Brooklyn Roots: Bringing Real New York Pizza to Tampa Since 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Best NY Pizza didn’t start as a business idea — it started as a standard.

Our founders grew up in Brooklyn, where pizza wasn’t a trend or a marketing term. It was part of everyday life. You learned what real New York–style pizza was by eating it constantly — by the slice, folded, hot out of the oven, and judged on taste, texture, and consistency.

When we opened Best NY Pizza in Tampa in 2005, the mission was simple:

Bring authentic New York–style pizza to Florida — without watering it down.

 

Growing Up with Real New York Pizza

In Brooklyn, pizza is everywhere — and because of that, it’s held to a higher standard.

A good slice isn’t judged by hype. It’s judged by:

• The way the crust bakes

• Whether it folds without cracking

• How the cheese melts

• Whether the slice holds together from first bite to last

Those expectations shaped how we understand pizza — and they still guide how we make it today.

 

Why Authentic NY Pizza Is Hard to Replicate

Many pizzerias try to recreate New York pizza by copying surface details: thin crust, big slices, familiar names.

But real NY pizza is about process, not labels.

Outside of New York, challenges include:

• Different water composition

• Different climate

• Different ovens

• Shortcuts taken to speed production

Without adjusting for those factors, the end result might look like NY pizza — but it won’t eat like it.

 

Why We Opened Best NY Pizza in Florida

When we moved to Florida, we noticed something missing.

There were plenty of pizza places — but very few that delivered the feel of a true New York slice. The fold was wrong. The crust was dense. The balance was off.

Rather than compromise, we decided to build a pizzeria around the standards we grew up with.

That meant:

• Making dough fresh every day

• Respecting fermentation time

• Using stone-fired ovens

• Keeping recipes simple and balanced

 

What We Refused to Compromise On

From day one, there were certain things we refused to change:

• We use Granite Stone Ovens

• No pre-made dough

• No heavy, sugary sauce

• No overloaded slices

Authentic New York pizza doesn’t rely on excess. It relies on precision.

That philosophy still defines every pie we make.

 

Awards, Recognition, and Community Trust

Over the years, our commitment to quality has been recognized by both customers and local publications.

We’ve been honored by:

• Creative Loafing

• Tampa Bay Times

• Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave

But the recognition we value most is consistency — serving customers who come back week after week because the pizza tastes the way it should.

 

Serving Tampa & Wesley Chapel for Nearly 20 Years

Best NY Pizza has been part of the Tampa Bay community since 2005.

We’re proud to serve:

• Carrollwood / Tampa

• Wesley Chapel

While our roots are Brooklyn, our home is Tampa Bay — and we take that responsibility seriously.

 

Experience Authentic New York Pizza

Authenticity isn’t something you can describe fully — it’s something you taste.

Explore our menu or visit one of our locations to experience New York–style pizza made the right way.