Ok, let's talk about the elephant in the room. The infamous Dave Portnoy review. I'm a native NYer, I've been to hundreds of NY pizzerias in my 63 years. My two favorites are L&B Spumoni gardens (just the Sicilian or Upside Down slice, whatever you prefer to call it). I love John's Pizza in the village, really GREAT pizza. My favorite regular slice is at Rosario's in Astoria, amazing slice, with fresh slice mozzarella and a sweet sauce (slightly sweet). I only order the plain pizza at Lazzara's, that how I compare pizzerias. And I'd give it a pretty high score, maybe 8.7 (my own scale). I don't think it's a 9.3 slice, I think maybe Dave got caught up in the moment due to the quirky environmental. The flavor is very good, the sweet sauce and the good cheese. It's a tasty pizza. But I get a vintage vibe to the pizza. My friends mom used to make a homemade pizza back in the 1970s, and the flavor reminds me of that. I loved it back then, but I obviously had better pizza at pizzerias. Now, something you won't get in most reviews of Lazzara's. The actual dishes, the pastas for instance, are REALLY good, THAT I would give a 9.3. I've eaten there twice, and I loved their pastas BOTH times. Had the Tortellini Michaelangelo in May 2026, SO delicious. Last time I had the Gnocchi Bolognese (not pictured). So this time I had half a pizza (ate 2 slices of the 3 slices) and the Tortellini Michaelangelo. Took home a slice and half the pasta. The Pastas are delicious. Can't say enough good things, that Tortellini Michaelangelo was so good. The chicken in the dish, which they basically cut into small slices, was so delicious, the pancetta and cream sauce were excellent. The service is so-so. They brought my tortellini and forgot the pizza. Then while eating, they never checked on me. I ordered a soft drink, and it was obvious I had finished it, and they never came over and asked if I needed more, they asked after I asked for boxes for my leftovers and ordered dessert. So don't expect stellar service. read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - Tortellini Michaelangelo - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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One bite, everyone knows the rules... and one bite is all I wanted. Did Dave Portnoy get paid to do this review and score them this high? Because no way was this a 9.3 in his review The crust was good, sauce was basically tomato soup. The saltiness of this pie definitely didn't want me leaving more. Shoulda just went back to Joe's. Trusted Dave and was disappointed. read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - 1/2 lazarra's soecial, 1/2 pepperoni - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

The space is extremely tight, and we initially thought it would be good since it's a hole-in-the-wall type place. Unfortunately, the pizza was very mediocre and the sauce was way too sweet. The ranch was clearly not house-made, and while the garlic knots were okay, they weren't anything special. Overall, the food was genuinely not good. We waited almost an hour for three medium pizzas, which felt unreasonable. On top of that, the service was lacking, the waiter didn't check on us at all, and when we finally called her over, the first thing she asked was, "Are you all finished?" That interaction came off as dismissive and unkind. I've seen in other reviews that the owner is kind and truly cares about the business, which makes this experience even more disappointing. I hate that this was what we experienced, because the food and the service from our waiter really missed the mark. Honestly, the only thing I'd recommend is their vanilla cream soda. read more

My company spends a ton of money at this restaurant every day and for holidays we cater parties and spend thousands. This year we had a horrible experience. I ordered the food on Dec 11 to be delivered Dec 17 at 12 since my party was at 1. I got pizza and pasta and a ton of other items. At 1 pm no food yet. At 115 they brought pizza finally after going over 4 times. At 1:40 the rest of the food came. At this point food was 2 hours late. I spent 1700 on 19 pizzas not including the rest of the catered items. While I understand it's the holiday season, if a buisness does not have the capacity to make the food, don't take the order. The holiday party was ruined and ppl left to get thier own lunch and then had so much food leftover. Believe it or not, they did the same thing in my building for another Xmas party yesterday. Food was an hour late again and we are right across the street. While the food is great, my experience was not and they didn't even offer a discount for all the hassle. read more

As a 9.3 from Dave Portnoy, my boyfriend and I were very excited to try this pizza. We got half of a pepperoni pizza to try between meals and I thought it was DELICIOUS! The quality of meat and way they cut it into strips for the pepperoni were top tier. The sauce is on the sweeter side which was the only thing that I didn't prefer, but it was still an incredibly delicious pizza! read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - Half Pepperoni - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

I am not a pizza fan BUT, this was great. We did a half seafood and half hot pepperoni. Service was great. Casual atmosphere. Really recommend if in Manhattan. read more

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A little birdie told us that this is Steven Colberts favorite spot ... One of our travel buds was determined to have a meal here and we decided to tag along. Vibe is super cool You enter at street level and walk up stairs to second level Small spot with the smell of pizza wafting out. Pizzas are deep dish I guess and square. We ordered 2 diff pizzas and shared. Both were super good! One was a lasagna pizza and the other was called the Alorna (sausage bell pepper mushroom) Recommendation was a hit read more

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Neat spot with great customer service. Friendly staff and we're always available if needed. The pizza was good and cooked to perfection. I like my pizza sauce with a little spice and this was just a little too sweet for me. The tortellini's were especially good and would crush them regularly if I could. We didn't have anything to drink but many around us did and ordered many, so the cocktails, wine and beer must've been good. Glad we went. read more

Best calamari best pizza and best fired zucchini and one thegreatest pina colada and I give 10/10 plus plus

A re-review is in order because I've now become an expert at all things Lazzara's. I've taken several friends and colleagues here and they've all gone crazy over the very unique and jaw droppingly delicious pizza. Now they have a special pizza that they're up selling and for a good reason, hot honey pepperoni pizza and the buffalo calamari. Both items to die for and very unique. The place is very old school Italian and even though it's in a tourist area, the place is so covert that you'll mainly find locals here. My friend from Rome said the pizza and penne ala vodka are to die for. The salads are huge! The portions are big. Great prices. Staff is awesome. read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - Chicken Parmigiana and Margarita Pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing pizza with smooth rythmes and tunes in the back round for a nice ambiance. Just has all around good vibes. Our waiter was so kind and understanding. He also talked and had conversations with us. read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - Hoy honey pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

It's giving hole in the wall in the best way - head upstairs for old school vibes and truly delicious pizzas. Our server was great and created a great dining environment - we could've sat there for hours enjoying the pizza, wine, and good company. Can't wait to go back and try more pies! read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - The Lazzara Special Margarita Pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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I'm surprised to see the low rating - I really liked this place! The sauce was like nothing I've had before - tangy and delicious. The thin crust is great - perfect sauce to crust ratio. We got a couple of pizzas - chicken Florentine and buffalo chicken and another with half vodka sauce and half jalapeños. All really good and the drinks were delicious too! We had told our sever that we just got married and he brought out some cannolis which was so nice read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

Pizza was pretty good. Unique size, very thin, crunchy crust. The sauce was a little too sweet and the prices a bit high for the size. It was easy to walk in on a Saturday night. Service was friendly and eager. read more

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This. Is. It. This is the pizza spot you don't want to miss! We came across this pizza place a few years ago for lunch. It was SO good. We took a picture of the place and recently scrolled through years of pictures to find this place again. Enjoyed delicious garlic knots, garden salad, and drum roll ...... pepperoni pizza with hot honey ! For dessert, had a Nutella and banana pizza. Everything was Delicious! read more

Adding another review because my last review was a year ago. It was closed Last time I tried to go (about 5 months ago ish)- not sure why, but glad I came back again. Small, eclectic, place with character, great staff and amazing food. Had the tomato and the margarita pizzas this time. So so good. Cooked perfectly. See you again soon! read more

Such an amazing experience. Our waiter guy was so helpful so nice. The food was also so good. The wait wasn't bad and we got seated right away. The music and decorations were awesome. read more

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Was in NYC for a business and my fiancé recommended I try this place because Dave Portnoy rated it well. From the outside, it looked a little sketchy -- but don't let that fool you. As soon as I stepped inside, the vibe completely changed. I waited maybe five minutes to be seated, and the staff was incredibly welcoming and friendly. I ordered a pepperoni pizza (delicious), the calamari (crispy and flavorful), and an Aperol Spritz (solid). Everything hit the spot. The space is pretty small, so if you're coming with a larger group, just be prepared to wait a bit. But it's worth it -- I'd definitely come back next time I'm in the city. read more

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Friendly staff, good service, decent food, a solid B. Will I come back, yes. Make sure to bring cash, extra charges for paying by card. read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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Hell yes!! One of the most unique pizzas. I've had the pleasure to eat. Very pricey, but I will be back. It's a bite that will stay with you for sometime. read more

Cool spot but not as good as it used to be. Definitely not a 9.3 on the Portnoy scale. read more

Wonderful service! They were quick and kind, and gave us a complimentary half pie! Pizza was an instant favorite, the portions are great for the price, no notes! read more

What a disappointment! What has happened to Lazzara's Pizza (221 W 38th St, NY)? For years, Lazzara's has been ( a MUST STOP place for my family and me whenever we visit New York. Now it is just HAS BEEN! We have recommended Lazzara's to anyone visiting NYC. I should have realized when we got right in without having to wait! This weekend we had probably the worst pizza and experience ever - the service and the pizza was horrible. The sauce tasted like it came out of a lunchables snack box. The toppings looked (and tasted like melted plastic)! We ordered the Lazarra Special (name only) - prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes, and olives. We asked for the tomatoes to be put on only half the pie and was charged an EXTRA $3! We didn't ask for additional toppings or more of a topping - we asked for half of a topping! The Garlic knots were horrible pizza was horrible! In my opinion they are struggling to hang on! Cheap ingredients, rude service and lazy presentation! If you're in the City try Rubirosa (235 Mulberry St.) or Adrienne's Pizzabar (54 Stone St). What a shame! I will never go back!! read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - The Lazzara Special pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

Pizza was a 10/10 We got pepperoni hot honey and the Frank - so good would go back 10000 times read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - Pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

Friday 8:30pm - We came here half hour or so before they closed which I wouldn't recommend as it's nice to be able to take your time ordering especially if it's your first time dining at this restaurant. The pizza is fantastic even though it wasn't what I had in mind . We got the primavera which is vegetables and I really was craving for the cheese . I know it Would be equally as good as the crust is perfect , thin , crunchy on the sides . It's tasteful and the size is just perfect. The place is old school , nothing fancy , rather casual . It's small probably, it can fit about 30 people at best but has a fast turnaround, food comes out within 20 minutes or so after you order . Friendly staff , felt a bit rushed as they were closing . Definitely worth coming back to so I can get a better sense of the food ( cheese pizza next time pls )! Love the speakeasy vibe read more

Small seating area upstairs. Pizza crust is thin, just crispy enough. We had the Lazarras special with prosciutto and olives. read more

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I called 15 minutes to close hoping they could accommodate a to go order. Half cheese. They did and when I got there, gave me a full pizza instead of half and were very accommodating. They didn't have to but they did. And by the way the pizza was perfect. Crispy, great sauce. Would recommend to anybody read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - Cheese pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

The BEST pizza I've ever had. We were here for two days, stopped because of the good reviews on the "one bite" app and it exceeded expectations with reasonable prices. They were so nice and we only ordered a half pizza and they gave us a full for free. The crust was so crispy and the sauce so flavorful with a beautiful cheese. We came back and left the restaurant we were having dinner at after having very mid pizza that had good reviews, just dreaming of this place. The people are very nice and this will forever be a hidden gem. I will come back to New York just for this place. Pictures below is our takeout order, Caesar, and our second pizza we got. read more

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Honestly the best pizza I've ever had. I heard of this place from my friend Dave and personally didn't think it would live up to the hype of a 9.3, boy was I wrong! Upon entering on a Monday evening, again I thought it might not be as great as I expected; the place didn't have many patrons, but still seemed full of stories and had a very welcoming staff. The pizza is perfect. Its square shape might seem odd to some but truly gives it its authenticity. Perfect undercarriage, crisp crust and an amazing sauce topped with the perfect amount of cheese- this is definitely a must try to anyone heading to the midtown area. read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - Whole Regular Cheese Pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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Great thin pizza, available in half or whole square pies. Friendly service inside, orders are quick to go, toppings and sauce are good. Crust is thin, nice crisp on edges. read more

Rating this place 1 star is far too generous for the experience I endured at Lazaro's Pizza. Since we hadn't been here before they took over as "Lazaro's " (this hole-in-the-wall pizza joint has changed hands over a dozen of times) we decided to order 2 plain slices, just to gauge the quality of the pizza. Well. After gnawing on what turned out to be the toughest, hardest pizza I have ever had in my entire life, I was frantically searching for my dentist's phone number to call and make an appointment for the next morning. The crust was so hard and thick that my teeth literally hurt when I got done eating less than half of that dreadful slice. My husband didn't fare much better. I'd never seen him contort his face so grotesquely whilst eating something since I've known him! I should only hope the shingles on my roof are as durable as the pizza served here. It was not just the tough, inedible crust of this disgusting 'pizza', but the sauce had a weird taste to it as well, and there was hardly a sprinkle of cheese - which turned out to be a blessing in disguise - because one bite of that rubbery ersatz proved it was that fake "cheese analog" - a blend of chemicals and additives used to mimic cheese, with nary a shred of dairy cheese in it. "Ugh" is the most descriptive thing I can muster up regarding my experience this dive. I'm still clutching my painful jaw while hoping they'll change hands again. read more

Ambience: Cozy and cramped but well lit. The food was so tasty you could only hear the music and silverware clanking. Service: Very sweet and attentive service, they were very accommodating and answered all our questions. Food: Pizza crust was perfectly crispy and pizza was super cheesy, eggplant appetizer was so good and meaty. I think I liked the eggplant the best! read more

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Nice little hidden gem. The staff were all on top of their game. I had wings app...not the best wings, they were most definitely pre breaded/frozen but weren't horrible if you slathered them in the really good blue cheese that came with them. We weren't there for the wings so it really didn't matter. The pizza was the star of the show! Oh my, how good! I loved the old building and old school vibe of this place. Overall, great place...go get you some! read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

We all know who brought Lazzara's Pizza to our attention. Based on Dave Portnoy's pizza reviews this was my first must try pizza restaurant and it delivered above par. We ordered the half pepperoni/cheese and it is the best pizza we have ever had. What makes the pizza so great is the square thin crust presentation along with an incredibly flavor packed bite like no other. Appreciate the old school Italian restaurant ambiance accompanied with the great service provided by Ania. One bite, everyone knows the rules! 9.3 credit to Lazzarra's Pizza. read more

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Good food, great ambience. Quiet unassuming little restaurant just a few blocks from Times Square. You have to go up an easy to miss set of stairs to get in. Small dining room with a very cool and cozy retro feel from a century ago. Be prepared to share a table but we were there at 1:00 on a Friday for lunch and it wasn't crowded. Had the cheesy rice balls for an appetizer and was concerned they were overdone because they were pretty dark but the crust was very thin and they were cooked just right. Very creamy and flavorful. Would have liked a bigger cup for the marinara - at least twice as much. Got a half plain cheese pizza, which is definitely meant for one (a fact our waiter pointed out) but we were looking for a light lunch and along with the rice balls it was perfect. The pizza was just a tad disappointing but I'm chalking that up to sky-high expectations given reputation and other reviews. It looks great right off the bat. The crust is paper thin and very well baked and it is plenty stout so no issues with flop at all. Good toasted rim around it without being burnt. Hard to tell what the sauce is like as there is very little but good overall taste. My only issue, and it is very minor, is the crust doesn't have a super satisfying crispy crunch. It's very good, just not the mouth feel I was expecting. So, great experience over all and the knock on the pizza is a bit nit-picky. Would I make this a go-to spot to get pizza in the city? No. Would I enjoy coming back for a relaxing meal when around mid-town, definitely. read more

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This might be the best pizza I've ever eaten! The cause has so much depth and flavor. I just absolutely love this place. Get there around 5-5:30 so you can get a table. It's not a large place. read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - Pepperoni Pizza (half) - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing pizza found in an odd yet cool area of where you'd expect to find its it's located in a older row house on the second floor and looks like it's out of a gangster movie due to the beautiful old architecture . Got a cheese pizza and mozzarella sticks both were amazing and El Presdento was spot on with his review. read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - Mozz Sticks - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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Such a great hole in the wall- they have more than pizza, but we just had a whole with extra cheese. It's got a thin, crispy, well-done crust and a slightly sweet sauce. Service was great and the atmosphere is unique. Small number of tables and pretty tight space but not too bad. We loved it and would definitely recommend trying. read more

Lazzara's Pizza Cafe - Specials today 07/02/24 - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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Theoretically the pizza is good, but the place doesn't feel (or smell) clean (ironically, the bathroom did though). Even worse, one of the servers seemed totally stoned & out of it. I asked for a cup of water and he brought bottled waters. Never brought our ordered appetizer. Made the chicken pizza and veg pizza (ordered by separate people) (with separate sauces) as a full. Salad was soggily drenched in dressing. Prices are super random (garlic knots cost as much as a pizza? Dessert pizza costs more than regular pizza?). Wine was mediocre. And I just read the notes about the health inspection. With some better management, it could be good. Edit: Immediately after this review, I got a weirdly aggressive private message from the owner telling me to "stop spreading my lies". Zero acknowledgment or care on their multiple bad service misses, yet very pissed I called their prices random. Now the vibe of the entire place makes sense. Just so he stops crying: I would like to clarify that I am referring to what I was told was a 1 person pizza portion that is $11.50. I am a liar to him because I did not compare to what I was told is a 2 person pizza portion at $19.95. Thankfully there are 50 other amazing pizza places in New York. read more

As a Portnoy fan, I was pumped to check it out. Service was efficient and friendly, the space was compact and lively, the pizza was definitely good, but it's more like an expensive flatbread appetizer with a very thin, almost cracker like crust. You could fold this pizza unto itself and eat as two or three slices. Any normal sized person can easily eat a whole pie. This place is pushing the edges of what a pizza is. read more