PQR Offers The UES A Taste Of Rome... At A Price

In March, The Upper East Side welcomed new slice shop PQR (1631 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028). The counter-serve space, from Roman pizza icon Angelo Iezzi, offers Roman-style pizza al taglio, which translates to "by the cut." In Italy's capital city, slices are cut to order from long square pies and are typically paid for by weight. PQR offers a similar experience, except that the slices only come in a standard size, and are thus a flat price.

For anyone that's tasted traditional Roman pizza, Iezzi's pies at PQR can compete with Roma's best, and will instantly transport you back to the city. The crust is the star of the show; a textural enigma that manages to be crispy on the outside, but light and chewy on the inside.

The menu includes options that break the mold of a typical Italian-American slice shop, with toppings such as pancetta, potato, and even pumpkin. But a quick look at pies available behind the glass indicates that the buffalo mozzarella is the best seller, and with good reason. This slice, which is also topped with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and just a drizzle of olive oil absolutely melts in your mouth. You'll undoubtedly want to walk back up to the counter for a second slice. The only issue is that at $6.50 a piece, PQR's buffalo mozz slice is among the most expensive in the city, a dollar or two more than your average slice from beloved chain Joe's, and even edging out cult favorite Artichoke Basile's $6.00 namesake slice.

Asking customers to lay down $13.00 on two slices of pizza before they even grab a Snapple is a tall order, and it will remain to be seen whether the model is sustainable on Manhattan's Upper East Side. We certainly recommend you try PQR as it will quickly enter the conversation when debating NYC's tastiest slice, just be prepared to for the premium prices that go along with a premium product.