Sal & Carmine Pizza

While restaurants in the Upper West Side are some of the best in the city, it's tough to find a reliable slice joint. There is only one: Sal and Carmine. Salty, crusty, and stiff on the outside but soft and warm on the inside is the best way to describe both the pizza and the pizzaioli that craft it. The gruff demeanor of the staff and no frills dining area with its strict 20 minute seating time limit - which I found out ‘the hard way’ they do enforce - only add to its "charm." Still, all of the primary components (sauce, cheese, dough) are top-of-the-line - so, the odd shape, erratic topping distribution, and psychological trauma are all forgivable offenses because the pizza is just that good.