Sofia Pizza Shoppe — Restaurant in New York

great pizza still lives on the island of Manhattan! it thrives in a tiny pizzeria called Sofia Pizza Shoppe. though the number of places serving up legit slices of NYC pizza has shrunk over the years. the cheesy saucy magic of team at Sofia’s is something to appreciate bc even though times change…great pizza remains the same…delicious.

Sofia Pizza Shoppe is mostly a grab-n-go place. it is squeezed into a tiny space on First Avenue in the east 50s. this pizza joint has a several pies on display, a couple of tables outside, and a raised ledge if you want to eat inside.

the plain cheese pizza called the “classica” is amazing. seriously. this is what classic NYC should be—thin crispy crust with some flop but not too thin or cracker-like; crushed salty sweet plum sauciness; a melty layer of mozzarella; and the hints of Pecorino Romano cheese. the crust has that slight crunch yet soft chew, the cheese is scattered and smooth but doesn’t become like a thick blanket, and the flavor of fresh ripened tomatoes in a sauce is what takes this slice from “very good” to AWESOME is its authenticity and commitment to serving that iconic NYC pizza slice to veteran carb eaters as well as pizza eating rookies. don’t underestimate these plain slices as they are filling because they are high quality.

there are a good variety of round specialty pies as well as specialty square pies (like Sicllian and Grandma Pizza). of course, you can customize your own with those classic toppings. your eyes will feast on those pies on display. Sofia’s also serves calzones and rolls and such, but the focus is on pizza.

PRO TIP: there’s a two slices of “classica” + can of Coca Cola lunch special from 11 am to 3 pm.

the staff is friendly and cool. it’s clear that the pizza here is a product of passion and hard work. if you haven’t had this pizza, you are not living your best...

Sofia Pizza Shoppe We finally had an opportunity to go to Manhattan a few weeks ago. After checking into our hotel we headed over to Sofia Pizza Shoppe. After reading about and seeing reaction on social media we knew it was a place we had to try and we were not disappointed. The staff was super friendly and took our order with a few choice suggestions. I had a slice of the Margherita and my wife had the spinach dip. As we waited for our slice to heat up we sat along the wall bar by the window and were amazed at the foot traffic coming in and ordering slices and whole pies. I saw two people walk past and wave to the staff. Though the shop is small there are a few seats along two eating bars one of which faces windows that swing open during warm weather. It would be like eating el fresco! Our pizza arrived piping hot and delicious. The crust was perfect and the topping of my Margherita with basil was outstanding. My wife loved the flavor of the spinach/artichoke dip topping on her choice. I was talked into a second piece and this time I had the pepperoni pizza. The pepperoni’s mild fennel flavor was noticeable, as delicious as the first piece. So many choices and not enough time to sample all the choices. I think the ingredients are what this pizza is all about. Next time we are going to order a whole pie, sit by the open window and enjoy the best...

Outstanding. Best pizza I’ve had in my life. Took my whole family into the city to see a show. Had read about this place’s outstanding reviews for a while now in the NY Times and NY Post. I’d also seen them talked about on FOX5 and PIX11 as the best pizza in the city. Figured we’d give it a go pre-show. My first impression was that this is quality with a capital Q! The sauce is deliciously good. A ton of tomato flavor without any sugar added, something the pizza place apparently firmly stands by. I’m guessing it speaks to the quality of tomato. That goes for their Margherita and vodka sauces as well as their “Classica” sauce. I’ve actually never had a vodka slice before, but now I’m a convert! Really good. The different cheeses they use (fresh mozzarella and regular) were superb and not at all greasy like most places I’ve come to know. My kids also loved the pepperoni. They have those tasty little cup & char style ones. And also- YOU MUST TRY THE SPINACH DIP. It’s ruined pizza for my wife because she said whenever I make a work trip into the city that I have to pick up a spinach dip pizza for her. I gotta say… it was pretty damn unique and really good. The guys behind the counter were really nice too. Nice design to the place even if it’s a little small. Can’t win them all I guess. Very good experience. Excellent food....