Our ‘Best of NYC’ list is growing and every month we’ll highlight the top spots you need to check out. This month we explored our favorite food group; pizza.

If you’re familiar with the pizza scene in NYC then you already know that Di Fara and Roberta’s hold some of the top spots for the best pizza in the city. And if you live in Hoboken, Napoli’s Pizza is a major bop. But did you know that there’s a retro-inspired pizza joint in Brooklyn that has some of the most crisp, light, and cheesy Detroit-style pizza?

We tried all the styles that NYC has to offer, from Italian Neapolitan to your classic NY slice. The best part? With each of these restaurants being part of Bilt Dining, you’ll earn bonus Bilt Points when you pay with any Mastercard®, Visa®, or American Express® linked to your Bilt Wallet.

Song E’Napule, SoHo 

Song E Napule, a little corner of Naples in the center of New York, serves up incredible wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, which is known for being very tender, light, and moist at the same time. 

The crust here has a beautiful bounce back, a clear sign that they know what they’re doing. The classic Margherita pizza (San Marzano DOP eccellenze nolane tomato sauce, fiordilatte di agerolamozzarella, basil, and extra virgin olive oil), has the perfect balance of flavors, not being too sweet or savory.

A second pie that is not to be missed is the Primavera ( fiordilatte di agerolaMozzarella, arugula, prosciutto di Parma, cherry tomatoes, shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, and extra virgin olive oil), which surprisingly feels light, despite the many toppings. The sharp parmigano pairs well with the crisp arugula and the tender prosciutto. 

Emmett’s Pizza, West Village

Never having been to Chicago, I’ve never experienced a proper Chicago-style Deep Dish pizza, but I always imagined it to be heavy and soggy with the amount of cheese and sauce that’s layered on top. Boy, was I wrong. Emmett’s knocks the deep dish pizza out of the park with The Sausage Classic. The crust was thick and crisp and strong enough to withstand the substantial serving of cheese, sausage, and peppers. 

While I came for the deep dish, I would certainly return for the thin crust Spicy Papi pizza. The paper-thin and crispy crust is topped with pepperoni, jalapenos, and red onion, then drizzled with the most delicious spicy ranch dressing. A regular at the bar suggested replacing the pepperoni with sausage and I’ll be trying that swap next time. 

Ace’s Pizza Spot, Williamsburg and Rockefeller Center

Steps from the L train in Brooklyn, Ace’s Pizza Spot serves up Detroit-style pizza in a cool retro-inspired restaurant that is lined with red leather booths and kitschy decor. For the uninitiated, Detroit-style pizza is characterized by its square shape and a soft fluffy crust that is finished with a crisp cheese edge. 

I tried two different slices, the original Cheese Slice and an off-menu Spicy Boy, which is topped with burrata, pepperoni, and hot honey. The cheese slice was perfectly cooked and topped with a zesty tomato sauce. The Spicy Boy was out of this world, with just the right amount of kick. 

And if traveling to Brooklyn seems like a trek, head to their Rockefeller Center location. 

Fini, Williamsburg

Fini is a neighborhood slice spot in Brooklyn with green lawn chairs out front open where you can enjoy your classic NY-style pizza, which is thin and crisp. El Prez rated their Cheese Pizza a 7.9, which after trying I think is fair. What he didn’t report on and deserves at least a 9.5 is their White Slice, which is topped with fontina, parmesan, mozzarella, lemon zest, and a big squeeze of fresh lemon on top. 

The menu consists of five slice options (cheese, tomato, white, pepperoni, and long hot shallot), but the White Slice truly takes the cake. It’s a little sweet, a little tangy, and has the perfect amount of cheese on top of a crispy crust. I also tried the Long Hot Shallot slice which was very good but packed a little too much heat for my liking. 

If you find yourself at Barclays Center for a game or show, you can try these slices there.

Sotto 13, West Village

Sotto 13, a hidden gem in the West Village, is an ideal place if you’re looking for a full dining experience. They offer a great happy hour menu (hello 2 for $20 cocktails), as well as a generous Wood-Fired pizza menu and tasty pasta dishes. The most popular two pizzas are the Shroom pizza and Pepperoni Picante, and since we’ve tried a few other spicy pies, we wanted to see how this one compares. 

The Pepperoni Picante had a nice kick with the fresh jalapenos and was a touch sweet, which balanced out the heat. The star here was definitely the Shroom Pizza. Unlike traditional thick mushroom slices that you see on pizza, these were diced and almost mimicked a crumbled sausage. The combo of ricotta and truffle tasted great on top of the crispy, yet soft crust.

Bottom Line

With so many incredible restaurants in NYC, we wanted to make sure you’re the first to know about the creme de la creme, which is why we created our ‘Best Of’ category. We add new ones monthly, so check back next month to see which are our new favorites. 

And when dining at a Bilt Dining restaurant, you’ll earn bonus Bilt Points when you pay with any Mastercard®, Visa®, or American Express® linked to your Bilt Wallet.