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L&B SPUMONI GARDENS

Updated

Phone: (718) 449-1230

Address: 2725 86 STREET 11223

TLDR

Legendary upside-down Sicilian squares and iconic house-made spumoni; a must-visit old-school BK institution.

Reddit Sentiment for L&B SPUMONI GARDENS(based on 97 Reddit opinions)

62% Positive24% Neutral14% Negative

Tags

italian 69italian-american 18pizza 9pizza 74spumoni 18square slice 11View All

Neighborhoods

Gravesend

Instagram Posts References

L&B Spumoni Gardens is highlighted as one of the top 15 best pizza restaurants in New York City, known for its iconic Sicilian squares.

L&B Spumoni Gardens, a long-standing family-owned pizzeria in Brooklyn established in 1939, has introduced a new menu item, the vodka square pizza. This post captures a visitor's experience trying this new offering, suggesting it's an exciting addition for fans of the iconic establishment. The restaurant is well-known for its pizza and homemade spumoni.

Other Article Mentions

Lists, round-ups, and guides where this restaurant is featured.

Mentioned In
The Best Outdoor Dining in NYC
very positive

This classic Gravesend pizza spot offers phenomenal upside-down pizza and spumoni, with picnic tables perfect for post-beach or team gatherings.

Bryan KimMay 7, 2026
Read More →
Infatuation
Mentioned In
NYC’s Essential Bites: A Time Capsule of Dishes to Eat Before You Die
positive

L&B Spumoni Gardens offers an upside-down pizza with sweet sauce on top and cheese underneath, creating a gooey matrix, and is considered a New York rite of passage.

Bryan KimDate unknown
Read More →
Infatuation
Mentioned In
The Best Pizza in New York City
very positive

The iconic L&B square slice, with its unique sauce-under-cheese layering and a sauce 'to die for,' is a must-try, even recommended for eating as a whole pie.

Willa MooreDate unknown
Read More →
Infatuation

Details

A quintessential New York institution, this Brooklyn staple is world-renowned for its unique upside-down Sicilian square pizza [1]. The doughy, cheese-under-sauce crust creates a distinctive mochi-like texture that many consider a local masterpiece [2], [3]. Beyond the pizza, guests can enjoy a full menu of red-sauce Italian classics and must-try house-made spumoni desserts [4], [5].

Food Overview

The restaurant is defined by its thick, square Sicilian-style pizza featuring sweet marinara sauce layered over cheese [1], [3]. While the pizza is highly recommended by many, opinions on the texture and sauce sweetness vary, with some preferring the round slices or fresh cutlet sandwiches [2], [4], [5].

Highlights / Recommended

Mentioned Dishes:

  • spumoni(14)
  • pizza(11)
  • square slice(7)
  • square pizza(3)
  • sicilian slice(3)
  • vodka squares(2)
  • round slice(2)
  • upside-down pizza(2)

Customer Sentiment

Sentiment is deeply divided between long-time fans who view it as an essential culinary landmark and critics who find the food overrated or inconsistent [1], [2].

Reddit Opinions & Reviews

Top Reddit Posts About L&B SPUMONI GARDENS

This post serves as a primary discussion thread where users debate the merits of square slices versus round ones and share their experiences with the spumoni dessert.
A highly active thread featuring multiple perspectives on the 'magical' quality of the Sicilian slice and the tradition of enjoying it plain.
A focused discussion on the restaurant's cutlet preparation, confirming their reputation for frying thin, high-quality chicken and veal.

Recent Reddit Mentions

From post: Revisiting Difara Has Its Decline Continued Or Is

"Mentioned as a superior alternative to DiFara."

Positive
Aug 11, 2026View Comment →

From post: I Took My Daughter To Difara For A Premovie

"Ranked as the third best pizza option by the user, following Mama's Too and DiFara."

Positive
Aug 7, 2026View Comment →

From post: Looking For Pizza Recs For Queens Brooklyn And

"Still considered an institution despite opinions that it has gone downhill."

Positive
Aug 6, 2026View Comment →

From post: Looking For Pizza Recs For Queens Brooklyn And

"Mentioned that quality has gone downhill and they are not known for their plain slice."

Negative
Aug 5, 2026View Comment →

From post: Looking For Pizza Recs For Queens Brooklyn And

"Included in a list of recommended pizza spots."

Positive
Aug 5, 2026View Comment →

From post: I Had The Gargiulo Burger At Hamburger America

"Mentioned by the user as a comparison point for food quality."

Neutral
Aug 1, 2026View Comment →

From post: 2026 So Far My Favorite Bites All Are Highly

"A local recommends visiting on a nice day for fresh slices and spumoni."

Positive
Jul 28, 2026View Comment →

From post: 2026 So Far My Favorite Bites All Are Highly

"The author praises the light thick crust and calls it better than other popular pizza spots."

Positive
Jul 28, 2026View Comment →

From post: Favorite Places To Buy Ice Cream Pints In

"The commenter notes the pistachio spumoni is legendary."

Positive
Jul 28, 2026View Comment →

From post: Reccs For Someone Who Loves Sarges Lazarras Old

"Considered to be a very old-school institution."

Positive
Jul 15, 2026View Comment →

From post: Spumoni And Sicilian Slice From Lb Spumoni

"The commenter compares the pizza texture to chewing on a kitchen sponge."

Negative
Jul 14, 2026View Comment →

From post: Spumoni And Sicilian Slice From Lb Spumoni

"The commenter recommends trying the round slice at L&B."

Positive
Jul 13, 2026View Comment →

From post: Spumoni And Sicilian Slice From Lb Spumoni

"The commenter and their spouse agree that the pizza is mediocre, arguing the attraction is the outdoor atmosphere rather than the food."

Neutral
Jul 13, 2026View Comment →

From post: Spumoni And Sicilian Slice From Lb Spumoni

"The commenter found the pizza mid, but felt the spumoni was excellent."

Neutral
Jul 13, 2026View Comment →

From post: Spumoni And Sicilian Slice From Lb Spumoni

"The commenter considers the pizza highly overrated but found the spumoni acceptable."

Neutral
Jul 13, 2026View Comment →

From post: Spumoni And Sicilian Slice From Lb Spumoni

"The pizza is described as weak, though the people-watching and spumoni are cited as highlights."

Neutral
Jul 13, 2026View Comment →

From post: Spumoni And Sicilian Slice From Lb Spumoni

"The commenter states that the establishment is overrated."

Negative
Jul 13, 2026View Comment →

From post: Spumoni And Sicilian Slice From Lb Spumoni

"The commenter defends the sauce as delicious marinara and disagrees with the 'ketchup' comparison."

Positive
Jul 13, 2026View Comment →

From post: Spumoni And Sicilian Slice From Lb Spumoni

"The commenter prefers Ralph's for spumoni and reaffirms their negative opinion on the pizza quality."

Negative
Jul 13, 2026View Comment →

From post: Spumoni And Sicilian Slice From Lb Spumoni

"The commenter dislikes the pizza, comparing it to a wet sponge with ketchup, and also does not care for the spumoni."

Negative
Jul 13, 2026View Comment →

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