New York-style pizza done with obsessive Toronto pride. Big foldable slices, quality toppings, and the kind of tomato sauce that'll make you call your mom. Multiple locations but the original Kensington spot has the best vibe.
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market · Address: 693 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON · Hours: Mon–Sun 11:30am–11pm · Price Range: $$ · Phone: (416) 537-7700 · Editorial status: Not yet verified
North of Brooklyn serves up massive, perfectly chewy New York-style slices with toppings that go way beyond pepperoni. If you want real-deal pizza by the slice, the Kensington Market spot always hits the mark for post-bar eats or an affordable meal.
Unlike chains and most pizza joints that just reheat generic slices, North of Brooklyn actually fires each slice to order and loads every pie with local, high-quality ingredients (try the white pizza with ricotta and arugula). The tiny Kensington location still has that original cramped-but-welcoming energy — prime for people-watching and seeing your slice get made up close.
New York-style pizza — large foldable slices, thin but not cracker-thin, with a tomato sauce made from whole peeled tomatoes and good low-moisture mozzarella — is a specific and demanding category, and North of Brooklyn has been doing it right in Toronto since 2011. The original Bloor Street location near Bathurst has the character and the slightly worn-in energy that newer locations can't replicate; it's the pizza shop that regulars are loyal to.
The dough is cold-fermented for 24–48 hours, producing a crust with the right chew and a flavour that doesn't come from shortcuts. The tomato sauce is bright and slightly acidic — the kind of sauce that makes a plain cheese slice taste like an argument for simplicity. A foldable cheese slice here is one of the best quick meals in Toronto for $5–7.
The BBQ chicken pizza — roasted chicken, house BBQ sauce, red onion, mozzarella — is the menu item that people order repeatedly. The garlic knots are tied pasta dough, brushed with garlic butter and herbs, and served with a marinara dipping sauce; they are worth the trip independently of the pizza. The Margherita (whole pies only) shows the kitchen's quality when fresh basil and good olive oil are added to the base.
Multiple locations now exist across Toronto, but the original on Bloor captures the original intent most faithfully.
North of Brooklyn makes New York-style pizza — large, foldable slices with a thin but chewy crust (cold-fermented for 24–48 hours), bright tomato sauce, and good mozzarella. The crust has sufficient structure to hold toppings without sogginess but folds naturally for street-eating. By-the-slice and whole pies are available.
A classic cheese slice is the test and the essential order — if the tomato sauce and dough quality pass, everything else follows. The BBQ chicken pizza is the most popular whole-pie order. The garlic knots (pasta dough baked with garlic butter and herbs) are non-negotiable. For whole pies, the Margherita with fresh basil is the quality benchmark.
The original North of Brooklyn is at 693 Bloor Street West near Bathurst Station (Line 2). Additional locations have opened in Leslieville (Queen Street East) and other Toronto neighbourhoods. The Bloor Street original has the most established atmosphere; all locations serve the same menu.
Individual slices at North of Brooklyn typically cost $5–8 depending on the topping selection. Whole pies run $20–30. Garlic knots are approximately $8–10 for an order. It's one of the better value-for-quality pizza options in Toronto — mid-range pricing for a product that justifies it.
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