Another opening for you. Grub Street reports that Zimari Pizza is open (as of last week) and serving $1 slices, $8 pies. Cheese only for now. Zimari Pizza: 31st Street b/n Park and Lexington avenues
In celebration of its 50th anniversary Rizzo's has been doing 50 days of various 50¢ deals. The celebration comes to an end tomorrow with the best of the bunch—50¢ square slices.
The special applies to two slices per customer, in-store only.
30-13 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11103 (Queens, b/n 30th/31st avenues; map)
718-721-9862
rizzosfinepizza.com
From left: St. Marks 2 Bros. Pizza, 542 Ninth Ave, New York NY 10018 (at West 40th Street; map). 99¢ Fresh Pizza, 569 Ninth Avenue, New York NY 10036 (at 41st Street; map). Click all photos for larger versions. These and all subsequent photos feature 2 Bros. on left and 99¢ on right.
Fig. 1: A side-by-side comparison of St. Marks 2 Bros. Pizza and 99¢ Fresh Pizza slices.
Yesterday afternoon, Zach Brooks of Midtown Lunch issued a challenge via blog and tweet. He claims he doesn't know much about pizza and wanted my opinion on the hot new pizza rivalry occurring within the realm of his blog's coverage.
But first, some history: Just west of the Port Authority Bus Terminal on the northwest corner of 41st Street and Ninth Avenue is 99¢ Fresh Pizza. This bargain pizzeria has been king of the cheap slices for about three years—eventually opening up a branch on 43rd Street and Third Avenue, which in turn inspired other pizzeria-delis in the area to drop slice prices to a dollar. While 99¢ Fresh Pizza has only two locations, it has claimed the majority of dollar-slice mindshare in this town, thanks to its first-mover status and the fact that its cheapassity is built into its name.
But last summer, upstart buckslice joint St. Marks 2 Bros. Pizza opened in the East Village and by mid September had already branched out to Chelsea. And yesterday, 2 Bros. pretty much brought the noise straight to the castle walls, opening a location on the southeast corner of 40th Street and Ninth Avenue.
Whose cheap-ass dollar slice would reign supreme? I took up Zach's challenge late yesterday afternoon in order to find out. The results, after the jump.
From tipster Mark R.: "Had a slice there yesterday, place seems to be having a special. Slices are $1.50 instead of $2.50, and Sicilian slices are $2 instead of $3. The special will last for a couple of weeks. Regular slice much better than Sicilian. The latter is too bready, while the former has a fine, crisp slightly burned crust, tangy and sweet tomato sauce, and good size blobs of melted mozzarella on them." Little Luzzo's: 119 East 96th Street, New York NY 10029 (b/n Park and Lex; map)
I'd buy that for a dollar.
Walking down the street, if you see a sign advertising pizza for one measly dollar, I don't care who you are, you stop in and get a slice. It's a moral duty to be this thrifty, to take advantage of a deal like that. Keep your expectations low, and you might be surprised.
Looks like pizza.
I guess the 2 Bros. people have figured out how to eke a profit using the strategy of premade components, finding a high-traffic area, and doing some serious volume.
A new branch of 2 Bros. Pizza (at 32 St. Marks Place) has opened on 6th Avenue (bet 17th and 18th), this time calling itself St. Marks 2 Bros. Pizza Plus. The new location offers the same deals, but under the rubric of a "grand opening special." A slice for $1, or two slices and a can of soda for $2.75.
The price is right, but how does it taste? The verdict, after the jump.
Check out the line at 99¢ Fresh Pizza. Zach Brooks of Midtown Lunch (and Serious Eats New York editor) captured this scene last Wednesday. That line's on par with Di Fara, though I doubt the place is as good.
151 East 43rd Street, New York NY 10017 (b/n Third and Lexington avenues; map); 212-922-0257
Just a reminder that tomorrow is the big 60¢ pizza price rollback at Patsy's in East Harlem. To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the coal-oven legend is going nuts. You can grab an entire pizza for 60¢ tomorrow (Tuesday, August 19) from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 2287 First Avenue, New York NY 10035 (b/n 117th and 118th streets; map)
The blog Blondie and Brownie reports on 2 Bros. Pizza, which offers dollar slices on St. Marks Place: "The pizza wasn't the greatest, but it was a dollar. I'd rate it as not quite as good as 99 Cent Fresh Pizza, but better than Prince Deli 99 cent pizza. If you're a starving NYU student or a hungry person wandering around the village I give it two thumbs up." [via Serious Eats New York]
32 St. Marks Place, New York NY 10003 (Second/Third; map)
212-777-0600
2brospizza.com
FRANKLY, MY DEAR, IT'S NOT VERY GOOD
Let's call this the Slice home game—rather, the home-wrecking game. Surely the ramifications are nothing quite that serious, but the topic that sparked the spat certainly is.
A wistful wife swears by her standby pizza place. Her dubious husband wants no part of it. Who you gonna call? That was how Our Leader and I stumbled upon Frank's Pizza, a Gramercy Park mainstay that I left wishing would not stay.
Frank's is the kind of place I really did want to like. Its postage-stamp-size environs are inviting to sidewalk strollers. The vinyl-covered diner stools are as comfortable as the well-worn Formica countertops that line both sides of its lone room. The two-person staff was ready for our orders the minute we walked past the narrow dining area to the glass-enclosed serving station. In a word, this place is homey.
Unfortunately, the accolades end there, for Frank's is little more than the ubiquitous New York City "slice joint," the fast-food version of the pizza parlor. Two full pies were waiting to be divvied for the on-the-go lunch crowd one day last week. A reheat would have been bad enough, but these went straight to the paper plate. And not long after it went into my mouth, I was ready to go out the door. The crust was thicker than necessary, but still was not a burden on the bite. The cheese was flat, and lacked a defining flavor (needless to say, I'm skeptical of the menu's "fresh mozzarella" claims). On the other hand, its bright-red sauce, while far from perfection, was certainly passable for this level.
Therein lies the reason Frank's prevails: It isn't about striving for top quality among all pizza, but merely within its category. It's a pragmatic pie, one that serves for $11.50; at $1.50 a slice, it's better priced, and assembled, than most of the Famous Ray's variety.
If you need something to soak up the half-dozen pints you just swilled at Old Town Bar or Pete's Tavern, you could certainly do worse. But if great pizza is what you seek, there's no need to see for yourself—especially around these parts. Spend the extra money, and be grateful this neighborhood has two worthy places. La Pizza Fresca (31 East 20th Street, 212-598-0141) may appear somewhat gilded, but genteel pies like this are designed for serious consumers. Even better is newcomer Pinch: Pizza by the Inch (416 Park Avenue South, 212-686-5222). Gimmickry aside, it is one of the better places on the island. Each is considerably more refined, but, sadly, that has become the standard. Stellar slice joints catering to the local and lunchtime crowds are dwindling fast. Good pizza, with a little discernment, thankfully is not.
Frank's Pizza
Address: 127 East 23rd Street, New York NY 10010
Phone: 212-979-5469
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