Grandma Pizza Favs in the East Village – NYC

Are you experiencing quarantine fatigue? I am. Even more so because I hear people in Jersey and the outer boroughs are gathering for fun social activities, like actually attending a BBQ for Memorial Day! How outrageous! I want to do that to, but is it dangerous? ? Should I be more cautious? ? These are things that have been running through my sleep-deprived mind. Well, this year we’re playing it safe because of the little one, and anyhow, there’s always New York pizza…

Growing up in NYC, I always got a regular slice while my brother got a Sicilian. I liked Sicilians, but it seemed too bready to me. Well, enter the grandma pizza… If you don’t know the difference, the grandma is square also, but the slices are thinner, and usually with a crunchier bottom. Ingredients are often fresher too, but that depends on the pizzeria. In the East Village, here are my favs….

Nolita Pizza opened up an East Village location last year, and have been serving up some solid slices including grandma slices. Their grandma rosemary pie ($24; pictured at top) is made with housemade marinara sauce, aged mozzarella cheese, and rosemary.

I got greedy and added meatballs and eggplant on my last order, and it was definitely overkill considering there was so much cheese and the eggplant was deep fried. It was still very, very tasty, but definitely in an overindulgent way. Don’t be like me, keep it simple. Their grandma is delicious as-is.

My go-to in the neighborhood, however, is Iggy’s Pizzeria for the grandma Sicilian thin crust ($24.95; pictured above) or the regular Sicilian ($20.95). I probably order the Sicilian more because it’s cheaper and it’s not too thick, but when I feel I have a few more dollars to burn, there’s the grandma which is made with fresh mozzarella and plum tomatoes. The grandma is especially good because of the brightness of the tomatoes and the oh-so-light crust. It’s a winner every time.

Again, Happy Memorial Day! It may not feel like it at all this year, but hope you are enjoying the day anyway, with or without meat. And if without, don’t forget, there’s always New York pizza… We got this! ??✊

Nolita Pizza (multiple locations, I ordered from the East Village location)
(646) 756-4141
128 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003 (map)

Visit Rating: 4/5 stars
Pro Tip: Don’t load up on toppings. The Sicilian is good on its own.

Iggy’s Pizzeria
(212) 353-3331
173 1st Ave
New York, NY 10003 (map)

Visit Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Pro Tip: Their regular Sicilian is better than most, but if you have a few extra dollars, order the Grandma Sicilian with fresh mozzarella and plum tomatoes.