It was bleak until i found John's of Bleecker st. pizzeria

Pitching feed me NY is time consuming. It seemed as though i was not going to eat yesterday until i walked into John's of Bleecker st. pizzeria in the west village and Lester, the night manager, told me to take a seat.

When perusing the menu and attempting to choose a pizza at John's of Bleecker, we are faced with several choices. No.1: the size. There is a medium, 14 inch, 6 slices (12 $) and a large, 16 inch, 8 slices (14 $).

No.2: the toppings (2 $ each). Large choice.

I went with the medium and selected tomato slices and sausage as my topping for a cheese and tomato sauce pizza.

Lester took my order. I later asked him what type of sausage garnished the pizza and he explained that it is an Italian pork sausage from Florence the meat market, "just over there," he pointed to a street that I later learnt is Jones street.

A sign on the wall near the counter reads "No slices". A huge mural depicting a sea side looks over a small dining area.

The menu proudly boasts of the thin crust, coal fired brick oven nature of its pizza.

Another waiter (who later i learn is named Silvio) approaches me. "What pizzerias have you eaten at?" he asks.
"Arturo's," I reply. "The one over on 7 th avenue."
"Lombardi's on Mulberry in Little Italy is the oldest pizzeria," Silvio says.

Silvio asks how my pizza is. "Good," is my reply. I ate all 6 slices. I was hungry.

"I've been working here since 93," Lester says. "I feed my wife and 3 kids off this place... it's a fun place; good family; generous people."

Lester explains that the owner has not raised prices in 5 years even though price of flour has gone up. "Wants to keep families coming."

Established in 1929, i ask if John is the original owner and whether he was a first generation immigrant from Italy.

"Yes," He replies. "He started working at Lombardi's from 1905-1928 and then opened up here."
"what part of Italy?"
"Naples."

The menu has other offerings like calzones, meatball sandwiches, manicotti, a house salad. No credit cards are accepted and t-shirts are for sale. Small beer and wine selection. Not much by way of dessert.

Final thoughts, a glass of chianti might go nicely with a John's of Bleecker pizza.

Thank you! John's of Bleecker Pizzeria

278 Bleecker st.
New York
212-243-1680