It’s funny that no one seems to able to replicate it Nick. Out on the west coast here I ordered a “brooklyn style” pizza...HAHAHAHA. Same goes with San Francisco’s Mission style burritos, you’d think someone could study it and replicate but nope.
Frijoles do not work on the East Coast, and Mexican in general. Something in the water or air. Over 10 years ago, I met a guy from Brooklyn and he said hi cousin had a pizza place in San Jose. They had pizza and stromboli in New York style, but it still really wasn’t New York style. More recently a chain out of Boston, Sal’s, opened near here. They are closer than the others, but still not there. Something in the water or air.
It may be related to NYC water, which is the best municipal water in the US. If the dough and the mozzarella are from the city you are half way there.
I think I read somewhere recently that a pizzeria on the left coast had NYC ingredients express shipped daily and it was a big hit