New York City has approximately 8 billion opinions about pizza, and somehow everyone thinks theirs is correct. But a new contender is giving pizza obsessives something else to argue about: Lucia’s on the Upper West Side.
The neighborhood has never exactly been short on pizza, but Lucia’s is making a strong case that it could become the new best pizza spot on the Upper West Side—and possibly one of the places worth crossing Manhattan for.
What makes Lucia’s stand out is that it understands the assignment. Great New York pizza doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel; it just needs to make that wheel exceptionally delicious. The crust should have the right balance of crispness and chew, the sauce should actually taste like tomatoes, and the cheese should stretch just enough to make your first slice feel like a terrible idea for your shirt.
Lucia’s brings the kind of classic NYC pizza energy that feels familiar without feeling stuck in the past. It’s the sort of place where a quick slice can easily turn into “Fine, let’s get a whole pie,” followed by the inevitable realization that you have somehow eaten half of it.
For Upper West Siders, that could be the real appeal. You don’t have to trek downtown, wait in a line that wraps around three blocks or pretend standing outside in February is part of the experience. You can simply head uptown and get serious about pizza.
Of course, declaring anything the best pizza in NYC is dangerous territory. There are legends, institutions and enough competing opinions to fuel several podcasts. But Lucia’s deserves a seat at the table.
If you’re hunting for the best pizza on the Upper West Side, Lucia’s might be the new name to know—and the latest reason to make pizza plans immediately.
