In the leafy, pine-scented embrace of Southern Pines, North Carolina, a culinary time machine hums quietly behind a counter strewn with flour-dusted rolling pins and bubbling pans of marinara.
SoPies NY Pizzeria isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a portal. One bite of their crispy, foldable slices catapults you past magnolia trees and horse farms, straight to the steam-soaked sidewalks of Manhattan.
Since 1991, this unassuming haven has been slinging authentic New York pizza with a side of Southern hospitality, earning legions of devotees and even a nod from Barstool Sports’ notorious pizza critic, Dave Portnoy.
The Dough That Built a Legacy
The story begins with a simple truth: great pizza is a labor of love, not geography.
SoPies’ founders hauled their Big Apple dreams south, armed with a sacred recipe for hand-tossed, thin-crust dough and a simmering pot of homemade marinara.
Thirty years later, that recipe remains untouched—a relic of pre-broccoli-pizza purity.
The crust? A golden symphony of crunch and chew, blistered to perfection in decks older than most TikTok trends.
The sauce? A tangy, garlic-kissed hug that clings to every nook of the mozzarella.
This isn’t “New York-style.” It’s New York incarnate—no frills, no fusion, just flour-water-yeast alchemy passed down like a family heirloom.
The Barstool Blessing (and the Cheese-Slinging Aftermath)
When Barstool’s One Bite Pizza Review rolled into town in 2023, locals held their breath.
Dave Portnoy—a man who’s judged more slices than a New York traffic court—took one bite of SoPies’ NY Classic Cheese and grinned like a kid at a Coney Island arcade.
His verdict? A 7.5/10, the highest score in Moore County and a badge of honor that still glows on the pizzeria’s walls.
The video racked up 1.37 million views, turning this Sandhills gem into a pilgrimage site for crust-craving road-trippers.
Regulars still chuckle about the “Portnoy Effect”: the sudden influx of Yankees clutching GPS directions and muttering, “This can’t be right… where’s the subway?”
The Menu: A Love Letter to Simplicity
SoPies doesn’t do truffle oil or kale. This is a blue-collar menu, proud and unpretentious:
- 🗽 NY Classic Cheese: The OG masterpiece—crispy undercarriage, gooey cheese, and that zesty sauce that’ll make you side-eye ketchup forever.
- 🍖 Deluxe Pizza: A meat-lover’s rodeo with pepperoni, Italian sausage, and a confetti of veggies—order it well-done for extra crunch.
- 🌱 Madison Square Garden Pizza: A veggie-forward rebel without cheese, starring garlicky spinach, artichokes, and tomatoes on a olive oil canvas. (Yes, it’s vegan. No, it’s not sorry about it.)
- 🥪 Meatball Parm Sub: A juice-dripping-down-your-elbow hero, stuffed with Nonna-sized meatballs and melted provolone.
Weekdays bring down-home deals: $0.75 wings on Wednesday, $1-off beers on Thursday, and Sunday’s two 18” cheese pies for $27.99—a steal that’ll feed a Little League team or one very ambitious uncle.
The “Best of the Pines” Crown (and the Regulars Who Keep It Polished)
In 2024, Southern Pines declared SoPies the “Best Pizza” in its Best of the Pines awards—a title worn lightly but fiercely.
Regulars know the drill: grab a slice at the counter, clink bottles of local IPA, and bask in the holy trinity of pizza perfection (crispy crust, sweet-savory sauce, cheese that stretches like taffy).
The walls echo with laughter, the ovens hum like subway trains, and every bite whispers, “You’re home.”
Why SoPies Isn’t Just Pizza—It’s a Porch Light for the Homesick
For New York transplants, SoPies is a red-checkered lifeline. Retired cops from Queens, Broadway hopefuls taking a southern detour, grandmas who miss their Arthur Avenue haunts—they all find solace here.
“It’s the crust,” whispers one Jersey-born regular, eyes closed as if praying. “The crunch… the flop… it’s like my childhood lunchbox, but better.” (Note: No actual quotes—just the vibe.)
Even the skeptics fold—literally. The “no flop” crust holds firm under toppings, defying Carolina’s humidity like a culinary middle finger to soggy sandwiches.
And the Buffalo Chicken Slice? A spicy, blue-cheese-drizzled dare that’ll make you sweat joyfully.
The Final Slice
SoPies isn’t chasing trends. It’s too busy perfecting the art of simplicity—one hand-tossed dough ball at a time.
In a world of avocado-topped nonsense, this Southern Pines legend stands firm: great pizza needs no gimmicks. Just passion, patience, and a sprinkle of New York magic.
Location: Southern Pines, NC
Phone: 910-725-1092
- https://www.sopiespizza.com
- https://ncmenutour.com/southern-pines-sopies/
- https://homeofgolf.com/dining-a-to-z/
- https://onebite.app/restaurant/sopies-pizza-southern-pines-nc-bf0ec4c9
- https://www.yelp.com/biz/sopies-pizza-southern-pines-2?start=40
- https://www.sopiespizza.com/in-the-news
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g49549-d4606939-Reviews-or80-SoPies_NY_Pizzeria-Southern_Pines_North_Carolina.html
- https://www.myorangecrate.com/order/restaurant/sopies-ny-pizzeria-menu/24927
- https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Restaurant_Review-g49549-d4606939-Reviews-or75-SoPies_NY_Pizzeria-Southern_Pines_North_Carolina.html
- https://www.theknollwoodmanor.com/about