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If I had to recommend another NY pizza joint besides DiFara, I wouldn't be too enthusiastic about *anywhere* that I've been. It really also depends, where is this visitor coming from, and what are their expectations? How discriminating are they? What kind of pizza have they had before?

First of all at DiFara's the pizza will be fabulously great, unless he cooks it in the top oven. I've consistently had inferior slices from the top oven. The crust is either not hardened enough by the cooking, or it turns into a 'cracker' without browning.

I enjoyed Sal & Carmine's but I reserve judgment if I have occasion to get a whole pie rather than a slice. It is still not the pizza I recall from my childhood outside of Boston, which was cooked by Italian immigrants in DeMarco's generation (all now long-retired).

Bleecker St pizza is my current top favorite in Manhattan, but *only* for the regular slice, not the wretched "Nonna Maria" stuff (contrary to what some people with bad taste say). The regular slice is pretty good, not great. There is something slightly off-putting about it, but anyway, NYC is totally bereft of good pizza.

I haven't been to the original Patsy's in a few years, but even then I found it was not as good as it was a few years earlier. I've heard good things (first hand) about Totonno's but haven't made the trek yet.

Artichoke Basille is ok, not great. It was inconsistent when I was going there. I want to support them but I think I threw away a few regular slices which were barely edible. I don't know if they use the same dough recipe as DiFara but if they do, then either their technique is bad or inconsistent or their oven is not hot enough. I cannot for the life of me order one of those steakhouse creamed spinach slices.

Most of my pizza experience is in greater Boston, where pizza like DiFara was the norm and not the exception, minus the "messy" artisinal aspect which I do like because it is quirky and great. I live in NY now and I find it amazing that NYers put up with such terrible pizza from almost every single place; and reflect on how sad it is that only DiFara still exists. Granted it is the same in Boston now, too, and doubtless many other places. Don't even mention Chicago, yuck!!!

I think the generation of Italian immigrants who made pizza in the 60s and 70s had enough knowledge and connections back in the old country to get the right ingredients. And I think now the people making pizza just don't care.