Lombardi’s Pizza: America’s First Pizzeria, but Not Its Best

Guest post by Joe Coniski, father of former Upper West Side Correspondent Sarah Coniski

During a late December trip to New York City to move my daughter, I made it a point to visit another New York City pizzeria from my list of “best pizza places” that I have collected for several years. My wife, daughter and I visited Lombardi’s Pizzeria, America’s first pizzeria, an establishment that has appeared on many best pizza lists, on a cold Tuesday night. The wait was long, and due to limited indoor waiting space, it was uncomfortable, too. Regardless of the crowds they face, potential diners should still be sure to push their way in to get their names on the wait list.

Fortunately, when it was our turn to be seated, we were directed to a dining room that was away from the waiting crowds. The atmosphere was nice and had a traditional pizzeria look, with the large ovens in full view.

We started with a mixed salad and tomato/mozzarella salad. Both were tasty and generous in size. The salads were followed by the pizza. Though the crust was good, the pizza was lacking overall flavor. Our pizza was topped with Italian sausage, pepperoni and mushrooms, but it still seemed as though it needed more spice.

Our service was excellent and all staff members were friendly, so this improved our experience.

In conclusion, Lombardi’s may be America’s first pizzeria, but it is definitely not its best. If you’re looking for an excellent pizza in New York City, I would recommend DiFara’s or John’s.

Sarah, have fun and be safe during your travels to Australia and New Zealand! We look forward to more reviews when you return! - Caryn & Laura

The Basics

Name: Lombardi’s Pizzeria

Location: 32 Spring St (corner of Spring at Mott streets)

Who to take: Family, friends, out of town visitors.

Price: $$

Overall: There are far better places to get pizza in New York City, but the service was good. Three stars.