10 Best Spots for Pizza You Must Try in Brooklyn

Along with this came the thriving business, start-up firms, and all things postmodern. Restaurants and eateries saw a boom in business, and some of the best pizzerias in the city cropped up in Brooklyn due to the demand from the young and bohemian crowd. Take a look at our list of some of the best restaurants in Brooklyn and dig into a slice of doughy heaven.

Roberta’s Pizza is outstanding in terms of the hilariously named pies they serve. But that is not all, the pizzas here are loaded with deadly toppings like sausages, pork, smoked mozzarella, pepperoni, speck, and prosciutto. The contemporary dining area doesn’t seem like much but makes up for its look with an uber-cool garden area that makes for a beautiful view. The garden and atrium can be booked for large groups of 10-25 people. The Beastmaster pizza with mozzarella, tomato, gorgonzola, pork sausage, caper, onion, and jalapeno, is a favourite among patrons. The Cowabunga Dude pizza is another hot seller and has parmigiana, pepperoni, mushrooms, and caciocavallo as toppings. The original Margherita with spicy olive oil is hands down, the best pizza ever among Brooklyn pizzas. One other suggestion is to try the Bee-Sting. This pizza is an off-menu selection but is always available due to its popularity. It has a quirky combination of honey with spicy soppressata (dry Italian salami) as toppings. Not only do they serve some of the tastiest Brooklyn pizzas, but they also excel at making the freshest sandwiches, salads, and pasta. Their mains, such as the pork ribs, squash with fried eggs, and duck hash are also epicurean delights. Their wait time can be quite long, so enjoy a pilsner on tap if you don’t mind the wait. The restaurant is open from 11am to midnight Monday through Friday and from 10am to midnight on Saturday and Sunday.

Opened in 1965 by Domenico ‘Dom’ De Marco, Di Fara is considered as one of the best restaurants in Brooklyn for crusty and scrumptious pizza. This Brooklyn Restaurant has chef Dom handcrafting each pizza base himself. He has over 53 years of pizza, making skills behind him, and hasn’t let age affect his culinary skills. Dom is assisted by several of his children in his kitchen, but the ‘Grand Master’ hasn’t stopped cooking even at the age of 82. These Brooklyn pizzas are made with the finest quality ingredients, which are often imported from Italy. The square pies are touted to be the tastiest slices of pizza that are second to none. The original square is ever recommended, but the square with soppressata is also a favourite. Even the circle pies are only a step behind the square pies. Waiting time can, on some days stretch to about 2 hours, but it is believed that if you do not have the patience to wait for Dom’s slice of ‘heaven,’ then you do not deserve good food. Sometimes patrons get to watch the master at work, crafting his square pies, and that itself is a treat above all, but you could reward yourself for your patience with a frothy glass of any BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) too. Chef Anthony Bourdain has labelled this place ‘the best of the best’ and it has won awards from Zagats, while being labelled as ‘Best pizza in New York’ by many other publications. The pizzeria is open from 12 noon to 8pm and is closed when Dom is not available as he is solely responsible for making over 150 pies a day.

Emily is truly the result of labour of love for couple Matt and Emily. They reminisce with great affection their journey discovering a love for pizza and for each other while Matt worked at several places before learning the craft of baking a pizza. These Brooklyn pizzas are systematically divided into the reds, pinks and greens based on what sauce is used with the pizza base. The Emily pizza with pistachio, honey, and truffle is much talked about and is one of the finest Brooklyn pizzas. Gourmet pizzas here are served at reasonable prices with splendidly warm service. If you get to sit at the bar you could discuss your wines and beers with the staff who politely offer you a tasting when you are unsure of what to get. While their pizzas are well talked of, the Emmy burger has outstanding reviews too. Lip-smacking fresh ingredients go into crafting every pizza and the use of toppings like Havarti, garlic achar, koginut squash, seasonal green, goat cheese, and pecorino, make each pizza different, delectable and unforgettable. Emily has a website that thanks and lists all their small-business vendor partners in a warm and friendly gesture. Contact the restaurant on (347) 844-9588.

Restaurant timing:

Monday to Thursday-5.30pm to 11pm

Friday and Saturday- 5.30pm to 11.30pm

Sunday- Noon to 3pm and 5pm to 11pm

The Emily team has opened Emmy Squared for all those crazy pizza lovers who want nothing but good doughy Brooklyn Pizzas as treats. It is unlike your other Sicilian pizzas and is full-on Detroit-style pizza with a thick, square base that has heaps of cheese and sauce topped off on top of the cheese. These guys took your favourite pizza from every memorable childhood party of yours and turned it into warm and fuzzy cheese-filled love. Get a load of the Marn Blanc which is a rich white pie and is best savoured in big groups. Also, do not miss the Emmy, which takes Ranch dressing to the next level with a Ranch-based pie topped with onions and peppers. While at Emily you get the Emmy Burger, the Emmy Squared burger is named Le Big Matt. The play on words using the owner's names is a fun addition to the menu cards if you know a bit about the duo, Emily and Matt. The ambience in the restaurant is not all class, but the menu seriously makes up for everything else, and this is definitely one of the most awesome Brooklyn pizzas. You wouldn’t miss the cushioning or the back on your chair while your face is buried in a thick slice of joy. Call on (718) 360-4535 to speak to the restaurant staff.

Restaurant timing:

Monday to Thursday- 12 noon to 4 pm and 6pm to 11pm

Friday and Saturday- 12 noon to 4pm and 6pm to 11.30pm

Sunday- 12 noon to 4pm and 5pm to 11pm

This pizzeria has been the jewel of Coney Island since its inception in 1924. Anthony Pero, the chef, learnt his art from the finest at Lombardi’s and has since gifted Brooklyn with the deliciousness of Pizza Napolitanaa in old-style coal-fired brick ovens. The blackened thin-crust crackles in the oven as it is loaded with mildly sweet tomato sauce and heaps of mozzarella that bubble and ooze over as they bake inside the traditional kiln. Totonno’s serve the best of Brooklyn pizzas using the finest ingredients have been doing so for around 93 years. Their website recounts how Totonno (Anthony Pero) migrated from Naples to America and began working for Lombardi’s before opening his own place in 1924. After his passing, the business was run by family members and is today helmed by his grandchildren. A detailed history reveals how the pizzeria has seen its fair share of tragedies including two fires and the Hurricane Sandy. The family run business makes sure that their pizzas use the finest Italian imported ingredients and the freshest dough that is made every day. They believe that passion towards the business is their real secret weapon. The restaurant could possibly be one of the oldest continually run family operation in the whole world. The pizzeria has won the James Beard foundation Award for 2009. They have also been awarded by the New York Times and Zagat and are surely one of the best restaurants in Brooklyn.

This Grimaldi’s restaurant is the original and historic Grimaldi location in Brooklyn, under the Brooklyn bridge. The pizzeria is a massive place with three floors of dining space, which can accommodate over 100 guests at a given time. The classic Grimaldi’s features such as red and white gingham table cloths, signature handcrafted wine-bottle chandeliers, and gorgeous photos in black and white completely adorn the interiors and simply take your breath away. Guests are invited to watch via the open kitchen idea as the chefs toss the hand-made base. The coal-fired ovens deliver a lovely smoked flavour to the thin-crust pizzas that are touted to be the best Brooklyn Pizzas. The pizzas have exquisite hand-made mozzarella toppings and unique ‘secret recipe’ sauces. The restaurant accepts only cash and is open from 11.30am to 11pm on all days. As the restaurant does not take reservations, it is a good idea to get there early and avoid long waiting lines. The restaurant has been awarded and listed by many publications among the 10 best restaurants in Brooklyn.

Juliana’s pizza is New York pizza history on a plate. How you ask. Patsy Grimaldi of the famed Grimaldi’s pizza (one of the most famed Brooklyn pizzas) sold his business and retired about a decade ago only to come back from retirement and open Juliana’s along with his wife Carol and his friend Matthew Grogan. Grimaldi brought to Juliana’s what New Yorker had missed for a while, the delicately hand-crafted, thin-crust pizzas that are made in an original coal-fired oven. The restaurant takes its name from Patsy’s mother, Juliana. The stunning number of pizza toppings can make your head spin while placing an order, but the taste will linger in your mouth as all ingredients are diligently sourced locally or imported from Italy. If you would like to skip the eternally long lines, you can call in and place an order for a pick-up. Coming in early will help avoid long lies too. The original Margherita wins, hands down, but the special from No1 through 4 come highly recommended too. The pizza with meatball topping seems to be a winner, as well. Old man Grimaldi walks around when free to ask patrons how they enjoyed his pie. Many New Yorkers come here just for that and are grateful to Patsy Grimaldi for coming out of retirement to give them one of the best restaurants in Brooklyn with the most stellar Brooklyn pizzas. Located on Old Fulton street, the restaurant is operational between 11.30am and 10pm on all days.

Lucali’s reputation precedes it by a long margin, and not always in the best way. This restaurant on Henry’s street is known for the longest waiting time combined with staff that have a mouth on them. But most new Yorkers swear that they would still go back to Lucali’s despite all of this because the pizza is just that good. Easily one of the most excellent Brooklyn restaurants with the finest Brooklyn pizzas, Lucali is in the pizza business since 2006 for two things, awesome pizza, and awesome calzones. With just 10 tables and about 4 business hours, the restaurant doesn’t take reservations, and you have to be there before 5pm to put your name down on the list. You will be called when a table gets free, and sometimes that could take about 3 hours or more. Most guests simply bring their bottles of wine or beer and enjoy their drinks while waiting to be seated. The restaurant is located at 575, Henry Street. It is operational on all days except Tuesdays between 5.45pm and 11pm.

Sicilian pizza at its best, L&B Spumoni Gardens, is one of the Brooklyn restaurants that serves you gastronomic delights by the slice or by the tray. Whichever you choose, you will find that you cannot finish your meal without that cheese all over your face. Located in the Bensonhurst locality of Brooklyn, this pizzeria was initially conceived as an ice cream and spumoni (moulded gelato) stand before World War II. The outlet grew into a pizzeria around 1950s and serves the most iconic Sicilian pizzas, which essentially is a focaccia with toppings loaded on to it. Named L&B after founder Ludovico Barbati who migrated from Torella Dei Lombardi in Italy, the restaurant location came to be known as Spumoni Gardens because of the pizza stand, spumoni, and ice, and a luncheonette all placed in one site. The square pie seems to be popular dish at L&B, as are the coloured and flavoured spumoni. It is out of the way for most people, being a few stops and a subway transfer away from most common locations, but is guaranteed to make you want to return for more. The pizzeria is open from 11am to 12 midnight. Call on 1 718-449-1230 to enquire about one of the best Brooklyn pizzas places.

Located at Atlantic Avenue, Sottocasa is a family-friendly Brooklyn restaurant which homey and not crowed even during weekends. The flavourful Neapolitan pizzas are made using century-old techniques. The ingredients for the pizza are sourced sustainably and most ingredients are sourced in the US so that they travel less. Only the choicest of tomatoes and flour come from Italy, and these delectable Brooklyn pizzas are baked in a wood-fire oven that was custom made and flown in from Naples. The dough sits in different stages for a minimum of 48 hours to give it a digestible, light, and flavourful taste. All ingredients are broken and grated by hand to ensure the best in texture from cheese to sauce. The owner, Luca, is an Italian actor who at one time worked as a waiter and restaurant manager and even opened his own catering company. Through all of these ventures, he learned how to make Neapolitan pizza available master in town. The Rughetta antipasti with arugula, artichokes, and shaved Parmigiano is very delightful, as is the Barbabietole, which has roasted beets, whipped goats cheese, apples, and dressing. Classic Margherita, Quattro Stagioni, Aglio/ Olio,Taleggio, and Salsiccia, are all popular pizza options with additional toppings on offer. The restaurant serves wine and beer unlike most of the other pizzerias, which are BYOB.

Restaurant timings:

Monday to Thursday-5pm to 10.30pm

Friday- 5pm to 11.30pm

Saturday- 12pm to 11.30pm

Sunday- 12pm to 10.30pm

Although there may be several other pizzerias in Brooklyn that have earned a name over the years, the iconic restaurants mentioned above are worth the wait time and the long queues. So, if you haven’t sunk your teeth into any of the pizza places mentioned in our list, get going and get in line for some sinful and heavenly pizza pies.