Lucia Pizza

According to the prevailing definition, a classic New York slice should be thin but not too thin, foldable but not oversized, crispy without being crackery, and straightforward as an MTA conductor who’d appreciate if you'd stop holding the doors. Lucia achieves all of this in impeccably unpretentious style. A regular slice at this narrow Flushing spot—not to be confused with the newer Lucia Pizza of Avenue X —costs around $3 and arrives crisp as creme brûlée, wearing a layer of molten cheese that mingles with puddles of grease and sweet tomato sauce. Grab your oil-stained paper plate, then claim a stool in the cluttered parlor that doesn’t seem to have changed since it opened in 1962.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Bryan Kim

Pepperoni Slice

Lucia makes whole pies with a variety of standard toppings. But if it’s a slice you’re looking for, your options are plain or pepperoni, both of which achieve a perfect simplicity. Whichever you choose, prepare for a cascade of grease and loose hot strands of cheese.