Thin, crispy sourdough pizza w/ unique toppings from EMP alums. Pricy, expect a wait, but often worth it.
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, a pizza spot in Nolita founded by former Eleven Madison Park chefs, is currently the most hyped pizzeria in NYC, known for its exceptionally thin, crispy sourdough crust and high-quality, often imported, Italian ingredients. While praised for innovative toppings like mushroom with crème fraîche and the $63 'nduja pie, some find the pizza pricey and occasionally dry or overcooked. The restaurant's popularity, boosted by a high rating from Dave Portnoy, has led to operational changes, including selling only whole pies with significant wait times, making it a less accessible but still highly sought-after destination.
Ceres offers a distinctive thin and crispy sourdough pizza, often praised for its quality ingredients and unique topping combinations like mushroom with crème fraîche and the spicy 'nduja pie. However, some reviews mention the pizza can be dry, overcooked, or too expensive for the value. The shift to selling only whole pies has also been a point of contention for some customers.
"The mushroom pizza with crème fraîche and onion is frequently recommended as a standout. The 'nduja pie is also highly regarded despite its high price, and the tomato pizza is noted as a good option."
Customers are generally positive about the pizza quality and innovative toppings, but many express frustration with the high prices and long wait times, especially after the restaurant switched to selling only whole pies.
Important Note
Ceres now only sells whole pies, and securing one often involves significant wait times, sometimes hours. Online ordering is not available, and customers must order and pay in person to reserve a time slot. Some find the pizza to be dry or the crust too crispy. The high price point is also a common point of discussion.
"The user criticizes Ceres pizza for often appearing burnt in photos and finds such food fads tiresome."
Negative"The user regrets waiting in line at Ceres for hours, only to leave due to even longer wait times for a $70 pie that didn't taste significantly different from other pizzas."
Negative"The user found Ceres pizza to be just 'fine' and not mind-blowing enough to warrant the wait or a repeat visit, despite avoiding a long initial queue."
Neutral"The user exclaims about Ceres not being mentioned more often."
Positive"Ceres is mentioned as being near Rubirosa and Scarr's, but with a potential long wait and serving pies only."
Positive"Ceres is listed under 'Worth going out of the way for', but with a caveat about a potential multi-hour wait and only serving whole pies."
Positive"The author gave Ceres a 6.5/10 after trying a cold slice of plain cheese pizza offered by strangers. They felt the flavor didn't appeal to them, though the texture was good, and they finished the slice due to the crispy base."
Negative"This commenter stated that Ceres has the best tomato slice, also mentioning Chrissy's as excellent."
Positive"In response to a mention of Ceres, this commenter questioned if their tomato pie includes pecorino cheese."
Neutral"This user listed Ceres alongside Fini and Una Pizza Napoletana for tomato slices."
Positive"This commenter praised Ceres' tomato pie, suggesting to ask for it without the finishing dressing. They also mentioned F&F as a good Brooklyn option."
Positive"This user preferred Christy's pizza over Ceres, noting they received their pie in hand within 25 minutes and found it to be very good."
Positive"This user felt that while Ceres pizza is good, other places like Joe's or L'Industrie offer great pizza without taking up as much visitor time. They questioned if someone not deep into NYC pizza would appreciate the nuances."
Neutral"This user recommended Christy's pizza in Greenpoint, stating it's worth the hype and has a manageable line of 30-45 minutes on weekends."
Positive"This user stated that waiting in line or reserving pizza in NYC is antithetical to the experience and suggested visitors should not waste time on it."
Negative"This user was disappointed that Ceres does not offer chili flakes, citing a negative experience when asking for them and being told 'we don't do that here.'"
Negative"This user reacted negatively to the idea of paying $60 for a pizza and expressed disapproval of eating somewhere endorsed by Dave Portnoy."
Negative"This user stated that Ceres is a two-person operation using high-end ingredients, explaining the long wait times and higher prices. They believe Portnoy's endorsement was accurate and that the pizza is worth the hype and cost."
Positive"This user defended Ceres, stating Portnoy's endorsement made them money and that their pizza is excellent. They also highlighted the high-end ingredients and TLC given to each pie by the two-person operation."
Positive"This user questioned if endorsing Dave Portnoy compromises a brand and if other pizza shops compromise theirs by making pizza to order."
Negative
