The Review
Joe's Pizza is primarily about the slice, and the slice is nearly perfect. But the lunch counter at the West Village original does a sausage and pepper hero on an Amoroso-style roll that deserves its own notice — Italian sausage (sweet or hot), long-cooked peppers and onions, the pan drippings pooling into the bread.
It's a lunchtime-only offering, made in the back and available until it's gone. The ingredients are the same quality that go into the pizza toppings, which is the reason it works. The peppers are cooked long enough to be sweet and yielding; the sausage has actual fennel and spice in it. The roll is correct — not so thick it overwhelms the filling, not so thin it collapses.
Joe's at 3am after everything else has closed is a New York experience that needs no sandwich to justify it. Joe's at noon on a weekday with the sausage hero is a different and underrated experience.
What to Order
The sausage and pepper hero if it's lunch. A plain cheese slice at any hour. A Coke from the can.
Tips
The hero is only available at the Carmine Street location, not all Joe's. Ask when they start serving it — usually around noon. Go before 1pm or it runs out.
Our Rating
★★★★☆
Price Range
$