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Great and easy pizza to eat in Sunnyside, Queens. It's convenient and the service is usually quick and efficient. They have a decent amount of seating inside as well. It's usually busier during meal hours but you can likely find a seat during off peak hours. Pizza was tasty and fresh.
As a self proclaimed artisan pizza spot, Philomena's on paper almost feels like it should be in Williamsburg but its neighborhood charm suits Sunnyside perfectly. Their recognition in the borough is well deserved and the owner Dave's magnetic personality cannot be understated. Given the abundance of pizzerias throughout the neighborhood, Philomena's stands out for the quality (and price!) and may just be the tastiest option in the area. Like all the neighboring pizza shops, the interior is small and humble, with lots of locals coming in for takeout. And the display window is a myriad of delectable variety in pizza form, most notably in square slices. They also offer round pies and specialty pizzas, which are also popular. Compared to the nearby competition, they definitely have a range of styles. Pizza enthusiasts would be quick to notice the high quality ingredients, excellent sauce to cheese ratio, and the airy crust (thanks to the slow fermented dough) just simply work perfectly together. I have been fond of the pepperoni square slices, along with the potato slice as my go-to orders. Their Neapolitan margarita is probably the best I've had in the borough. The sticker shock compared to the portions, may give some pause for first-timers. I do think pizza snobs and pizza noobs will undoubtedly find something they enjoy here. The wait for pizzas can be long, so it may be best to order over the phone ahead of time. The owner, Dave, is usually handling and overseeing the pizza making and it's hard not to appreciate his passion and enthusiasm for perfecting his craft.
My tried and true pizza spot, Philomena's has become our go to ever since discovering it this past summer. The dough is the perfect texture, firm and thin but still chewy and airy. Sauce is delicious and I love the variety of flavors. They also have some rotating daily slices, there's something for everyone! The square slices are also excellent; it feels like a focaccia with toppings. The dough is super crispy on the bottom yet still fluffy. The owner has truly mastered the art of their dough. We had the chance to chat with him and he was so excited to talk about their fermentation process.
Definitely a hidden treasure in sunnyside! I didn't take a picture of the eggplant one but that was definitely our favorite! The service was super quick and easy! Ambiance is lowkey very dark, you can definitely sit and eat, but we rather take it home!
Philomena's Pizza on Queens Boulevard is proof that the universe is not entirely indifferent to us. The place is small. Small enough that our Sunday Pizza Bus Tour filled it like a fishbowl filled with fish. We became the furniture. That was fine. Nobody came here for the furniture. Nobody came here for candles or paintings of Tuscany. We came here for pizza. Scott, the ringmaster of this traveling circus of melted cheese and tomato, slid behind the counter like he owned the joint. He did not. The owner was Dave Acocella. Dave smiled the smile of a man who has chosen to build his altar out of flour and dough and electricity. He talked about ovens. His ovens were electric. Unlike the wood burning monsters or coal fueled relics we had seen earlier in the day, these shiny modern boxes promised reliability. Heat that never lied. The squares came out. I wanted to call them Sicilian. Dave said no. He said they were squares. He said they were not Sicilian. He did sell Neapolitan, either. He made rounds. I admired that. The refusal to be pinned down. The refusal to become a postcard. So squares they were. I bit into one. The thing was massive. A slab of pizza that could have been a meal for two. Yet the crust was lighter than a promise made by a politician to a child. Somehow I ate the whole thing. This was my fourth stop of the day. Logic said no. My mouth said yes. The taste reminded me of a Sicilian married to a Grandma pie, but I will not argue taxonomy with a man who has dedicated his life to dough. All I know is it was good. Good in the way that makes you look around a room full of strangers and feel less alone. If I lived in this neighborhood I would live at Philomena's. I would sit at the little tables or at the counter by the window and watch Queens go by while eating squares and rounds. That would be enough. As a footnote, they also serve Manhattan Special here. A black bottle of espresso soda from another time. It is syrupy and honest about its caffeine. Not for me. But the locals spoke of it as though it were holy water. I believe them. Five stars for a tiny shop on Queens Boulevard. Five stars for Dave. Five stars for a square that defied gravity.
A really solid slice shop. They have regular round NY slices as well as the thick square slices. I got a slice of the pepperoni and the eggplant (total came out to $10.50). The crust was thin and baked well and was on the crispy side (I prefer more of a chew but that's personal preference). Overall no complaints! Lots of seating inside, though it's pretty dimly lit. Note the card minimum is $10.
Five star pizza in NYC is usually accompanied by long lines, high prices, and an overwhelmed staff. Not here. Great vibe, six tables, stools that face the sidewalk, and absolutely delicious pizza. That's what you get here, and other places should take note. The staff is friendly, the restaurant is clean, but what really blows me away every time is the pizza. The crust. The sauce. The little touches like fresh basil and shaved cheese are a bonus, but it's all about just how good that dough and sauce is, and how it works with the cheese and, if you want, toppings. Get a pie, get slices, but whatever you do, get your butt over here and enjoy.
Philomena's is a gem in Queens. A while back they had closed and I was super sad, but I'm glad they came back. Out of all the pizza shops in Queens Philomena's is probably my favorite. It's not a true NY slice, that will always have a place in my heart (and honestly I think that a truly great NYC Slice is becoming more of a dinosaur these days) but the Spicy Mikey is very likeable! The wait is sometimes long for a pie, order ahead. It's easy access if traveling by subway and if driving, it's on Queens Blvd.
Food: This is an underrated pizza place! The pizza here is excellent and deserves more recognition. We like to order the 10" pie so that it's made fresh and comes out hot. You can order individual slices (square or round) as well as whole pies. They have a variety of pies; their hot honey with pepperoni is delicious! Service: Staff are friendly and welcoming. Ambiance: This is a typical pizzeria with some small tables for eating. The space isn't big, but tables can be put together for larger groups. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant!
My wife and I just moved to Sunnyside from AZ two weeks ago and we feel incredibly blessed to be a short walk from this gem. The pesto pomodoro pizza was one of the best slices I've ever had. We've been here twice and it will be one of our regular spots!
Excellent. We officially have our go-to pizza by the slice near our neighborhood! I've been on a bit of an adventure trying to find the best pizza places in New York, and there's plenty of famous places in Manhattan and Brooklyn - but potentially less so in Queens (at least outside of Astoria). I live about 20 minutes away from Philomena's on foot; the best pizza I've had in this part of Queens so far has been at Sotto le Stelle, which is great, but they don't do pizza by the slice. What I really wanted was a laid back, friendly, inexpensive place that does slice pizza OR pies in my neck of the woods - and that's good, reliable NY pizza. A lot of pizza joints around the corner from me are cheap, but the quality's pretty meh. Philomena's, on the other hand, has all the charm and affordability of a good by-the-slice joint (at $3 - $4 per slice) AND excellent taste to boot. Super glad I finally made the time to visit and give the place a shot yesterday. They have plenty of options for slices, both in terms of toppings and style - we tried two of their Sicilian-style square slices and just a classic NY red sauce & cheese one. I really liked their square pepperoni, but I LOVED their traditional NY slice. Super flavorful, great cook, nice dough - what more can you ask for? Staff are really quick and friendly, there's plenty of seats if you want to just stop by for a quick bite versus order a whole pie to go. They also have dessert options, including Tiramisú in a cup and cannoli - the Tiramisú wasn't bad. Will definitely be back at some point!
Yessss! A friend lives nearby and said this is a solid pizza spot. I couldn't agree more. All the slices look good but I want with the pepperoni square for only $6. I'm coming back!
3 days ago
12 days ago
Great and easy pizza to eat in Sunnyside, Queens. It's convenient and the service is usually quick and efficient. They have a decent amount of seating inside as well. It's usually busier during meal hours but you can likely find a seat during off peak hours. Pizza was tasty and fresh. read more
As a self proclaimed artisan pizza spot, Philomena's on paper almost feels like it should be in Williamsburg but its neighborhood charm suits Sunnyside perfectly. Their recognition in the borough is well deserved and the owner Dave's magnetic personality cannot be understated. Given the abundance of pizzerias throughout the neighborhood, Philomena's stands out for the quality (and price!) and may just be the tastiest option in the area. Like all the neighboring pizza shops, the interior is small and humble, with lots of locals coming in for takeout. And the display window is a myriad of delectable variety in pizza form, most notably in square slices. They also offer round pies and specialty pizzas, which are also popular. Compared to the nearby competition, they definitely have a range of styles. Pizza enthusiasts would be quick to notice the high quality ingredients, excellent sauce to cheese ratio, and the airy crust (thanks to the slow fermented dough) just simply work perfectly together. I have been fond of the pepperoni square slices, along with the potato slice as my go-to orders. Their Neapolitan margarita is probably the best I've had in the borough. The sticker shock compared to the portions, may give some pause for first-timers. I do think pizza snobs and pizza noobs will undoubtedly find something they enjoy here. The wait for pizzas can be long, so it may be best to order over the phone ahead of time. The owner, Dave, is usually handling and overseeing the pizza making and it's hard not to appreciate his passion and enthusiasm for perfecting his craft. read more
8 months ago
My tried and true pizza spot, Philomena's has become our go to ever since discovering it this past summer. The dough is the perfect texture, firm and thin but still chewy and airy. Sauce is delicious and I love the variety of flavors. They also have some rotating daily slices, there's something for everyone! The square slices are also excellent; it feels like a focaccia with toppings. The dough is super crispy on the bottom yet still fluffy. The owner has truly mastered the art of their dough. We had the chance to chat with him and he was so excited to talk about their fermentation process. read more
11 months ago
Definitely a hidden treasure in sunnyside! I didn't take a picture of the eggplant one but that was definitely our favorite! The service was super quick and easy! Ambiance is lowkey very dark, you can definitely sit and eat, but we rather take it home! read more
Philomena's Pizza on Queens Boulevard is proof that the universe is not entirely indifferent to us. The place is small. Small enough that our Sunday Pizza Bus Tour filled it like a fishbowl filled with fish. We became the furniture. That was fine. Nobody came here for the furniture. Nobody came here for candles or paintings of Tuscany. We came here for pizza. Scott, the ringmaster of this traveling circus of melted cheese and tomato, slid behind the counter like he owned the joint. He did not. The owner was Dave Acocella. Dave smiled the smile of a man who has chosen to build his altar out of flour and dough and electricity. He talked about ovens. His ovens were electric. Unlike the wood burning monsters or coal fueled relics we had seen earlier in the day, these shiny modern boxes promised reliability. Heat that never lied. The squares came out. I wanted to call them Sicilian. Dave said no. He said they were squares. He said they were not Sicilian. He did sell Neapolitan, either. He made rounds. I admired that. The refusal to be pinned down. The refusal to become a postcard. So squares they were. I bit into one. The thing was massive. A slab of pizza that could have been a meal for two. Yet the crust was lighter than a promise made by a politician to a child. Somehow I ate the whole thing. This was my fourth stop of the day. Logic said no. My mouth said yes. The taste reminded me of a Sicilian married to a Grandma pie, but I will not argue taxonomy with a man who has dedicated his life to dough. All I know is it was good. Good in the way that makes you look around a room full of strangers and feel less alone. If I lived in this neighborhood I would live at Philomena's. I would sit at the little tables or at the counter by the window and watch Queens go by while eating squares and rounds. That would be enough. As a footnote, they also serve Manhattan Special here. A black bottle of espresso soda from another time. It is syrupy and honest about its caffeine. Not for me. But the locals spoke of it as though it were holy water. I believe them. Five stars for a tiny shop on Queens Boulevard. Five stars for Dave. Five stars for a square that defied gravity. read more
A really solid slice shop. They have regular round NY slices as well as the thick square slices. I got a slice of the pepperoni and the eggplant (total came out to $10.50). The crust was thin and baked well and was on the crispy side (I prefer more of a chew but that's personal preference). Overall no complaints! Lots of seating inside, though it's pretty dimly lit. Note the card minimum is $10. read more
Five star pizza in NYC is usually accompanied by long lines, high prices, and an overwhelmed staff. Not here. Great vibe, six tables, stools that face the sidewalk, and absolutely delicious pizza. That's what you get here, and other places should take note. The staff is friendly, the restaurant is clean, but what really blows me away every time is the pizza. The crust. The sauce. The little touches like fresh basil and shaved cheese are a bonus, but it's all about just how good that dough and sauce is, and how it works with the cheese and, if you want, toppings. Get a pie, get slices, but whatever you do, get your butt over here and enjoy. read more
Philomena's is a gem in Queens. A while back they had closed and I was super sad, but I'm glad they came back. Out of all the pizza shops in Queens Philomena's is probably my favorite. It's not a true NY slice, that will always have a place in my heart (and honestly I think that a truly great NYC Slice is becoming more of a dinosaur these days) but the Spicy Mikey is very likeable! The wait is sometimes long for a pie, order ahead. It's easy access if traveling by subway and if driving, it's on Queens Blvd. read more
Food: This is an underrated pizza place! The pizza here is excellent and deserves more recognition. We like to order the 10" pie so that it's made fresh and comes out hot. You can order individual slices (square or round) as well as whole pies. They have a variety of pies; their hot honey with pepperoni is delicious! Service: Staff are friendly and welcoming. Ambiance: This is a typical pizzeria with some small tables for eating. The space isn't big, but tables can be put together for larger groups. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant! read more
My wife and I just moved to Sunnyside from AZ two weeks ago and we feel incredibly blessed to be a short walk from this gem. The pesto pomodoro pizza was one of the best slices I've ever had. We've been here twice and it will be one of our regular spots! read more
1 month ago
Terrible service by this guy David A. Extremely rude. Pizza is good but service from these guys are unacceptable read more
Business owner information
Dave A.
Karina, first, a small correction: the younger, better-looking…
Excellent. We officially have our go-to pizza by the slice near our neighborhood! I've been on a bit of an adventure trying to find the best pizza places in New York, and there's plenty of famous places in Manhattan and Brooklyn - but potentially less so in Queens (at least outside of Astoria). I live about 20 minutes away from Philomena's on foot; the best pizza I've had in this part of Queens so far has been at Sotto le Stelle, which is great, but they don't do pizza by the slice. What I really wanted was a laid back, friendly, inexpensive place that does slice pizza OR pies in my neck of the woods - and that's good, reliable NY pizza. A lot of pizza joints around the corner from me are cheap, but the quality's pretty meh. Philomena's, on the other hand, has all the charm and affordability of a good by-the-slice joint (at $3 - $4 per slice) AND excellent taste to boot. Super glad I finally made the time to visit and give the place a shot yesterday. They have plenty of options for slices, both in terms of toppings and style - we tried two of their Sicilian-style square slices and just a classic NY red sauce & cheese one. I really liked their square pepperoni, but I LOVED their traditional NY slice. Super flavorful, great cook, nice dough - what more can you ask for? Staff are really quick and friendly, there's plenty of seats if you want to just stop by for a quick bite versus order a whole pie to go. They also have dessert options, including Tiramisú in a cup and cannoli - the Tiramisú wasn't bad. Will definitely be back at some point! read more
6 months ago
$18 for 3 slices, so slightly on the expensive end. Got the pesto pomodoro, vodka, and pepperoni. The crust was the best part, very light and airy. However, the pesto was beyond oily and barely any pepperoni on the square. The vodka slice didn't taste like vodka. read more
Classic pizza shop vibes. Limited hours & seating so make sure that you're paying attention. Service is quick though and staff is friendly. Small selection of slices in the display which ensures that they remain fresh and turn over often. I got a fresh Classic NY slice right out of the oven. Ingredients are top notch with a delicious sauce, quality cheese. The cook was fantastic with a crisp crunch. read more
1 year ago
Great pizza has arrived! Available by the slice or two style of pie, Philomena's is turning out a unique crust and visitation on the traditional pizzeria joint slices. The crust is a fermented dough that makes for a very tasty slice. Specialty slices are available in the square style. They have limited hours and are closed Monday and Tuesday. read more
4 months ago
I visited Philomena's with my boyfriend and roommate. It was quite a long wait despite only five other people ahead of us in line. The display case was pretty empty, yet it was 7pm on a Friday night. This location seems like a favorite with the locals, and many of the customers ahead of us were ordering to-go and bring pies back home. We wanted to order an 18" but 1) they don't allow for half and half of certain pies; they do allow for half and half of a different mix of toppings and 2) we were told it would take over an hour and a half wait?!?! So we opted for ordering 2 different slices individually instead. Unfortunately the staff member taking our order confirmed the display case were the only options, so we had only 3 different slices to choose from. All of us ordered 1 slice of the Magherita square and the Jersey Shore (also a square slice, with sausage, peppers, and onions). I preferred the jersey shore slice because there was more flavor, but the dough was not even as there were parts of the square slice that was thinner and thus had burnt edges on the side. The pizza was good, but the inventory was disappointing on the night we visited. read more
Ordered slices. As fresh as if I ordered a whole pie. The crust was crispy crunchy and not at all soggy great selections of different kinds toppings. The wine only added a very nice touch to a nice afternoon munch The counter girl very friendly and also served me at my seat. Very small comfortable space with a few tables. I sat at the window looking out on Queens Boulevard watching and being entertained by the street traffic It's now my go to place when I'm in Sunnyside read more
2 months ago
Just an overall great pizza place. The Bianca (white) was notably excellent--we're talking elite tier. The dough is airy and light and it is loaded with fresh, gooey ricotta and mozzarella. It's an absolutely phenomenal taste sensation and you would do yourself a disservice to miss out. Overall, the place is really clean. It is rare to find a great pizza place that sells by the slice *and* has non-sticky tables where you can enjoy said slice. Truly rarefied (and delicious smelling) air. read more
When my group of friends stopped here mid-late afternoon to give the place a shot I figured I would have a slice after basically doing a food tour in LIC. I wound up eating 2.5 slices haha I was initially thinking we should order a fresh pie, but loved that we ordered a wide variety of the slices they had in the case. The slices move fast so I believe the quality holds up. I was able to eat so much because the slices are delicious, but there is lightness and crispness to the slice that makes you not want to stop. The classic slice was my favorite all the elements are there - the thinness, tangy delicious sauce, fluffy charred crust. If I wasn't worried about my heart exploding I could see eating a full pie. The margarita was more like a sicilian slice to me. It seems they fully cook the dough so under the sauce the top of the dough is browned in the oven, which I think I would have liked to see it less fully cooked so the sauce and dough can meld together a bit more (but what do I know?)- fresh cheese and basil top this "simple" square. The potato slice was topped with thin scalloped potatoes, I don't recall what was under (I only had a bite of this), but my thought was this was a delicious rustic slice. The broccoli rabe (one of my favorite veges) sits atop a garlicky puree of fluffy truffle oil chickpeas along with the airy into crispy bottom dough - it was a real treat. This was fresh out of the oven. This along with the potato slice I believe are vegan, but I don't pay attention to those things. Philomena's is the kind of place where after your try their slices you wonder to yourself what kind of crap pizza have you been eating elsewhere all your life thinking it was good. read more
Decent sized place with a few tables and lots of seats. Plenty of metered parking (free on Sunday). The staff were helpful and friendly. They brought the slices out to us when they were ready. Wanted the Broccoli Rabe slice initially, but it was still in the oven for another 30 minutes. They did get us a slice when it came out! They even sliced it in half for us to share. Broccoli rabe can get pretty bitter, but this was a perfect amount of bitterness. The Creme di Ceci (chickpea puree with truffle oil) paired amazingly with the broccoli rabe. Glad we were able to get a slice! I started with the Potato slice instead. The dough was so airy and crispy. It was shingled with a ton of delicious thinly sliced potatoes. A very filling slice. I enjoyed this with garlic powder sprinkled liberally on top. Would definitely be back when I'm craving pizza! read more
1 year ago
I was shocked when I heard they serve BEEF pepperoni slices. Finding a place that serves this is like finding GOLD!!! Tastes superb! Plus they're regular slices taste authentic with the old school brick oven taste read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
This place is one of my favorites. Dave makes a killer pizza. The fermented dough is just so easy on the stomach and digestive system. The pie is cooked perfect and is delicious. The basil and parm on it just adds to the great flavor. Clean place, friendly staff. Can't go wrong! read more
By far the best pizza in Queens and lived up to all the social media hype. Dave, Kenny and staff is no doubt the most amazing group of people you will ever meet in the hospitality industry. They're engaging, super friendly and deeply care about their pizza. Philomena's is worth the trip, no matter where you're coming from. Every single item on the menu is to die for but my only regret is lol, appetite wasn't big enough to consume everything. Everyone is treated like family and though it was my first time there, Dave greeted me and we talked as if we've known each other for quite some time. This is an absolute gem, and you will be doing a disservice by not visiting Philomena. I am a lifetime supporter for sure. Keep up the great work you guys deserve it all. read more
4 months ago
Hubby saw Philomena on Social Media and decide to try it since it's not that far in our neighboring town. Typical pizza joint decor with some seatings inside but they served up some good crispy crust pizza! We came in on a Friday evening and the place was packed. We got the Margherita, Jersey Shore and Dragon Breath by slice. You can also get the pizza in small personal pie as well. The pizzas were tasty plus we are always fans of crispy crust pizza. Their thick slice (dough) was kind of fluffy and not too heavy and dense which we like a lot. read more
1 year ago
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More info about Philomena's
41-16 Queens Blvd
Sunnyside, NY 11104
Sunnyside
Directions
(718) 255-1778
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https://www.philomenasqueens.com
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Is it BYOB?
They have a liquor license - I don't think it's BYOB. They have a few wines listed on the menu $18-20.
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