A trip through Cold Spring, NY: Cold Spring Pizza

Cold Spring Pizza could have pizza fans traveling a little farther for a slice.

A great source of entertainment over the course of this pandemic for many people has been thinking about what they’ll do after it ends. Personally, I can’t wait to take weekend trips to visit some of my favorite restaurants. It just so happens that a few of them happen to be on the same street.

Over the course of this series, I’ll take you down a (virtual) walk of Cold Spring, New York, which is 50 miles north of Manhattan, and is simply an hour and a half ride on the Metro North from Grand Central Station.

If you’re coming into Cold Spring from the New York/New Jersey area, you are no stranger to an excellent slice of pizza. If New York City is considered the Mecca for excellent pizza, then Cold Spring should be considered the Holy Grail because of one shop on its main drag.

Cold Spring Pizza is recognized as one of the best pizza spots not only in the entire Hudson Valley, but the whole state of New York as well. In fact, in a 2018 USA Today Article ranked Cold Spring Pizza the best pizza in the state of New York.

When you walk into the shop, you are greeted by the wonderful scent of tomato sauce and the warming sense of a time far gone thanks to the retro menu hanging above the counter. Opened by the Scanga family in 1972, you can tell that it is the type of place that has stood the test of time while the town around it has changed. An obvious reason that it has stood the test of time is the amazing slices that they serve up.

If you’re looking to stray away from the standard plain slice, you absolutely can’t go wrong with a Margherita pizza. With every crunch of the freshly-kneaded crust, you can tell that every ingredient is fresh. Nothing beats when a cheese perfectly matches the sauce it is paired with on a pizza, and Cold Spring Pizza has that down pat.

Speaking of the crust, an issue that a lot of Margherita Pizzas have is that they flop under the pressure of the sauce and cheese. No need to worry about that in this throwback shop, as the crust could be best described as a cloud wrapped in a shell of bread. The outer layer of the crust is firm enough to hold toppings, but the inside is an absolute pleasure to bite into.

Since summer is coming, it is important to have something refreshing to sip on while enjoying the slice of pizza you’re having. If you’re enjoying your Margherita Pizza, you can’t miss if you pair it with a San Pellegrino sparkling drink (I recommend the Blood Orange flavor). With a simple bite and sip, you’ll find yourself transported to a balcony in Sorrento, overlooking the Gulf of Naples, and all your troubles as well.

Do you know of a great local pizza spot? Come share your favorite restaurants and join our writing team or tag us on socials.