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High St (A, C)
Clark St (2, 3)
York St (F)
Mon-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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Lines are for suckers. Wait till the late fall and you can walk right in. Also, what's with people dropping stars because of the long wait? Would you drop a star from el bulli because it's tough to get a seat? Come on, let's talk about food here. If waiting in line is the issue, then anything that's in demand would suck.
Anyway, I didn't think this place could even come close to living up to its hype, but I was pleasantly surprised. The pizza was insanely good and cheap ($20 fed 3 people.) The service was good. The ambiance was pretty much consistent with any other pizza place, which is to say, fairly non-existent, but who cares, it's pizza.
"If Time Is Money, Grimaldi's Is Overpriced"
I was really tempted to give this place two stars, but I can't because the pizza isn't bad, it's good. In fact, I think it's right up there with Lombardi's. The only reason why I'm giving it three out of four stars is because:
The lines are always horrendous. It is akin to waiting in line for Magnolia's in the Village: sure, they may be so-so cupcakes, but nowhere near good enough to wait in line for such a long time.
The service: efficient. I use that word carefully because while the waiter did manage to bring us our drinks and pizza without any mishap, there was little in the way of personality or even humanity. When you eat here you are just another cow at the trough. The service here is all about turnover. No one wants you to stay any longer than it takes to eat your pizza and drink your carbonated beverage.
The food itself is pleasant enough, but the wait and the nonexistent decor or ambiance makes it hard to enjoy. Why wait for an hour and a half just to eat a hurried dinner? We spent less than half the time we waited in line inside the actual restaurant and still had to tip 20% (as much as I may not like a place, a waiter still has to make a living).
So my advice is... go to Lombardi's. Same grade pizza. Little to no wait, and something that resembles service. Don't get lost in the hype. Unless, of course, you like Magnolia's cupcakes. Then knock yourself out.
P.s. I'm so, so, so close to giving this place two stars. But I'll refrain. For now.
I've eaten here twice and it's seriously worth waiting in line. The crust is magical. The pizza isn't too overpriced either.
I've been on the lookout for the best pizza in NY. I've eaten a lot of pizza and this was up there.
Well, there seems to be an anti-tourist slant here, so I'll address this to the tourists. If you are in Manhattan on a nice day, take the subway to the Brooklyn Bridge, stroll across it, hit Grimaldi's for a pizza, then walk down to the end of Fulton St. (grab a cone of very good ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory if you have room left in the tummy), stroll the short distance to the edge of the East River and enjoy a one of a kind view. Will you have had the worlds best pizza? Who knows, but you'll have had an experience well worth the effort, I promise.
Oh, almost forgot. Time your trip for off peak dinner/lunch hours and you can avoid the dreaded wait for a table. And don't let anyone make you feel bad about being a tourist. This may shock some people, but as soon as a New Yorker leaves the 5 boroughs they're tourists too.
Reviewing Grimaldi's, is like reviewing Peter Luger, nothing I could say would stem the tide waiting outside.
I stopped there recently after visiting galleries in DUMBO, it was early so no line, but the Pizza was just awful, the service awful, and the music deafening. The Palladium in its heyday was quieter!
The crust was totally soggy, just plain not cooked, the famous crisp almost burned crust, of John's (Bleeker St.) and Grimaldi's (from visits years ago), just was not there, we ordered two pies and they were both a soggy mess, pick them up and they were limp, luke warm, and spongy.
The waiter spilled on us, and no one really took care of it, he walked away, and bus boys seemed totally befuddled, we had to beg. No replacement of the spilled drink -- how cheap can you get?
The music would go to full volume, people would complain, it would go down to a human level, and then two songs later it was cranked up again to ear splitting levels. I have been to Greatful Dead concerts in the first few rows which were not like this... it was painful, and the music choice -- well let's just say 50's Italian, which at it's best, can be romantic and fun, was painful, you simply could not talk.
As a New Yorker I am sometimes pulled into the tourist spots by friends, and it the spot is just fair. But in this case, it was dreadful.
Cheap though.
I could live at this place for the rest of my life and be completely happy!
I love you Gramaldi's! its worth the wait.
The best I've had in the city. I love Fornino's, but that's more for pizza with the frills, like capers and anchovies and fresh herbs and such. At Grimaldi's I got the plain, and it was perfect... add to that nice waiters, a great vibe... and, again, the pizza... THE PIZZA.
Sigh. I can't wait to go back.
After having lived in Manhattan for 20+ years, the land of fabulous pizza on every corner, I was kidnapped by an out of town guest determined to follow the tourist track who dragged me to Grimaldi's kicking and screaming to sit with a bunch of tourists with nary a New Yorker in the place!
From the looks of the crowd there it's probably in every guide book on the planet for which you'd expect worse. So long story short; OK But not worth the trek. Given the taste was fresh, not the typical canned tomato sauce you get. But there is equal or better pizza on most any corner in Manhattan especially now with the new breed of artisanal pizzerias these guys can't really compete unless you're a tourist and don't know any better and are afraid to enter your local pizzeria.
I have to say that those that give it high ratings really don't know much about NY Style aka Sicilian pizza. So yes it might be 4 stars if your idea of pizza is Dominos.
My suggestion? Hit this place up during the off hours. Unless you are willing to wait on a line that reaches down the block, I would say avoid going there on the weekends! I've tried one weekend to show up an hour before but there was already a line forming!
There are small and large pies and a variety of toppings to choose from. They typical pepperoni, sausages, mushrooms or ones like capers, anchovies, onions, and extra cheese/tomato/basil. As many or whatever your heart desires.
Afterwards, its suggested that it would be nice to roam the area for a post-meal walk with your company.
Better the second time. I don't recommend getting olives unless you love them because they are the whole, potent kind. Also, if you are a fan of anchovies when no one else is, then you can get them on the side but they're not as good when they haven't been baked on the pizza.
Stick with their ultra-flavored pepperoni and mushrooms!!
New Yorkers love lines!! They wait in line for everything. It's something I don't see much on the… Read more »
2.5 stars
I hope it was either because Grimaldi's was way hyped up for me and my expectations were unable to be exceeded or it was our poor choices for toppings.. because frankly, I was not the least bit impressed.
We ordered a large with 5 toppings - sausage, peppers, olives, onions and mushrooms. Don't get me wrong, the ingredients and toppings were tasty and fresh.. but it looked and was a little too wet and soggy for my liking. All the toppings were constantly falling off the slice as if it was only meant to be eaten with a knife and fork. Also, please take note that the olives here are definitely more potent than the ones normally served at pizzerias. In my personal opinion, I would choose Lombardi's over Grimaldis. I especially enjoyed Lombardi's spinach topping and draft beer availability.
On the bright side, I'm extremely relieved that there was no wait on a Wednesday night.. or else it wouldn't added to my first mediocre dining experience at Grimaldi's.
DAMN GOOD
I think the prices are right, and so is the pie.
It's not fair to say it's "the best pizza" but it's pretty damn good, i'll tell you
that. Just go and support a classic Brooklyn sit down pizza joint.
3.5 Stars
Grimaldi's is the quintessential NY pizza.
I've only made it here twice. After the second time, the wait was just so discouraging to warrant a third visit. If you don't mind it, then you should go. The problem with this place is that too many damn tourist know about it! That is the reason for dropping a half star. The pie itself deserves 4 stars.
Surprise-surprise!!.....it's cash only. Like most places in Brooklyn!
I've you decide to go, let me know when your halfway through the wait so I can follow and jump in the line!
Whatever you decide to get, add on a small cheese pizza with pepperoni and sausage. Holy CRAP! I don't like sausage and I'm so-so on some types of pepperoni, but these guys must put crack in both because it was divine! We also go a white pizza which was good, but didn't compare to the supreme awesomeness that was our sausage and pepperoni pizza.
Want to skip the lines? Order them to go (you can just walk in, only one person though, it's cramped in there as it is) and bring them down to the promenade and watch people have their wedding photos taken, pigeons try to steal your pizza and little kids running around screaming. Top it all of with some amazing ice cream and you've got yourself one heck of a Saturday.
YUM. One of best pizzas I have had in my life. It's even better than my beloved Costco.
The crust is awesomely thin. Two girls and one boy finished a large with basic, sausage, garlic. I think what really makes it is the cheese and sausage. It's not precooked meat. They have a pile of sausage that they pinch little pieces from and throw it on to the pizza. SO good. The cheese is also fresh mozarella... not the shredded kind. Next time, I would skip out on the garlic because it was slightly overpowering but still good.
If you want to minimize your wait time try to make it for the first seating... meaning... go there at least one hour before it opens. We went 30 minutes prior and we had to wait a total of 1.5 hours. But it was way worth it.
We waited in line for over an hour, and sure that's to be expected since it's Grimaldi's, but if I'm going to wait that long for food, it better be damn good.
Well, it wasn't. Alas.
We ordered a small, with onions, basil, and sun-dried tomatoes. Service was exceptionally quick (add a star there!), which impressed me considering how packed that place was. The decor was simple and appropriate - red and white checkered tablecloths, Frank Sinatra photos on the walls, Frank Sinatra music on the speakers.
The pizza, however, didn't blow my mind. The middle part was soggy and flimsy, there was too much sauce, and all in all, it tasted like a standard slice of brick oven pizza. Nothing spectacular. I was really looking forward to it too, because this place seems like one of those New York institutions, you know? Perhaps there's still always a long line here because the place has already established itself, and its name is enough to attract crowds.
I thought the pizza was just kind of whatever. Good, but nothing to write home about.
Still, a coupla stars for the super quick and efficient service, for the decor, and for being just decent.
Not great, not bad. It was just...pizza.
The main question you ask: Is it worth the line?
Yes. Yes it is.
Anything you get on your pizza will probably be good. Affordably priced for Bklyn/NYC. Classic Italian decor.
That is all. Now go eat some pizza.
WARNING: Do not raise your hand in this place. They consider it "rude" or "not nice." Check out my friend's (Elica N.) review.
Was it worth the trek from Manhattan to this joint? Probably not but if you've never been then maaaybe give it a try. I actually prefer Lombardi's over this place as I'm sure most others do. It's right under the Brooklyn Bridge. Make sure you keep a lookout or you might just miss it. Oh yeah, major traffic jam for the bathroom. ONE bathroom for both men and women!
This place is just one big open space and you can actually watch the people make your pizza. Luckily, we came at a good time. By the time we got our pizza, there was this long line going down Fulton. The wait probably isn't too bad as diners are in and out of this place within 30 minutes or so.
The pizza was decent. I actually liked the crust better than Lombardi's. It had this oven-cooked taste to it which gave it this slightly burnt flavor to it. The cheese was a little rubbery and the toppings weren't all that great. We ordered sausage all around and half of mushroom. Only saw little samplings of the mushroom sprinkled on the half. I couldn't even taste it! My friends were complaining that parts of their pizza was cold. It also seems like they like to serve water with NO ice. Ick.
I came merely for the experience and to compare this place to Lombardi's. Without a doubt, Lombardi's comes out on top. Would I recommend this place to friends? Probably not.
Mmmm... the quintessential thin crust pizza. You should go - it really is that good. There's always a line but it moves surprisingly fast. I usually go light on the toppings so as not to ruin the essence of the crust and the sauce + cheese.
On a sidenote, I don't understand how people can abandon their crusts. Now sometimes I throw away crust of regular pizza because it tastes like cardboard and is a waste of calories but come on people... this is Grimaldi's! The crust here is perfectly crispy, slightly chewy and just salty enough. If you don't want your crust, give it to meeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
I consider myself something of a pizza aficionado, but had never made the great pizza pilgrimage across the Brooklyn Bridge to check out Grimaldi's. Shocking, I know; scandalous, even. Often proclaimed "the best pizza evah," this is one of those great culinary legends of New York that one must try (Magnolia Bakery, Peter Luger's, etc.) And like Peter Luger's, it ain't all that.
Look, this is unquestionably good pizza, but no, it's not the best ever. Lombardi's and Keste both offer a more chewy, flavorful crust and the toppings here were just alright. All things being equal, I would pick either one of those places above Grimaldi's, but then you have to factor in the schlep across the bridge and the ridiculously long wait. The entire experience took over 2 hours (not counting schlep time) and after 55 minutes spent waiting on line just to get in the damn place, the pizza would have to be at least 55% better than its competitors to be worth my time (call it the Shake Shack factor). And it's not.
Grimaldis isnt even in the same galaxy as Lombardis. luckily we didnt have to wait in line to eat here. if there were a line then i'd turn back around and eat at lombardis. their "customer service" is horrible and just left a bad taste in my mouth. The cheese was super runny and the sauce tasted weird.
Verdict? LOMBARDIs all the way!
A wise man once said pizza is a lot like sex. When it's good, it's really good. When it's bad, it's still pretty good. Well this pizza is really good. Can I say it's the best ever? No, but oh man is it good. Certainly falls into the top 5.
Now the details, the pizza here falls in between what most refer to as NY style pizza and what would be a classic thin crust Italian. It is a very light pizza; it is not greasy at all and has a great fresh vibrant taste. You can tell that the ingredients going into and on this pizza are of great quality. This truly is a great pizza. One other big plus is as long as you don't overdo it with the toppings the prices are great for a pizza of this quality. So why not five stars? Mostly because some of the slices I had were soggy which is defiantly not acceptable for pizza, I also felt that the pizza could have benefited by a few more minutes in the oven to really crisp up the outside of the crust.
So some suggestions: First, off come here for the pizza, don't expect five start dining. Second, you cannot order slices. Third, don't put to many toppings on this pizza; keep it simple stupid. Forth, bring cash they don't take plastic. And finally just dig in and enjoy.
Kind of a tourist trap! The pizza was good but was it good enough to wait in line for an hour? At this point...I'm not really sure. There are no slices here...I just wanted to try the pizza but was forced to buy the whole pizza...luckily I have a fridge in my hotel room...I've got pizza for the rest of the week. The crust was fantastic on the pizza...the coal burning oven just rocks. I'm glad I tried it but I would not go out of my way to return here.
Good people watching! Guy running the front door was funny. He had to keep busting on tourists. People would try to scam into the resturant...after walking past the line outside. Yeah because 60 people standing outside a pizza joint is normal in every country.
Oh yeah bring cash too...no credit cards! Take that Uncle Sam!!!
So to recap! Fun experience but would probably never do it again!!!
How you feel about Grimaldi's depends on your NY pizza experience. If you're from out of town, and that can be anywhere from Westchester to the former West Berlin, go ahead. Tourists love long lines in obscure, picturesque neighborhoods. They love to find, at the business end of that line, tasty, authentic, inexpensive native food from the area they're visiting. Cash-only adds to the charm.
So, all you list-checkers, go, and you won't be disappointed. And I will do the same thing in Prague or Bucktown, and I'll feel like it was worth it.
Now, in my real identity as a former New Yorker who grew up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, would I go back? Occasionally. Forget the scene, the tourists, the line, the fauxthenticity. The question is, what does it taste like? I am honest enough to admit two things:
*Slices of mozzarrella, which Grimaldi's uses, are better than that mass of shredded stuff which forms a greasy blanket on too many Brooklyn neighborhood slices.
*Brick oven makes a slightly crisper crust than standard NY pizza ovens.
The sauce? A little too simple for my taste, and the pizza could have used more. I loved the big slices of fresh basil they put on each slice of plain. A very nice touch. Service was better than I expected. Although the tables turn quickly, when they saw we were lingering, they did not push us out. Half carafe of house wine was drinkable, and the price is reasonable.
I had a great night out with friends here a while ago. The pizza is good and not too expensive!,
although there is always a line down the block :)
I'll go back for sure.
A reminder of why NYC pizza reigns supreme. Nearly perfect crust and a nice balance of toppings, cheese, and sauce. Most impressive of all: Grimaldi's pizza slices taste great reheated after a night in the fridge.
Grimadli's operates like a fine-tuned pizza factory with pies flying out of the oven and onto your table in no time at all. Our three pies (margherita, pepperoni and mushroom, and (no cheese) mushroom and roasted red peppers) arrived in less than 10 minutes. I am always impressed when cheese less pizza tastes good -- this cheese-less pie was great.
The restaurant's interior is alive with chatter and noise; the tables are clean; and the temperature is cold (no heat as far as we could tell).
Was Grimaldi's tasty pizza worth the 45 minute wait in the freezing cold and the long train ride from Manhattan? Yes . . . but only once in a while.
My all-time favorite pizza place is still Lucali, also in Brooklyn (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). The place has a completely different feel (slow, warm, calm) and each pie is made with more TLC and personalized attention.
Great pie! Especially after walking the bridge... Seriously, this is one of the top 5 pizza places I've ever been to anywhere.
The first time we at here, I thought the pizza was just okay. Then when we were back in Oregon, I tried to come up w/a pizza I liked better.... No dice.
Then we came back this September and had it again, and I can definitely say that this is my favorite pizza of all pizzas. I started craving it around June. The crust is a great consistency: thin, crispy and tasty. The sauce was simple and tasted fresh. The mozzarella is sliced, not shredded, so it melts in this weird awesome way to make the texture unique.
We had a party of ten this last time and had to have 5 pizzas and no leftovers (We had some big eaters). If you're wanting alcohol, I recommend against the beer. It's never very cold. They have a pretty big wine selection, though, and even the house red is pretty good at $4.
Best pizza in NYC that I've had. The sauce is so fresh and they prepare the pizza with the best toppings, in the perfect ratio.
Yeah, there's a long line but it is well worth it at least once. I can't always bear the commute and the long wait but when I want THE BEST pizza, this is where I go. The service is great for how busy it gets too. The atmosphere inside is also very energetic and hilarious at times.
Keep in mind that you can't order slices, it is cash-only and even if you want your food to-go, you still have to wait in line with everyone else. It is a small price to pay for perfection...and speaking of prices, they are very reasonable.
Bring cash with you because their ATM is broken and the one next door has an outrageous $4.50 fee!
Guys, do not waste your time standing in line for this. Pizza is ordinary. Service is atrocious. People are rude. And it is EXORBIDANTLY pricey. Do not validate bad food and worse behavior. Spend your hard earned money on something to be proud of.
the pizza is indeed fantastic just as the line would suggest, however this is like a once a year pizza place or a tourist trap pizza place. this isnt the place on the corner that is quick, remembers your face and your order when you walk in. thats what i feel like a good pizza place in ny should be, and i have found a few of those in my time in the city. everything here is fresh and great but because of its popularity the prices are more like you are going out for a fancy meal than having some pizza with friends. i do suggest going here if you have never been before, i'll let you form your own opinion on when you need to go back....
like a few other people i do suggest going in off hours, if you can guess when those are. i promise you wont be the only ones with this idea though.
Good Pizza, best thin crust I have had in New York and prompt quick service. I went at 3pm so there was no line and we were actually able to sit a table of fourteen in five minutes! The pizza was very good, one large pizza can be shared by 3 hungry people (remember the crust is thin!)
I also liked how their sodas are from soda bottles and not fountain soda because then if you do not finish it you can take it with you.
We ordered half of a pie with mushroom and the other half with a topping but everyone is right the topping just takes away from the pizza. Don't do it.
Oh and it is cash only so leave the plastic at home.
Looking for "New York Pizza"? You'll find it here.
So there are usually lines outside the door at this place - it's for a reason. Grimaldi's in Brooklyn is one of the well-known, guide-tapped landmarks of New York. They have some pretty awesome pizza when you eat it fresh from the oven, especially on a semi-chilly day. The warm, gooey cheese and coal brick fired dough has no other match in the area. My favorite is the white pizza with extra garlic.
On a really nice day, order take out and trot over to one of the nearby parks (Empire Fulton or Brooklyn Bridge)...
this place is as good as people say! the pizza was so light and packed with flavor. shared a small pizza with pepperoni and mushrooms. we finished the whole thing and didn't even feel bad about it. the wait seems like it can get ridiculous though. we walked by around 11:15am and no one was there yet so we decided to walk down towards the little dock area. we went back at 11:25am and there were 20 people in line already! i was shocked at how many people were there at 11:30am. everyone got a table, but by the time we left around 12:30pm, there was already a wait outside. service was quick and seating is nice and cozy next to people that you don't know. this place definitely has a nice charm to it.
the line that forms here is no joke. we got here 30 minutes before opening and there already was a line. nestled right next to the brooklyn bridge and a famous homemade ice cream place... this place is definitely a tourist trap. but who cares!... the pizza here is freakin' good.
they don't serve by the slice but by the pie. we ordered one with pepperoni, sausage, and onions... and the other just plain. i thoroughly enjoyed the pepperoni, sausage and onions pie. the mozzarella was fresh... crust was perfect... and toppings were delicious. as for the plain... it was good but not great.
i am totally craving pizza right now.
The pizza is always extremely delicious except I am too lazy to go here even though I live really close by. There is no delivery and the line is usually extremely long.
I'm a fan of the pizza, but not the restaurant because the tables are so close together and everyone is squished. If you feel like eating here be prepared to feel like you are eating in a crowded train during rush hour.
Definitely one of the best pizzas I have had. I think what makes the pizza so great is that the mozzarella is so fresh. I probably could have eaten a whole pizza by myself.. :) The wait was over an hour, but it was worth it.
This is one of the most well known pizza places in all of New York. The crust is thin and crispy, yet still chewy. I went with a classic margherita pizza, the mozzarella fresh, the basil flavorful and just enough sauce to give the pizza the best consistency. Make sure you wait on line because there is never NOT going to be a line and eat this pizza immediately while it's still hot and fresh out of the oven! It's not so good when it gets soggy.
This is a classic NYC pizza joint, if you're looking for NY pizza...this is it.
All you Chicagoans with your deep-crust pizza....go suck it.
Okay, listen up.
It's almost a given that most "institutions" in New York are overrated and overpriced. Grimaldi's knows that they're going to have a good business forever, so they can act like they pretty much do. not. give. a. fuck, which is exactly what they do. A surly waitstaff, dirty plates, and cramped seating--their pizza better be GD amazing.
And Grimaldi's does have very good pizza. Is it the best pizza I've ever had? No. It's like that quote: "Pizza is like sex and The Simpsons. Even when it's bad it's still pretty good."
But am I gonna wait in a 2 hour line to get a pizza? R U FO REALSIES? I don't think so.
Best pizza I've ever had, it's true. Sure, there's a long line, but that's part of the experience.
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