Renowned for its wood-fired Neapolitan-style pies, Roberta’s Pizza has opened its first standalone location in Manhattan, strategically positioned between 33rd Street and 7th Avenue, adjacent to Penn Station and Madison Square Garden within Vornado’s mixed-use Penn District campus. This marks a significant expansion for the Bushwick-born restaurant, which quickly became a foodie favorite after its 2008 debut.
The two-story establishment offers a multifaceted dining experience, featuring a ground-floor to-go slice shop, a full-service restaurant, and a roof deck with a Tiki bar, set to open later this month. Co-owner Brandon Hoy expressed enthusiasm for the new location, stating, “The Penn District is an exciting and dynamic neighborhood that embodies the creativity and culinary excellence that Roberta’s offers. It’s been a dream of ours to one day have a Manhattan location, and we are thrilled that this dream is now a reality.”
Roberta’s new location boasts rustic chic decor, designed by Winter D’Angelillo and Hoy, creating a welcoming atmosphere for a variety of occasions. The space includes 200 seats spread across two floors, with a sunny 2,000-square-foot roof deck providing an additional dining option.
The menu at Roberta’s will feature their classic pizzas, including the Famous Original (tomato, mozzarella, parmigiano, caciocavallo, oregano, chili) and the Bee Sting (tomato, mozzarella, soppressata, basil, chili, honey). Additionally, the menu will offer “large-format dry-aged steaks and chops and a diverse selection of fresh seafood options,” as highlighted in a press release.
The to-go slice shop, R Slice, offers both wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas and New York-style pizza by the slice. A new addition to the menu is the Fire and Ice slice, topped with stracciatella, chili oil, and basil. The beverage program includes cocktails, spirits, and a natural wine selection.
R Slice opened its doors on July 2, while the full restaurant and roof deck are set to open on July 16. The operating hours for the establishment are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Adding to the ground-floor offerings is Anita Gelato, which has international locations in Israel, Australia, Europe, and two in NYC.
Roberta’s new restaurant is situated in front of Plaza33, a recently inaugurated pedestrian plaza designed by MNLA. The 16,000-square-foot plaza features plantings, seating, and lighting, enhancing accessibility to Penn Station. This vibrant space has attracted numerous new retail stores and over 70 new restaurants since 2023.
Notable new dining establishments in the area include Blue Ribbon Sushi & Steak, Blue Bottle, The Landing, Office Hours, The Rutherford, Avenida, and Los Tacos No.1. The opening of Roberta’s Pizza adds to the culinary diversity and excitement of the Penn District, reinforcing the area as a bustling hub for both locals and visitors.