GDNY 'Best of the Boroughs': NYC pizza

New York City does not have a shortage of great pizza. With thousands of pizzerias spread across five boroughs, every neighborhood has its loyalists, its regulars, and its debates about who makes the best slice. FOX5 New York's Good Day New York set out to settle some of those debates with their Best of the Boroughs pizza competition — and East Village Pizza came out on top.

Being recognized in a citywide pizza competition in New York is no small achievement. This is a city where pizza is practically a religion, where residents will argue passionately about crust thickness, sauce ratios, and cheese quality. The competition is not just with other great restaurants — it is with the collective memory of every New Yorker who has ever had a transcendent slice somewhere in the five boroughs. To win in that context requires something genuinely exceptional.

East Village Pizza has been serving Manhattan since 1997, first under previous ownership and then, from 2003 onward, under the direction of Frank Kabatas, a Turkish immigrant who arrived in New York with no culinary experience and built one of the city's most beloved pizza destinations from the ground up. The restaurant sits at 145 1st Ave in the East Village, a neighborhood that has always been central to New York's food culture.

What sets East Village Pizza apart in a city full of great options is a combination of technique and originality. The dough undergoes a 72-hour cold fermentation process, developing a depth of flavor and a texture that most pizzerias cannot replicate with faster methods. The mozzarella is made fresh in-house every day, which means every slice and every pie starts with ingredients at their peak. These are not marketing claims — they are the foundation of a product that has earned the loyalty of East Village locals, drawn visitors from other boroughs, and attracted the attention of national media outlets.

The restaurant's signature offerings also set it apart from the competition. The double-stacked pizza — two full New York-style pies baked together with extra cheese and toppings between the layers — is exclusive to East Village Pizza and has become one of the most talked-about pizza items in the city. The heart-shaped pizza, available year-round in multiple varieties, has earned its own devoted following, particularly around Valentine's Day but also for birthdays, anniversaries, and any occasion worth celebrating with something a little different.

FOX5 New York's Best of the Boroughs recognition placed East Village Pizza in the company of the city's best, a distinction that reflects years of consistent quality and the kind of word-of-mouth reputation that no advertising budget can manufacture. Regulars who have been coming in since the early 2000s sit alongside first-timers who found the restaurant through social media, press coverage, or a recommendation from a friend — and all of them leave with the same conclusion.

For anyone who has wondered what the best pizza in New York tastes like, East Village Pizza at 145 1st Ave offers a straightforward answer. Open daily from 11AM until 3AM, and until 5AM on Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant serves the East Village, Lower East Side, Union Square, and the surrounding downtown Manhattan neighborhoods. Delivery and pickup are both available, and the full menu — from individual slices to whole 18-inch pies, Sicilian square pizza, gluten-free options, calzones, and specialty items — can be ordered online or by calling (212) 529-4545.