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The best thing on the menu at Lucali's are the calzones, and they are the best I've had, period. What's disappointing is that Lucali's thinks it has the best /pizza/, but it doesn't and it's anybody's guess as to your general experience. Lucali's should take a look at Ferdinando's for how to have authentic food in a small environment with remarkable consistency and quality service. If you want consistency in food and service then go to Ignazio's (caddy-corner to the Brooklyn Ice Cream factory) and feel free to invite a few of the suckers waiting in line to eat at Grimaldi's

It is a windy 30 degrees out. After my friend and I waited for almost ten minutes with another couple watching the hostess yack away in an empty restaurant, she eventually poked her head out; we put our name on her list. It was 5:35, and she said to come back at 6:00. We walked around a couple blocks; we were cold, we returned, turning the corner at 6:00 to see tables filling and coats coming off and anticipating my first Lucali pizza. When we told the same hostess our name, she said it was too late, she'd been out calling our name and we weren't there so she gave our table away. With Supreme Attitude, over and over she said "You don't understand, I have people waiting in line outside." Remember--I'd been outside also. My friend asked what time the seats were filled, because she said, 'it's only 6:00 now'. In fact, she checked her cell phone to find it was at that moment 6:03. We had arrived at 6:01- 1/2 on a cold night to be told we were too late for a 6pm table and it had been given away and that we did not understand how much pressure the staff is under to seat the waiting public. Did the entire patronage have their names checked and seated in 90 seconds? Give me a break. Why not charge $100 for each pizza and sell it on Wall Street to more arrogant folks who think they do something miraculous every day. I confess i had a hungry dumbfounded attitude before I left, looking at her and saying "Two minutes? For two minutes you gave up our table?"

Steve, so youve been to Florida, South Carolina, Maryland for your pizza. That's hilarious. Why don't you try Chicago or New Haven. The pizza is pretty good here bu the service is mediocre. A lot of attitude when I was asking for a table. Fun checking out La Cosa Nostra wannabes though.

Some people say "its just pizza" and "you can get it anywhere" those comments are NIEVE, ARROGANT, AND IGNORANT ALL ROLLED INTO ONE. This is by FAR the BEST pizza I've ever eaten and I've been to Upstate NY, Florida, Maryland, South Carolina, and even Italy. Not only is Mark's Piazza the best I've had in NY its the best I've had anywhere I've been the only place that may be better and that's even neck and neck is actually in Italy. Most ppl I know (friends and family) myself included can't find even a decent slice of pizza outside of NY and Chicago so to say you can get it anywhere and its just pizza is ridiculous. Hell I have cousins that live in Long Island and can't even get a decent slice out there so they drive into Brooklyn 2hrs in traffic just to have Mark's Pizza and Calzone. Yes its pricey but he uses imported buffalo mozzarella and cheese from Italy, that costs money you pay for QUALITY. If you want salty cheese and bland sauce on cardboard feel free to go pay a dollar a slice somewhere and sacrifice the quality.

I really love this pizza place. Once you're seated it's a great expierence. Call ahead so you you get seat.

I used to come here all the time, back when it just opened, before all the hype and the media attention and its appearance on the various best pizzas in the USA lists. Back then it was amazing. Ate here again a few nights ago after a two-year hiatus and while the place looks the same (with some different pie making the pies), and it's still incredibly romantic, the pizzas aren't the same. And isn't that why you go here? The pizzas have a lot more crust and lot less area with sauce/cheese. Plus the cheese seemed less unique, more like the cheese you'd find at other pizzerias. Don't get me wrong, it's still a damn fine pizza, but nothing compared to what it used to be. And the prices, jeez, don't get me started.

Negative reviewers: buy a clue. Firstly, you don't like the wait time? Figure it out, come early, put your name down, you can be the first group in the door when they open and don't even bother coming on the weekends, it's just common sense. Think the prices are too high? Dinner for two and the total check is 40 bucks so you shouldn't be complaining, this is NYC, they can't stay in business if they charge 10 bucks a pie, even the worst pizza in the city cost 15 bucks a pie! Don't think the pizza lives up to the hype? The problem ain't the pizza, it's the hype, how magical can you expect pizza to be? Either way I dare anyone to name five bettter pies in the boroughs, you can't do it so stop hating on Lucali. It's the best I've had in a long time.