32 Spring St
New York, NY 10012-4173 
(212) 941-7994
Subway: 6 to Spring Street
Cross Street: Corner of Spring and Mott Street (the number 6 subway line is only a block away)
The Scene
Opened in 1897 at 53 Spring St., just down the street from its present location, Lombardi's is easily one of the city's oldest eateries. Now, since taking over the space next door, the restaurant has almost doubled its former size. And while the original half--with its well-worn booths and open kitchen--easily outcharms the new dining room, the famously long wait has been cut in half, and thanks to the addition of a bar, it's almost a pleasure.
The Food
The reason to come here is obvious: beautiful, smoky-crusted pizza with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. The genius of this pizza starts with the crust, which is black and crispy on the underside (with pleasant, slightly bitter overtones), but gives way to a wonderfully soft, yeasty interior. Signature toppings like pepperoni and homemade meatballs, along with the restaurant's famous clam pie, keep locals and tourists alike coming back.
Hours:
· | Sun-Thu 11:30am-11pm |
· | Fri-Sat 11:30am-12 Midnight |
· | Reservations of 8 or more Only Accepted Monday thru Thursday. NO RESERVATIONS FRIDAY, SATURDAY OR SUNDAY. |
America's First Pizzeria Est. 1905
- Lombardi's opened in little Italy as a grocery store in 1897. It was established as the first pizzeria in America in 1905 with New York's issuance of the mercantile license.
- Over One Hundred years of history and still recognized as one of the best.
- The very best ingredients, Coal fired ovens and long lines can attest to what ZAGAT SURVEY reviewers exclaimed as "Best on the Planet" .
According to documented history, Lombardi's was the first American pizzeria. Pizza didn't gain its popularity until just after World War II, but Lombardi's, opened by Gennaro Lombardi, began selling pizza in New York City in 1905, so you might say Gennaro is the father of American pizza. Lombardi's was originally a grocery store, but it soon became a popular stop for workers looking for something to take to work for lunch. Gennaro started selling tomato pies, which were wrapped in paper and tied with a string, and the many workers of Italian descent would take them to the job site. Most could not afford the entire pie, so it was often sold by the piece. There was no set price or size, so you asked for whatever lets say 2 cents would buy and you were given portion of what was equal to the amount offered. Gennaro's son, John, took over after Gennaro passed away and the business eventually went to Genarro's grandson, Jerry. Over the years, Lombardi's continued to sell pizza, becoming a cult-like Mecca for pizza enthusiasts. In 1984, Lombardi's closed its doors. In 1994, John Brescio, who was a childhood friend of Gennaro's grandson, Jerry, started talking to Jerry about reopening Lombardi's and in that same year they did, but not in the same location. They moved a block down the street to 32 Spring Street.
