Paulie Gee’s Soul City Slice

Stepping into Paulie Gee’s feels like someone gunned a DeLorean to 88 mph and dropped you off in 1985. But the slice shop isn’t just serving up nostalgia. Originally from Brooklyn, the Philly offshoot serves up excellent pizza–the Sicilian pies are the standout–and gives us flashbacks to childhood, when nothing tastes as good as a great bite of pizza.

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Vinyl LP’s are for sale, if you’re in the market for a Mick Jagger or Burt Bacharach record. There’s a vintage soda machine, and an Atari game on a tube TV. And there are lots of local elements, too, like The Sound of Philadelphia artwork, framed photos of Philly sports legends, and a group of older guys at the pool table talking about the blizzard of 96’. For those lucky enough to snag a seat at the bar (which requires an aggressive game of musical chairs), there are eight TV’s that usually have a game or a classic movie on. It feels like a laid back neighborhood dive bar where the incredible slices outshine the hit-or-miss drinks.  

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

They keep it simple when it comes to the round pizzas. The New York-style slices are straightforward–super foldable with a sweet tomato sauce and a good chew-to-crisp ratio. But it’s the Sicilian specialty pies that are the showstoppers here. The upside-down Hellboy Squared, our favorite, comes loaded with sweet tomato sauce, mozzarella, pecorino romano, piles of Ezzo pepperoni, and a hot honey drizzle (and if spicy isn’t your thing, The Freddy Prinze is the fire-free version). The dense and airy crust is sprinkled with sesame seeds, making each bite a revelation. Cool down with anything they have on draft and you’ll quickly see why people hang out here long enough to make it their shipping address. 

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

Whether you’re looking for an old-school pizza party, redemption at Duck Hunt, or just need a great piece of pizza, Paulie Gee’s delivers–all without having to get Doc Brown involved.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

The Freddy Prinze

With just the right amount of char and nuttiness from the sesame seed bottom, this square, upside-down Sicilian pie is both crisp and pillowy. It comes topped with sweet tomato sauce, mozzarella, and pecorino romano. It’s one of the best slices here.

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

Hellboy Squared

With the same ingredients as The Freddy Prinze, you may think they’re pulling a Clark Kent and trying to pass the Hellboy Squared off as Superman. But the addition of the fiery hot honey and the spicy slices of pepperoni creates a sweet and spicy bite so good that it may be the best thing you can purchase in Philly for $5.

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

The Mootz

This creamy, garlicky white slice, topped with a drizzle of olive oil, won’t have you giving up your red pie. But it’s a solid white that works when you want an alternative to tomato.