Joe's Pizza of Bleecker Street

Dive Pizzeria

Despite the many downsides of eating at Joe's Pizza -- cash only, no public restrooms, nightmarish parking situation, whole pies come in only one size: 19" -- they make a to-die-for thin crust pizza that's probably the most authentic New York-style slice in all of Los Angeles. Joe Vitale and Matt Thomas have opened a branch of popular New York pizza joint here in L.A., and their crust is a thing a of beauty: a disc that's wafer-thin yet crisp and sturdy. This is dough that won't wilt under an onslaught of toppings. The price is a bit steep ($2.75 for a cheese slice), the ambiance is unappealing and the crowd is a mix of tourists, casual shoppers and the occasional bum. And if you're flying solo but want a fresh pie, you'll have to settle for way more than you can reasonably eat in one sitting, because Joe's only makes whole pizzas in 19" rounds. Because of Joe's proximity to Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica beach, parking (especially in summer) is always difficult. The paid city lots are frequently full, and on summer weekends traffic on surface streets slows to a crawl. Fortunately, Joe's delivers.

PS - Ignore the various online listings that claim Joe's Pizza is located at 111 Ocean. It isn't. It's on Broadway near 1st St.

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