Best Pizza in Bay Ridge

Probably one of the best in the city. You get a great mix — classic New York pizzerias alongside more sit-down restaurant places. Everybody talks about Pizza Wagon, and it has become the pizzeria of Bay Ridge. Then you have the classics like Elegante, Mancini's, Nino's, Espresso and Bay Ridge Pizza, and the more upscale sit-down rooms like Campania, Peppino's, Leo's Casa Calamari, Brooklyn Firefly and Frankie's. There are so many good places you never have to go to the same one twice for a very long time.

Mancini's just won a contest for the best square slice in Bay Ridge. My personal opinion, Pizza Wagon's regular slice is the best slice in the neighborhood. But there is a ton of competition here and there is no wrong answer.

It sits on 5th Avenue at 86th Street, right off the main shopping avenue, and it is kind of the entrance to Bay Ridge coming in from the Verrazzano, Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights. It has a walk-up window and they mostly just sell pizza. It has a whole vibe you cannot replicate and cannot fake. I honestly cannot really explain it — you just have to experience it to understand.

Vesuvio is a great place and the pies are great. Brooklyn Firefly is a cool little bar — sometimes a jazz band plays in the back room. Good food, a good place to get wine and pizza, and they even do a vegan pie. Campania is a beautiful Italian restaurant blocks from the Verrazzano; you can sit in the corner window and get a view of the bridge. Frankie's is a cute little place just off 3rd Avenue that should get more recognition. Peppino's is another great spot, really charming decor inside — another underrated pie.

Frankie's. It is hidden on 71st just off 3rd. The staff are nice, they are legit pizza makers, and it is really nice inside. If it was on 3rd Avenue everyone would be talking about it, but it is tucked off to the side so it does not get the recognition it deserves.