Slices from Sal & Carmine Pizza. Photo by Flickr user Ken Lund
The Upper West Side has been abuzz ever since iconic pizzeria Sal & Carmine raised its price-per-slice this month by a whopping $1 (from $3 to $4).
The pizzeria at 2671 Broadway (between 101st and 102nd streets), which has been in business since 1959, is famed for its crust, as well as “tomato sauce and cheese that merge into a mysterious amalgam,” according to Eater, which included S&C on its just-updated list of best slices.
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But disgruntled customers have been ranting about the price hike. One outraged patron said on nextdoor.com that the “33% price increase is ridiculous” and another called it “crazy.” On Yelp, someone called it “price gauging.” One customer is grumbling that a “slice should never be more than a subway ride. That’s NYC law,” encouraging a fellow New Yorker to wax nostalgic about 15-cent slices and 15-cent subway rides. One sarcastic pizza-lover remarked with an “lol” on the high cost of salt (with another noting the apparent saltiness of Sal’s slices).
READ MORE: Have You Seen Citarella’s Recent Prices?
Meanwhile, S&C had many defenders, who said the beloved institution had every right to raise its slice price, given increased costs for ingredients and probable increases in rent and electric. According to one fan, the pizzeria hasn’t raised its prices in at least 10 years (S&C could not be reached immediately to confirm this). “I heard the price of cheese went way up,” said another, who added, “I would never want the quality of the cheese to go down on a great slice.” Another said, “Speak to them and they’ll tell you how much paper bags, paper plates, [and] pizza boxes cost now. It’s ridiculous but that’s not their fault.”
Another ally of Sal’s spoke up, saying “I always think how sad I would be if these places closed because I was too cheap to ante up another $1.”
Well worth it! It shroud be $5!
They’re looking across the street at Mama’s Too and saying hey, we can charge that much also and we don’t even burn our pizza.
That’s a 30% increase. Are they paying their employees more, have their goods gone up 30%? You can’t just think of it as a $1 increase – the percentage matters!
I have no idea what their labor, product, and rent costs are, but rising prices are a reality for everyone, businesses and consumers.
And a $4 slice from Sal and Carmine’s is still a great deal, and I’ll continue to support them.
Never understood the appeal. Mama’s Too is far better, in my opinion.
The dictum that a slice of pizza and a subway ride are, or should be, the same price went out the window years ago. Slices were $3 even before the subway fare went to $2.75. As for the $1 increase (or, as someone put it, the 33% increase), the cost of the ingredients was undoubtedly gone up due to both the supply chain issue and inflation (which are actually related). And the price of utilities is also going up. As well, we don’t know whether their landlord has asked for a rent increase.
So stop bitchin’. 😉 If you don’t want to pay the $1, don’t.
Just had a slice down on Houston Street for $1. Good NY Pizza. If they can do it…
You voted for it, now eat it.
Honestly, the last few times I’ve had a slice there I was very disappointed. Greasy and under cooked.
You want delicious pizza? Try Ortomare and you will graduate from the one slice concept.