Rubirosa Ristorante

Aj Pappalardo’s Rubirosa Ristorante is known for giant pies dressed up with vodka sauce or in a tie-dye style with a hypnotizing swirl of pesto. But even one of the city’s most well-loved pizza shops offers mozzarella sticks to kick things off. The restaurant’s version remains true to the classic, with golden fried sticks served with a marinara sauce that you know is on point.

Founded by Aj Pappalardo, the son of Giuseppe Pappalardo, the founder of Staten Island’s Joe & Pat's, Rubirosa is a legend in its own right. The Pappalardo family recipe is served as a classic pie, though many prefer the gussied up pizzas, adorned with mini meatballs and roasted garlic—or the beloved Tie Dye style pie with vodka and tomato sauce, plus wonderfully gooey globs of mozzarella.