Raceway Pizza — Restaurant in City of Yonkers

This isn’t a hospital and it’s not your grandmother’s house, but I can guarantee you’ll get taken care of here. There hasn’t been a single time where I walked into Raceway Pizza and not walked out satisfied. And rightfully so, have you even tried the pizza? There’s a reason it’s a local favorite.

A bit of background: I used to come here every now and then back before the pandemic shook the world, and it was always a pleasure to come here. The original proprietor, Louie, was the heart and soul of the place. I knew people who would just go to this place for the sole purpose of talking to him, he was always cheerful and always had a story to tell. It impacted me too, because I became one of those people who came there just to hear him talk. It felt like every time I spoke to him I had a weight lifted, so this place has sentimental value to me. I was glad to see that it didn’t shut down (thank God) because Yonkers wouldn’t be the same without it.

Flash forward to present day, and it’s still as great as I remembered. The new proprietor, Vin, takes very good care of the place and still keeps the same hospitality that will keep you coming back. I’ve always had a pleasant or engaging time just catching up with him, hearing about what’s new or just talking about daily woes or wins in life. Not unlike what I felt when I spoke to Louie, so I have to thank Vin for indulging in so many random conversations.

When there’s no chatter to be had, you can see Mario tirelessly working behind the counter to make some of the best pizza you’ve yet to taste. Don’t let the chill demeanor of this place fool you; these people care very much about how their pizzas are made and will do whatever is needed to make it some of the best you’ve had. My personal favorite is the chicken/broccoli/tomato slice, along with a meat lover’s slice. The former is probably ideal for someone who isn’t me. That is, someone that can single handedly down a slice in 5 minutes or less. If you’re looking to try a less oily alternative, I HIGHLY recommend this slice. The chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The sliced tomato is fresh and leaves a satisfying crunch with the crust, and the broccoli adds that bit of healthiness to it that I would best describe as putting salt on your fries. It just makes it blend together so perfectly, and is quite savory.

Now, if you’re someone who wants to take the road to glory, the meat lover’s slice is another favorite of mine. With a spicy and chewy (yet savory) texture, this slice is sure to satisfy even the most bloodthirsty of carnivores, or at least that’s what I call myself when I go into this place hungry. The pepperoni compliments the bacon and sausage on the slice perfectly—you’d be hard pressed to not try a bite out of this and resist cracking a smile. I know I do!

All in all I’m glad this place is still around, it’s a quiet little spot that you can bring just about anyone to, so long as you bring a smile and treat the staff well. You’ll feel like they were family, and will want to linger around with how well they’ll take care of you as a result. I’m unsure of what the future holds, but if there’s one constant I’d like to have, it’s to see this place still kicking many years down the line.

To Vin, thank you for all the kindness you’ve shown me. To Mario, thank you for going the distance and making some of the best slices I’ve eaten. You guys are part of what makes coming to this place great, and you can expect me to return there for...

Back in business!

For those who know, the original Raceway Pizza & Hero's closed after 52 years. Forward a year later and the new owner has renovated and reopened with the same taste. Once the original closed, I was as saddened as others were but was happy Louie got the enjoy retirement. I had heard there would be a new owner - Louie's 'honorary nephew' - and it finally opened back up very recently.

The inside has been renovated and looks a little more modern. The booths inside behind the fridge are still there, but there is open seating on the other side. In all the years I came here, I never once went into the 'other room', but it's wide open now and can fit plenty of patrons. Outside has a fresh, new coat of paint.

There are plenty of options on the menu - the same as before and there looks to be more than before. I used to get the same things and though I always wanted to expand on trying what was here previously, I never did. Now I get the chance to. One noticeable change is a delivery option being here now. Plenty see behind the glass and everything looks tasty. Everything is apparently the same with quality - passed on from Louie.

I ordered the larger pie and some pepperoni rolls - basically what I've always ordered from here and it tastes close enough. Finding good pizza is hard and not all pizza is created equal, but those appreciating good pizza will find it here. There are 4 other pizzerias within a mile from here, but this is my go to stop for that now that it's open again.

The owner is friendly, welcoming, and nice. I wish him the best of luck.

Parking is metered - both street and lot - unless you park further on a side street. Use caution s the meter police are on Yonkers Avenue very frequently.

It's been a long year waiting for this place to open back up and now it finally is. I missed having this option and I'm happy this is here. I will always miss Louie and while he's not there anymore, this place still is and will always have...

I don’t really give out 1 star reviews, I just usually remind myself not to come back to a place where I receive bad service. This is my local town and I care for my community and people who look like me ( A Minority ). This place was own by an elder, Italian guy who seen it all, meet a lot of movie stars, Athletes and had authentic stories forever. The original owner made you felt like your having dinner in a dining room family style, made you feel like you were home. The original owner to this place remember and respected his everyday customers that ate in his pizza shop. I’m very sad he sold it to the new generation because the new owners are not welcoming people and you can see the façade in their personality. Soon as I walked in you can tell they’re already judging you / me when you walk in. No smiles, greetings I mean nothing you gotta have a staring contest before you order and after I ordered while I was waiting for my 2 slices of pizza and a bottle of water which cost me roughly $10 I needed to use there restroom which is in the lounge seating area. I asked to use it and was told “it’s for paying customers only” and she said it with a straight and serious face. I looked at her with confusion. So I Just paid for my food...