Everyone talks about Joe's Pizza at 7 Carmine Street in Greenwich Village like it's some sacred NYC institution, and while it's decent for a quick slice, the real pizza pilgrimage happens at Prince Street Pizza on 27 Spring Street in Nolita, where actual New Yorkers queue up for those legendary pepperoni squares 🍕

Here's the breakdown: Prince Street's pepperoni square slice runs $5.25, but those cupped pepperoni circles create little pools of spicy oil that'll ruin every other pizza for you. The crust has this perfect char-to-chew ratio, and their sauce has actual depth — Sweet San Marzano tomatoes with just enough oregano. Meanwhile, Joe's charges $3.50 for cheese that's fine but lacks the artisanal touch.

The difference is in the details: Prince Street uses a coal oven that hits 900°F, creating those signature leopard spots on the crust. They hand-cup each pepperoni piece so it curls during baking. Joe's cranks out consistently decent slices on deck ovens. Sure, Joe's is fine if you're stumbling around drunk at 2am, but if you want to understand why New Yorkers are obsessive about pizza, Prince Street is your education.

Pro tip: Hit Prince Street around 2pm on weekdays to avoid the lunch rush. The weekend lines stretch around the block for good reason.