By: Arsal Mahmood and Billy Tsambazis, Opinion Reporters

Nothing beats a plain slice of pizza. People all over the country travel to get that classic New York slice wanting that perfect first bite leaving you feeling euphoric.

Like our predecessors former WJPS journalists Oscar Berrios and Christopher Sanitate, we too will be rating pizzerias around the Bayside, Queens area of New York, those in close vicinity to World Journalism Preparatory School. The main question is: how much has changed in two years with our favorite go-to spots?

Here are the pizzerias, from closest to farthest from the school:

1. Graziella’s Pizzeria, located at 33-25 Francis Lewis Boulevard
2. Pizzarama Pizzeria, located at 3715 Francis Lewis Boulevard
3. Luigi’s Pizza, located at 20515 35th Avenue
4. Gigi’s Pizzeria, located at 2009 Francis Lewis Boulevard

Graziella Pizzeria:

$3.25 per plain slice

Arsal Mahmood: Pizza was fresh. All the components were perfect. The cheese, sauce, and crust created a decadent experience. Two years later, they fixed the excess cheese issue that was encountered. (10/10)

Billy Tsambazis: The quality of the pizza is definitely worth the price. It could have used a little more sauce, but other than that, it’s a great-tasting slice of pizza. Also, the short distance from WJPS makes it the perfect place to grab something to eat after school. (8.5/10)

Pizzarama Pizzeria:

$3.25 per plain slice

Arsal Mahmood: It was a below-average slice of pizza. While the dough to sauce to crust ratio was perfect, the slice was overall too greasy and tasted a bit stale. It was not worth the price.  (4/10)

Billy Tsambazis: It’s what you’d expect from a standard slice of pizza. It was a bit oily, but had a good amount of cheese and sauce. The cost of the slice is slightly high for what you get. However, it still provides a decent experience overall. (6/10)

Luigi’s Pizza:

$3.25 per plain slice

Arsal Mahmood: (9/10) Luigi’s is close to being a perfect slice. However, when factoring in the distance from the school, it brings it down a point.

Billy Tsambazis: One of the best slices of pizza you can find in the neighborhood. It’s not as close as some of the other options, but it’s definitely worth trying. (8.5/10) 

Gigi’s Pizzeria:

$2.75 per plain slice

Arsal Mahmood: A basic slice of pizza. It’s not too good or too bad. This pizzeria is the only location to keep the same price two years later, which adds points to their basket, making up for the distance. (8/10) 

Billy Tsambazis: It has everything you’d want in a slice of pizza, including a perfect cheese-to-sauce ratio. You’ll have to walk a bit farther for this one, but the reasonable pricing and quality of the slice makes up for it. (9/10)

Overall, two years later, we have a new winner—Graziella’s Pizza. Despite the inflation of $1.25 more, it’s the perfect slice. Taking into account the distance, quality, and the provided service, Graziella’s should be your go-to pizza place. Whether that be an after-school meal or a pick me up.