Sal's Authentic NY Pizza - Lichfield Street

About Sal's Authentic NY Pizza - Lichfield Street

Sal's Authentic NY Pizza on Lichfield Street brings genuine New York-style pizza to central Christchurch. Operating under Salvatore Leo's time-honored recipes originating from Little Neck, New York, the pizzeria crafts classic 18-inch pies, fresh slices, and authentic sides. Every pizza is made by hand in full view, using slow-risen dough crafted from genuine New York milled hard spring wheat flour, California vine-ripened tomato sauce, and premium NYC blend mozzarella.

The Christchurch Central location offers a relaxed, classic pizzeria atmosphere with cozy booths where diners can watch their pies being prepared and baked in hot deck ovens. In addition to iconic foldable slices and whole pies, the menu features classic Buffalo wings made from the original 1964 recipe, garlic knots, pepperoni wheels, and fried zeppole dusted in sugar. Gluten-free 12-inch bases and plant-based cheese substitutions ensure a wide variety of diners can enjoy the classic New York dining experience.

Sal's Authentic NY Pizza on Lichfield Street: Bringing Real New York Slices to Christchurch

Bringing the time-tested traditions of Little Neck, Queens right into the heart of Christchurch, Sal's Authentic NY Pizza on Lichfield Street serves up genuine New York pizza culture. Rooted in recipes passed down from Salvatore Leo, who began perfecting his craft in New York in 1959, Sal's brings classic 18-inch pies and foldable slices to Canterbury diners.

From the moment you step inside, the experience mirrors a classic city pizzeria. Guests can slide into cozy booth seating, inhale the scent of bubbling cheese and baking dough, and watch pizzaiolos toss dough and assemble pies by hand right in front of the ovens.

Authentic Ingredients Direct from the Source

What sets Sal's apart is its commitment to authentic ingredients imported directly to maintain New York standards. The slow-risen dough is crafted from genuine New York milled hard spring wheat flour, yielding a crust that is crispy on the exterior yet light, airy, and easily foldable. The sweet tomato base is blended daily from vine-ripened California tomatoes, paired with premium Wisconsin and NYC-blend mozzarella.

Exclusive toppings include authentic beef and oregano meatballs, specialty Italian pork and fennel sausage, and Sal’s famous cupped pepperoni that crisps into savory bowls in the oven. For plant-based diets, Mozzarella can be swapped for plant-based Nutzarella at no extra charge, and pizzas can be prepared on 12-inch gluten-free bases.

Beyond the 18-Inch Pie

While whole 18-inch pies and single slices draw the daytime lunch crowd, Sal's sides and specialty appetizers round out the menu. The pizzeria serves authentic free-range Buffalo wings made according to the original 1964 upstate New York recipe, accompanied by ranch or blue cheese sauce. Traditional garlic knots drenched in crushed garlic and olive oil, melted mozzarella sticks, and rolled pepperoni wheels provide hearty accompaniments.

To wrap up a meal, the dessert menu features Zeppole—pillowy fried dough tossed in cinnamon and sugar, dusted with icing sugar, and paired with house dipping sauces including chocolate, vanilla custard, or fruit coulis.

Signature items

• Pepperoni Pizza
• Garlic Knots
• Buffalo Wings
• Pepperoni Wheel
• Zeppole

Menu

Desserts

• Ben & Jerry's ice cream — Available in small and large tubs
• Zeppole — Signature dough fried golden brown, tossed in cinnamon sugar, powdered icing sugar with custard, chocolate, or raspberry coulis dipping sauce
• Sweet Dipping Sauces — Silky-smooth vanilla custard, rich chocolate sauce, or raspberry coulis

Combos & Specials

• Sal's Famous — 1 Pepperoni Slice, 1 Cheese Slice
• Charging Bull — 1 slice, 1 knot, Red Bull 250ml can
• Sal's Classic — 1 slice, 3 knots, Sal's Legendary Sauce, can of Pepsi
• Little Neck Combo — 2 slices, 3 knots, Sal's Legendary Sauce, can of Pepsi
• Grand Central — 1/2 cheese pizza, pepperoni wheel, three garlic knots, Sal’s legendary sauce
• Queens Meal — 1/2 nonna pizza, three garlic knots, Sal’s legendary sauce, 1.5L Pepsi Max
• Taste of New York — 1/2 pepperoni pizza, 350g Buffalo wings, three garlic knots, Blue cheese or ranch sauce
• New York's Finest — 1/2 Buffalo pizza, mozzarella sticks, three garlic knots, Sal’s legendary sauce
• Sal's NBL Steal — 1/2 Pepperoni 1/2 Cheese Pizza + 4 Garlic Knots
• Broadway Bundle — 1/2 pepperoni 1/2 Buffalo pizza, 6x Knots and 1.5L Pepsi Max
• The Perfect Union — A Pepperoni Pizza and a Cheese Pizza
• Tribeca Trio — 1 Pepperoni, 1 Cheese, 1 Nonna

Sal'S Specialties

• Sal's Signature Fries — Twice cooked Agria potato fries with Heinz ketchup, mayo or garlic aioli sauce
• Garlic Knots — Knots tossed with crushed garlic and EVOO
• Pepperoni Wheel — Pepperoni & mozzarella wrapped in dough
• Buffalo Wings — Free range wings in Authentic Original 1964 Buffalo recipe, HOT Buffalo, Black Garlic, Christopher St Rub or Bronx BBQ
• Mozzarella Sticks — Breaded mozzarella cooked golden brown
• Authentic Dipping Sauces — Sal's Legendary Sauce, Buffalo, HOT Buffalo, Blue Cheese, Creamy Ranch, Marinara

Large 18" New York Pies

• Hawaiian — Free range champagne ham, organic pineapple and premium NYC blend mozzarella
• Cheese — Sal's legendary sauce & premium NYC blend mozzarella
• Pepperoni — Sal's legendary sauce, premium NYC blend mozzarella and our famous New York pepperoni
• 100 Pepp Black Garlic — 100 slices of our Famous pepperoni and black garlic sauce
• Double Pepperoni — Double slices of Sal’s famous NY or cupped pepperoni
• Meatball — Authentic beef and oregano meatballs
• Fire Island — NY cup and char pepperoni, jalapenos, hot honey drizzle
• Nonna — Sal's signature marinara sauce, premium NYC blend mozzarella, parmesan, basil, garlic & EVOO
• Cupped Pepperoni — NY cup and char pepperoni
• Mushroom — Premium NYC blend mozzarella & mushrooms
• 5 Boroughs — Premium NYC blend mozzarella, creamy ricotta, black garlic sauce, marinara & pesto splash
• Buffalo Chicken — Breaded free range chicken breast, buffalo sauce and blue cheese sauce
• Chicken and Tomato — Breaded free range chicken breast, tomatoes, parmesan and oregano
• Manhattan — Famous New York pepperoni & mushroom
• Brooklyn — Trio of our specialty pepperoni, sausage & meatball
• Sausage — Italian pork and fennel sausage
• Veggie — Fresh cut capsicum, mushroom, premium NYC blend mozzarella
• Staten Island (V) — Marinara sauce, Sal's Nutzarella, Mushrooms, basil garlic & EVOO

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy pizza by the slice at Sal's on Lichfield Street?

Yes, Sal's offers individual slices of popular pies like Cheese, Pepperoni, Nonna, and Buffalo Chicken, alongside combo specials.

Does Sal's offer gluten-free crust options?

Yes, Sal's provides a 12-inch gluten-free pizza base, though toppings and kitchen environments may contain traces of gluten.

Are vegetarian and plant-based options available?

Yes, vegetarian pizzas such as the Veggie, Nonna, and Mushroom are available, and dairy cheese can be swapped for plant-based Nutzarella for free.

Can I order half-and-half pizzas?

Yes, Sal's welcomes half-and-half combinations on their large 18-inch whole pies.

How big are Sal's whole pizzas?

Sal's authentic New York style pies are 18 inches in diameter.

Can I order Sal's Pizza online?

Yes, online ordering for pickup and takeaway is available through the Sal's website.

Tips

• {"body":"Eat your slice the authentic New York way by folding it down the center to manage the thin, crisp crust and hot cheese.","title":"Fold Your Slice"}
• {"body":"Add an order of garlic knots with a side of Sal's legendary marinara dipping sauce to complete the classic pizzeria experience.","title":"Try the Garlic Knots"}
• {"body":"If dining solo for lunch, opt for a slice special that bundles pizza slices, garlic knots, and a drink.","title":"Build a Combo"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Booth seating and shareable 18-inch pies ideal for family groups.","dietary":"Gluten-free 12-inch bases available; vegan cheese (Nutzarella) available at no extra charge."}