Joe’s Pizza

As the ancient Italian-American proverb goes, there are three constants in life: death, taxes, and the excellence of Joe’s slices. The workaday Greenwich Village shop is the consummate New York slice parlor first and foremost for its uncanny, unparalleled consistency. It’s a spot where your slice is exactly as excellent as the last time, and the time before that, every time. That can be attributed, yes, to high turnover: Slices fly off the counter, and new pizzas are constantly being baked, guaranteeing freshness. This brings up another essential fact: Joe’s is always busy, but it’s never a pain to get in and get out. The ideal slice joint shouldn’t be a major commitment for locals, and the slice must be obtained without hassle. Which is why the legendary Di Fara, where you wait 45 minutes to an hour for a slice that could be fantastic but might be burnt, is absent from this list.