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REVIEW: Sy’s New York Pizza

by a Eugene Community Member on November 12, 2009

Quality: B+
Taste: A
Service: B (Could have been better during evening hours)

Being from Brooklyn, I was excited to hear that Sy’s New York Pizza was going to be opening in October near my house in North Eugene.

I had heard a rumor that Sy’s was the best pizza in Eugene, but in the seven years I have lived here, sadly I have never made it to the campus location to try a slice.

My memories of Brooklyn are a little fuzzy, as I haven’t been there since I was 12, but one thing I will never forget is the pizza. I remember there was a place just down the street from my Grandmother’s, on Court street. (I swear it was called Nino’s or Gino’s, but now it’s World Pie.)

Grandma and I would take a walk down Court, stopping at (What is now called Shriji’s News and Grocery) so she could grab a pack of cigarettes and I could get my Bop magazine and a Yoo-hoo. (Hey! I said I was 12.) And then we would pick up a slice for lunch and hang out at the park in Carroll Gardens.

One day, during a visit to New York, I asked the guy for a slice of cheese pizza with pineapple. He looked at me like I was from another planet and said “You want pineapple, go across the street and get a can. We don’t put that crap on OUR pizza.”

“You want pineapple, go across the street and get a can. We don’t put that crap on OUR pizza.”

Years later I called the guy and asked him if he put pineapple on their pizza yet, and he says “Oh yeah for years!” We both laughed when I told him why I was calling long distance for such a crazy question.

I tell you all of this, because those are the memories that came flooding back to me when I bit into a slice of pizza from Sy’s. I don’t know if any of you have been to New York, or tried a slice of their pizza, but those that have, know there is NOTHING like it. The smell, the grease dripping from it, the cheese, the pepperoni, there is nothing better than an authentic slice of pizza from New York.

Before I get to the good part of the review, I have to say there is a HUGE difference between day and night slices.

After work, I walked into Sy’s, and was surprised to see a high school girl standing behind the counter. I don’t know why I was surprised, as we are only a few blocks from North Eugene High School, but perhaps I was expecting a fat Italian guy tossing dough in the air, twisting his curly mustache, kissing his fingers and exclaiming “Molto Buono!” (I’m kidding of course).

The first slice I tried was pepperoni. Now, if I remember correctly, you’re supposed to be able to fold a slice of pizza from NY, the pizza that I received was a hard, cracker slice, with cold cheese and shriveled pepperoni. If I were a hoity-toity food snob, by the look of the pizza, I would have dropped it in the trash and walked out.

Lucky for my readers, I’m a fat Italian girl, used to Pizza Pipeline. I’m glad Momma taught me not to judge a book by its cover, because even though it was semi cold and unsavory looking, the taste made up for it.

The second I took a bite into the greasy pizza I was whisked home. I suppose I can’t be too upset at the nighttime kids, they’ve probably never left Eugene, let alone tasted good pizza.

A few days later I went in, on my day off and had a completely different experience! The pizza was PERFECT! Completely foldable, greasy and delicious!

The crust was perfect because it was baked on bricks, instead of left under a hot lamp like they do at night. It had just the right amount of sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese.

And if you like garlic (A LOT) try their garlic knots for only a quarter!

I would have to agree that Sy’s is definitely the best pizza in town! In my opinion the slices are a little pricey, and FUGGEDABOUD buying a whole pizza; but once in a while, when I want to treat my taste buds and my memory bank, I’ll definitely be grabbing a slice from Sy’s New York Pizza.