We came across Lazzara's Pizza Cafe while we were in New York for the Bon Jovi concert at Madison Square Garden. A lot of the restaurants in the area were packed with FIFA fans, so we were lucky to come across this place. We started with the roasted peppers, mozzarella, and plum tomatoes. Really good! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and well seasoned. I had the Chicken Marsala with spaghetti for dinner. The chicken was very tender, the portion was a good size, and the spaghetti was cooked just right -- not overcooked, which I really appreciate. The whole meal was delicious. The staff was friendly and the restaurant wasn't crowded, which made it even better after dealing with the craziness around MSG. We love finding good local food when we're out traveling, and this was definitely a great find. read more

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

This pizza was amazing. I've never had a rectangle pie before but it came it perfectly thin and crispy. Their Lazzara special pie was awesome as well. Service was top notch with a nice home feeling atmosphere. If you're into pizza this place is a must go. read more

This is a little restaurant that's up of stairs that you would never know about it. The mushroom and the onion pizza are off the charts. I'm not a person who like on pizza and I'm so happy I tried it it's sweet, it's salty it's umami it's absolutely delicious and beyond read more

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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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 - Half Pepperoni - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

No fancy table settings pizza is delivered on a cafeteria style tray with white paper. Had the Margarita 1/2. It was thin ingredients well portioned. Definitely will be back. read more

Lazzara's Pizza - 1/2 the margarita pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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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By far some of the best pizza I've ever had. I'd give them a five if the waiter wasn't a complete D. If you didn't know where this place is at from Dave Portnoys pizza page you totally miss it. Up a Flight of sketchy stairs is this hidden gem. Nothing fancy just old school Italian pizza joint. read more

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 - Chicken Parmigiana and Margarita 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 - 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 - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

As usual always amazing food served by folks who know their stuff and are looking to help you have an enjoyable meal. It's not fancy and that's part of the charm. I wish I could get there more often. read more

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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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 - Tortellini Michaelangelo - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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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

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 - Hoy honey pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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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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

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

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

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 - 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

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

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 - The Lazzara Special pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

EXCEPTIONAL pizza and service from Francisco!!! DELICIOUS and very special place!!! Francisco exceeded all expectations!~ He surprised us with a dessert and we felt very special!!! Cute spot and decor!!! EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE! read more

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 - Pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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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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

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 - Cheese pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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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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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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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made us order 4 pizzas when we wanted two and gave us soda that was flat took forever to come to are table when theres only two tables here

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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Best pizza I've had in New York it was a little hole in the wall barely a sign for the restaurant but when u walk in your transported into a slice of Italy with the food to back it up. I ordered the fried ravioli it was superb though I wish we received more for the amount we paid. The service was pretty good we got recommended the pizza and the cannolis, with the latter being the best I've ever had. Dave Portonoys 9.3 seemed off I would have given it a 9.6 the pizza was that amazing. read more

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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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