It's on 2 of my lists. Each entry below is what I wrote about it there, with my verdict on that list, the fullest first.
- Address575 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY
- From my guide, updated September 2026.
Rumored to be Beyoncé and Jay Z’s favorite pizza joint in NYC, getting into Lucali’s requires the patience of a saint. The restaurant doesn’t accept reservations, which means waiting in line (upwards of two hours) is the only way to get in.
The restaurant opens at 5pm but you can get your name on a waitlist starting at 4pm, which means lines start forming around 3pm. The wait-list typically fills up by 5pm.
Speaking of toppings, customize the pie to your liking with the seven options offered, garlic, mushrooms, shallots, onions, sweet peppers, hot peppers, and pepperoni.
Keep things simple, because Lucali’s tomato sauce is coupled with a rich blend of three cheeses (buffalo mozzarella, low-moisture mozzarella, and shaved Grana Padano) that doesn’t need supporting actors.
Good to knowLucali is a cash-only establishment with a generous “bring your own booze” policy, so pick up a bottle of wine or some beer before your reservation kicks in.
My adviceI’ve tried to get in a many times over the years and have about a 25% success rate. As such, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Lucali for anyone that’s visiting NYC for a few days (why wait in line for hours when there’s so many amazing pizzas in New York City?).
Rumored to be Beyoncé and Jay Z’s favorite pizza joint in NYC, getting into Lucali’s requires the patience of a saint. The restaurant doesn’t accept reservations, which means waiting in line (upwards of two hours) is the only way to get in.
The restaurant opens at 5pm but you can get your name on a waitlist starting at 4pm, which means lines start forming around 3pm. The wait-list typically fills up by 5pm.
Speaking of toppings, customize the pie to your liking with the seven toppings offered, garlic, mushrooms, shallots, onions, sweet peppers, hot peppers, and pepperoni.
Keep things simple, because Lucali’s tomato sauce is coupled with a rich blend of three cheeses (buffalo mozzarella, low-moisture mozzarella, and shaved Grana Padano) that doesn’t need supporting actors.
Good to knowLucali has a generous “bring your own booze” policy, so pick up a bottle of wine or some beer before your reservation kicks in.
The secret to finding the best pizza in NYC? Skip the tourist lines and follow the delivery guys.