Posts tagged @nyc
Sacco Pizza
Hit up Sacco Pizza in Hell’s Kitchen on Saturday afternoon. Sacco, which is featured on Eater’s Oldest Pizzeria’s in NYC, has been serving up slices on the same block for over 50 years, and run by the current owners, cousins Dominick and Giuseppe (Joe, to most), for over 30 years.
50 years on one block is a long time. Dominick says they’ve been able to stick around because they put out a good quality product, and he and Giuseppe, along with their two sons, still put in 10 hour days.
“Even when there’s not much to do, I don’t wanna sit down, because then you get tired. I get here at 7, 7:30, I get home at 6. That’s when I sit down.”
- Domenick, maker
Domenick’s son, Vito, is now working with his father and uncle, and hopes to one day take over the business with his cousin.
“My dad and my uncle…they’re strict, they’re old school. I don’t mind working hard… But, if you don’t wanna do it, if you hate your job, its gonna come out in the pizza.”
- Vito, maker
We got the chance to speak with Louise, a loyal Sacco customer for as long as she can remember. Louise grew up in Hell’s Kitchen, and remembers coming to Sacco’s.
“This was a Sunday thing. On Sunday you’d get a quarter, and first you would go swimming for 10 cents, then you would walk from 60th Street over here, and you’d get your pizza for a dime. If you had 30 cents you could go to the movies. “
- Louise, eater
Sacco’s has one of the best slices in Manhattan. It may be the only legit slice joint north of Pizza Suprema on 31st street and south of La Traviata on 68th street.
Phil’s Pizza
We hit Phil’s Pizza on Varick, just north of Houston, this week. Phil’s has been run by the owner, Tony, since it opened in 1972. Tony ran the shop with his cousin until the early 80s, when his wife, Rose, came on board. Tony and Rose have been running the place together ever since. They’re only open weekdays until 7, and not at all on the weekends. It’s a two person operation, and they aren’t interested in hiring anyone else.
“It’s a family business and we wanna keep it that way. We’re happy just working lunch, cleaning up, leaving, and having a normal life.” - Tony, owner
Phil’s isn’t as well known as some other West Village pizzerias, but they have a loyal following of regular customers, some of whom have been coming here since the 80s. We got a chance to talk to Angelo, a regular who eats at Phil’s two or three times a week.
“You come here and they know your name. It’s a mom and pop place, you see the same people every day. Not like a place, you go in, and you’re just another customer. We actually talk about our families, what you’re going to do on the weekends. I grew up watching Cheers, so it kind of reminds of that. You walk in, and its like, ‘Hey how you doing!’” - Angelo, eater
