On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
86th St (N)
25th Ave (D)
Loading...
I'm going to start off my illustrious and legendary Yelp career with a review of a place I could have reviewed when I was 10. Full disclosure: I have a sentimental attachment to L&B as my Grandma has always lived around the corner, and a love of the Sicilian pizza from L&B is pretty much genetic for me. To this day, whenever I visit, some squares come back with me. The same goes for the rest of my family. But sentimental attachment doesn't necessarily mean one is wrong, does it? Of course not, glad we agree. Look at some of the other reviews. I'm not alone here. This is the best Sicilian in NYC.
It's not your typical slice. Heavy on sauce, light but sufficient with the cheese. The sauce is fantastic, the crust is crispy and buttery, and it's baked perfectly. You can not go wrong.
As I tell anyone who's around, or even anyone passing through Brooklyn on the Belt: Go to L&B, get some squares, finish off with some rainbow spumoni, and you'll be enjoying life.
The round pie is just a round pie. Bypass it. You are here, you want the sheet pizza. You want a spumoni. That square is almost dessert-like. Smooth, thick, like a bread milkshake covered in tomato sauce.
L&Bs has been locked in time since 1939. Families, dates, and kids running around the red picnic tables, distorted radio playing overhead, nothing neuvo about this place. And I love it here.
People thought this was:
I know this neighborhood like the back of my hand. I know good pizza which I pick up with my hand. I want to deck whoever keeps making my god damn food cold with my freakin fist.
What the hell happened to this place? Do you guys not know how to function an oven? I had food from there twice in the past week and twice it was cold. I'm hardcore on spending money at the few places still left of my childhood but unless they improve, I'm done(save for desserts of course)
You cannot come here and not get a square! At least not if its your first time. Honestly, one of the best slices I've ever had and I dont even like squares normally. And the spumoni, probably the best in Brooklyn.
My friends and I do a "Lost" night on Wednesdays where we all hang out and um...watch Lost, and this is our Wednesday dinner!
People thought this was:
l and b is so so. The only reason they do so well is because they are directly across from the brooklyn projects which most people dont realize. There slice is also decent but half the time the dough underneath the sauce is raw which has given me an upset stomach once before as long as a few people i know.
the spumoni is very good but the pizzeria part is decent, alittle dirty and old.
If you live in southern Brooklyn, you should go to this joint AT LEAST once. It's worth it.
The food is quite delicious for a reasonable price. I have only ordered from the counter and eaten outside, so I cannot speak for the dining room. I've had the Sicilian slices, meatball parm hero, rice ball parm, and of course, the rainbow spumoni. All were generous in portion as well as tasty.
The spumoni is a must. Don't go to Spumoni Gardens and not get the spumoni, come on.
What I also like about this place is that it is not overrun by hipsters and tourists, it's a nice Bensonhurst joint. Lots of families, school kids, etc. etc. I have not lived in Bensonhurst all my life, however, I can imagine it being a neighborhood hang-out for those who have.
Just go.
People thought this was:
Brooklyn's #1!!!!
Square slices like no other.
Spumoni's great, too!
(Part of Best NY PIzza: The Haiku Series)
Thin crust is great, the Sicilian squares are a real delight!
Great place for the kids, it's a common hangout and pleasure to sit and relax with a nice flavored Ice on a hot summer day.
If you go on a weekend afternoon, be prepared to wait in long lines, but it's well worth the wait. It's Pizza and more...
My only grip is the location is an odd one for those living in the neighborhood (like myself), but it's definitely convenient for anyone taking the subway in. The N train stops a couple blocks away, and the F train is just a few more blocks up 86th St.
Not too bad on parking in the area anyway.
A popular place for the NYPD, EMT's, and all the locals.
If you love pizza, you'll love L&B's.
People thought this was:
as far back as i can remember L&B has always been a brooklyn staple for a solid square slice
i would not leave here without getting a spumoni ice in a squeeze cup- even if you already had 5 squares
I pizza ice cream sandwiches fancy restaurant
I________I I_________I I___________I I______________I
spumoni outside seating gardens
I______________________________________________I
86th Street
"a slice and a ....." don't fly here pay extra at each booth, yes just like the fair! Very good Silicon slice, the regular pizza is a little to cheesy but quite tasty, beware and stay aside there's a lot of NY Finest around here.
People thought this was:
The best Sicilian slice of my life.
Ohhh.....Cheese. Glorious cheese.
People thought this was:
L&B has hands down the best sicilian(square) pizza in New York if not the country. The Deepdish Esq thick crust, fresh tomatoes and enough cheese to choke a horse or in this case my swedish date make for one of the best slices around.
The round slices here are quite good as well. I usually order one of each and a diet coke. Always demolish the pizza in under five minutes than follow it up with some Spumoni. If you never had this italian ice cream than your living life, nothing better than eating some Spumoni and looking around and realizing if you ate here everyday you would look like a a person who resides in a trailor and is soon going to need a crane to leave your Brighton Beach Apartment ..
Speaking of the people, this place has more characters than a Spike Lee Movie. The eclectic mix of cops, more fat people than a georgia trailor along with hot & barely legal 19 year olds make for some interesting people watching. The outdoor picnic style tables scattered along the front of this place provide ample seating.
While eating my slice I looked around, and took a good look, Outside of the boys in blue, was chungli dressed in a hello kitty shirt slobbing down a whole square (18 slice pie) with a bunch of guys who seemed to be taking a break from a long round of Call of Duty,really couldnt tell em apart in a police lineup if I had to. Next to them was a table of fat italians, one guy looked like he could barely breathe let alone walk, easily 400 pounds with a mets hat on(shocker), clearly on his last legs, his wife was just as bad if not worse, watching them slug back to there car made me makesure to bring my gym clothes to work the following morning. The table to my left was a Puerto Rican(knew what he was by the large flag tattoed on his arm) dude with a oversized tank top devouring a platter of Calamari, he looked like he just smoked a bong and happened to pull up in a minivan pumping Reggaton. The table directly in front of me, was two fine Marlboro projects residents, one of which was a flamboyant African American wearing orange colored sneakers and looking as though he was two days early for the Tuesday night party at Splash Bar,after getting his slice he did a lady gag dance and sat down(not making this up) him and the lady he was with both poured more salt and pepper on there pizza than I thought possible. This place made for one of the most intersting people watching around in a long time. My manhattan dwelling swedish date told me it was the most american place she has ever been too. She agreed the pizza was the best she has tried in a while.
Also there is a indoor restaurant here that serves a great Italian Old school sit down meal, directly connected to this is a deli style take out area where one can get terrific Calamari or Veal Parmigiana. In fact though L&B is famously known for there square pizza, overall all the food here is decent. Its kind of like going to a good Asian Massage parlor, you know what your there for but one seems to forget they may offer other services that are just as good if not better than the one you receive each week.
Even though it waslate on a Sunday night, the large parking lot on the side of the restaurant and a fair amount of street parking make for easy parking most of the time. Even on the busiest summer nights one can always find a good place to park.
Tons of pigs and there blue collar brethen were hanging out at this place, in fact it seemed as though there were more cops here than at the local precint. Good to see my tax dollars hard at work.
People thought this was:
I'm not sure why some people talk about this place religiously. I will admit that the pizza tastes good, but the sauce is essentially tomato paste. The sauce on top of the cheese? Who gives a damn. The crust is too thick, the cheese is ok...not exactly the best pizza is Brooklyn. Somehow, it is good for a snack, especially if you're in the neighborhood.
I have never tried the indoor dining area, so I can't comment on that. Spumoni is decent, but the main reason people love this place is b/c its nice to hang out at in the summer especially. Its worth visiting for its noteworthiness, but just don't go touting it as gourmet pizza. Its fine the way it is.
People thought this was:
One of the best in NY. If you are visiting NYC, jump on the subway and try this place. The pizza is incredible and very yummy.
HOMEMADE SPUMONI, AWESOME PIZZA
A good friend is from the neighborhood and that's how I found out about it. Try the Grilled chicken hero with peppers & onions, amazing.
I'm no Sicilian pizza connoisseur, but on a recommendation from a friend, I was intrigued by her "You've gotta go to L&B!" enthusiasm. On a day when I felt like going on a little adventure, my boyfriend and I drove 11 miles down to Gravesend to try this pizza out.
What can I say? It was good, it was hot and tasty, and we definitely scarfed it down. $2.75 for a slice-- chewy soft crust, sweet sauce, minimal cheese. Will I drive 11 miles in the near future to come here again? Nah. I'd rather try somewhere else in the quest for something amazing.
We also tried the rainbow spumoni- chocolate, vanilla and pistachio. It was nice-- a little icy, a little creamy, not cloyingly sweet. Again, not out of this world, but definitely good.
It's a pretty casual place, nice to sit outside in the summer. I gotta give them credit, though, for being open 70 years. Wow!
L&B Spumoni Gardens makes a very nice and saucy square pie. The dough is crispy and soft and doughy at the same time. The dough is not insanely thick, but it is a square slice so you'll never confuse this with any kind of thin crust pizza. Very flavorful pizza---cheese is under the sauce....soooo yummy!
I also had the spumoni which is very nice too.YUM YUM YUM! Go there!!!
They have the best Sicilian slices by far in New York! In addition, their home made spumoni is amazing. Spumoni is my all-time favorite!
People thought this was:
i had the 29 bucks seafood pasta with all the seafood possible on it served with white calm sauce. it was HUGEEE, two people couldnt finish it but overall it was okay, maybe i ordered the wrong sauce to be served on the dish?
i had the Sicilian slices too, it was okay because i hate pizza =x
This place has the best Sicilian slice I've had in NYC so far. The slice doesn't look like a regular pizza slice, though. It's got pieces of mozzerella on top. I'm not sure what makes it so special, but I really liked it. I had to have two slices. The second one to make sure it was real. Hehe.
It's got a ton of outdoor seating, the building is old school. The bathrooms are outside on opposite ends of the building. There's an inside, too, but I didn't go in.
One of THE HANDS DOWN best takes on a Square Sicilian Slice you'll find on the PLANET. Sometimes you drive by and decide you want just one slice. But you walk up to the window a great ol tray of pizza and before you know it you're sitting at one of their benches, the sun shining on your face, and you've got 3 big hot slices covered in sauce and parmesean staring you in the stomach.
Then you get up to waddle to your car in their parking lot, which is almost always full but at least they have one, and out of the corner of your eye you see a small child with the biggest grin on their face. You turn around and they are OM NOM NOMing some Strawberry Spumoni. Well now that did it and the next thing you know you've got a cone of creamy goodness in one hand and a pre-packed quart in the other.
If that wasn't enough they have a full service Italian restaurant with indoor and outside seating. Oh yes. I'm not kidding. Heroes and Pasta Dishes galore!
This may be blasphemous - but I've had a better square slice. (::ducking lightning bolts::)
The sauce is very tasty (not too acidic), and the bread/crust part was moist in, and crunchy out. My problem was the lack of mozzarella. Maybe it was the particular time I was at L&B (late night), but it left something to be desired.
People thought this was:
When Famous Fat Dave introduced us to this place on our last visit to New York, it was so good we took the subway out on our own from Manhattan (a one hour ride) only 12 hours later. This time we were staying with a friend in New Jersey so we endured a 2 hour train and subway trip from New Jersey involving FOUR TRANSFERS just to eat here. Totally worth it though. My time is precious in New York because I never have enough time to go everywhere I want to, but it's worth traveling for the pizza at Spumoni Gardens.
What they do here is Sicilian style pizza which is thicker and breadier than New York style. You order at the counter and let them know how many crust edges you want. The pizza slices are all square shaped and the pie is cooked as one big rectangle, so your choices are 0, 1, and 2. (I prefer 1 - like back hair it gives you something to hold onto.) I recommend ordering one slice at a time so it never gets cold.
Oh yeah, they make one kind of pizza and it's cheese. That's the only kind you need. The sauce is what makes it good. In fact it's outstanding.
You'll probably get a table but you may have to wait a few minutes. Soft drink cans are $1.50 each which is a bit on the high side.
When you're done you can head next door where there's a sit down restaurant (serving pasta classics) and spumoni counter. While you wait you can look at the old neighborhood pictures.
The spumoni is a day-glo green color, and it's nutty and it's the best damn spumoni I've ever had.
Blue collar New York and Boston guys are smart and will mess with you. It's something we unfortunately don't have on the West Coast. When I got my spumonis I asked for a spoon, and the counter guy was like "That'll be $1." I was like Ha ha, smart ass.
This place is a slightly sketch walk from the subway. It's fine during the day but I wouldn't do it at night. You also get to walk past an Aardvark amusement rental place with small amusement park rides. (Can you tell Coney Island is only a mile away?) And it's totally worth a 2 hour FOUR TRANSFER train and subway trip.
People thought this was:
I had very high hopes for this place. They were exceeded! My friend and I rode our bikes down Ocean Parkway to get here. What a great ride. We were pretty hungry and thirsty by the time we arrived. There was a HUGE crowd here on an early Friday evening. We were a little concerned about wait time. Fortunately, the lines move very quickly. As in, 30 seconds of wait time. We bought 2 Sicilians and walked over for some Budweiser cans. Poured them into the provided frat party cup and chugged. I normally wouldn't do that, but I was very thirsty.
I eat a lot of pizza and normally prefer a round pie, but this is the best slice of pizza I have ever had. Every aspect is perfect. Delicious moist dough and crust, awesome tomato-y sauce, and just the right amount of quality cheese for a perfect balance.
Go there, now. It's worth the trip.
I'll preface this review by saying that I believe the difference between "the best" pizza in this city and pizza that is only average is a matter of degrees. I think you'd be hard pressed to come across terrible pizza just about anywhere in the North Atlantic (I'm not even considering places like Domino's, etc.). Anyone who's tried to find even decent pizza outside of the North understands what bad pizza is. And so to me, a five star slice around here does not have to be leaps and bounds above the giant pack of four star slices, but it must contain something, often subtle, that makes it stand out.
Spumoni Gardens is one such slice.
I have to drop the full 5-er on this place. At least as far as Sicilian style goes. The sauce is really well seasoned and has a nice little tang to it, but the best part is the crust. It's buttery and crispy, somewhat chewy and simply scrumptious. To the four people who get their mitts on a corner slice of pie: You win.
Best value for a quality slice in the city. You dont get better, you just get different definitions of perfect. One of the best.
People thought this was:
If your expectations aren't too high, Spumoni Gardens will likely please.
It's a classic red sauce Italian joint, but being located in the center of classic red sauce Italian American Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, USA, gives it that added touch of authenticity. It's been there since 1939 and for good reason.
The food is good, but not great. The portions are insanely huge.
Lasagna is my red sauce Italian restaurant litmus test. When they brought it out, there were enough calories on that plate to light a small city. I'm not kidding--I divided it with a knife into quarters, ate one quarter, and will be eating the other three for lunch this week. All for $11.95. And it's good lasagna, with what seems to be quality ingredients. Such a deal!
Apps were good. Roasted artichoke was tasty, fried zucchini could use some more flavor, salads are huge and pleasing, calamari was fresh and tender.
Spumoni Gardens is famous for pizza, especially Sicilian slices. My verdict: just OK. There's the same or better at most corner pizza joints all around the City. Very heavy on the sauce, light on the cheese here. If you're looking for a unique and very good square pie, check out Ignazio's in Dumbo.
The deserts are impressive. The spumoni does not disappoint. The pistachio ice cream was chock full of nuts, and very good. The homemade Italian ices reminded me of Corona Ices King over in Queens--highly recommended.
Part of the fun of Spumoni Gardens is people watching your fellow patrons. It's like all the extras from the set of the Godfather and the Sopranos in one restaurant. Lots of gold bling, thick Brooklyn accents (which are endearing), friendly salt of the earth service, and some slightly cheezy decor. It's amusing and a fun diversion.
Cheap dinner but long wait. I came here with 2 friends and we had a chicken parmigiana sandwich, Sicilian slice, pudenesca with spaghetti, baked ziti and mozzarella sticks. The waiters are always busy and inattentive. It took them 5 minutes to refill our water and they also forgot to give us bread. Also, the portions are huuge. I couldn't even finish my own dish and had to doggy bag it. Meh. But I must say the prices are decent. Lastly, before I left I had spumoni. I actually wanted gelato but they didn't have that. So I got the pistachio spumoni instead. It tasted like fruit loops. It was funky but I liked it. Next time I'll just come here for pizza instead. The pasta was so and so.
People thought this was:
Ok lets be honest, the Pizza aint that special, def stick the square over the round, the other food is pretty shitty... Most people who come here are finished and ready for the casket.
HOWEVER THE SPUMONI IS INSANE and there is sick tail here in the summer...
I give it 3 stars but thats being generous only because of the great bubbles i ve seen while standing in line.
People thought this was:
Okay L&B has a decent Brooklyn neighborhood vibe. There's outdoor seating that reminds me of picnic bunches. I love sitting out here at night especially when the weather allows. Something very cool about eating a slice of piping hot pizza al fresco style.
I know they're famous for the their sicilians but to tell you the truth, I've never really gotten into it. Actually their pizza in general just doesn't really do much for me.
But I do make the pilgrimage to come here for their Spumoni. It's neither too icy or too creamy. It's just right. There's little chunks of pistaccio in every bite. I don't like things too sweet but they got the sweetness down perfectly. The spumoni is just refreshing and I think they still use the old cash registers too! How cool.
Bonus points because they have parking!
Orgasmic pizza? Does anything make you orgasm? You gotta be kidding me.
I grew up in this place and the outdoor seating area was the equivalent of a nightclub for 14 yr olds. The place itself is great because it carries so many old Brooklyn memories for most of the people that have ever lived in or around this borough.
But focusing on this pizza you all seem to love... I don't understand it all... while the square isn't bad it's not exactly good either. Cheese first than the sauce overload, this was the brilliant plan? I can't believe something so stupid got you guys as famous as you are now.
And maybe I am so down on you and your pizza palace because the SPUMONI isn't even the best I have ever had...
People thought this was:
Once I brought some out-of-town friends to pick up a pie. They ordered it with pepperoni. I didn't say anything.
Later that evening, everyone who swung by the party 1) knew exactly where the pizza came from in 0.5 seconds and 2) could not understand why there were toppings involved.
Ah, out-of-towners...
Anyway, it's L&B, order a slice (using exactly that word, no more, no less: "Slice") and shaddap. Four stars because sometimes it's not a corner, and then I actually can admit there's better pizza out there.
By the way, excellent heroes too -- especially when you add the broccoli rabe!
People thought this was:
Best square slice. Order a half pie because it's even better cold and even better the next day when your blood is screaming for it. It's that good!
You must follow it up with a spumoni ice, I want to franchise that stuff and bathe in it.
And. don't eat in the restaurant. Stick to the basics
People thought this was:
I come here whenever I get the chance to get their sicilian slice. It's so good, it's indescribable. It's a must-have if you want pizza from Brooklyn. The ice cream is not too bad either.
During the summer, my friends and I always come for the Spumoni and their Sicilian slices. On a hot day after playing sports we would cruise on over and grab an outdoor seat with some spumoni and just hangout and chat. There are plenty of seats outside so you wont have to wait for anyone to get up.
Their pizza is great and the service is fast. The Only problem I do have is that the tables are always sticky. The Eat in Restaurant is a bit nicer but it was a nice day and we decided to sit in the outdoor area. The food portions were huge and most of us had to bag it up to go. But overall it was a nice experience and good food in the indoor restaurant as well.
People thought this was:
picture this:
A mother walks in with her twin daughters, about 6 years old. The one daughter is noticeably drooling across her chin, and the mother, upon noticing, grabs a pile of napkins and reprimands her as she wipes up her chin. The daughter replies in defense, "I can't help it.....it smells so good!"
This was the epitome of my visit here. The pizzeria, mind you, not the restaurant. Here's a description of the source of salivation:
- a luscious, scrumptious, hearty dough
- thin squares of mozz layered in such a way to democratically cover each square slice
- a generous slather of sauce that only elevates the flavor with time (get at least a half square if you're gonna be ordering more than 4 slices, just so you can reap the benefits of leftovers later!)
- a full sprinkling of parmesan and dousing of olive oil before going in the oven.
Upon my first taste, I thought it was good but nothing to rave about. However, a mere 5 min. later, I couldn't help but help myself to another square.....and then another.....and peoples, the taste only improves when you devour the leftovers the minute you get home because the craving continues to overcome all your senses.
this place is a true piece of pizza machinery. screw Artichoke with their lines out the door.....this place has fresh pizza coming into and out of the ovens; they got pies on deck only to be swiped away minutes later, and in the summer time, the entire indoors of the pizzeria turns into a full-blown pizza manufactury, opening only 1 window awning to walk-up customers. Despite any sort of crazed bombardment, you can be guaranteed a slice, square, or half a square within 15 min.
practically instant gratification? top notch product delivery? 5 glorious stars. mmmhmmmmmm.
People thought this was:
OMG, the square pizzas are the best. I live in queens & some days I HAVE to take a ride down to Brooklyn for a nice warm square. Great spot to hit up on any day. I'm not too crazy about the ices.. I have the Lemon Ice king for that...
People thought this was:
I had two sicilian slices and i tried the pistachio icey from next door. the pizza is def one of the best (if not THE best??) slices i've ever had. the pistachio icey was great too.. but go for the small size. (esp after scarfing down two sicilian slices...) the atmosphere is a tad bit intimidating, but that may be because large crowds easily intimidate me. generally chill with a dash of brooklyn italian stereotypes. i went on a sunday around 9pm and it was pretty busy so i'm sure dinner times and weekend evening it's PACKED.. but yeah, .. 100% recc'd! i can't wait for my next visit!
People thought this was:
Now this is what a Sicillian slice should be.
I've been coming to Spumoni Gardens on and off since I was a kid, and have introduced many a new person to this place. Really, you should stick to the basics. Ok, I don't really know if you should only stick to the basics, as I've never ventured past a slice or two with a spumoni. But with those so good, how can you try anything else?
My personal favorite is asking for a middle slice. If you prefer the ends or corners, ask for those. They will give it to you. And if they run it, it's not a big deal since the pies come out so fast that you won't end up waiting more than a few minutes.
And the spumonis, just wow. This is the real thing. You haven't had a spumoni unless you've had one at Spumoni Gardens.
People thought this was:
One of the best Sicilian slices I've had. The regular pizzas are not as good. Also good Italian ices. Big outdoor space.
Neighborhood: Midwood
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Bay Ridge
Category: Pizza
Brooklyn, NY
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Category: Pizza
These are the sources of my deepest, darkest…
Face it, we all need a treat once in a while!…
If you are trying to lose weight, you shouldn't…
I love pizza and maybe someday, I will care that…
This is a work in progress, as I'm trying to go to…
Pizza is my favorite food. I could live off it.…
This list will grow multiple times over. I do not…
In order to tame my verbosity, I will only write…
