Type “best slice near me Upper East Side” into your phone and you won’t be short on options. This neighborhood is stacked with pizzerias — corner slice shops, sit-down parlors, and national chains all competing for the same hungry crowd. The problem isn’t finding pizza. It’s finding a slice worth crossing the street for.

That’s a harder question than it looks. A truly great slice is more than melted cheese on dough. It’s about the crust, the sauce, the cheese, the freshness of the toppings, and whether the place actually reheats a slice properly instead of nuking it into a sad, steamy triangle. Once you know what separates a good slice from a forgettable one, the field narrows fast.

This guide breaks down how to judge a great slice on the Upper East Side, what makes one pizzeria stand out from the pack, and why so many locals have made Two Boots — the Cajun-Italian original at 1243 Second Avenue — their go-to. Whether you’re a lifelong neighborhood resident or new to the block, you’ll leave knowing exactly how to find, and order, the best slice near you.

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Key Takeaways

“Best slice near me” is a quality search, not an availability one. On the Upper East Side, the challenge is standing out from dozens of pizzerias, not finding one.
A great slice is judged on five things: crust, sauce, cheese, topping quality, and how well it’s reheated. Learn these and you can rank any slice fast.
Two Boots makes Cajun-Italian pizza — a distinctive style that blends an Italian base with Louisiana-inspired spice, built on a signature cornmeal-dusted crust.
The brand pioneered this style in NYC in 1987, and its name nods to the two boot-shaped regions behind the flavor: Italy and Louisiana.
Its specialty pies are named after pop-culture icons — Cleopatra Jones, The Dude, Mr. Pink — each with its own toppings and story.
Two Boots runs one of the city’s most praised vegan pizza programs, so plant-based eaters get real options, not an afterthought.
The Upper East Side location (1243 Second Avenue at East 65th Street) serves by the slice or the pie, with pickup, delivery, and catering — check current hours before you go, as they can change.

Before we get to what makes Two Boots different, it helps to define what you’re actually looking for when you search for the best slice.

What Makes the “Best Slice Near Me” on the Upper East Side?

Ask ten New Yorkers to define the perfect slice and you’ll get ten answers. But strip away personal taste and a few objective markers separate a great slice from a mediocre one. The best pizza slice comes down to five elements: crust, sauce, cheese, topping quality, and the reheat. Master those and you can evaluate any pizzeria in seconds.

The crust is the foundation — literally. It needs enough structure to hold its toppings without flopping, a flavorful base rather than bland filler, and a bottom with some crisp to it. Sauce should be seasoned and present without drowning the slice. Cheese should be fully melted with a little browning and a good pull. Toppings should taste fresh and be spread evenly, not clustered in one corner.

The Five Marks of a Great Slice

The final element is the one most people overlook: the reheat. A slice that’s been sitting deserves a quick turn in a hot oven to re-crisp the crust and re-melt the cheese. A pizzeria that microwaves your slice is telling you everything you need to know. Use the table below as a quick field guide.

What to judge	What a great slice has	Warning sign
Crust	Sturdy, flavorful, crisp on the bottom	Floppy, pale, or dry like cardboard
Sauce	Seasoned and balanced, not drowning the slice	Bland, watery, or one-note
Cheese	Fully melted, lightly browned, good pull	Greasy pools or rubbery, under-melted patches
Toppings	Fresh, evenly spread, quality ingredients	Sparse, soggy, or clearly pre-frozen
The reheat	Re-crisped in an oven	Microwaved into a limp, steamy slice

With those criteria in hand, let’s look at why one Upper East Side pizzeria keeps earning local loyalty.

Why Two Boots Stands Out Among Upper East Side Pizzerias

Plenty of UES pizzerias make a perfectly good plain slice. Two Boots is doing something different — and that difference is exactly why it has a devoted following rather than just foot traffic. It isn’t trying to be the most traditional New York slice on the block. It’s serving a style you can’t get on every corner.

The Signature Cornmeal Crust and Cajun-Italian Flavor

Here’s the core of it. Cajun-Italian pizza combines a traditional Italian pizza base with the bold flavors of Louisiana — spiced sauces, andouille sausage, tasso ham, and Creole-seasoned chicken — on a distinctive cornmeal-dusted crust. Two Boots pioneered this style in New York back in 1987, and the name itself explains the concept: it’s a nod to the two boot-shaped regions behind the food — Italy and Louisiana.

That translates to a slice with real personality. The cornmeal gives the crust a light, chewy texture with a subtle crunch that regulars describe as its “cornmealy” signature. The sauce carries a gentle heat and seasoning that a standard slice doesn’t. If you want a bland, safe slice, this isn’t it — and that’s the point. Two Boots is for people who want a slice with character.

Specialty Slices With a Story

The other thing that sets Two Boots apart is its lineup of specialty pies, each named after a pop-culture or New York icon and each with its own topping combination. This isn’t gimmickry for its own sake — it reflects the brand’s East Village, indie-filmmaker roots and gives the menu a range you rarely find at a neighborhood slice shop.

You’ll find the Cleopatra Jones (a sausage-and-pepper pie named for the ’70s film heroine), Mr. Pink (Creole chicken, a Reservoir Dogs nod), The Newman (a meaty white pie), and The Dude (a Cajun bacon cheeseburger pizza). Because so many are available by the slice, you can sample a few on different visits instead of committing to a whole pie of one thing.

One of NYC’s Most Praised Vegan Pizza Programs

Finally, Two Boots has built a vegan menu that regularly gets called the best in the city — not a token cheese-less option, but a full range of plant-based pies. The flagship V for Vegan, plus the Vegan Cleo, Super Vegan, and others, use non-dairy cheese and creative toppings that even non-vegans order on purpose. For a mixed group where someone’s plant-based and someone’s not, that range is a genuine advantage.

Knowing why it stands out is useful. Actually finding and ordering the best slice near you is the next step.

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How to Find and Order the Best Slice Near You on the UES

Searching smart gets you a better slice with less effort. Here’s a simple process:

Search with intent and filter by “Open now.” Type “best slice near me Upper East Side” or “pizza by the slice UES,” then use the map’s “Open now” filter to cut places that have closed.
Read recent reviews for specifics, not stars. Look for mentions of crust, sauce, and freshness rather than a raw rating. Specific praise (“perfect crust,” “great vegan slice”) is more reliable than a number.
Check whether they sell by the slice. If you want to try a specialty pie without a full commitment, confirm slices are available and which ones are cut that day.
Confirm hours and location before you walk over. Hours change seasonally; verify on the restaurant’s Google Business Profile or website rather than a third-party aggregator.
Decide dine-in, pickup, or delivery. For the crispest crust, eat in or pick up so the slice doesn’t steam in a delivery box. If you order delivery, ask them to cut vents or expect to re-crisp at home.
Have your order ready at the counter. Slice shops move fast. Knowing your pick keeps the line moving and gets you eating sooner.

That process points you to the right spot. Here’s how to make the most of it at Two Boots.

A Local’s Guide to Ordering at Two Boots Upper East Side

Two Boots’ Upper East Side shop sits at 1243 Second Avenue, on the corner of East 65th Street — a location that returned to the neighborhood in late 2022 after a several-year absence, to a genuinely happy welcome from longtime fans. It carries the same “NYC’s Pizza Pioneers since 1987” heritage as the original, in the funky, folk-art, family-friendly style the brand is known for.

Start with the schedule, because this location keeps earlier hours than the brand’s late-night downtown shops:

Day	Hours
Monday–Thursday	11:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Friday	11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday	12:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday	12:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

These are the hours the restaurant currently publishes, but they can shift around holidays and seasons, so confirm on the Google Business Profile or website — or call (646) 837-6015 — before heading over, especially in the evening. You can dine in, order pickup or delivery through the online ordering link, or arrange catering for a group.

What to Order

The move at Two Boots is variety. Because most pies are sold by the slice, you can build a mini-tour across a visit or two. The table below decodes the signature pies so you can pick with confidence.

Pie	What’s on it	Order it if you…
Cleopatra Jones	Sweet Italian sausage, roasted peppers, red onion, mozzarella	want a classic sausage-and-pepper slice with a kick
The Bird	Cajun-spiced chicken	love a buffalo-chicken-style slice
Mr. Pink	Creole chicken, plum tomatoes, garlic, mozzarella	want Cajun flavor without heavy heat
The Newman	Sopressata & sweet Italian sausage on a white pie	prefer a rich, meaty white slice
The Dude	Cajun bacon cheeseburger: beef, andouille, tasso ham, cheddar	want the most indulgent, over-the-top pie
Earth Mother	Spinach, roasted garlic, roasted peppers, wild mushrooms, red onion	want a veggie-loaded, marinara-based slice
V for Vegan / Vegan Cleo	Plant-based cheese and toppings	want the city’s celebrated vegan slice

Don’t skip the sides. The garlic knots have a cult following, and the Hot Knots — doused in jalapeño pesto — bring the Cajun heat. Slider-stuffed knots (chicken parm, andouille meatball, eggplant parm) turn a snack into a meal. If you’re new, a smart first order is one classic (Cleopatra Jones or Mr. Pink) plus one vegan slice to see the range for yourself.

Even at a great pizzeria, a few habits can make or break the slice you end up with.

Common Mistakes When Choosing a Pizza Slice

Judging by the display, not the oven. A great-looking slice under the heat lamp can still be served cold and limp. Ask for it reheated.
Defaulting to plain every time. If a shop’s strength is its specialty pies, ordering a plain slice misses the whole point. Try what they do best.
Trusting a star rating over specifics. A 4.2 with detailed praise for the crust beats a 4.6 full of vague one-liners. Read the words.
Ordering delivery for a slice you want crisp. Delivery boxes trap steam and soften the crust. For peak texture, eat in or pick up.
Ignoring the reheat. A microwaved slice is a wasted slice. A quick oven pass is the difference between good and great.
Overlooking vegan or veggie options in a group. If someone’s plant-based, choosing a shop with real vegan pies keeps everyone happy — don’t relegate them to a cheese-less afterthought.

Sidestep those and you’re most of the way to a great slice. These tips take it further.

Expert Tips for the Best Slice Experience

Ask what came out of the oven most recently. The freshest pie makes the best slice. Counter staff will usually tell you.
Request a reheat, every time. Even a fresh slice benefits from a quick crisp. It costs nothing to ask.
Try the specialty by the slice first. Sampling a slice before committing to a whole pie is the low-risk way to find your favorite.
Pair a bold slice with a simple side. A spicy specialty slice plays well against plain garlic knots or a soda from the fountain.
Go off-peak for the freshest cuts. Mid-afternoon or early evening often means fresher pies and shorter lines than the lunch rush.
Confirm hours the day of. Especially on the Upper East Side, where this location closes earlier than downtown shops, a 30-second check saves a wasted trip.

Put these together and “best slice near me” stops being a gamble and becomes a reliable, delicious habit.

Conclusion

Finding the best slice near you on the Upper East Side isn’t about picking the closest sign — it’s about knowing what a great slice actually requires. Judge the crust, the sauce, the cheese, the toppings, and the reheat, and the truly good pizzerias separate themselves quickly from the merely convenient.

By that measure, it’s easy to see why locals keep choosing Two Boots. Its Cajun-Italian style, signature cornmeal crust, story-driven specialty pies, and standout vegan program give it a character you won’t find at a generic slice shop — and it’s been perfecting that formula since 1987. The next time you’re hunting for the best slice near you, skip the guesswork, walk over to 1243 Second Avenue, and order a slice with some personality. Ask for it hot out of the oven, and you’ll understand the loyalty firsthand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best pizza slice to order at Two Boots on the Upper East Side?

There’s no single answer, because Two Boots’ strength is variety — but a few slices are reliable crowd-pleasers. The Cleopatra Jones (sweet Italian sausage, roasted peppers, and red onion) is a classic sausage-and-pepper favorite, while Mr. Pink (Creole chicken) delivers Cajun flavor without overwhelming heat. For something indulgent, The Dude is a Cajun bacon cheeseburger pizza. Vegan diners consistently rave about the V for Vegan and Vegan Cleo. If it’s your first visit, a smart approach is to order one meat or classic slice and one vegan slice to experience the range. Ask the counter which pies came out of the oven most recently for the freshest possible slice.

What makes Two Boots pizza different from other Upper East Side pizzerias?

Two Boots makes Cajun-Italian pizza, a style that blends a traditional Italian base with Louisiana-inspired flavors — spiced sauce, andouille sausage, tasso ham, and Creole chicken — on a signature cornmeal-dusted crust. The cornmeal gives the crust a light, chewy texture with a subtle crunch, and the sauce carries more seasoning and gentle heat than a standard slice. The brand pioneered this style in New York in 1987, and its specialty pies are named after pop-culture icons, each with a distinct topping combination. It also runs one of the city’s most praised vegan pizza programs. In short, it’s a slice with deliberate character rather than a plain, neutral one.

Where is Two Boots located on the Upper East Side, and what are the hours?

Two Boots Upper East Side is at 1243 Second Avenue, on the corner of East 65th Street. The location currently lists hours of 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, 12 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 12 to 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. Note that this shop keeps earlier hours than the brand’s late-night downtown locations, so it’s better for a lunch, afternoon, or early-evening slice than a very late one. Hours can change around holidays and seasons, so confirm on the restaurant’s Google Business Profile or website, or call (646) 837-6015, before heading over.

Does Two Boots have good vegan pizza options?

Yes — Two Boots is widely regarded as one of the best places for vegan pizza in New York City, and reviewers frequently single it out. Rather than offering a single cheese-less option, the menu includes a full range of plant-based pies using non-dairy cheese, such as the flagship V for Vegan, the Vegan Cleo (vegan sausage, roasted peppers, red onion), and the veggie-loaded Super Vegan. Many non-vegans order these slices simply because they taste great. That range makes Two Boots an especially good choice for mixed groups where some diners eat plant-based and others don’t, since everyone can order from the same spot without compromise. Confirm current vegan availability by the slice when you visit.

Can I order Two Boots Upper East Side for delivery or pickup?

Yes. The Upper East Side location offers pickup and delivery through its online ordering, and it also handles catering for groups and events. For the best texture, pickup or dine-in is ideal, since a delivery box traps steam and can soften the crust — one of the few downsides of delivery for any slice. If you do order delivery, plan to give the pizza a quick reheat in a hot oven at home to restore the crust’s crispness. For large orders or gatherings, the catering option is worth exploring in advance. As always, confirm delivery radius and current availability through the restaurant’s official ordering link.

Is Two Boots good for families and kids?

Yes. Two Boots has a long-standing reputation as a funky, folk-art, family-friendly pizzeria, and the Upper East Side is a heavily residential, family-oriented neighborhood that suits it well. The by-the-slice format is ideal for families because everyone can pick something different — a plain or classic slice for picky eaters, a specialty pie for adventurous ones, and a vegan slice for plant-based family members. The colorful, casual setting is welcoming rather than fussy, making it an easy choice for a low-key family meal or an after-school slice. The garlic knots and slider-stuffed knots are also reliable kid-pleasers alongside the pizza.

How do I know if a pizza slice is actually good before I order?

Look for five things. First, the crust: it should look sturdy and have some color and crispness, not pale and floppy. Second, the sauce: seasoned and balanced rather than watery or bland. Third, the cheese: fully melted with a little browning. Fourth, the toppings: fresh and evenly distributed, not sparse or clearly pre-frozen. Fifth — and most overlooked — insist on a reheat, since a quick oven pass re-crisps the crust and re-melts the cheese, while a microwave ruins the texture. Reading recent reviews for specific mentions of crust and freshness, rather than just the star rating, is also a reliable way to gauge quality before you order.

Is Two Boots a traditional New York slice?

Not exactly — and that’s intentional. A classic New York slice is defined by a thin, foldable crust, a simple tomato sauce, and mozzarella. Two Boots offers something more distinctive: a cornmeal-dusted crust with a chewier texture and subtle crunch, a more heavily seasoned and slightly spicy sauce, and Cajun-Italian toppings you won’t find on a standard slice. If you’re specifically craving a traditional plain New York slice, Two Boots will taste different from what you expect. But if you want a slice with bold, memorable flavor and a range of creative options — including excellent vegan pies — that difference is precisely the appeal, and it’s why the brand has kept a loyal following since 1987.

Elizabeth

Although I'm not usually a fan of a white pie, this pizza is amazing! The combination of Sun-dried tomatoes, roasted peppers & basil pesto make it delicious. My go-to pizza order!

Aureliaplusone

The Night Tripper has become one of my most adored meals at Two Boots! The wonderfully melted white cheeses, the kick/freshness in the jalapeno pesto, the tangy+chewy bite of the sun dried tomatoes, the delicious+slight sweetness of the roasted garlic. This pizza is heaven on earth with these perfectly married flavors and I'm so glad to walk in and get this personal pie, each and everytime! Absolutely divine! Thank you, Two Boots!!!

Lingualect

I've long been a fan of Two Boots and am thrilled that they opened on UWS! Just like the other locations, it has a colorful and fun atmosphere, and the pizza is great, whether with dairy cheese or vegan cheese. The slices are really creative and show an imagination at work that pushes the envelope of what pizza can be. And today I met the owner, Phil, who was working behind the counter and took my order. Later he came outside to talk to customers to see how they were liking it. He truly cares about his pizza! And he said vegan pizza, my reason for going, is important to them. This particular spot has a real local, neighborhood vibe and is such a great addition to the current roster of UWS pizza options. There really is nothing else like it!

Key Takeaways