Graffiti-carved wooden booths await you inside John’s of Bleecker Street. This is no ordinary pizzeria. It’s a slice of New York history. John’s Pizzeria is a Greenwich Village landmark. It stands proudly on Bleecker Street. Founded in 1915 by Filippo Milone, John’s has been serving up classic coal-fired pizza for over a century.
Originally, John’s Pizzeria was located on Sullivan Street. John Sasso took over the pizzeria in 1925. He was related to Milone by marriage. John Sasso later moved it to its current location.
John’s uses coal-fired brick ovens. They cook pizzas in the style of a tomato pie. The ovens reach a scorching 850 degrees Fahrenheit. This intense heat gives the pizza a unique, crispy crust.
For decades, John’s only accepted cash. In May 2016, they finally started accepting credit cards. John’s does not sell pizza by the slice. You must order a whole pie.
In the 1960s, Augustine “Chubby” Vesce purchased John’s Pizzeria. He and his wife Rose owned it until the early 1980s. Pete Castellotti Sr. became a partner. Later, Castellotti opened other John’s locations. His children and Bob Vittoria then ran John’s of Bleecker Street. Bob Vittoria became the majority partner in 1993. He is a nephew of the Vesce family.
John’s of Bleecker Street is famous for its atmosphere. Patrons carve their names into the wooden booths. This tradition has created a unique, graffiti-covered interior. The pizzeria’s old-school charm is undeniable. Black and white art deco floors show their age. Turn-of-the-century tin ceilings add character. Faded murals whisper tales of the past.
Adam Kuban of Serious Eats called John’s a quintessential NYC pizza. It is a must-try for pizza connoisseurs. TripAdvisor ranked John’s as one of the best pizzerias in the United States in 2015.
The hallmarks of John’s of Bleecker Street are the coal fired brick ovens. They churn out hundreds of crispy pizzas daily. We are still making the same traditional coal fired pizza. It’s the oven that started it all back on Sullivan Street.
Sit back and relax. Enjoy the smell of simmering tomatoes. Inhale the bubbling mozzarella. Feel the warmth and camaraderie. Hear the laughter of happy diners. You will feel right at home.
The world has changed, but John’s hasn’t. It remains the original John’s of Bleecker Street. A true New York institution.