Prince Street Pizza

Prince Street Pizza at 27 Prince Street in Nolita, Manhattan, is a small slice shop that built a national reputation on one item: the thick Sicilian-style square pepperoni slice known as the SoHo Square. The cuisine is New York pizza by the slice, but in the square, Sicilian tradition, with a thick, airy base, a crisp bottom and a generous layer of cheese and sauce. The pepperoni is the emblem. Small pieces cup and char as they bake, forming crisp, oil-pooled edges that give the slice its recognisable look and spicy bite. Other signature slices include the Spicy Spring, and a plain Sicilian slice serves as a simpler baseline. The shop is tiny, with a counter, a pass-through window and very limited standing space, so most customers eat outside on the sidewalk, on a nearby stoop or in a park. The atmosphere is fast and casual, with a queue that regularly extends out the door, particularly at lunch, on weekends and in the evening. There is no dress code and no table service. Prices are in the $ range, with each large square slice priced as a filling snack rather than a full meal, though two slices make a comfortable lunch. Beverages are limited to soft drinks and bottled options, so there is no wine programme. There are no reservations; the shop operates on a walk-in, first-come basis, and the wait depends entirely on the time of day. Visitors who want a shorter line usually go in the early afternoon on weekdays or slightly off-peak hours. Nolita sits between SoHo, Little Italy and the Lower East Side, so the shop combines easily with a walk past the boutiques on Prince Street and Mulberry Street, and Old St. Patrick's Cathedral is a few blocks away. Its hours run roughly from 11AM to 11PM daily, which makes it useful for a late snack as well as a midday stop.