PIZZA in New York: Cuts & Slices

THE SPOT: When I first moved to NYC, I worked at California Pizza Kitchen where they used to put all sorts of different world cuisines on pizza. I can’t say Cuts & Slices reminded me of CPK, but I also would be lying if I said I didn’t think about it when I visited their Lower East Side location. This shop is far east on Houston Street and feels miles away from the tourists lining up at Katz’s. It’s a local spot with no pretense, but lots of flavor.

THE STYLE: Cuts & Slices, which started in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, uses traditional Caribbean, Italian, and global flavors to create slices that are a meal. You can stick to pepperoni or cheese if that’s your thing, but you really want to come here to find out what Curry Oxtail or Chopped Cheese or Chicken & Waffles tastes like on a slice of pizza. They also offer a few vegan slices using vegan cheese.

THE PIZZA: I do love jerk chicken, so figured that would be a good place to start. The dough was thick and soft (I imagine it must be to hold up all these toppings). This is not crisp pizza that some might expect from an NYC slice. To me, it seems like the dough was a vessel for the flavors on top. I tend to like my jerk chicken a bit more dry and spicy – this had a sweet sauce with just a hint of spice. Perhaps to replace the usual tomato sauce. The chicken was peppery and tender and enhanced by the potent red onions and the rich cheese.

THE VERDICT: This was interesting to try and felt much more authentic than anything corporate CPK put out. It’s not really what I crave when I want a slice of pizza or when I want jerk chicken. But I am very glad that this exists and it’s another example of how NYC has everything!