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- Nearest Transit:
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1 Av (L)
3 Av (L)
Astor Pl (4, 6, 6X)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6 am - 10:30 pm
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
56 reviews for Hot & Crusty
Review Highlights
56 reviews in English
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Review from Clifford R.
Manhattan, NY
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Why would i go to Hot & Crusty instead of Artichoke? Because I don't always want to wait in line for 20 minutes to get a slice of pizza. Usually it's 2 AM or later. Usually I have enough energy to get a slice of pizza, walk the 2 blocks to my apt in Stuy town, and then pass out.
Here's what I do: After an evening of drinking, or after a $200 tasting menu that barely filled me up halfway, I have the cab drop me at the corner of 1st and 14th. As they're driving from 2nd ave to 1st ave on 14th st, I check to see the line at Artichoke. If it's not too long, then I'll go there for a slice. If it is too long, or I'm excessively tired, then it's time for Hot and Crusty. 2 AM pizza does not need to be Artichoke. It does not need to be Motorino, it does not need to be Luzzos. I just need something to put in my stomach to tide me over until the next morning. It's warm, it's cheesy, it's your typical mass-produced NY pizza. Not bad, but definitely not good either. So Hot & Crusty gets a 3-star rating for 2 AM pizza, and that's all I'll ever utilize them for! Cause Noon or 6 PM pizza would get a one star review. Just sayin'. -
Review from Allene T.
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
The only thing I've ever gotten here was a greek salad via Seamless. Note that they charge significantly higher for their salads online vs. their store. Strange.
Anyways, very large salad for the okay price, but I wish they would have balsamic vinaigrette.... had to settle for raspberry. It also said it came with stuffed grape leaves and kalamata olives, but that was not the case. Cheap black olives and no sign of stuffed grape leaves. It would have gotten 3 stars for the decent and filling salad, but the incorrect information sucks.
Why is salad so expensive anyways? -
Review from Roni S.
Brooklyn, NY
9/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hot & Crusty.
The location is hot and the staff is pretty crusty. There you go.
I've come here probably a dozen times or more over the past four years and I want to come back less and less each time. The pastries aren't that great and the bagels aren't that remarkable either. For bagels, it's worth the hike up to Ess-a-Bagel on 1st Ave. As far as the pizza goes, Motorino is just two blocks away, I can't even entertain the possibility of ordering a slice here, let alone an entire pizza. -
Review from Pete L.
Brooklyn, NY
2/7/2012
I'm happy to see that I'm not the only person on here who has a problem with this place. Since when did it become acceptable to toast a bagel on a panini press?? The name of the store implies they would know a thing or two about the extremely complicated process of making toast but clearly they've yet to figure it out. My bagel wasn't particularly hot and it definitely wasn't crusty. And why so much cream cheese on one side and none on the other? Am I the only person who doesn't eat a bagel like a sandwich?! I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!
This place plain old sucks. -
Review from John S.
1/17/2012
If you're looking for late night pizza and in the area... it's one of the few choices.. I jumped out of a taxi to grab a couple slices.. Got in line behind all the others trying to sober up... Bacon hawaiian and a sausage and peperoni... Both were heated up quickly.. did the trick ;)
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Review from christopher c.
Manhattan, NY
11/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had the chicken roll, not bad nothing special.
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Review from Mike B.
4/23/2011
came here before the event at Keybar last week to get something in my stomach.
I ordered a Sicilian slice. I was starving at the time, so I devoured it, and it wasn't horrible, but it just wasn't that good. the sauce was a little too sweet for my tastes, and most of the cheese came off with the first bite. I prefer Sicilian slices where they don't cover it with a sheet of cheese, but to each their own...
my friend Tim ordered a pepperoni slice and a beef patty. he said the pepperoni slice was alright, but the beef patty was good.
service was quick, and there was lots of seating.
doubt I'll be returning, at least for the pizza. they have a lot of other food though. -
Review from Alex S.
5/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Location, location, location.
If this place wasn't on the corner of the 1st ave L train, I probably would never have been here. But it is....and I have.
The pizza is pizza. Lots of slice options behind the counter. -
Review from Phil H.
3/27/2011 5 photos
I normally would not think that a coffee, bagel, and pasty place would also have decent pizza. I was really happy in my buzzed and hungry state to discover this place on the way to the subway. I was looking at a trip to another event all the way over in Astoria and I really needed to put something in my belly for the ride, as I knew my evening drinking adventure was going to continue.
They actually have a really nice variety of pies here, calzones, garlic knots, the works! All looked and smelled terrific and I could not hide my enthusiam by the noticable drool running down my chin. Waiting on line I resembled one of those drooling dogs like a Bull Mastiff. Ordered a slice of pepperoni and a few garlic knots. Sprinkled hot pepper on the slice and I was all set. Yeah, after eating this I was assured that no one would want to even get close enough to kiss me this evening, and at least I would ward off all the vampires out there. Tasty slice with a decent crust, but could have used more sauce. Garlic knots were killer.
Man, I reeked afer this meal. Wonder if that is why no one would sit by me on the subway. Good to know this place is here if drinking in the area again. -
Review from tellitlikeitis s.
New York, NY
6/12/2011
WORST COSTUMER SERVICE
DO NOT GIVE YOUR MONEY TO THIS PLACE
HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE..
Read on:
DO YOU WANT E-COLI?
i swore off this place after the first two weeks of moving to the area.
disgusting people working here..
i went in out of desperation tonight.. and people were slobbering and standing over me.. and the bugs from them, were crawling on to me..
i can not tell you how bad the service is here.
they treat yu like shit!
im very disgusted we even have this in our neighborhood.
RATTY DISGUSTING PEOPLE!
I'd rather starve! every experience here is a bad one!
more reasons to hate this place:
they dont let u sit without buying something right away
they dont let you use the bathroom
the pastries will give you diarrhea, guaranteed
they overcharge
the food isnt clean
FOOD is FAKE and tastes like shit and makes u sick as hell
Hot and Crusty is more like their temperament
Like the holocaust .. Never Again! -
Review from Tina C.
2/7/2011 1 photo
Factory assembly line operation service where servers and cashiers holler "next" to the maximum volume without personalization. Sales receipt states an invalid address (232 First Avenue) while their menu correctly states (400 East 14th Street). A quick on-the-go was a ham/cheese croissant at $3.17 which was plentiful in size for the price for a weary Sunday high noon. The croissant is cold as they do not heat it, whereas it is surely NOT "hot" albeit outside laid the claim "all bakery prepared on premises."
Hot & Crusty does have the option of carryout while other eateries and cafes in Stuyvesant Town don't. -
Review from Dwight C.
Manhattan, NY
5/1/2011
We went for dessert, there were 3 of us. I ended up getting some kind of bacteria and it made my stomach sick for 5 days. None of us liked what we got, everything tasted off.
Do not eat here. -
Review from Adam X.
Brooklyn, NY
4/26/2011
Simple place. I wasn't expecting much. But when I left a friend's place early one morning and hungover as hell, I knew i would want strong coffee and a bagel sandwich. Few things start the morning better.
The bagel was hard as a rock in some places, like chewing gum in others, lacking salt, freshness, and anything remiscent of a bagel actually. The coffee which I ordered black, came light and sweet. Once I got to my office and realized how terrible everything was, and had to throw the entire order away.
This place was not cheap either. I paid $5 for the stuff. For a real breakfast, I just went downstairs and ordered the same at a food cart. It came correctly executed and for half the price. -
Review from AJ N.
Somerville, MA
10/25/2011
Best late night food this side of the Mississippi...
My experiences of Hot & Crusty always seems to remind me of losing my virginity, short but sweet. This past experience was on a warm fall night after drinking many glasses of mid-grade whiskey and let me tell you, the food and service was top notch. Another whiskey drink and I could have mistaken this place for the Park Plaza Hotel bar. The gentleman that allows me to sleep on his couch while visiting NYC is the number one hater of this fine establishment, but what can you do, some peoples palates aren't as distinguished as others. I walked in on this glorious evening and was greeted by a man behind the counter, it was as if he were wearing a three peice suit rather than a sweat suit. I asked him for my favorite late night snack (everything bagel with jalapeño cream cheese and bacon) he was the first person ever not to cock their head at this request. He politely chuckled and said " a Mexican bagel sandwich, no problem". My other acquaintance i was eating with ordered a chicken cutlet sandwich that looked like it was made for the Gods themselves. With the concentration and finesse of a 3 star Michelin chef he made my sandwich and passed it down to the cashier. As I was paying for my food my friend snapped a picture and before I knew it there was a petite halloween pumpkin right next to me. The cashier who closely resembled Ava Mendez had inserted a pumpkin into the cameras line of sight, what a classy move. My taste-buds tingled while I ate as if there were a thousand Christmas elves dancing on my tongue. As i walked away away feeling pleasantly full I shed a tear because I knew I may not feel joy like this again for a while. Needless to say I will visit and enjoy the LES Hot & Crusty every time I go to New York City. -
Review from Martin W.
Brooklyn, NY
2/11/2011
Stopped by a few times for a quick bite and some conversation. The place is like grand central especially when the schools let out. I can only say the food is fast paced so there is pizza, cold cuts, salad, coffee and desserts. They do have seating so that is a plus and some of the white cheese pizza which I like was alright.
I have seen and heard conversations of couples breaking up, people selling goods of numerous sorts. So this place really lives up to the crusty and hot part. Good luck! -
Review from Aspasia B.
Brooklyn, NY
8/9/2010
Worst customer service in NYC.
The people working at this place are the biggest jerks on the planet. -
Review from Anastasia R.
Brooklyn, NY
4/11/2010
I always passed by the place and was a little put off by the name, hot and crusty isn't that appealing to me, I really don't know why; I'm sure its a repressed childhood trauma involving pastries.
Their pizza is some-timey. Sometimes its good other times its horrid. I stick with the basics here: Bagels and Coffee. Their flavored coffee is great; don't ever think you can drink it right away though its always alarmingly hot so .... don't burn your tongue like I did...3 times. -
Review from Ariel K.
New York, NY
4/30/2009
This place is hilarious. And by hilarious I mean its horribly upsetting yet amusing that people actually come here in search of food.
Lets talk about the name of this chain for starters. To me the combination of the words "hot" and "crusty "evokes some kind of food item that fell in between your car seat that you would find years later on a hot summer day. This image is not far off from what the "food" tastes like: slightly cold gummy pizza, stale pastries, and salad that was probably thrown out after its expiration date from Trader Joes a few blocks down on 14th.
The only thing that could possibly be said in Hot and Crusty's defense is the crowd one might encounter at say 4 am. Real Creepers. Lots of Drunks. I've been told that interesting fights and loud conversations could also be seen here.
Despite all of these amazing attributes, the food is also over priced. -
Review from Lauren L.
Manhattan, NY
2/28/2010
The name. The freaking NAME of this place is HOT AND CRUSTY.
Who decided THAT would be a good name of an establishment? I'll tell you who. SATAN.
Actually, I don't know who. That was just a wild guess. And the other thing I can't figure out is why this place is a chain.
Betcha I can think of more pleasant things that are Hot and Crusty.....Listed in: Nasty Crap.
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Review from Carl S.
New York, NY
8/11/2008
A little bit of something I would expect to find in midtown brought close to home.
The food just isn't real from this place. It has no soul. It's always hot and crusty though... is that a complement? -
Review from Nicole C.
New York, NY
2/2/2009
It's 2AM, Mc. Donald's next door is not 24 hours (I know, WTF, right?!) and I am hungry. I guess this is the next best thing. I order the sausage and pepperoni pizza. I've had better greasy pizza at 2AM, or maybe this wasn't that good because I was not inebriated. Either way, it was hot which I guess is a good thing and they have a brick oven.
One of the guys who works behind the pizza counter is our new BFF, my roommate was craving buffalo chicken (sans the pizza) and he cut a couple of pieces and gave them to her. Nice man.
Then a group of (probably inebriated) guys started a conversation with us. They started this whole discussion on how disgusting the name 'hot and crusty' is. We agreed that it is a slightly disgusting name, if you think about it. More so during the summer than the winter. I don't know why, heat and crustyness are not a good combo I guess.
It was entertaining, I'll give it that much...Listed in: Tasty food at 4AM, New York's finest...
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Review from Andrew D.
8/9/2008
barf. I ate a bagel at a hot and crusty on the UES last year when I was looking for apartments. I only stopped there because I was on a tight schedule. It reminded me of bagels from outside the greater tri-state area (ie Bruegers, Einsteins)... basically it was crap. I can't imagine the pizza or anything else here is much better.
When I found out that David's Bagels next door is losing their lease because the Landlord doesn't want them competing with the new Hot and Crappy i threw up a little in my mouth. (http://vanishingnewyor...)
Whenever I walk by in the morning on my way to work I make a point to look at the yuppies eating by the window and make horrified/disgusted faces at them.
Do yourself a favor and if you want a real NY bagel, go next door to David's. And for a classic NY style slice, Vinny Vicenz is right across the street. -
Review from Monica R.
Brooklyn, NY
8/25/2008
Meh. I've experienced better. WAY better.
I think the tables were hotter and crustier than the pizza.
Ick. -
Review from Christopher O.
New York, NY
9/16/2008
This place is responsible for the closing of neighborhood landmark David's Bagels, just two doors down 1st Avenue. The landlord forced out David's in favor of a disgusting generic chain he let open at the corner.
If you need any more convincing, the bagels are hard (not crusty... stale), the pizza sits in the window all day long and the place never has any air conditioning. -
Review from Kat I.
1/28/2009
A couple of times we stopped by cause it was just convenient to get a slice. Nothing spectacular but hey, standard pizza right next to the L subway station.
Well, we figured today let's order from there since we were in the mood for pizza!
Facts:
We're 4 blocks away (I guess we should've known better, I know I know...)
We called 45 minutes later since we hadn't received our order. We were told it was on its way.
So 15 minutes after that.. nothing..so we figure it can't be Hot (though I guess it could still be crusty!) so we call to cancel the order, no apology, just rude hang up.
I hate writing bad reviews as much as I love writing good ones, but in this case, really save yourself the trouble and aggravation. You can get anything similar and better elsewhere. -
Review from Samantha E.
Alexandria, VA
1/31/2011
I've come by here a few times for late night pizza. Nothing to write home about but good if you just want your standard pizza.
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Review from Josh M.
Manhattan, NY
1/31/2011
If you are expecting anything more from this place than you would a normal deli you will probably be disappointed. Most of the food doesn't look very good, but my girlfriend got me to try their bagels and I'm total hooked. If there is a reason why this place does so well, my guess is that they have killer bagels. Best bagels I have found to date in the East Village and they don't have a minimum for delivery, which means I can get my smoked salmon delivered from Russ and Daughters and my bagels from here... this place definitely has better bagels than Russ and Daughters and I know a lot of people claim R&D has some of the best bagels.
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Review from Peter S.
New York, NY
8/28/2011
Not somewhere I would go if it wasn't half a block from my apartment. When I want a slice of pizza covered in sausage and pepperoni, I head over to Hot and Crusty. As New York pizza goes, it's nothing special, but it's not bad either. A little bit pricier than it should be, but I'm willing to pay for the convenience. If you're just going for a plain slice, do yourself a favor and head down to Avenue A to Muzzarella, or pretty much any other pizza place in the area. But if you're short on time and want a specialty slice, Hot & Crusty gets the job done.
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Review from Dave B.
New York, NY
1/17/2011
Although i agree the service can be surly and lacking somewhat, i don't understand some of the harsh reviews as well as the name hating. I can't speak for the pizza, but if i wanted pizza, there are plenty of actual pizza places nearby. In H&C i stick with the paninis, croissants, bagels, coffee and such, which are usually good, and that goes for any of the H&Cs i've been to.
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Review from Heather H.
New York, NY
10/20/2010
i can only base my review on one visit, at about 2am, after a Sunday watching my beloved Chargers lose (yet again).... but it was delicious! my friend and i got 2 slices each, and i gobbled them both down. the cashier was very nice to us, too.
but be careful...i burned the roof of my mouth on the hot cheese! here it is, almost Thursday and it still hasn't healed...but it may have been worth it :) -
Review from Sonia D.
New York, NY
10/12/2009
it's decent food when you're really hungry and don't have options.
But I don't know if I can go back to a place where the pizza taste like the aluminum foil it was sitting on...
furthermore, the pizza looked like it had been sitting out all day, can't believe I ate it... -
Review from christopher p.
New York, NY
6/19/2010
Hot and Crusty ??? Sounds like a pair of old underwear I once found lying under the radiator back in my bachelor days. Doesn't sound too appetizing does it? Better to look at than those things they try to pass off as bagels though.
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Review from Alex G.
Manhattan, NY
4/7/2011
Been here twice and both times my order got screwed up. First time everything bagels with cream cheese, they gave me a plain bagels. The next time I ordered a black coffee and they gave me one with tons of cream and sugar in it. Right before I paid a lady came up complaining they gave her regular instead of deaf. The bagels are decent but not worth the bad service.
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Review from James H.
Brooklyn, NY
4/30/2009
I am baffled by anyone giving this more than a 1...
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Review from Yosuke M.
New York, NY
8/22/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Not sure why people are so hung up on the name of this place. To me it's a good and convenient pizza place. The pizza isn't the best in the city by far, but it's a good and hearty size and plenty of choices. The cheese I've found to be rubbery sometimes, but that's a hit and miss. The bagels here though are terrific. Grabbing a toasted bagel with cream cheese is a quick, cheap and tasty breakfast.
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Review from T D.
Morgan Hill, CA
7/19/2008
AWFUL! AWFUL! AWFUL!
PLEASE AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS!
HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!
I couldn't agree more with the "Glaze G" reviewer and disagree more with the "Terry H" reviewer who is obviously part of management team since he/she only wrote one review ever and rated this place a 4. HAH! What a coincidence!
After kindly suggesting a resolution to a MAJOR mistake that they made on their end, the team leader yelled at me for two whole minutes! Not kindly recommending a balanced resolution, not offering a substitute, not just rejecting my thoughts, not just raising their voice, but they YELLED at the top of their lungs! They practically pushed me out the door, took my money and wouldn't give me my food! Hoping for a gourmet specialty, I left sad, starving, and $10 poorer.
I've eaten a broad range of food in 25+ countries and tons of cities and have never been treated so POORLY at a restaurant EVER before!!!
*************Hands down, it's the worst customer service anyone can pay for!*************
Should have read the Yelp review before stopping at this place.
Barf! -
Review from StevenLiz K.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
10/24/2008
Rude....everytime.
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Review from Roman C.
Sacramento, CA
1/14/2010
The pizza was forgettable but it did the job when quick consumption of food was needed to head out to the desired destination. Much better pizza available elsewhere in the city. The name is more appetizing than the pizza.
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Review from Shira F.
New York, NY
8/30/2010
Routinely overcharge you by $2 - $3 for tossed salads at the cash register. No manager around to complain to. Nasty counter-people. Come here if you enjoy getting ripped off.
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Review from Allyson R.
Alpharetta, GA
9/17/2009
I have only been here once, although it's temptings because I pass it everyday walking to the L train. Today I actually went in to order a bagel and cream cheese. Well, I had a lapse of good judgement because it was terrible. The bagel was quite large, but they put hardly ANY cream cheese on it. It didn't even cover the whole bagel. For just that the total was 2.55. I think not. I will not be frequenting this establishment, and I recommend you save your money and go somewhere else.
