SwimCoach

Patsy’s Pizza dynasty in East Harlem, opened this famed pizzeria in the 1990s underneath the southeast corner of the Brooklyn Bridge. Located just off the East River, Grimaldi’s pies are a favorite among pizza aficionados due to their crispness and smoky coal-fired goodness.

Rated as the best in the city by Zagats six consecutive years running, Grimaldi’s is known for going light on the sauce and heavy on the fresh ingredients –- including mozzarella slices made on the premises –- producing a pizza that draws throngs of Manhattan converts across the bridge to the Brooklyn pizza Mecca.

While Grimaldi’s is small, and has a considerable wait on weekends, simply getting there can be an enjoyable adventure. Many New Yorkers cross the Brooklyn Bridge (which can be accessed from the City Hall subway stop) and stroll down for a pie on a warm day, followed by dessert at the Brooklyn Ice Cream factory, located a convenient block away on a pier that juts out into the East River and offers an unrivaled view of lower Manhattan.

While Grimaldi’s sells only whole pies (a “No Slices” sign is prominently displayed in the window), that’s usually not a problem since there are rarely any leftovers. Slices are so thin that customers often eat double the number of slices they would in a normal pizzeria (plus, the pizza is just that good). Be sure to wear your fat pants, because no one gets out of Grimaldi’s without a satisfied, full belly.