best.
Trust me Tony's in Ballantyne is much better than the one in Huntersville. Tony's brother inlaw manages the huntersville location and he is really cheap. Thats the only location thats different than the rest. I go to the Ballantyne location and it is the best pizza I've ever tasted in NC. I grew up in Brooklyn and its just like home.
Someone posted that Carmella's Pizza nailed it. maybe a nail in a casket. I tried them and I just about died fro the garlic that was in the sauce, a good sauce doesnt need garlic to hide the poor ingred. Those guys should stick to grape leaves and gyros. Dispite my search I have yet to find a true NY pie like Tony's in Ballantyne, but thats just this true New Yorker's opinion.
To the poster that said Tony's slices are tiny and Luigi's are huge. Luigi's tried to copy Tony's and tony are still bigger and better. Luigi used to work for Mario's in Greensboro which are the same owners of Tony's Ballantyne, Huntersville, Mooresville, Hickory, Harris Blvd, Raliegh, Jacksonville, and soon to open Gallaria shoppes.In fact the are somewhat related. Luigi quit and opened up with his cuzin Anthony and tried to copy as much as they could from Marios/Tony's but they are too cheap to use good product so they will never be as good as Tony's or Mario's. Just a little tid bit that I learned from my research of good pizza in Charlote.
To fan of Carmella's that stated Luigis needs to add olive oil to the dough. Thats the last thing you want to do. pizza shops who use cheap flour need to add oil. not saying that luigis is any good but oil is only added to get the dough to stretch. If you use top quality flour you dont have to add oil unless you doont know how to mix the proper amount of yeast and water.
MIO POSTO in Tower Place shopping center (next to Bally's) on Pineville-Matthews Rd. has by far the best NY style pizza in town...
Upstate Pizza!!! If you know something about pizza, you gotta check it out. 540-8868
Carmellas pizza is made by people who know how to make taco..Real pizza is cooked on stone and not on the belt like pizza hut and crap like that
I agree about Upstate Pizza. Perfect dough,melow yet rich sauce, and expensive cheese makes their pie perfect. We tried all of the shops in the area...They Are #1.
Marco from NY.
I've tried all the pizza in south charlotte and haven't found one to call my sunday pizza place till now! Farley's pizzeria recently opened in Ballantyne (not an italian name, but who cares) and their pizza was dy-no-mite.
In Order:
Du Amici in University
brooklyn Boys
carmella
Tony's
Luigi's
Anzi's is pathetic
i can't beleive Farley's hasn't been mentioned. i've lived in Ballantyne for 2 years and used to eat Tony's exclusively till Farley's Pizzeria opened around the corner on Lancaster. Their pizza is hands down the best around. And for those midwesterners, they also do a thin crust.
Anyone who thinks Anzi's of Stonecrest is good pizza, is out of their mind. I would say it was a 5 out of 10 at best. I am from Long Island New York and there are only a couple of places here in charlotte for good pizza. Mio Posto was the best pizza hands down, but people down here are too cheap to spend 15 bux on a pie, so unfortunately they went out of business. Palones was good until they got busy and now they have skimped on their product, hopefully Frank will get his head on his shoulders and straighten that place out. One other place that is fairly good is Upstate pizza, not bad for the name, they have good calzones also. Here are the bad ones I have had. Tony's in Ballantyne....awful, Carmelas on 51, uses cheap cheese. Anzi's of Stonecrest, is terrible. The sauce is disgusting and they don't use Grande cheese. Luigis gives you a big slice with almost no flavor. Good luck trying to find good pizza, I have been here for 4 years and other than Mio Posto's pie, you are reaching.
35 years in the Charlotte area has taught me two things.
How to say "ya'll" and nobody makes pizza like Jersey Italians.
Not the Pizza Huts.
Not the Papa john.
Certainly not the Dominos.
Not the Greeks. (not bad though)
Carmellas is not what i remember.
As a matter of fact, I threw away half a pie, and never went back. Bad night for the sauce and too many mutts hanging around for my kids. If I want to see drunk women at the bar i go downtown.
i do like Hawthorne, but the service needs help.
I prefer, for now, Upstate Pizza.
Special attention to the crust, and the cheese is perfect.
Not too much sauce and the slices are just right.
Good stuff.
The meatball sub needs a little help, but my wife is real picky.
I like the cheese pie with a little garlic powder.
The lunch menu can't be beat.
I been gone along time, but I know what I like.
It would be nice to get a beer there, but that might spoil the place.
Have you checked out Cheese Mo'z Coal Fired Pizza? It is Dan Morgan's new restaurant in South Charlotte.
Luigi's is the best.
If you are in Charleston, Must go for Sabatino's Pizza
FIRESTORM PIZZA! They just opened up new northlake mall and it is soooo good y'all! It's not like your usual grungy pizza place, the food is fresh, you walk down a line and pick out all of your toppings and they had A SELF SERVE BEER WALL 😱 It was so cool.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home