Sicilian Square Slice appears as a signature dish in 1 United States cities. See each city's local variant and where to eat it.
Sicilian square slice · New York City
The Brooklyn Sicilian (or grandma) slice is square, thicker than a round slice, with a focaccia-style olive-oil-rich crust, garlicky tomato and torn mozzarella laid right onto the dough.
Square Sicilian slices arrived in New York via Sicilian immigrant bakeries in the early 20th century, evolving from the southern Italian sfincione (a thick olive-oil-and-tomato focaccia). The modern Brooklyn grandma slice (thinner, garlicky tomato, fresh mozzarella) emerged in Long Island and Brooklyn delicatessens in the 1990s as a thinner, less bready alternative to the classic Sicilian. L&B Spumoni Gardens in Gravesend (opened 1939) is the canonical destination for the upside-down Sicilian (mozzarella under the sauce, then crisp cheese edges). Best Pizza in Williamsburg and Prince Street Pizza in Nolita both run modern grandma and square slices.
Where to eat in New York City:
- L&B Spumoni Gardens
- Best Pizza
- Prince Street Pizza