#InauguralReview 42nd Street Pizza and Restaurant Since 1937 by #LouisGritsipis #RaquelGritsipis and #AndreaGritsipis 647 West 42nd Street between 11th and 12th Avenues Hells Kitchen
Say yes please to the #64 Chicken Souvlaki over Greek Salad, Peachy's favorite!
It's not who you know it's WHOM YOU KNOW and we now know the amazing Gritsipis family behind the illustrious 42nd Street Pizza and Restaurant which has thrived in its original location at 647 West 42nd Street SINCE 1937. We LOVE that the first time Peachy ever walked in, she found the entire family there: Louis Gritsipis, his wife Raquel and son Andrea. They did not know she was coming. She didn't even know she was coming. Louis's uncle Kostas started this, and in 1957, Louis came to America from Greece and he tells us he has been working here since 1961 and he even owns the building. He is super modest and all three of them have sparkling personalities in addition to culinary talent.
There is something for everyone here!
There are 99 items on the menu! It is going to take a lot of reviews to try them all but here's what we started with. We also like how everything is numbered and organized and Raquel we can tell from talking to her must have the entire menu memorized, impressive! When Peachy named a dish or a number, Raquel knew what the corresponding number or dish was. As avid readers know, Peachy Deegan's mastery of the Greek language is little but her knowledge of the cuisine isn't: we decided to pick some classic Greek items. Fried zucchini is a staple, served with marinara under appetizers number #71 and it was a hot, fresh classic.
#52 The Greek Salad was exactly what we were looking for: Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Onions, Dolmades, Feta Cheese and Olives were well cut, all fresh and graciously arranged. Picky Peachy even liked the Greek Oil and Vinegar mixed in and originally she was going to have Ranch on the side, her usual. No, you should have this the Greek way. These guys have only been doing this for 89 years!!! Listen to them. This salad is perfection.
Admittedly, we ordered the most from the sandwich section, and #79 Chicken Parm did not escape Peachy's attention and as you know her devotion to this dish is beyond ridiculous; it was a solid performance here and we thought the mozzarella in particular was great.
Peachy's favorite dish this inaugural visit was from the Greek Platters section of the menu, which has many convincing entrees. They are all served with Pita bread and Tzatziki Sauce (PEACHY LOVES THIS SAUCE) and number #64 Chicken Souvlaki over Greek Salad was a clearcut winner. Every bite was absolutely sublime and hit the spot. The aforementioned Greek Salad makes an encore appearance on this plate with the succulent chicken, perfectly enhanced by Peachy's close friend, Tzatziki.
Next in the batting order was under Chicken Breast Platters, another section that looks fantastic to us.
#18 Gym Goers Delight sounds like it is what everyone should be eating during this high holy season of bikini-wearing! But, you should not starve yourself ever! You should eat real food like this: Spinach, Mushrooms, and Mozzarella Cheese team up to pigpile on Chicken Breast in the most delicious way.
#78 Cypriot Chicken Sandwich is another Greek victory in your stomach as Grilled Halloumi Cheese, perfectly oozy and ready to say enchante to your tastebuds, is paired with the Grilled Chicken, Lettuce and Tomato. Hot Honey is included normally but avid readers know the picky one here has never made friends with honey and the Gritsipis family aims to please and demonstrated top hospitality and listening skills in leaving it out. You have heard us say that all restaurants in Manhattan must have the essential hamburger on the menu and they have fourteen here. As you also might have heard us say, in the world according to Peachy, all hamburgers are cheeseburgers and to that end, please meet #2 Cheeseburger, exactly medium rare as ordered with American cheese, which Peachy loves. Fresh ground beef is used and all around, the rolls here are fresh and soft.
Note we never edit pictures. You kill it and excel like Louis, Raquel and Andrea, or we do not publish.
The seafood and pasta platters also look like a spectacular menu section and Shrimp Scampi in Garlic Sauce beautifully beckoned Peachy's name the most convincingly to start. The Shrimp itself is served separately on a plate and it's sublime in both shrimp quality itself and overall flavor as it luxuriates in garlic sauce. You can choose between green salad, pasta or rice and we chose linguine; each of these culinary endeavors singing backup comes on a separate plate.
The Tuna Melt was the most perfect one we have had anywhere this year, and Peachy does not think she has ever had one on a pita, and we suggest you do the same. Mozzarella cheese was a triumph topping the tantalizing tuna, sealing in the deal of an absolutely terrific visit.
WE LOVE THE HISTORY HERE SO MUCH!
Peachy's degree from Boston College is a B.A. in American History and of course the world asks all history majors what they think they are going to do in the real world when they graduate. One of our strongest responses today to this question is: Eat it.
42nd Street Pizza and Restaurant impressed us on our first visit and we can't wait to see what they do next.
The history they print on their menu:
We haven't even started on the pizza....
Grok answered Peachy's question: tell me the history of 42nd Street Pizza and Restaurant Since 1937.
Grok says:
42nd Street Pizza and Restaurant (also known as 42nd Street Restaurant and Pizza or 42nd Street Diner and Pizza) is a classic mom-and-pop spot at 647 West 42nd Street in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, New York City. It is one of the last remaining independent, family-run brownstone restaurants in a neighborhood transformed by gentrification and high-rise development near Hudson Yards.
Origins and the “Since 1937” Legacy
The original brownstone building has housed a restaurant or diner since 1937. The business proudly markets itself as “EST. 1937” and “3 Generations Strong,” referring to the long history of the site as a neighborhood eatery. It is often called a “1937 diner” in references to its historic character and resilience as a holdout building.
The Gritsipis Family Era Begins (1965)
The current chapter of the restaurant as 42nd Street Pizza started in 1965 when Greek immigrant Louie (Louis) Gritsipis opened or took over the operation.
Louie emigrated from Kandila in Aetolia-Acarnania, Greece, at age 18. He briefly returned to Greece for naval service as a cook on the ship Patris before settling in New York around 1958 with little money and no English. He learned pizza-making from his uncle, who ran a small pizzeria uptown, and brought that knowledge (along with traditional Greek cooking) to the Hell’s Kitchen location.
The family (including his wife Raquel) has operated it continuously since then, living in apartments above the restaurant. It remains a true multi-generational business, now involving their son Andreas and granddaughter Athena.
Tough Early Years in Hell’s Kitchen
When the Gritsipis family started in 1965, Hell’s Kitchen was a rough, high-crime area plagued by drugs, prostitution, and violence. Louie was held up at gunpoint seven times during those decades. Early economics were very different: rent was extremely low, a slice of pizza cost about 15 cents, and wages were around $35 per week.
Despite the challenges, the family focused on homemade food using recipes “from back home,” fresh ingredients, and warm, family-style service. This kept loyal customers coming back through the rough years.
Building Ownership and Standing Firm Against Development
In 1980, Louie purchased the four-story building for $150,000. As Hell’s Kitchen cleaned up and gentrified (especially after the Giuliani era), developers repeatedly offered huge sums to buy the property for luxury skyscrapers. Offers reached $10 million (and reportedly higher later), but Louie turned them all down.
He famously said he was happy with what he had and viewed the restaurant not just as a business but as his home full of family memories (grandmothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, children, and grandchildren). He has stated he would not sell even for a billion dollars because he loves his life, his work, and the neighborhood connections. The modest brownstone still stands today, dwarfed by modern towers around it.
What It Serves Today
The menu blends:Classic New York-style pizza (homemade dough, sauce, and whole-milk mozzarella)
Greek specialties (gyros, Greek salad, spinach pie, dolmades, baklava)
Diner classics (burgers, sandwiches, pasta, breakfast items)
Everything emphasizes fresh, from-scratch preparation. The restaurant operates as a casual, welcoming spot open seven days a week.
Current Status (as of 2026)
It remains family-owned and operated, a beloved neighborhood fixture and a symbol of resilience in changing New York. It has been featured in the Pizza Hall of Fame for its story of the American Dream, hard work, and refusal to sell out. Customers and reviews often praise the old-school charm, friendly service, and consistent homemade quality in a city full of chains and trendy spots.
In short, while the specific pizza-focused operation under the Gritsipis family dates to 1965, the site’s history as a restaurant goes back to 1937. It stands as a rare surviving piece of old New York — a Greek-American family’s labor of love that has weathered crime, economic shifts, and relentless development pressure while staying true to its roots.
