“ New York is a city that’ll chew you up and spit you out. But every now and then, if you’re lucky, it tosses you a gift—no frills, no fanfare, just honest-to-God flavor on a paper plate. Enter Lucia, Upper East Side—no gimmicks, no hype, just crust, sauce, and a revelation that makes you question every drunken slice you’ve ever settled for. I walk in skeptical, as one must be in this city of dollar-slice charlatans and crust crimes against humanity. But then I see it: the marinara slice. Naked but confident. No cheese to hide behind. Just sauce, garlic, and basil, like a Sinatra tune stripped down to a single trumpet and a glass of rye. The crust—dear God—the crust. It’s blistered in all the right places, fermented within an inch of its life, a delicate balance of chew and crunch. It speaks of time, of patience, of someone giving a damn. And the sauce? Not some sugary ketchup slop. This is red gold—bright, acidic, layered with enough garlic to make your Nonna weep from the grave. The cheese slice is no slouch either—showered with aged parm and kissed with the kind of char that only comes from a steel deck and a seasoned hand. But the marinara? That’s the sermon. That’s the truth. No mozzarella safety net. Just sauce, crust, basil, and conviction. Wash it down with a can of Brooklyn Best Peach Iced Tea—“not too sweet,” like a good insult in a Bensonhurst card game—and for a moment, you’re not just fed. You’re right with the world. Lucia’s isn’t just pizza. It’s a reminder that sometimes, when the city’s noise gets too loud, there’s still a joint out there serving humility, soul, and something damn near sacred—one slice at a time. ”

“ I ordered a pizza for pick up, it was busy (day 2 of being open) the staff was so friendly and kind, constantly making fresh pizzas, everything smelled amazing! My pizza was so flavorful, perfectly crispy yet the crust dough was still fluffy inside. Absolutely amazing, so thankful to finally have a good pizza spot on the UES!! ”

“ The guys working at this place know what they’re doing and ensure that the effort is made to make each pie spectacular. With a line of people out the door, they took the time to review each pie before it went out the door, adding Basil, hot honey, or whatever else it called for, leaving no pie unreviewed. It was a great experience and I’ll absolutely return. ”

“ It is hard to compete with good pizzas in nyc. This joint didn't disappoint. The grandma, Margherita and vodka pizzas were full of flavor. It was thin crust and good size slices. ”

“ Ordered delivery and omg I am so thankful they opened up. This is definitely top 3 favorite pizza spots in the city. The pepperoni... honestly I have to think about who would even make a better pepperoni than Lucis! The vodka pizza was really really good. Arrived warm which was shocking even though I’m only a few blocks away pizza always seems to need to be reheated when I get delivery. If you are thinking about it stop just go you won’t regret it! ”

“ Worth the wait! This pizza is the best in Nyc! The staff is friendly and the slices are always fresh. Highly recommend! ”

“ So happy to see that this location actually has seating, unlike the SOHO location. Also appreciated that they actually had all the slices available on the menu. Finally got to try one of the spicy slices, which was amazing. Staff was also very helpful and friendly. I'll be back! ”

“ Stopped in for a few slices with a friend and was pleased with the overall laid back, no frills vibe of the place. Self serve at the counter like your traditional slice spot so don’t expect much service, but the pies more than make up for it. Tried the pepperoni drizzled in honey and the vodka slice and was impressed by both, especially the pepperoni. Music was on point too with a nice playlist of hip hop classics. Would definitely come back. ”