Best Pizza in Chelsea New York

Rated as the best pizza in chelsea for twenty nine years , Rocco’s Pizza unveils its new storefront in a place close to home. The revamped Rocco’s Pizza concept sits at 148 8th Avenue, where owner Nick Accardi opened his first-ever New York City restaurant Cola’s in 1988. 

Rocco’s Pizza brings authentic handcrafted New York pizza and an authentic Italian espresso bar to the Chelsea neighborhood. 

The concept stays true to the essence of NYC, serving classic New York-style pizza using only the freshest ingredients, as well as Grandma Pizza reminiscent of Italy, featuring San Marzano tomatoes and fresh basil. Rocco’s also offers housemade gluten-free crust and vegan pizza, lasagna, riceballs arancine,  options, using plant-based cheese by Pleese Cheese. 

Nicola Accardi, owner of Rocco's Pizzeria, is an Italian chef and restaurateur with an eclectic spirit, old-school charm, and over 30 years in the hospitality industry. He was born in Brooklyn and raised in Castelvetrano, Sicily, Italy where he learned the ropes of farmhouse Italian cooking through several Italian chefs from different regions of Italy. Rocco’s Pizza, presents a unique spin of a classic New York Pizza joint, along with a European-style espresso and coffee bar.  

Accardi made his debut in the Manhattan dining scene in 1988 with the opening of an Italian trattoria he named Cola’s, a nickname short for ‘Nicola,’ and the current storefront that houses the new Rocco’s Pizza. Accardi went on to open other respected restaurants in the city such as The Viceroy, Stella’s Pizza, Cast Iron Cafe, and others. In 2012, he bought the legendary 130-year-old Italian grocery store Manganaro’s on Ninth Avenue and turned it into Tavola, the always-packed regional Italian restaurant that has become a neighborhood staple. Accardi’s latest venture is a homestyle Italian eatery called Tavolino where he serves a menu of Sicilian specialties, Roman-style pizzas, and comfort food recipes passed down from his family. He also recently opened with his brother John. Vito’s Slices & Ices, a pizza shop that also offers homemade Italian ice and cremolata.

Accardi has now lived in Manhattan for 35 years and continues to live out his family’s legacy by bringing true Italian fare to New York City. This unwavering dedication has made him a hometown hero, and when asked what keeps him going, Accardi says: “Why do I do it all? Because to have a concept well-received in a city like New York is the ultimate compliment. It’s the toughest crowd in the world.”