Vincenza’s Pizza downtown has closed. Credit: Scene Archives

If you’re a fan of New York-style pizza, then you likely already know about Vincenza’s Pizza & Pasta. Located at the Fifth Street Arcades, the slice shop has earned a reputation as one of the most cherished pizza places in town. The affordable storefront turns out some of the most authentic New York slices around along with salads, subs and pastas.

Vincenza’s originally opened in Brooklyn in 1957. Third-generation family members imported the name, recipes and cooking techniques to Cleveland in 1979.

Sadly, it looks like the end of the line for the restaurant, which has been chugging along for more than 40 years. The doors are currently closed, and although management will not confirm with this writer that it will not reopen, they have admitted as much on their social media pages.

We’re hoping that something changes, obviously. And if it does, we’ll let you know. 

This article appears in Jun 15-28, 2022.

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.