Wizard Hat Pizza

Pop-ups can be a test of patience. You might encounter official drops, or long lines, or posts with those two dreaded words: “Sold Out.”

But not at Wizard Hat. It’s a pizza pop-up, yes, but in NYC'S scarcity-driven pop-up scene, this Prospect Lefferts Garden spot feels like a breath of fresh, freely available air. So fresh, and so obtainable, that when you order a pizza, there will actually be open time slots for pick-ups. No, you’re not being served some sort of well-timed internet ad—you can have great pop-up pizza, and you can eat it tonight. 

photo credit: Liz Clayman

Wizard Hat got its start in 2021, with frequent appearances at Any Thing, and they’re currently making pizza magic down the street from that bar at Chickadee Bread. They have future plans for their own brick-and-mortar, but for now, head to this quiet stretch of Rogers Avenue, where you’ll receive your pizza through the unmarked door of an extra-mysterious storefront with its windows completely painted over.

The whole transaction is quick, but thrilling. Like, oh—you haven’t picked up pizza from the unmarked door yet? Well, you totally should.

photo credit: Liz Clayman

photo credit: Liz Clayman

If you’re picking up just one pie, get the spicy pepperoni. But there are six options, and we’d recommend trying a few of them, as well as the very lemony caesar salad. Come here with a group, preferably of people who enjoy eating hot pizza, right on the sidewalk. Chew your naturally leavened crust in unison. It's crisp, and as light as well-seasoned air. Snag your sixth slice and do the eating-in-silence-because-the-food-is-too-good thing. Dip that last bite in ranch.

We slid that in at the end, because we wanted all you ranch haters to know about the good stuff before you got here. But you should also know that Wizard Hat’s tangy, herby buttermilk dip has the power to fundamentally alter the brain chemistry of anti-ranch-on-pizza New Yorkers. Don’t believe us? Head to the unmarked door. 

Food Rundown

photo credit: Liz Clayman

Spicy Pepperoni

We know, we know, a plain pie is the true measure of a pizza place, but this is the best pie here. The whole hot honey thing on pizza thing is overdone in this city, but a pepperoni pie covered in paper thin jalapeno and pickled chilis is frankly not done enough.

photo credit: Liz Clayman

Cheese Pizza

The amount of basil on the pizzas at Wizard Hat feels like an homage to Di Fara and Lucali—but with more provolone, and a chewy sourdough crust that would make any pandemic-era sourdough enthusiast jealous. So yes, we know we told you to order the spicy pepperoni, but you need the plain too, which means you should probably just get more than one pizza.

photo credit: Willa Moore

Funghi Bianca

This white pie is a nice change from the other red sauce-based pies on the menu, but it doesn’t need to be your very first order. You should go back and get one next time though.

photo credit: Liz Clayman

Speck & Piña

If you grew up in New York, you were probably told to turn up your nose at pineapple on pizza. But have you ever actually tried it? If you’re going to experiment, start with this grown-up version of a Domino’s Hawaiian pie, with very salty slices of speck, refreshingly sweet cubes of pineapple, and of course, basil.

photo credit: Liz Clayman

Caesar Salad

It’s obviously more difficult to inhale a salad on the street than a slice of pizza and a side of ranch. But this is a very well-dressed caesar salad, with big sourdough croutons, and you should eat it anyway, even if that means walking over to Prospect Park, or just squatting on the sidewalk.

Side of Buttermilk Ranch

This deserves its own mention. It’s tart and dotted with dill, and it’s a consistency that you can pour right onto your pizza—once you’ve dipped a slice in and realized that you now identify as a ranch lover. Get two of these.