Renowned for its exceptional sourdough pizza and premium ingredients, this spot offers a unique thin-crust experience, though expect a wait and a higher price point.
Bryan Kim reviews Ceres Pizza, a NYC spot famous for its thin and chewy slices, and notes that the 'nduja pie with burrata and balsamic is worth the hassle.
Ceres Pizza, born from the minds of two Eleven Madison Park alumni, offers a distinct take on New York pizza with its signature thin and crispy sourdough crust. The establishment is lauded for its premium ingredients, including imported Italian components and unique toppings like mushroom with crème fraîche. While praised for its innovative flavors and high quality, it's also noted for its premium pricing and significant wait times, especially after gaining wider recognition.
Ceres Pizza is highly regarded for its thin, crispy sourdough crust and unique toppings, with the mushroom pizza and the 'nduja pie being frequently recommended. While many find the quality justifies the price, some customers feel the pizza is overpriced and the wait times are excessive. The restaurant has transitioned to selling only whole pies, which has further impacted customer experience.
"The mushroom pizza with crème fraîche and onion is frequently highlighted as a standout. The 'nduja pie is also recommended, despite its high price, for its unique flavor combination."
Customers generally have a positive sentiment towards Ceres Pizza, often praising its unique sourdough crust and high-quality ingredients, though some express concerns about the price point and long wait times.
Important Note
The restaurant now exclusively sells whole pies, which can be a significant investment. Wait times can be very long, sometimes requiring hours for a reservation or pickup. Some find the pizza overpriced for the portion size or quality compared to other lauded pizza establishments.
"The commenter stated that Ceres is overhyped and that other pizza places like L'Industrie and Mama's Too offer better flavor and shorter wait times."
Negative"This user expressed a negative opinion of Ceres, questioning its popularity."
Negative"This commenter also found Ceres' crust to be phenomenal but felt the toppings were too scarce. They were glad they tried it during an early period with shorter waits."
Negative"The cheese and 'nduja pies featured a thin, crispy sourdough crust. The cheese pie lacked sufficient sauce and mozzarella, with too much Parmesan, giving it a Cheeze-it-like flavor. The 'nduja pie was better due to more toppings, but the balsamic drizzle was overwhelming."
Negative"This comment likens the experience at Ceres to a 'scam,' drawing a parallel to Eleven Madison Park."
Negative"This user dismisses UA's reviews as a waste of time."
Negative"This user disputes the claim that Ceres' prices are normal for top-tier pizza places, providing examples of other highly-rated establishments like L'Industrie, F&F, and Mama's Too, which have significantly lower prices."
Negative"This commenter noted that thin crust pizzas, like those from Ceres, tend to change flavor as they cool. They advised eating them immediately upon receipt, a characteristic they've observed with other popular pizza places like Lucali and Johns of Bleecker."
Neutral"This commenter watches food reviews despite the reviewer talking too much and potentially letting the food get cold, to compare their own experiences and gauge review reliability."
Neutral"This user confirmed that even without a physical line, customers must wait hours for their pie. They mentioned people lining up during opening hours to secure a pickup time slot."
Neutral"This user asked if there were still long lines at Ceres."
Neutral"This user believes the mixed reviews stem from a New Yorker's preference versus tourists and transplants who might enjoy the pizza more."
Neutral"This user clarifies that the plain cheese pie is actually a tomato pie with Parmesan, which may confuse those expecting a traditional cheese pie. They find Ceres pizza good but not worth the price and wait compared to Luigi's."
Neutral"This user expressed that they would not patronize businesses with such a demanding model, citing other pizza places that offer comparable quality without the extensive waiting and logistical issues."
Negative"This user explained that a several-hour wait for a pickup order is typical. They advise that customers should plan accordingly, as immediate service is not the model."
Neutral"This user questioned if the pizza pictured was the worst-looking pizza ever."
Negative"This user called customers paying for Ceres pizza 'suckers'."
Negative"This user found the pizza to look heavenly."
Positive"This user believes that no pizza can live up to the hype Ceres has generated, leading to a circus-like atmosphere. They noted that the pizza's quality degrades quickly once boxed and transported, making it unsuitable for anything but immediate consumption."
Neutral"This user attributes the pizza's characteristics to the style of thin crust tavern pizza."
Neutral