Verrazano Pizza   

The debate over which city has the superior pizza, New York or Chicago, may never be settled, but many of those who endorse the Gotham faction consider Verrazano Pizza a home away from home. Wide slices of flat, cheesy pizza with a golden brown crust, just like they make them at Ray's Original, are hand-tossed, baked in a brick oven and served with all the traditional toppings. The critical cheese-to-tomato-sauce ratio, which separates quality pizza from the stuff in your grocer's freezer, is either meticulously measured here, or they've been doing it so long that the perfect mix comes naturally. Pastas, subs and calzones are also available. Verrazano is mostly a carry-out place, though they have a few seats for those who can't wait to dig in. -- David Hofstede