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Grimaldi's
Category: Restaurants Pizza Pizza [Edit]
1 Front St(between Dock St & York St)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 858-4300
- Nearest Transit:
-
High St (A, C)
Clark St (2, 3)
York St (F)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sat 12 pm - 12 am
Sun 12 pm - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
2099 reviews for Grimaldi's
Review Highlights
-
"Make sure you go to the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory." In 82 reviews -
"The pizza was delicious and worth the wait." In 146 reviews -
"But once inside enjoy the most amazing brick oven pizza." In 141 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
2097 reviews in English
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Review from Linh L.
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
LOVE ITTTTTT.
The wait outside was about 40 minutes, and the wait inside was a tad longer, but it was WORTH IT. I love that Grimaldi's uses real mozarella, and all the toppings are delish. At my last visit, we got a small pie with mushroom, sausage, pepperoni and fresh garlic. For two people, a small pie was the perfect size.
This was my first time at the new location, and it's a tad more spacious than the original, but not by much. The seating is still really cramped. Tourist trap or not, this place has amazing pizza. -
Review from Amy L.
Irvine, CA
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Really awesome pizza!
Went around noon on a Monday and there was line but we only waited about 10 min before being sent upstairs to be seated. The server upstairs (bald headed gentleman) was really rude but what do you expect? I'm sure he deals with tourists all day long and that may be why he was PMS-ing.
We ordered the pie 1/2 sausage and 1/2 margarita.
The dough is very good but the only complaint I had was that there wasn't enough sauce with every bite but I guess that's how Grimaldi's makes their pizza.
Cash only and be ready for the pizza nazi upstairs!! -
Review from Baramee C.
Brooklyn, NY
I've finally made it to the infamous Grimaldi's! And strangely enough, there was NO line! It was a Tuesday afternoon and beautiful so this struck me as kind of strange. Every other time I've ever gone by they've had a huge line of people waiting.
2 Important Things to Know:
1) This place is cash only. 2) They sell pies, not slices.
We got a margarita pie, a large. Reasonably priced. For those of you who are non-New Yorkers and reading this...I would suggest you NOT eat with a knife and fork (it makes the locals laugh at you on the inside). Just fold it in half and eat it like the rest of us.
So, back to the pizza. It was good pizza, but definitely not the best in New York. There are far better places. There was a lot of crust. The sauce was good. The cheese could've been fresher...when we got the pizza it was kind of coagulated...and not longer hot.
Since it's Grimaldi's though, you should give it a shot and pass judgement. It's worth that much...and you can get it to go and eat on the esplanade, which is a great view. -
Review from Faye H.
Austin, TX
5/25/2012
Wait was a little long, but worth it. Not the best pizza I've ever had, but still really good.
-
Review from liz l.
New York, NY
5/25/2012
The pizza from Grimaldi's is delicious! On my birthday last year, I got two pies and sat out in Brooklyn Bridge Park with friends on a beautiful summer day.
I was (luckily) able to get through on the phone and order my pizzas. I waltzed past the entire very long line and picked up my pizzas with no wait. I would DEFINITELY recommend trying to call your order in before going if you don't want to wait in line.
(And the neighborhood around there is so adorable!) -
Review from Calla J.
KNICKERBOCKER, NY
5/19/2012
If I can. I would give zero star because IT IS THE WORST pizza EVER!!!!
Now, why is a worse? Simply put, the bottom of the pizza was BURN .with black color type of burn patches. You can taste the bitterness of the ASHES!! lolz. It was SOGGY like the other ppl mentioned here. Mines was like dripping wet!It might be good before, or good sometimes, depending who fix your pizza.
I wonder how can you make a pizza taste so horrible. Even though i had took few culinary sessions and made pizza myself before, but im not picky especially after being starved after 45 min of wait time.IT WAS SO WRONG!! When I walking out the restaurant, I observe how the guy made the pizza, he simply put tomatoe sause after he put the cheese and the topping! So, that's dough, cheese, toppings then SAUCE!? then olive oil and then heat it up? No wonder my pizza is dripping tomato sauce kinda soggy.
I didn't really care when I ask the waiter why is my pizza burn and soggy, he first gave explaintion that because the sausage needs to be cook 10 20 min on the pizza so that's why it's burn. (Right, but my Italian sausage was pale white instead of slightly brown as other pizzeria shops and if they make the pizza fresh, the fact that they serve our pizza within 5 min after we order the pizza is not possible to get a good pizza.)Well. I then ask him why is it soggy, he gave me this i dun gave a damn type of look , guess what he said, he said then just DON'T come here EVER.
If you guys still wanna go there, have fun waiting 45 min for a burn and soggy pizza, and worst service ever!
I left the place still hungry, not to waste the Money and time, I just ate their bland tasting toppings.
When they are getting famous and rich, they hire a person who don't know how to make pizza, take your money, and say , next! -
Review from Josh K.
5/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Grimaldi's is high quality, very old school pizza that New Yorkers themselves are not afraid to patronize. The shop recently moved across the street as the complicated result of a health violation. They're doing well in the new joint and while service is a bit slow, they are trying hard and there is no bad attitude except maybe while you're on line waiting for a table - the old man is definitely not a people person and probably a bit cranky after 20 years of doing the same thing.
Don't be afraid to get toppings. This isn't your typical street slice where there's no point getting anything other than cheese. We enjoyed sausages, onions, extra cheese, and pepperoni, with a side of anchovies. Their house wine is pretty decent too and doesn't break the bank.
Definitely not something you should do every week -- but not something you avoid merely because 'everyone does it.' It's good stuff, people. -
Review from David C.
Peabody, MA
5/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Being from Boston there is a lot about New York that I hate. The Yankkes, the Mets, the Giants , the Jets and the Rangers to name a few. This pizza does not fall in that catagory however. The wait might be long and the service might be slow but the pizza makes up for it. If your in Brooklyn put some time aside and try it out.
-
Review from Mary C.
I thought Grimaldi's was going to WOW me with their pizza. After all, people were lined up to get in here. If you have a small party of two, the Grimaldi worker will let you cut in front of the line and get in...just be sure you pay attention.
Why two stars?! Well the pizza was thin (as authentic as it would be in Italy, right?), tomato was decent but not too thick or rich and the cheese was alright. I think the weekly pizza I get at LA NY Pizza in Downtown LA tasted better.
You CAN'T buy pizza by the slice and it's CASH only. if you're not a big pizza fan, skip the line and pizza and head on over the Brooklyn Bridge for a nice stroll.Listed in: When the moon hits the sky…
-
Review from The Joker I.
Orange, CA
5/22/2012
Was visiting in New York on business and got the name of this place as a loose recommendation from someone who heard it was good.
Pizza was OK. Crust was very good, but the slice was more bland than I was used to. It is a little better than Domino's, Papa John's because it tastes more fresh, but you can get so much better food just about anywhere else.
I really have to ding them for their really poor service. I'm in the service industry as well so I hate writing bad reviews because of karma, but these guys demonstrate to me that they hate their jobs. They roll their arrogant eyes at simple questions (i.e - can I use your restroom?) and get annoyed if you try to ask them for anything. What a bunch of jerks! I can understand if they are offering something that is so good that they can afford that, but sorry, keep your poor attitude and mediocre food. This place just gives New York restaurants a bad name. Places like this gets such polarizing reviews...I really don't understand it. -
Review from Aaron P.
Madison, WI
5/15/2012
We had a one hour wait on a Saturday evening, and it was worth the wait. The experience of walking across the Brooklyn bridge and then grabbing pizza was outstanding.
The pizza itself is solid and quite tasty. It isn't mind blowing by any means, but you certainly won't be disappointed by the fresh basil and real mozzarella. I downed four slices in record time.
The price was about $14 for a basic pizza with 8 slices - completely reasonable.
The restaurant is clean and has lots of exposed brick on the interior. It was very pleasant. The service wasn't anything spectacular, but not bad either.
I'd recommend a visit. -
Review from Beatriz U.
Los Angeles, CA
5/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
pizza in new york on a sunday afternoon? YES!
the wait was long, but not RIDICULOUSLY long. mind you, it WAS only 4:30pm when we got in line. we were inside by 5:30, though it seemed like the line didn't move for a good 30 minutes or so. when we did get inside, there were many empty tables and it was quiet and tame compared to the bustling crowd outside. hm. i wonder why. maybe they wanted to keep it nice and peaceful inside, which was honestly cool. but really? make all those people outside wait pointlessly long?
my sister and i got a large regular pizza with pepperoni, italian sausage and fresh garlic (we finished the entire thing). our pizza was goooooood. the mozzarella was nice and fresh and there wasn't too much cheese or sauce to the point where it was heavy. the pizza ingredients were balanced really well, without there being too much of anything. it was a bit salty, but i'm guessing it's because of the pepperoni. the garlic added a nice kick. the crust was thin but not TOO thin. it wasn't as crispy as i would have liked though the bottom was BURNTt. that's probably the worst thing about the whole experience -- not even the long line but the BURNT CRUST. normally i will eat every single bit of my crust, but in this case, the bottom was so burnt that it was black, charred and inedible. sigh. i should be giving this place 3 stars because of this, but i enjoyed my pizza so much i'll still give it 4 stars! worth a try if you're in the area and have some time to spare :) though i wish i had also tried lombardi's! -
Review from Truc N.
San Jose, CA
5/8/2012 2 Check-ins Here
good pizza! very fresh ingredients. Friendly service. If you drag the wait, call ahead, pick up the pizza, walk to the pier and eat it there! I wish the crust was a bit crispier. Other than that, every-time i decide to cross the Brooklyn bridge, i'd definitely eat here.
They moved one building over! It's roomier and is able to accommodate more people! -
Review from Alyssa F.
5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I hadn't been here in years and my boyfriend was never here, so one Friday night we decided to drive here and give it a go. After finally getting to Brooklyn at about 9:30 after taking a lovely unexpected detour (we got lost!) we had to search for parking. My dad warned us that parking could be tough and he was right. We drove around for almost 20 minutes before finding a spot blocks away. If you plan on driving just beware to give yourself extra time to park.
After walking for another 10 blocks we finally got there! The location is beautiful with the Brooklyn bridge in the background. We were surprised to see how long the line was at almost 10 at night. I was so hungry and really wanted to get a seat quickly. Thankfully I was enjoying taking pictures of the skyline so I didn't mind the wait. We only waited about 10 minutes ad them were seated. They don't go in order of the line, the go with party size. If a table for you party amount is ready they will take you in regardless you spot in line.
We ordered a pizza half plain half pepperoni and fresh garlic. It took a little time to get it out to our table but it was packed in there so we were expecting that. Then finally, after our whole exclusion getting there, we got our pizza! It was delicious! The Alice's were cooked perfectly, the plain slices were a perfect balance of cheese and sauce and the toppings on the other were so good. Definitely worth the hype and our trek! The slices were actually really big for brick oven and I was filled to content after we were done. Make sure to walk around the park when you ate done, it's do beautiful at night! -
Review from T P.
Astoria, NY
5/10/2012
A friend from out of town wanted to go to this place because it's apparently a "must go to" for tourists. I was a trooper... we stood in line for 48 minutes... and then waited about half an hour for our pizza. We shared a small pie (that's enough for 2 people) - half mushrooms (for me) and half pepperoni and mushrooms (for him).
The pizza was A-OK. It's nothing out of this world... this place is so hyped up that you would think the 48 minute wait would be rewarded with some out of this world experience... trust me, don't waste your time. I've had pizza just like this one (or better) at the pizza joint around the corner from me.
Verdict: Decent pizza but nothing out of this world. Don't believe the hype. -
Review from Deana I.
Great pizza and worth the wait. However, it's not too bad of a wait if you go during off-peak time and you come with a party of 2. The pizza came in freshly made and packed with toppings. It was a burst of mouth-watering flavor on a crispy thin crust. The only thing lacking was the service. The servers were friendly but absent-minded. It took a while to get our waters as well as our bill. But other than that, it was a great place to get NYC style pizza and steps away from a skyline view of Manhattan.
[TIP] Cash only. -
Review from Christine T.
Brooklyn, NY
5/13/2012
Do not come here for their service. Come here strictly to get their pizza and don't expect to get more than 1 glass of water for the duration of your entire meal because the only times you have access to your waiter is when you order and when you pay.
They use fresh mozzarella on their pies. There's more oregano in their sauce than what I'm used to but overall, the pizza was good. Their pizza dough is on the chewy side and seems lighter than regular NYC slices. I ate 4 slices in one sitting and didn't need to be carried out in a stretcher. The pizza was either really good or I was just really hungry. I'm going to say it was a mix of both.
10pm is when there is no line. Expect to wait 20m-30m before 10pm. The wait time seems to have been reduced since they moved to their new location. If coming in groups (more than 2-3 people), expect longer wait time. -
Review from Lauren V.
5/3/2012
When you click 5 stars, this says "woohoo! as good as it gets!" and for pizza, Grimaldi's is as good as it gets. I'm not sure other people who reviewed Grimaldi's were prepared for the experience that they were about to have....
first, we're going to talk about the pizza. it is AMAZING. I'm usually not a crust person (sometimes I don't even eat it) but their dough is ridiculous. It's like having your first french baguette in Paris after eating white wonder bread all your life. is this pizza dough!? how!? and the pepperoni! real Italian meat market pepperoni, which makes your pizza that much better.
In full.... I got pepperoni, sausage, and ricotta. It did end up a little soggy ... i think it was too much for the pizza to take - the ricotta probably added some water. (will that sogginess deter me from coming back in the future? absolutely not!) in the future, i would get a pie with just pepperoni. and go with the LARGE. you're already there, you have no hope to resist, so you might as well indulge!
as for the atmosphere, I LOVED IT. It's a two story building on the corner and the wait outside is part of your experience .... i showed up on a warm Friday night at 10 pm with a cup of coffee in hand. Once they got a big group in, the line moved pretty fast. I was seated upstairs and they have joint tables where you sit right next to your neighbor (as if you were being seated at a big picnic table with moving chairs). It's alive and bubbly feeling with the energy of NYC, the city that never sleeps.
My only tip is this.....wear layers you can remove. Inside, I felt like I was sitting on top of the brick oven directly. They have a fan going, but that is a minor help. Luckily, I had a sweater I could take off. Be smart and do the same! -
Review from pete d.
5/7/2012
Mediocre pizza that didn't nearly live up to the hype and obnoxiously poor service.
On our trip to New York, I'd anticipated lots of good eats and was excited to check out Grimaldi's, which I had read hyped a "Must do in NYC"
So, we took a nice walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and had worked up quite an appetite by the time we arrived at Front Street and a line up of about a dozen people on a late thursday afternoon. Thirty minutes later and we're still lined up, despite the fact that several parties have left, and the mouth-watering wafting odor of coal-fired crust is piquing our appetite. Growing impatient, I notice (A) the disinterested staff seem more interested in chatting with their buddies and (B) everyone in the lineup seem to be tourists..
Finally the door guy returns to the line looking for table of four to seat, tired of waiting: I grab the German couple behind us and suggest we sit together. The plan works and we're in, until as we ascend to the upstairs seating area, I inform the host that we are two couples and he rudely tells me we can't split the cheque.. Hey, that pushy New York stuff might work with the Euros, but I'm from East Van and I push back ... he reluctantly obliges as we enter the upstairs dinging room: and WHOA! I count at least a dozen four-tops and another dozen tables for two, set and empty.. with assorted staff loitering about, entirely non-busy... you'd think such underworked staff would be at least a little attentive but nothing doing - we had to call them over every time and grab out own condiments from neighbouring table..
I'm not sure if lining us up like cattle outside the half full restaurant was a ploy to build hype or merely in the hope of getting us so hungry that we'd be ravenous for the mediocre pizza offering, but the crust was soggy in the middle and cost over $30 for a large with two toppings. It wasn't BAD mind you, but it certainly wasn't worth the price tag, poor service and half hour wait.. the only redeeming aspect of the visit was upon leaving and strolling a block west to admire the view from the carousel below the bridge.
The best pizza (I had) in New York was Bleeker Street Pizza in the West Village, served by the slice and superior in every possible way. I'd advise giving Grimaldi a pass.. I give it a one-star just to dilute the ridiculous amount of undeserved four and fives here on Yelp, otherwise Grimaldi's a two. -
Review from Lauren V.
Does my review really matter? Probably not...but I'll write it anyways.
While Grimaldi's pizza was good, I wasn't by any means blown away. I've been to one of the other NYC pizza staples, Lombardi's, and I enjoyed their pizza more than Grimaldi's.
At Grimaldi's I would highly recommend getting at least one kind of topping on your pie, as the regular pizza couldn't really stand on its own. The crust is delicious, thin, and crunchy but I wish they put the sauce up a little higher-there was just way to much crust at the top and that is coming from someone who LOVES crust.
The upstairs is hot and cramped and the servers were very crabby and unfriendly when we were there on a Monday afternoon. I'm sure it can get hectic with tourists galore but if you work there I assume you know what you're getting into.
If you're looking for the best pizza in NYC, I would recommend making friends with a few locals at a neighborhood bar and get their take on it-I've found that those recommendations are usually the best hidden gems on an island where pizza is not in short supply. Grimaldi's is good...but in my opinion, not worth the hype. -
Review from Valerie G.
New York, NY
4/27/2012
Wow okay this Grimaldi's owns the Douglaston Grimaldi's by 3958734597345.
I've only had the Douglaston Grimaldi's before, and time and time again it disappointed me with their sogginess! I've heard that nothing beats the original and I can attest that that is absolutely right.
My friends and I bypassed the line as we had someone already inside eating at a table who picked up 2 pies for us to-go. We ate them at the nearby Brooklyn Bridge Park and everything was fantastic - down to the crust. We had the simple mozzarella pizza with pepperoni and it was the perfect combination of thin crust, sweet marinara sauce, and meaty yet crunchy pepperoni.
I am sold now on the original BK Grimaldi's. Perhaps I should wait out a few years before returning to the Douglaston one because I hear the brick oven takes some time to break in ;) -
Review from Jillian H.
Brooklyn, NY
5/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
An absolute must try for tourists and New Yorkers alike. I enjoyed my experience so I'll outline my steps for a successful visit:
Forgo breakfast on a Saturday morning and head to their doorstep around 11:45; they open at noon. There will probably already be a small line, but nothing like what will develop over the next hour. Wait. Enter sometime between 12-1. Smile and be polite to the couple that you don't know beside you - family seating is an efficient way to get pizza into your mouth faster. Order a large pepperoni pie. Forget calories exist, but don't forget the crust. Pay in cash. Leave. Go home to beach whale it in the comfort on your own bed. -
Review from Grace C.
4/30/2012
3.5 stars.
We got there just before it opened at 11:30am on a Friday, and there were already several groups in line before us. However, we got seated in the first round of people (whew!). Otherwise, the wait can be pretty long.
The pizza here is fine, but I don't think it's so special that I'd wait in line for it. I guess it's one of those places that you just have to try once if you're a tourist.
We got a small pizza (has 6 slices) with sausage - this was a good size for 2 moderate-appetite people to share. Another table's pizza was pretty black and burnt on the bottom, but thankfully ours wasn't charred like that.
If you're visiting NYC/Brooklyn, note that Grimaldi's is a 5-10 min walk to the Brooklyn Bridge - You could eat at Grimaldi's & then walk across the bridge to Manhattan afterwards. -
Review from jade J.
Brooklyn, NY
4/25/2012
I don't know why people overhype this place. It's really subpar pizza in a really dingy location (I've also been to the Chelsea location in Limelight). What really makes this a bad pizza is the crust. I love thin crust, the ones here taste bitter/bad..like really burnt or something. Something is wrong with their dough.
Will probably not go back. Lombardi's is much better and more accessible.
Best pizza in my book? Di Fara's. DUH. -
Review from Helena H.
4/11/2012
OK... I'm a New Yorker for over 15 yrs and Finally came to Grimaldi's, WAIT in line and try their FAMOUS Pizza.
Went with my GF Pao L. since we both took Monday off after a crazy Easter weekend. Decided to go on a GF Date , catch up and do things that we haven't done in NYC (well, mostly for me). After a Fail attempt to go to BK Botanical garden (Realizing that it was closed on MONDAY) we took the train AGAIN and head to Brooklyn Bridge.
The OLD Grimaldi's MOVED to the NEXT Corner street (where the line was visible next to the old place) And my GF checked while I was in line if Take out was the same line as to dine in (YES, EVERYTHING is in ONE line!). But it was pretty quick. Less than 30 minutes.
There is one of the staff (OLD ITALIAN GUY) taking attendance to see how many people and if you are taking out, MAKE SURE you say "TAKE OUT". By the time we got by the door he pointed us to head right inside and place an order. We order a Small Regular Pizza (6 Thin slices) that was $ 12.00 and 2 bottles of Poland Spring water. Total came out $ 17.50. Paid Cash and told us to wait right outside the door. Within 10 minutes we got the order (Wrapped up in a flat paper bag instead of a Box).
We sat by the Water where the NEW Park was renovated, plenty of Benches and Pretty view (Make sure is not raining or Windy). It was so relaxed, refreshed with the pizza was a perfect combination. This pizza was totally worth the wait. IT does taste different when is Baked from the Brick Oven. Tasty Cheese and strong flavor of Basil.
6 slices was perfect for 2 people (3 of each). I got so guilty that by the time I went to my Kettlebell Kickboxing class (an hour later) i burned it all off!. Next time will come back and adding extra toppings.
They have other locations but this one is FAMOUS!, Also the view of NYC from here is BELLISIMO! -
Review from Dai L.
Brooklyn, NY
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yet another tourist trap. Neither this place nor Lombardi's impressed me with their versions of thin-crust pizzas.
To be honest, the only difference between these tourist traps and nationwide chains like Papa John's and Pizza Hut is that you're getting a lot less food for a lot more money. And time. Standing outside in the cold for an hour to get in? I'm sorry, but I took psychology 101 in college; I'm not going to fall into a cognitive dissonance trap the way every ignorant New Yorker or tourist will. Just because I waited and paid more doesn't automatically make the food better. There's a thing called objectivity, and it appears that a majority of the people that come here have lost it.
The pizzas are covered with a few chunks of mozzarella, and I'll take their word for it that it's fresh. This is supposed to be the big difference between them and major pizza chains. That and the insanely long line. Granted, Pizza Hut in New York is considerably worse than Pizza Hut in other cities, but really? This is supposedly the best pizza in New York, and by extension (because New Yorkers are delusional and think they're the greatest thing since sliced bread and Jesus combined) the world? FUGGEDABOUTIT! I prefer Pizza Hut's cheesy bites pizzas! The pizza here is foamy and airy. There's no substance to the carbs, and it's not even filling. It's mass produced pizza at its worst, and yet people line up for blocks to pay their hard-earned money for it.
Honestly, it's pathetic. Stop letting reviews and word-of-mouth and lines change your perception, people. Eat and judge for yourself. -
Review from Connie A.
East Orange, NJ
4/28/2012
There is a reason why Grimaldi's always have a line of people waiting in the long line wrapped around corner just for pizza. This place is practically famous. And it deserves to be. Their pizza is delicious!! Freshly made with (I'm assuming) fresh ingredients. Along with the pizza, you have the beautiful NY skyline. The reason for the 3 stars instead of 5 is because of cleanliness. The cups they pour my friends and mine water into were so dirty and kind of disguisting. I was afraid to drink the water.
Quick Tip: You can't buy pizza by the slice. And it's cash only. Hit the ATM before going. -
Review from Wendy L.
New York, NY
4/30/2012
Grimaldi's is definitely in the running for top NYC pizza. Went here over the weekend for lunch. Stood outside in line (it's a cute block!) for an hour, was surprised to then be seated and have to wait another 30 minutes before they took our order. And once we gave an order, it was yet another hour before we were served our plain cheese pizza! So be prepared for a long wait, I recommend eating before you go so you're not overly hungry by the time the food arrives. Or order for take-out.
It's good - the crust is chewy and delicious, and the pizza is flavorful and easy going down. My significant other and I ordered a large pizza for the two of us, and we ate nearly all of it. I would put it right in line with Lombardi's - they taste very similar - but a step down from Luzzo's which I still think is the best in NYC. Try them all and let me know what you think! -
Review from Alison W.
5/11/2012
I had tried at least 3 times on my other trips to NY to eat here. The line was always blocks long - even to get to-go is the same line. It really looked like they have one coal burning oven with limited capacity to make pizzas. They also recently moved and changed owners which might explain the other location that popped up in Manhattan. I never had a chance to try the old place but the pizza here is pretty darn good. Anyways we came about a half an hour before opening and were first in line. Waiting before is way better than waiting in that long line. Anyways they took their sweet time opening up their doors and setting up the line poles. Didn't open till 5 minutes past. Then they have one guy bring in each party one at a time. We somehow got seated in the back and had the hardest time flagging a waiter down when we were ready. We were seated first so shouldn't we be able to be one the first ones to order. I saw at least 7 tickets in the window before we got our order up there. If there's anything that's a pet peeve of mine at restaurants, it's slow and inefficient service.
So anyways we ordered 2 smalls - one with pepperoni and one with olive and sausage. Each small comes with 6 huge slices so 12 slices for 4 people is a lot. Especially when three out of the four are girls. I think we should've gotten a large (which is 8 slices) and called it a day. The crust is very thin and can be burnt at some places but it's fast to cook and the food came out relatively quick for pizza. I definitely think I'm more of a thin crust fan than a thick crust and this place makes thin crust like the best of them. Quality ingredients too. Pepperoni is small and kinda sparse on the pizza but thickly sliced and so good. Love their sauce and mozzarella cheese. I think I liked their sausage more but the olives were your typical canned olives and these were way to salty to me so it kinda threw off the balance of the pizza. Their sodas and beers are bottles btw. The busboy kept up with clearing the tables quickly but we had to ask for refills on water. And I asked him for the check (only because we didn't spot a waiter for like 15 minutes) twice to no avail. So annoyed that I just ended up walking up to the counter to pay. Should've stiffed them on their tip but whatever. Great, almost perfect pizza but dang their service and long lines prevents them from from getting so many stars. -
Review from Emily W.
4/20/2012
We got VIP status since we were a party of five so luckily our wait in line was minimal - woo! Bring your friends/fam with you so you can bypass all of the parties of two jockeying for the same 8 tables....you're welcome.
he pizza was delish and had a good ratio of cheese, basil and tomatoes/sauce. I liked the prep and cooking area so the germaphobe in me could watch our pizza from start to finish.
Cash money only too -
Review from Pao L.
New York, NY
4/10/2012
I've been to Grimaldi's many times but never wrote a review. So here you go!
Went there with my girlfriend yesterday after a nice walk from the promenade and admiring the beautiful view of the city and brooklyn bridge!
I actually didn't know that they moved next door to the corner until we got there. This is great because the old location had limited seating. Now, they have two floors, but there's still a line!!! We only had to stay online for about 20 mins (FYI, take out line is the same line!). We decided to do take out and enjoy our small regular pizza (6 slices) to eat it on the benches along the water - had to enjoy the beautiful weather outside!
I love the pizza at Grimaldi's..it's not as oily... i love their cheese, crust, and of course BASIL! I didn't feel any regret to eat 3 slices on my own (neither my friend who was heading to the gym to workout LOL). -
Review from Dustin C.
CANAL STREET, NY
5/17/2012
Pizza is amazing. Fun atmosphere. The place gets packed, there is often a line out front. Servers are great.
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Review from Jaimie D.
New York, NY
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Genuinely good pizza but not worth the wait. You should go there once to weigh in on the Great Pizza Debate, but thats about it. The pizza is good, but like so many things in New York, its mostly hype.
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Review from Dorie L.
New York, NY
4/7/2012
I was finally able to find out what the hype about Grimaldi's is all about.
Food Presentation:
Pizza looked beautiful, not sloppy, and great sharing size. Wine glasses were a bit small lol. But I guess they're big if they're a part of a play kitchen. The pizza can be a bit thicker so it holds the toppings better but the crust is nice and thin. We ordered two toppings (or three... don't remember) and they don't overwhelm the pizza. Smelled great fresh, and smelled great for lunch the next day as well. Tables were small so it really limits how much its customers can order.
Taste:
Fresh Grimaldi's pizza is def. something to rave about. Rich in taste and good portions of toppings so that you can taste everything.
Location and seating arrangement:
I'm a sucker for upper deck seating so this section may be biased. We were seated on the second floor by the windows and I had a perfect view of the main entrance and the first floor. Loved it. Though I feel bad for heavier and wider patrons- it was difficult for them to navigate around narrow walk spaces and seating.
Our waiter... SLOW DOWN!!! You can see that they're really rushed and it can potentially hurt Grimaldi's business. They're all nice and have good intentions of servicing every table in a timely manner but SLOW DOWN!!!!! Breathe and smile !!! A dining experience is not just about the food. A memorable dining experience includes atmosphere and waiter service.
Recommendation: Use credit card machines - they increase your customer base!!!
We were the last patrons to leave and it was nice that they didn't rush us out. Good job on that.
A few thumbs up for Grimaldi's. -
Review from Patricia C.
ASTORIA, NY
4/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ok, let's be clear. The pizza here is good. Maybe even very good. But for all the hype that I've heard over the years and the waiting in the hot-ass sun that I had to do before getting a table in this restaurant that seems to be without decent air-conditioning I have to say that I was pretty disappointed.
The pizza doesn't really stand out to me in any significant way. Brick oven pizza is always nice and they do make a decent crust here but I've had better pizza at Geppetto's in Providence, RI and I'm pretty sure you can get a brick oven pie that's just as good at other places in the city. Even the service is "meh". I just don't see what all the fuss is about. -
Review from Steph C.
3/23/2012
I went to Grimaldi's on a Sunday afternoon with Katie M. and Alex Z., who both live in Brooklyn. It was the first visit for all of us, and after weighing all the factors, I'd guess it was the last.
The experience was just kind of a pain in the ass. First, there was the forty minute wait in the freezing cold, during which we got the starting end of a light snow. I expected to wait, though, and I understand that some things are worth waiting for. But the annoyance did not end at the door. Once we were herded in, the table service was terrible. We were largely ignored, and the food took forever to come out. We thought it was strange that our antipasto was taking a half hour (we ordered it because we were starving and figured it shouldn't take too long to slap a few meats and olives onto a plate), but we stopped wondering when our pizza came. Our server apologized and said he had completely forgotten that we ordered the antipasto and gave us the option of ordering it then. We said never mind.
Now that the complaints are out of the way, I did like some things about this place. The atmosphere was great. Casual, old school, no slickness, and only a little bit of institutional pretension. The music suited the place - Sinatra and the like. When "That's Amore" came on, Alex noted, "They must get sick of this song." I had a Brooklyn Lager (mostly while waiting for, rather than with my pizza), and it was a nice refreshing beer to start my Sunday.
The pizza was great. We got a medium red pizza - a classic Margherita with sausage on half - and a small white with mushroom. The crust was excellent, with a pleasant yeasty flavor and a beautiful crunch to the crust, with a lot of flop in the middle. The red pie was nice, though I thought a little more acid in the sauce would have gone a long way. The basil was good, and the herby sausage was a lovely topping. The small white pizza was almost as big as the medium, with six large slices. The white pizza came with garlic and melted cheese, and it was pungent and flavorful, with a key assist from the earthy mushrooms.
I wouldn't say, though, that Grimaldi's pizza was the best I've had, and I wouldn't go through the same amount of hassle to visit again. That said, the crust was exceptional and I am glad I went. If you want famous New York pizza, this is not a bad spot to get it. Just be prepared for the attending headache.Listed in: The Ones Where I BlTCH
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Review from S C.
West Hills, CA
5/15/2012
I'm not a pizza person but I have a friend here and while visiting, this was labeled as a "must have," and it was definitely worth the 1.5 hour wait. Once you are able to get a table, order yourself a Brooklyn Lager! Then order your pies to the flavors that you wish! Service is also great once you get inside! Only pizza I absolutely love wolfing down.
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Review from Elizabeth M.
Brooklyn, NY
4/6/2012
I'm very sad that this place has gone downhill over the years. I've been coming here for at least 7 years and it's been on a steady decline, yet I still keep coming back, hoping that they will redeem themselves and serve me that piping hot, perfectly crisp pie that I remember.
The crust has gotten thicker over the years and can either come out soggy and chewy or black and burnt. The generous topping of fresh basil has been replaced with a 2-3 browning leaves. Major disappointment and no longer worth the wait. Not to mention, the service is non existent. -
Review from Harlan D.
Brooklyn, NY
3/24/2012
I've been coming here since I've known what pizza is.
I was here tonight, for the first time since they moved locations.
The new space is huge, and really nice- i like the addition of tv screens all over, i dont think the last location had that.
the pizza is still amazing, thanks to their coal burning over - though service seemed a little slower given all the extra space. i tried the calzone tonight for the first time- the small is huge, and filled with delicious ricotta and melted mozzarella. In the spirit of the warm weather, the brooklyn ice cream factory is up by the pier and makes for an amazing dessert.
I dont come here as often as the other brooklyn pizzerias (l&b, totonnos, and difara) because they're closer, and honestly this piace doesnt crack my top 3. -
Review from Susana M.
5/8/2012
Worth the wait! Grimaldis tops Lombardis for one reason only, price! I'll say that both places have the best pizza I've ever had (better than Italy!), but grimaldis is much cheaper. Maybe its because lombardis is in little Italy and grimaldis is in Brooklyn? Idk, but the trip over to Brooklyn is worth it. The thin crust and mozzarella cheese are to d-i-e for! A MUST for every new York visit!
Read more reviews for this business:
French (1),
German (1)
