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When it comes to asking a New Yorker what the best pizza in New York City is, it isn’t so much a question as it is a challenge. Put 10 of us in a room and tell us we can’t leave until we unilaterally decide on the best slice in the city: we might have to hunker down for days if not months.
But when I think about the best pie in the city, I always go back to the basics. Cut the mac-and-cheese-topped-that and the meat-lovers-this, and riddle me this: how good is your slice of cheese? Does the crust have that crispy texture but can still sand up to a fold? Is there flavor to the sauce? The cheese... does it melt and pull or is it all rubber? If the base of the house is good then, yes, by all means, build.
Which is why when I was asked what the best pizza in New York City is, my mind immediately went to the best slice over everything (this is New York, after all). And for me, this slice of cheese rose above the rest.
Time Out just announced its list of the best pizzas in the world. For New York, Scarr’s Pizza topped the list. Nabbing the number two spot on the global list, this Lower East Side pizzeria reached the top ranking because it gives justice to the original.
“Every day, owner Scarr Pimentel is found in the basement of his Lower East Side pizzeria, milling grain for his base dough,” reads the article. “The result is an airy, slightly tangy crust that can hold up to toppings yet is pliable enough to be folded for a slice on the go.”
And, yes, if you want a slice with toppings, Scarr’s has a tight list of options. The Hotboi is one of the best of em'—a spicy number with curled rounds of beef pepperoni and jalapeños. And here, the drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey actually adds to the slice as opposed to being an after thought.
One more thing: although you can eat inside, for me, Scarr’s is best experienced hovering outside over an open pizza box before, during or after a night out, and sharing a solidarity slice with friends.
The best pizzas in the world:
1. Pizzeria da Attilio in Naples, Italy
2. Scarr's Pizza in New York City, U.S.A.
3. Pizza Marumo in Tokyo, Japan
4. 180g Pizzeria Romana in Rome, Italy
5. Bella Brutta in Sydney, Australia
6. Diamond Slice in Copenhagen, Denmark
7. Dough Hands in London, U.K.
8. Novo in Cape Town, South Africa
9. Oobatz in Paris, France
10. Baldoria in Madrid, Spain
11. Milly Pizza in the Pan in Chicago, U.S.A.
12. Officina Local in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
13. Civerinos in Edinburgh, U.K.
14. Eleventh Street Pizza in Miami, U.S.A.
15. Lupita in Lisbon, Portugal
16. Fiata by Salvatore Fiata in Hong Kong
17. Güerrin in Buenos Aires, Argentina
18. nNea in Amsterdam, Netherlands
19. Mercado 20 de Noviembre in Oaxaca, Mexico