Ricardo's, Bed-Stuy

Address: 528 Nostrand Avenue (at Fulton)
Purchase: One large regular
Price: $11
Pizza Rating:


Perhaps better known as Pops, Ricardo's Pizza is pretty much awesome. It's cheap, it's fresh, it's right off the A train. Just look at how big our pizza is! It hardly fits in the box. So, the sauce was a little thin, and the cheese wasn't exactly buffalo mozzarella... you overlook it, cause it's Pops, and it's pretty much awesome. You don't have to take my word for it either--Pops got a pretty awesome shout in the 2007 Brooklyn Not for Tourists guide: "Best pizza in the Stuy, period. Pops is no joke with a pie."


The window at Pops--never empty.


That's one large, large pizza!
(The cheese slid around on the walk home.)


Bruno: "I gotta have my Pops!"

Tony's Pizza Spot, Clinton Hill

Address: 431 Dekalb Avenue at Classon
Purchase: 3 regular slices
Price: $1.90 each ($12 for a whole pie)
Pizza Rating:


Tony's pizza is of a different caliber than the usual neighborhood pizza-by-the-slice joint. Rather than a scalded, greasy layer of cheese over sweet, tasteless red sauce and a soggy, thin crust (e.g. Mariella's), our slices from the Pizza Spot (fresh from the oven) had a springy, doughy crust, (still thin, but thicker than usual), yummy sauce and some good cheese. When I finished, my hunger was satisfied and I didn't feel like it was at my arteries' expense. I am curious to find out how long Tony's has been around. Though right next to Pratt, his clientele seemed pretty local. Thanks to Brooklyn Stableboy (Bruno's new dog-walker!) for the recommendation!


AJ and Bruno head over to Tony's.


The view inside Tony's. (Note: It may look like he's at the pizza oven, but he's actually watching America's Funniest Home Videos on a small TV).


A classy Saturday night dinner: pizza, paper towels, and a 16 oz. Budweiser.

Bar Toto, Park Slope

Address: 411 11th Street (at 6th Avenue), Park Slope, Brooklyn
Purchase: 4 individual pizzas, and one terrible bowl of Butternut Squash soup, plus drinks
Cost: $9 to $12 a pizza
Payment: Cards accepted.
Pizza Rating:


Rating Bar Toto was tough because our visit there was so nice--good company, good conversation, great atmosphere, convenient location. Problem was, the pizza was... not so good. Despite the fun time, the definitive "no" to our standard "would-we-go-back?" screening left Bar Toto with a three-pizza rating. The Kentucky Derby brought us to Park Slope on Saturday to Carolyn's (a KY native) and Schot's apartment for Mint Juleps with their friend Jennah. After plenty of bourbon and chips and dip, we were ready for some real food, in walking distance. Bar Toto had great ambiance, and friendly service. However, the Quattro Formaggi pies that AJ and I both ordered (in spite of the menu only listing three cheeses, as Schot was so observant as to notice) started off with a warm and intriguing bacon-like flavor, but faded into a sharp burnt-cheese taste. Jennah pretty much nailed it when she described the crust, which was quite certainly of the "school cafeteria" variety.


Carolyn enjoys her first bite.


The "Quattro" Formaggi


Jennah's addition of ricotta to the traditional Margherita was a good call.


I actually like Carolyn's pizza the best--its caramelized onions and olives combination gave it a delicious sweet and salty mix.


All that crust left on AJ's plate? Not a good sign.

Pizzeria de Santo

*UPDATE! Pizzeria de Santo has since closed.*

Address: 173 Ludlow Street (between Houston & Stanton)
Purchase: One Margherita Slice
Cost: $3.00
Pizza Rating:


Even though the slice we had last night at this new Lower East Side blessed pizzeria was pretty much as close to cardboard as a piece of pizza can get, we were totally into it. In truth, Pizzeria de Santo's appeal was probably based on the late hour of our visit, relief from the sub-freezing temperature outside, and the fact that they (usually) have Peroni on draught. Nevertheless, We'll definitely be back. Brick oven, clean seating area, open late, holy pies--what more could you ask for?







(Late night pizza = crappy camera phone pics!)

Dr. Ho's Humble Pie

Address: The Crossroads on 29 South, North Garden, VA
Purchase: 1 Fat 'n' Sassy, 1 Medium Classico Pie (Feta, Roasted Garlic, Tomatoes), Starr Hill Beers
Cost:$45, with tip. ($16.95 for a 16" Speciality Pizza)
Payment: Cash or Check Only
Pizza Rating:


This is the second of our "Slices of the City's Christmas in VA" reviews. Dr. Ho's is a fun excuse to get out of town to the country of Albemarle County and enjoy some delicious gourmet pie. The specialty pizzas have lots of creative ingredients, and some of the best, including the famous Fat 'n' Sassy appetizer, feature delicious roasted garlic cloves. Bring your breath mints! The pizza itself is tasty, but a little topping-heavy. My favorite parts of our visit were the boys' friendly, down-home attitude, the young customers' crayon-colored paper plates that cover the walls, and the cheap local beers. It's definitely worth the trip.


AJ and Launa






The Classico and the Fat 'n' Sassy




Launa and Allie!

Famous Ray's of Greenwich Village

Address: 465 6th Ave (Corner of 11th St)
Purchase: Two plain, One Water
Cost: $5.60
Payment: Cash Only
Pizza Rating:


A friend of ours, Christi, told us that this was THE original Famous Ray's Pizza. The other original Famous Ray's Pizzas (NOT affiliated) have a lot to live up to, because the pizza here is quality. They were efficient, serving us plain slices straight out of the oven with no reheating wait. There was lots of cheese (maybe too much?) and the crust was tasty and bready, (a little thick?)--both of which made folding this slice in half to eat in the true New Yorker style a little difficult. All in all, the pizza here was tasty and fresh, and it's a convenient walk west of NYU on busy Greenwich 6th Avenue. At $2.25 a slice,* however, we really want it to wow us.




Mmm, cheesy!

* 3/8/08 UPDATE: Slices at Ray's are now an utterly out of control $2.75!