New York Pizza Place
701 Fifth Ave, 587-0381
Mon-Fri 10 am-3 pm.

It's fair to say I'm hardly a pizza slut. A friend introduced me to the concept--that is, one who is undiscerning in their pizza. Me, I'm particular; I like my Chicago-style with gooey cheese filling, and after a recent visit to the not so windy but definitely muggy city, I like it topped with thick slices of jalapeños. In Naples, I like the oblong pizza with a thin layer of sauce, swatches of odd-shaped mozzarella, and the distinct taste of fresh-pressed olive oil. And when I want New York-style pizza, I'm looking for a crisp crust, an even distribution of sauce, and a smattering of cheese baked until golden. Then, as I fold it in half, I like the pizza to, almost unbelievably, stay intact--my slice should bend--as I take my very first and undeniably perfect bite.

A New York Pizza Place is a neighborhood pizza joint where one can cozy up to the counter, order a slice of cheese pizza ($2.50), a garden salad ($3.50), and a draft beer ($3.25) and sit back to watch the pizza boys gracefully toss their pies overhead. In a town riddled with pizza establishments, this place is pretty special--particularly because you can buy the dough alone ($4.00) should you have a whim to make your own pizza at home. This is a spot littered in checkered oilcloth with all televisions perpetually tuned to ESPN. And the counter's an excellent place to sit absorbing everything that speaks of the seven boroughs (former owners were from Brooklyn, and the new owners carry on the tradition). It's also the right place to be, once you've finished your first slice, since all you have to do is nod casually to the server and say, "I think I'll take another."