With NYNY, Delhi gets a taste of New York-style pizza

A month ago, I spotted a signboard that simply read NYNY outside an under-construction space in Hauz Khas. I assumed it was another bar or a cafe, or one of those places that serves matcha in the morning and martinis after sunset. After all, that’s what the Hauz Khas market has become today. It is home to places like Public Supply, Painkiller, and The Drop, with only a handful of the old guard still hanging on. Who knew it would be a pizzeria?

As far as I know, Delhi has never had a dedicated New York-style pizza joint. Sure, places like NYC Pie have flirted with the format over the years, but most offerings turn out to be regular pizzas masquerading as New York slices.

And let’s be honest, we’ve all been primed for this moment. Millennials grew up watching Home Alone, Friends, and countless films and shows that suggested New Yorkers survive on little more than giant pizza slices, coffee, and sheer determination. Gen Z, meanwhile, has either spent time in New York or consumed enough content from it to know exactly what a proper slice should look—and taste—like. The obsession with these oversized, foldable pizzas with generous toppings, plenty of cheese, and just enough grease is real.

When I finally visited NYNY a few days after it opened earlier this month, the 29-seater was already in its viral era. Its giant pizza slices were flooding Instagram, at the eatery, tables were packed with mostly Gen Z diners, and there was a queue of at least 25 to 30 people outside on a Monday evening.

While it arrives with a fair amount of fanfare, the place is backed by serious credentials. Behind the venture is Amol Kumar, founder of Leo’s Pizzeria, one of the restaurants largely responsible for introducing Delhi to Neapolitan pizza. When Leo’s opened in 2016, words like “slow-fermented dough” and “hydration levels” weren’t exactly part of everyday food conversations. But here we are. Leo’s landed at No 41 on the Asia-Pacific Top 50 Pizza list in 2026—its fourth year in a row on the ranking—and remains one of Delhi’s most-loved spots for a slice. Besides the OG outlet in Vasant Vihar, there’s now an Amar Colony outpost, with Gurugram next in line. Then there’s Leo’s at 621 in Ghitorni, a pizza lab where you can roll up your sleeves and make your own pies.

But the pizza and its craft found him by accident. Though Kumar studied hospitality in Switzerland, he says, kitchens never really held much appeal for him, and neither his professors nor colleagues during his stint at Mövenpick saw culinary arts as his obvious calling. That changed in 2015 when he signed up for a pizza-making course in Italy, followed by a two-month internship at a family-run pizzeria in Lecco.

Nearly a decade later, Kumar is turning to New York for inspiration. “I know nothing else except making pizza,” laughs the entrepreneurial pizzaiolo when I ask why he decided to open another pizzeria.

But NYNY isn’t trying to be a textbook New York slice shop. Kumar borrows the format while holding on to the techniques that made Leo’s successful. Bigger and crisper than its Neapolitan cousin, this one has a dough, made with a blend of Indian and Italian flours, is fermented longer and has a higher hydration level than what you’d typically find in a classic New York-style pizza, which is around 58 to 60 per cent. “We are around the 65 per cent mark. Plus, we give it a 48- to 72-hour rest period to ferment and mature properly. This ensures lightness and good digestibility,” he explains.

Right now, the menu features seven pizzas: four vegetarian and three non-vegetarian, available by the slice or as whole pies. I’ll admit I wasn't expecting to be wowed by a pepperoni slice but this one got me. Cheesy and comforting, it brought together spiced pepperoni, homemade tomato sauce, and low-moisture mozzarella on a crust that was crisp yet satisfyingly chewy. With a proper char at the bottom, it makes the slices stand up to a fold, and is piled high with Italian fennel sausage and perfectly crisp bacon.

Among the vegetarian options, the sun-dried tomato and pesto slice topped with kalamata olives and stracciatella stood out. Rich, slightly tangy, and wonderfully moist, it disappeared far too quickly. Other options include a classic cheese slice, stracciatella, shroom pie, and smoked chicken.

All slices are reheated before serving, a detail Kumar initially worried people might associate with them not being fresh enough. To avoid that, there’s a strict policy against pizzas staying out on display for more than an hour. Not that it seems to be an issue. “They’re selling out constantly,” he says, adding that the cheese and pepperoni slices fly out the fastest.

There are also a handful of sides to round out the meal, including chicken wings, prawn crackers, goat cheese croquettes, and garlic knots. The garlic knots were buttery and packed with flavour, though they could have been a touch softer.

There’s an accompanying drinks menu that’s equally fun. Kumar wanted comfort-food-friendly cocktails rather than anything overly serious or gimmicky. The NY Lemonade, made with hibiscus-tea-infused vodka and lime soda, was bright, refreshing, and tailor-made for a sultry Delhi evening. The Picante, with its passion fruit spice cordial, leaned slightly sweet. The Summer Conservatory, a mix of rum, cucumber, elderflower and sparkling wine, hit the right notes.

Among the classics, the Michelada was my favourite. Their version of the beer-topped Mexican drink borrows from the Bloody Mary and cleverly uses the same tomatoes that go into the pizzas. There’s also a zero-proof Picante made with mango tea and passionfruit spice cordial. To my surprise, I enjoyed it slightly more than the alcoholic version.

The pizzas are good, but so is the vibe. Kumar wanted the space to feel “random, sexy and gritty”, and he has kind of achieved it too. Behind the bar sit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figurines, a NAS vinyl and, because Kumar is a self-confessed Lego enthusiast, miniature Domino’s and Pizza Hut sets made in Lego paying tribute to the giants of the pizza world. There’s also a tiny Jalen Brunson figurine, a tribute to the New York Knicks star and a favourite of Kumar’s. Meanwhile, a projector loops music videos and sports matches depending on what’s on.

Next up is a music programme, with Kumar planning regular gigs focused on East Coast and West Coast hip-hop. It feels like a natural extension of the restaurant’s New York-inspired identity.

Somewhere between the giant slices, old-school hip-hop, and cocktail-fuelled conversations, NYNY finds its groove.

Address: 15, G-Block, Hauz Khas Market, New Delhi - 110016

Ph: +91 93195 23999

Timings: noon to midnight

Price for two (with alcohol): ₹2,000 plus taxes (approx)