((4.5 stars)) super…read moresmall pizzeria--super clean, modern-retro aesthetic vibe. no seats, just a. couple of ledges to eat at. this is very much a takeout pizzeria or eat and go. definitely, Hots Pizza makes a New York-inspired slice on a quiet block of East Broadway, on the Lower East Side. the small eatery offers a small menu of different pizzas from a classic cheese to a spicy vodka to pepperoni to potato pizza slices and pies. the pizza is definitely a different type of crust, i think it's a sourdough crust or something similar because the crust adds to the flavor of the overall pizza. ordered a plain cheese pizza slice here and ate it it on the spot. a few minutes later, i was handed a warm pizza slice that was finished with freshly-grated parmesan, olive oil drizzle, and a few basil leaves. the crust and sauce combine for a a flavorful chewy slice. the cheese is melty smooth and adds that savory fattiness to each bite of the slice. this is a tasty slice and works nicely as a a slice that folds and can be enjoyed on the go. the slice is definitely New York influenced as it is not a thick slice, but it is not super thin either. the crust does not have that classic New York slice slight snap when you fold it, nor is the crust very crispy or has char to it. the underneath crust is actually fairly light, but i chalk that lack crispiness to it being a sourdough type pizza which tends to be softer but it does add flavor. wished i ordered my slice "hot" (extra time in the oven) because the slice felt just "warm hot" here versus "hot hot" which is my preference in terms of temperature. the service was chill and nice enough, but i appreciate that you could see your pizza being finished with the parmesan, olive oil, and basil leave and the pizza man did not skimp. Hot Pizza is not a late night pizza place as they close around 10 pm. overall, i'd hit this spot up again for a slice when i am on the go especially when i am in the mood for a crust with a little bit more depth of flavor, but you do give up crispiness and char for that less traditional crust.

I was genuinely sad to hear that LES Pizza was closing after serving the neighborhood for so many…read moreyears, but my mood lifted immediately when I heard a new specialty pizza spot was opening in its place. Hots features sourdough pizza, which I love, so I had to give it a try. I went all in and ordered the potato slice, the vodka slice, and the signature Hots slice. So far, I have only eaten the Hots slice, and wow. They dress the pizza right after it comes out of the oven, and you can even drizzle your own hot olive oil on top. The onions on the Hots slice are magical, and the sourdough crust is that perfect combination of crunchy and soft. The whole experience was fire. Another huge plus is that the staff is actually nice, which is a welcome change from the rude service at the other famous pizza place nearby. I cannot wait to dig into the rest of my slices.

This comes with a few different options of the standard New York slice. I went with the Soppressata…read moreand Burrata variation. It's very much a classic slice in that it's super thin, charred well on the bottom, and sort of hard. It's able to hold up really well just holding it on the outside. Not quite cracker-like, but definitely not soft either. Toppings-wise, there was definitely a lack of cheese on here - it practically felt like there wasn't any on at all. The soppressata felt a little old. I did like the burrata though; it was easily the best topping and provided a ton of flavor. For about $5, it's decently sized, but a bit thin as I mentioned. You'd probably need at least two to feel full Overall, it's nothing special, but I think it's a good spot if you're looking for an average NY slice. 7.5/10

Tried so many pizzas here! The space is quite small. There were like 4 bar seats and 4 table seats…read moreall packed closely together. You walk in and order at the counter. To go seems like the best bet, but if you are dining in they do have hot pepper flakes and oregano to dress your 'za up. Tried the cheese, pepperoni, sausage and peppers, and vodka slice. My favorite had to be the pepperoni - though the pepperoni were not pepperoni cups which is my personal preference. Good undercarriage, and crust was airy and chewy. Nice spot, especially if you're in this area.

((4.25 stars)) Pizza…read moreCafe is very much a neighborhood pizza joint that caters to residents and the frequent visitors to the Dimes Square area that don't partake in Scarr's. while the space is pretty small only a few seats inside and a couple on the bench outside...the pizza is good and does its job which is to extinguish the "hanger" with enjoyable calories. there's a variety of square and round pies served here...almost too many imo--plus beef patties and other side items like wings. stopped here a week ago or so and grabbed a plain cheese slice, and enjoyed it for what it was, not for what is wasn't. the slice had a nice thin crispy crust, solid sauce, and lots of melted mozzarella. what i really i liked is this pizza is very much a throwback to the classic "orange slice" of many of our childhoods in NYC...orange-hued slice served hot, with a thin layer of pizza sauce oil (but not greasy and doesn't require napkins to dab it off) atop melted cheese and no flop on the crust. the pizza slice held together as i ate it. will this pizza change your life? no, but is it a solid slice when you're in need of calories? yes. there were two different pairs of parents with their young kids who were enjoying pizza slices while i was there. though kid tastes are typically trash, all of the kids were scarfing down their pizza and not fussing about eating which is a good sign when it comes to pizza. the service was friendly enough, and the guy at the register is appreciative of tips unlike many other places which seem to think of it as a given. stop by for the pizza but stay in the neighborhood to soak in the vibes!

I love this place! They have great hours and open very late! There's a lot of slice and pie options…read moreand the service is very friendly and quick! They do thin, Sicilian, and "deep dish" styles. The Margherita, hot honey pepperoni, pepperoni, and margherita with mushrooms are all delicious! Their pesto is also nice, but I like the others more. They also sell sandwiches and garlic knots. There's a handful of places to sit and they take card!

Friendly guy behind the counter. The place itself is super small and cramped but the pizza wasn't…read morebad I was starving so I gulfed down the food super fast when I got home. Dough was okay a bit different from your average pizza but def worth the try

The vegan slice was inedible with 'cheese' that tasted like a shredded wax candle. I was hungry and…read moreordered two, expecting them to be good but I ended up placing them directly in the trash. My family enjoyed the non-vegan slices. I should add that none of the slices were hot. What's worse is the unregulated pizza in Essex market is a few doors down from a full blown vegan cheese shop where they only sell vegan cheese, so where and why did they go with this plastic vegan cheese? Costs? I will never know.

Service always friendly and welcoming…read more Food always good no complaints here. Have returned multiple times and willl continue to do so! Such a good addition to the neighborhood

Got takeout from Luna Pizza. Pre-ordered and it was ready when I arrived…read more It was about dinner time and a few tables were seated. Food was still warm when I arrived home. Calamari was crispy and not overly salty. Penne was flavorful and tasty. Liked that the chicken had a blackened taste. Thankful for a pizza restaurant that serves a variety of items in the heart of Chinatown.

Been going here heading back to my apartment from the F Train Stop on Houston or coming back from…read moreNYU/ Washington Square for many,many years. Always a great slice or two- delicious and reasonably priced. People behind the counter and in front of the ovens are friendly and usually get a slice pretty quickly. Great neighborhood pizzeria with a very Manhattan-vibe!!

I love stromboli, usually, though I'll admit that's partly because I'm typically a few drinks deep…read moreand will eat almost anything at that point. Normally I have a great time here, and I wanted to show it off to friends visiting from out of town on a late weeknight. This particular visit didn't go as planned. The line is always out the door, service is fast but never exactly friendly, and the prices are good, which is the whole appeal. I ordered a handful of different slices for myself, buffalo chicken included, and you usually can't go wrong with that one. Tonight, somehow, you could. It didn't sit right with my stomach afterward, though that might be entirely on me and my questionable late-night decision-making. My friends weren't as into it either, though we'd all had the same round of drinks beforehand, so that's probably part of the story too. I still love the vibe of this place in general: a crowd of drunk people enjoying good, cheap food together, which really is the whole point at the end of the day. This visit just wasn't the one to show off.

I spent a few of my younger years growing up in New York with my parents in Greenwich Village and…read morewe lived literally around the corner from Ben's Pizza. We'd go every week to enjoy a slice. They've since grown in their varieties of pizzas they offer, but I still stick with the pepperoni and sausage slice. Big slices, gooey mozzarella cheese served on a paper plate. Classic New York pizza done right. The crust is amazing- is it true what they say about the NY water to make it the best? Make sure to go to the one in the village. The order at the counter service is quick, with a few places to sit. So good, such an old, old establishment. I love being there, absorbing not only the delicious pizza (they have other menu items too), but the village vibes around it. People watch, shop, pizza. Perfect.

Always nostalgic going to Ben's but believe this joint has fallen off over the years and the…read morecompetition has gotten better. Got a plain cheese slice ($3.50) where the undercarriage looked ok but the slice flopped and eventually broke apart (soggy not crispy). Sauce and cheese pretty basic. Almost on the Costco level.

Unevenly cut slices but I guess it averages out for me since I got 2. Honestly it did the job to…read morecure my starving stomach for $1.50 each. But you're better off get a bun at a Chinatown bakery. There was barely any cheese or sauce that you can taste. It was also very doughy and did not have a crispy bottom.

I'm not saying it's bad pizza…read more I'm just saying that it doesn't reach the value it's promoting as a dollar pizza. It's three dollars for the white pizza which I ordered, but I never felt like it was worthy of being three dollars. Maybe two, but not three. I felt like that kind of defeats the purpose of it being economically valuable for someone looking for a cheap meal. The plain pizza is just $1.50, which again, I feel like because of inflation, it's increased to a point where it's not really worth it. Maybe if you have some spare time, you could probably afford this pizza. I mean, it's not that bad taste-wise. It's just kind of bland. You can probably get something better if you just walk up north; there's a bunch of places in this area--McDonald's, Burger King, wherever you need. You can probably get it at the same price. In terms of service, it was really quick. Of course, they have the pizzas on display, so for the most part, the service was pretty quick. The downtown area is convenient to Delancey and Essex Street. There's a mix of families, students, and unfortunately, homeless people. During clean, calmer days, this area is nice.