Day 31, 2025: Mano's Pizzeria (Ridgewood, Queens)

  

exterior

DAY 31: OCTOBER 31st, 2025

LOCATION: Mano's Pizzeria (62-98 Forest Ave, Ridgewood, NY 11385)

GUEST(S): Matthew Shafeek, Chris Simpson, Jon Monje, Oliver Gellerman

ORDER: 1/2 slice of White Pie (Garlic Confit Base, Shredded Mozzarella, Ricotta, Cracked Black Pepper), 1/2 slice of NYM Pie (Fresh Mozzarella, Cooked Tomato Sauce, Sicilian Oregano, Pecorino Romano, Chopped Basil), 1/2 slice of Minucci Pie (Tomato Sauce, Sweet Sausage, Pepperoni, Calabrian Chili Peppers, Shredded Mozzarella, Hot Honey), 1/2 slice of Classic Cheese (Tomato Sauce, Pecorino Romano, Sicilian Oregano, Shredded Mozzarella)

REVIEW: 
Destination slice. Unless you’re lucky enough to live in Ridgewood, Queens, you may have to travel a bit out of your way to get to Mano’s Pizzeria — but trust me, it’s worth the trip. Owner and master pizzaiolo Nick Manopella devotes over 100 hours to fermenting the dough, which he makes himself using unbleached, unbromated Italian flour. That kind of commitment shows up in every bite. Watching Nick at work behind the counter is a show in itself. Each pie, often named after one of his family members, is crafted with precision and passion. The sauce? No mystery there — just high-quality Italian tomatoes, sea salt, and olive oil. When the ingredients and the technique are this good, there’s no need for secrets. The result: pizza that’s as simple as it is sublime. It’s no wonder 50 Top Pizza keeps ranking Mano’s among the best slice joints in the country. The lines start forming soon after opening and don’t let up until the dough runs out. Prices are still refreshingly reasonable (for now), but the quality is world-class. If only Nick could open a second location closer to where I live… and work… and everywhere else.

PHOTOS:

Interior

options

White slice

slice of Minucci Pie (cut in 2)

NYM Pie slice (cut in 2)

Fulgieri Pie (cut in 2)

Sicilian (cut in 2)

slice of Classic cheese (cut in 2)

the slices

Day 31

Menu board

underside

interior decorations

VIDEO:

link: https://www.tiktok.com/@31daysofpizza/video/7573561146326650143

MISCELLANEOUS:

Sean Taylor, Oliver Gellerman, Chris Simpson, Matt Shafeek

1. Chris Simpson got a new tattoo. 

Sean Taylor, Oliver Gellerman

2. This was the first time I met Oliver Gellerman in person. He's been following my blog for years and recently recommended Mano's. This guy really knows his pizzerias and has a photographic memory of pizza makers, bloggers, and pizzeria employees, in general.

3. Matt Shafeek has escaped more rooms than anyone I know. Earlier this year, he rented an RV and he and some other Escape[room] artists did 50 in just over a week.

RATING:

 4.58/5

• VALUE:
   4.5/5


• AMBIENCE:
   3/3


• TASTE:
   9/10


• SERVICE: N/A

16.5/18 = .917 x 5 = 4.58

Day 30, 2025: Mama's Too (W. Village, NYC)

  

exterior

DAY 30: OCTOBER 30th, 2025

LOCATION: Mama's Too West Village (325 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014)

GUEST(S): Adam Wade, Jon Monje, Ange Demanti

ORDER: 1 slice of House Slice (aged mozzarella, plum tomato sauce, parmigiano reggiano, basil), 1/3 slice of Angry Nonni (Hot Sopressata, plum tomato sauce, homemade hot honey), 1/2 slice of Vodka Square (vodka sauce, whipped ricotta, grated cheese), 1/3 slice of Bufalina (beer battered fried chicken, hot sauce, gorganzola crema, roasted chilis, chopped scallion), 1/3 slice of Cacio e Pepe (4 cheeses, cracked black pepper), 1/3 slice of Upside Down (plum tomato sauce, grated pecorino romano, extra virgin olive oil)

REVIEW: 

A worthy rival. Mama’s Too bakes some of the best pizza in the city — and now there are two of them! The original Upper West Side shop helped redefine the modern New York square, and the new West Village location is keeping that high bar firmly in place. If the line at L’Industrie down the block is too long, you can always give Mama’s Too a try… though you may find yourself trading one queue for another. Either way, it’s worth it. Both locations feature a counter lined with some of the city’s top-tier signature squares alongside one of Manhattan’s best examples of the classic New York street slice. Each slice starts with quality ingredients, bakes in an electric oven, and gets the royal treatment post-bake — a dusting of grated cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, and a touch of fresh basil. I recommend arriving hungry (or with a friend) and ordering at least two squares and a House Slice for good measure. For something traditional, go with the square pepperoni. It’s Detroit-adjacent in form — a focaccia-like crust that’s big yet light, surrounded by a crispy, cheesy frico edge. For something a little more adventurous, try the Cacio e Pepe, where black pepper and cheese combine for a spicy-creamy bite that’s pure genius. There are a handful of seats inside, but demand tends to outpace supply, so be prepared to eat standing up or take your slices to go. Luckily, Mama’s Too squares heat, eat, and reheat beautifully.

PHOTOS:

slice options

interior

slice of Bruschetta

slice of Cacio e Pepe

slice of Vodka Square

slice of Bufalina

slice of Angry Nonna

slice of Upside Down

slice of Pepperoni Square

edges

underside

Day 30

underside of House slice

House Slice

VIDEO:

link: https://www.tiktok.com/@31daysofpizza/video/7573526677368720670

MISCELLANEOUS:

Adam Wade, Jon Monje, Ange DeManti, Sean Taylor

1. Ange Demanti knows where all of the public restrooms are in NYC...and, thanks to this link, I do too!

2. Adam Wade teaches classes in storytelling at the Magnet Theater. I've taken three of them. He's not only a fine teacher, he's also an award winning performer and is featuring me (and Robin) in his show at the Art House in Jersey City on November 5th, 2025.

3. Jon Monje is everyone's favorite House Manager. Even other Magnet House Managers say he's their favorite!

RATING:

 4.31/5

• VALUE:
   4/5


• AMBIENCE:
   3/3


• TASTE:
   8.5/10


• SERVICE: N/A

15.5/18 = .861 x 5 = 4.31