Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
A First-rate New Pizza Joint Opens On 30th Avenue In Astoria
By
Scott Lynch
Published Jan 22, 2021
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 9
By
Scott Lynch
Published Jan 22, 2021
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Andrew Bellucci opened his namesake slice and pie joint about a month ago in Astoria, but the origin story goes way back. In addition to working at such NYC greats as Joe's and Rubirosa, Bellucci was also present at the (re)creation of his family's other restaurant, the legendary Lombardi's, in 1994. Its first iteration opened way before that, however, around 1905, and also on Spring Street. It is considered to be the very first pizzeria in the country.
So there's a lot of history behind this modest, ordinary-looking pizza place — but you don't need to know any of it to get excited about Bellucci. It's a solid new pizzeria, featuring a just-large-enough selection of slices and pies to keep things interesting, run by a guy who really knows his stuff. Definitely a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Bellucci's slices fall squarely into the classic NYC fold category, with just enough structure to accommodate one-handed, hauling-ass-down-the-street eating, if necessary. I wolfed down four of these beauties the other day while standing out in front of the place on a cold and blustery patch of 30th Avenue sidewalk, and there are few meals that make me happier, or are as evocative of my entire life.
The Vodka-Roni ($5)
The clear winner is the Vodka-Roni, a very good fresh mozz/pepperoni slice that gets a ladle of zippy vodka sauce dumped on top just before serving. It's a bit messy, but you won't care. It's delicious. The Sonny Supreme is also very good, a meat party (sausage, pepperoni) with plenty of special guests (onions, mushrooms, herbs) to keep things jumping.
There's a vegan version of this slice as well, called the MIke Tyson and topped with the suddenly-everywhere NUMU "mozzarella" and various fake meats to decent effect, though I think I'd skip this one next time. Better was the Veggie Royale, a vegetarian slice with plenty of depth and heft, a bunch of broccoli rabe doing a lot of the good work here. You can get sauces on the side as well, including a crock of tangy Ranch, which is always better on pizza than I remember, and a no-joke Fermented Hot Sauce, which should be applied with caution.
Pies come in two styles: the 18-inch Old School New York Round, and the 12-inch Metropolitans, which are available in adventurous assemblages like the Jersey-Licious with Taylor ham, egg, cheese, and Sriracha; the You Say Potato with provolone and Yukon golds; and the Butter Me Up with sausage, broccoli rabe, and brown sage butter. And, if you want, Bellucci will make you a gluten-free version of any Metropolitan pie.
The initial plan for Bellucci, way back in December of 2019, was to open on lower Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, right near the IFC and close enough to Joe's so that, as the pizzaiolo said, "the line to eat at my place would extend down past their front door." The pandemic changed all that, but setting up shop in Astoria, where Bellucci happens to live, turned out to be the smarter move anyway. "I always wanted to run a real neighborhood joint, and this is definitely a real neighborhood. I've met everyone on the block this past month, and I can't wait to keep feeding them all."
Bellucci Pizza is located at 2904 30th Avenue, near 29th Street, and is currently open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily (718-971-1074; belluccipizza.com)
Tagged
queens
Bellucci Pizza
astoria
Scott Lynch
Photojournalist, food writer, preschool receptionist. Love NYC.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Can opening a restaurant in a New York museum turn the food into a work of art?
These city institutions — including museums, galleries, and auction houses — are hoping customers will find a luxurious meal to be as appealing as the priceless works on the walls.
By
Joshua David Stein
Published Nov 4, 2026
Why NYC restaurants are playing coy about sustainability
Though it has multiple benefits, the practice remains popular for one basic reason: it saves money.
By
Samantha Dady
Food
Why NYC restaurants are playing coy about sustainability
Though it has multiple benefits, the practice remains popular for one basic reason: it saves money.
By
Samantha Dady
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
By
Hannah Frishberg
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .