Four Slices, Four Bucks

One business that’s booming in this shitty economy is the one dollar pizza place. You can hardly walk more than a couple blocks in Manhattan without walking by one. We did ketchup yesterday, so I thought I’d continue in this saucy post tradition by sampling one dollar slices in four very different locations and report about this experience today. And so, armed with four bucks, here we go. (The pizza ratings go from the worst at one slice to the best at four slices. Please note: this rating system is for one buck pizza places only, not your normal slice outlets or pizzeria’s.)

Armed with four bucks, it's off we go in search of four random dollar slices.

Olympia Finest DeliThe first stop is Olympia Finest Deli. I think it takes some balls to call yourself the "finest" deli in a city where there's a deli on every block, let's go in and see if they live up to this boast.

It's nice and clean in here, but I don't know if it's the finest deli in Manhattan, maybe in Olympia, but I've seen better in Manhattan. Let's go find the one dollar pizza in here.

And there it is, time to sample the first slice.

Playing on the name, I asked this gentleman if this was the finest one buck slice in town, he gave me a thumbs up.

If that truly is the finest deli in town, you'd think there'd be a place to sit, but there's not, but there's some tables not in use at the bar next door, so let's sample this slice over there.

Olympia Finest Deli Rating
The slice: Very scary looking. The sauce and cheese were somewhat congealed and I almost threw up while eating the bite I took, it tasted like pure grease on cardboard. I threw the rest of it in the trash and feel sorry for the poor homeless person that has to make do with it for dinner.
Overall pizza eating experience: There’s nowhere in the deli to eat the slice, which is fine by me, I’m never eating pizza there again.
Pizza Rating—One Slice
Olympia Finest Deli
761 Ave Of The Americas (Between 25th and 26th St.)
212-924-5074

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2 Brothers PizzaI believe 2 Brothers Pizza are the people that started this whole dollar pizza slice craze a couple of years ago, so I thought we should sample one of their slices.

I"ve never seen this before, usually there's always a line in here, maybe the economy is getting better after all!

Here's an aerial shot of one of their pies. Time to sample slice number two.

2 Brothers Pizza Rating
The slice: The pizza itself isn’t horrible, it really isn’t anything. It has literally no taste to it. It’s like eating a hot slice of nothing. It’s the Seinfeld Slice. The crust is very limp, maybe they should add Viagra into the pizza dough.
Overall pizza eating experience: The ambience in this place is equal parts sweatshop, pizzeria and parking garage. There’s almost always a line in here and when I pass by this song always plays in my mind.
Pizza Rating: Two Seinfelds
2 Brothers Pizza
601 6th Ave. (Between 17th and 18th St.)
212-206-8656

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Gray’s PapayaIt was a sad day for me when I found out that Gray's Papaya in Greenwich Village had not only caved in to the dollar pizza game, they took it one cent lower and have a 99 cent slice. They should really just stick to what they're good at and that is great hot dogs, but let's go see what they have to offer in the way of cheap pizza.

The signage says that they're strictly hot dogs...

But this sad reflection while gazing at some weiners on the griddle says something else entirely.

And here's the pizzas on display at Gray's Papaya. I'd love to just have a hot dog and get out of here, but I'm a man on a mission.

Wow, this guy looks like he's serving me up my last supper, I don't feel too good about this!

Gray’s Papaya RatingThe slice: Another limp dick slice. It’s got a weird taste, kind of like they melted butter on it and it leaves a bad after taste in your mouth.
Overall pizza eating experience: Eating a one dollar slice at a Gray’s Papaya instead of a hot dog just feels wrong, kind of like making out with your grandmother. If you come here, stick with the dogs, you can’t go wrong with them!
Pizza Rating: One Slice
Gray’s Papaya
402 Sixth Ave. (@8th St.)
212-260-3532

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Percy’s PizzaHere's Percy's Pizza on Bleecker Street. The NY Post recently ran a feature declaring this the best one buck slice in town, so I had to check it out.

Now this place looks like a pizzeria and there's a decent crowd in here, looks like other people saw that feature, let's go check it out.

On the right is Percy's pizza chef, Giacomo Lattaruli, with the gentleman who was working the counter. It's a friendly place in here.

They had sold out of the plain slices when I got there and Giacomo told me it would be a few minutes till more were ready from the oven. I decided to splurge and spent $1.50 for the pepperoni slice. It looks really good!

Percy’s PIzza Rating
The slice: I like it better than the usual slices found at Ray’s type pizza joints. The dough is crisp and the cheese and sauce are spicy and tasty. The NY Post rated this as the best one dollar slice in New York and I wholeheartedly agree. I will come back for more!
Overall pizza eating experience: It’s a narrow space, but the faux brick wall and polished wooden tables make it feel like a real pizzeria. Giacomo is a friendly guy and he puts the other one dollar pizza makers to shame!
Pizza Rating: Four Slices
Percy’s
190 Bleecker St. (near MacDougal)

Further Reading: NY Times, Serious Eats—Slice and Slice Harvester.

And now a piece of paper from me,
Won't seem half as flimsy.

Surprise link, click on it, I dare you!