Two Boots Is New York's Best Pizza Slice, Okay?
Can we put the whole 'best slice' argument to bed now?
Many New Yorkers and out-of-towners alike get themselves ensnared in the endless debate: What is the best slice in New York City? People argue on and on and on about crushing San Marzano tomatoes, blistering oven temperatures and 00 flour. But we’re here to tell you something. Are you sitting down? NYC’s best pizza slice is not necessarily Italian. Two Boots (named after the shape of both Italy and Louisiana) began in 1987 on then-gritty Avenue A in the East Village, opened by the hip couple behind another downtown pioneer, Great Jones Café.
From the start the pie was different, made with a startling (at first) cornmeal crust that crunches and flakes like a burned piece of toast. To this day that crust has been the anchor of a pie that is now served in eight NYC locations, as well as Los Angeles and Baltimore. The names of the pies tip to a creator as interested in high (and pop) culture, as much as garnishing his pie with clever toppings like crawfish andouille, jalapeño pesto and Buffalo chicken — that last has been copied over and over at slice slingers around the city. Two Boots was the originator of that.
The Newman is a white pie topped with sopressata and sweet Italian sausage, while the vegetarian-friendly Tony Clifton (if you’re under 30, you might need to Google the reference) is beautiful — but not great for the first date — with shitake, sweet red pepper pesto and a large amount of sweet Vidalia onions.
But there are two slices that brings us back every time — whether it’s for a quick snack at Grand Central or looking for something (anything) decent to eat near 8th Avenue in Park Slope. The Dude is a Cajun cheeseburger slice with tasso, ground beef and andouille blended in with Cheddar cheese. It’s crazy good even if you aren’t baked. And we order The Bird every single time. Spicy Buffalo chicken receives a light dollop of jalapeño pesto and blue cheese dressing. It’s a marriage that would make any Neapolitan grandmother shudder. It’s also NYC’s best pizza slice.
Various locations around NYC and beyond twoboots.com
