99¢ Fresh Pizza (Expands its Mini Empire!!!)

There are some things that are such an awesome deal they supercede quality.  In fact the occurance is so rare, that when you find the deal, you are so excited, you forget what the thing you’re eating even tastes like.  The under $10 buffet.  Steak & Eggs in Vegas.  Taco Bell in the old days.  And of course… 99 cent pizza.  Pizza is everywhere in New York.  Good pizza is everywhere in New York.  But you never see a slice below $2.  And in Midtown, the price is sometimes jacked up to a ridiculous $2.50 a slice.  Nevermind wanting toppings or a drink.  The pizza is good… but a lunch ends up costing you $7… for pizza.  Enter 99¢ Fresh Pizza to save the day!

Anyone who has ever been behind the Port Authority on 9th Avenue has seen the 99¢ pizza place.  Always open, and always a line- this window churns out cheese pizza slices like nobody’s business.  The slices are hot, fresh, and for 99 cents a real steal.  Living in Hell’s Kitchen, and shopping at the various markets down there I’ve partaken in the 99¢ pizza many times, usually as a post grocery shopping snack.  In fact it has spawned a snack or meal argument between my wife and I on numerous occasions.  My claim… “If something costs $1 (i.e. a slice of pizza), it is automatically a snack”.  Her claim… “You are a fat bastard.”

Well, on Monday I was excited to find out that 99¢ Fresh Pizza has expanded East, opening a new location next to Grand Central Terminal, on 43rd St. btw. 3rd & Lex.  Pics of the pie and the +/- after the jump.

Don’t expect the greatest New York pizza you’ve ever experienced.  You get what you pay for.  If a pie costs $8, it is probably not going to be as good as a $17 pie… but for $1, how can you complain?  And of course, it’s so cheap you’ll convince yourself it tastes better than it actually does.  It’s got plenty of cheese, and there is always a fresh pie (although this location is new- so the turnover may not be as quick as the Port Authority Location).  The sign on the window says there are toppings available for 50 cents a slice, $2 per pie… but once you start down that road, it’s not 99¢ pizza anymore, and must be held to a different standard. 

Perfect for a snack, or the cheapest lunch available in Midtown that doesn’t involve eating a hot dog or stale pretzel.  $2.75 gets you two slices and a can of soda.  It doesn’t get any better than this… (unless you like your pizza great, and don’t mind paying the money for it).  Seriously… I only say it’s not great pizza so I don’t get a million comments questioning whether my taste buds still function.  The truth is- I freakin’ LOVE the 99¢ pizza place.  Call me a cheapo, but I’ve never once asked for my penny back (and they’ve never offered it.)  

THE +

  • It’s a fresh slice of pizza… for 99 cents.  Deal of the century.
  • You don’t have to walk to 9th Ave. behind the Port Authority anymore

THE –

  • It’s obviously not the best pizza in the city (but it’s not bad enough to not be worth it)
  • At the Port Authority location there is always a line, and always a fresh pie coming out of the oven.  This location is new, and may take awhile to get the turnover going.
  • No variety.  The only thing they usually have pre-made is Cheese.  I’ve never asked for toppings because then it wouldn’t be 99¢ pizza anymore.
  • If you are willing to wait until after 2pm, I’ve heard there is real pizza place in the same area that drops its price to $1 a slice.

99¢ Fresh Pizza, 151 E. 43rd St. (btw. Lex & 3rd), 212-922-0257

43 Comments

  • Great pizza. I was visiting Ny, staying in Jersey and made it my 1st stop almost every day before getting started on wasting the days away. Didn’t even need the navigation system in my buddies car after the 2nd visit. I memorized the route from Seacaucus. Hell of a bargain!

  • I can’t wait to try it. When I’m roaming the island again, I’ll be there for breakfast and dinner! Pizza & a Coke!, yeah…

  • I pass by the 99 cent pizza every time I go to Sushi Yasuda and I’ve been wondering if I should try it. I have to admit, I’m scared. Part of me just thinks that pizza that cheap might give me cancer or something. =/

  • wow!!! there pizza is awsome! i tried it many times in both locations I think there pizza is one of the best pizza in nyc.. thanks to midtown luch..
    folks should try it!!!

  • Great post Zach!

  • had it a couple of times tought it was ok then I took my friend and he told me how could you by pizza from a tent and from a place that the employees dont have a place to go to the bathroom? He was right think about it.

  • u really should say how large this pie is; for all we knw, it could be a 4 inches pizza pie for $8.. which won’t be so lovely after all.

  • I had the pizza at the PO last winter it was actually much better than $2.00 + slices I have had.

  • Cheap bastards of the world unite!

  • Just had 99cent pizza…fresh and delicious. Nothing extravagant but for $3, two slices and a cold drink ain’t bad.

  • this pizza is horrible. i understand it’s only $1 so if you’re super broke or are a ny transplant who has never had decent pizza, go for it

  • i was reading Mondays daily news and seen the article about the 99 cents pizza i just didn’t believe that i was Reading this im going to today all the way from the bronx with my son to get this pizza for 99 cents i just may get me 18 slices just for me lol

  • I truely believe this is the best pizza in NYC and have been stopping at the PA location for years… They offer garlic, red pepper and even hot sauce to throw on top and its always fresh and delicious. I’d eat it even if it wasnt 99cents a slice. Oh, and the slices are quite large.

  • Has anyone anywhere been to the “Pizza Box” in Greenwich, Manhattan on Bleeker street? I went there 3 times when on vacation in NYC 2 years ago. I was staying in mid-town and was asking different people where a good pizza place was so I’d follow their direction, get to their suggested place and each and every place I’d hit, the pizza wasn’t all that good, in fact as a native New Yorker I was stunned to find how the Pizza tasted, looked and quality has changed over the years. But alas – I found the “Pizza Box” a little hole in the wall and talk about bringing back memories of huge cheese slices with that, that, that, that….familiar smell and taste I had as a kid in Brooklyn – I thought I hit nirvana. What’s strange is that nobody seems to know about this place. There was a nice old Italian man with an asst making the Pizzas. I hope he’s still there and the quality is just as good – so if you dont mind the trek, beatfeet it to his wonderful no-frills place. If you go in spring and summer they have a patio out back. I watched as these teenagers all came in ordered two large pies and commenced snarfing them down with reckless abandon!! I saved a couple pieces for later and took the train back up to mid-town. I gave the pizza to my husband and he flipped! We went back 2 more times. It was the best!! If you go to the YELP site you will see alot of reviews for the PIZZA BOX and they are mostly positive. I hope the Italian man is still there making his pizza’s.

  • I used to order from them when I could afford Hells Kitchen rent and they are fantastic. There has been talks of raising the price for years. I would buy from them if it was $5 a slice. Fresh outweighs everything in my eyes. (Or.. mouth)

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