07/10/09

This place is absolute garbage. TERRIBLE. AWFUL.

by Grinch83

It's like this place tries to make you feel like a piece of street trash.

Famous pizza? A lot of NYC pizza places claim to be famous, but Ben's, if it is famous, must have gained notoriety for their lazy, rude staff and pizza that looks like it came from a microwave.

Yesterday I walked in for a calzone and a slice. One guy behind the counter barked at me to give him his order, even though I hadn't fully decided yet. I ordered a ham and cheese calzone. After sitting and waiting at a table for a few minutes I got to check out some of the "decor" of Ben's. Friendly signs like "We don't serve tap water," and "If you didn't buy it here, you can't eat or drink it here" don the walls and menu boards. A couple with a baby in a stroller walked in and one member of the staff told them they had to remove the baby (infant) from the stroller and fold the stroller up if they wanted to eat -- even though only three of the ten tables were filled and a couple of people stood at the counter.

The staff, they won't even look at you while they talk, instead they seem more preoccupied with watching the dining area -- it made me feel like I was eating in my old high school cafeteria. No smiles, no thank yous, I mean, they practically throw the food at you. And God help you if you don't retrieve your slice as soon as it's on the counter.

My calzone came up and when I got it, I realized they had forgotten to put a side of marinara with it. I asked the short guy behind the counter for a side and he said (without looking at me) "you have to pay an extra 25 cents." What? Call me old school, but calzones are eaten with a side of sauce, and they should come with a side of sauce. Granted, it's only an extra quarter, but what gives? And then trying to eat the thing with the flimsy plastic forks and knives they have is next to impossible (I finally resorted to using my hands). There was ONE piece of ham in the calzone, and it tasted like it had been made a few days prior to my purchase.

Stay away at all costs. Head up to Houston St and check one of those pizza places instead. This place is absolute garbage.

• Pros: Um...they didn't burn my food.
• Cons: Oh boy. Overpriced, rude & slow service, food is mediocre.

04/28/08

Terrible Customer Service!!!!!

by bnmiller

These guys are so disrespectful to their customers! Don't waste your time! You can find way better pizza in a way better environment anywhere.

12/07/06

Best Pizza I've had ... so far

by angela_lozada

I ran into while I was having a Sunday walk and couldn't be more happy to find it!!! Now I constantly crave it and just take the trip downtown for it! They're cheeseless pizza and sicilian pizza with mozzarella and basil is AMAZING!!

• Pros: Really cheap pizza
• Cons: fast service, small seating area

06/07/06

Pizza for the masses

by terriesnow

$3 for tomato, onion, garlic pizza and the salad pizza. Garlic knots to die for! I didn't think they were rude...just fast paced so read the menu and decide first before you get in line. I could eat it every day!

• Pros: good pizza, fast

05/25/05

Best New York Pizza in Manhattan

by tsiegman

This is the quintesential New York slice: cheesy cheese, piquant tomato sauce, crisp, chewy and flavorful crust, all in perfect balance. Skip the fru-fru toppings and go for the basic slice. Add a Root Beer and you are all set.

• Pros: Fabulous Pizza, Neighborhood Feel, New York Style
• Cons: Cramped Seating

09/08/04

Ben's off Thompson

by jgranberg

Pizza is a food group for me! This is the best pizza you can get by the slice and I travel for good pizza. Yea the guys might be moody but what you gonna do. The pizza is great, get some garlic balls too. My girlfriend who does not walk too much will walk with me for this pizza, gladdly

• Pros: Great pizza, who drives to Ben's

08/27/04

Good Pizza and Horrid Service

by nevedovsky

The pizza here is quite good, and while there may be better in the city, the pizza is better here than in most nearby pizza places. The major grievance I had with this place was the service, which can at best be described as unfriendly. In fact, unfriendly is an understatement. Of all the places I have tried in New York City, I have not found service this bad. It's rather unfortunate that a place like this that has good food is marred with terrible service, but if you're getting a pizza to go and eat at home, the service shouldn't be as much of a problem.

• Pros: Pizza

01/21/03

Rude

by BIGSeth

Hey, you know, the pizza's fine, not good, not bad. What is bad is the terrible service you get from behind the counter. Hey, if you don't like the job work somewhere else.

Sadly, I live and work close and wish they were open later for more terrible service.

• Cons: Rude

07/19/02

10

by dgenciane

Real Sicilian pizzeria. The secret's in the sauce. Try the tomato and onion pizza. Not crowded with simple, laid-back, and very casual ambiance. Service is fast even with a bunch of people in line. A place to check out.