If the name wasn’t a giveaway, Julianna’s Pizza specializes in pizza. Nonetheless, the restaurant makes a mean cannoli that reviewers love to laud. Although Julianna’s Pizza opened in 2012, owner Pasquale (“Patsy”) Lancieri has a much older history with Brooklyn; he and his wife first opened a pastry shop before selling the business in 1933 and converting the restaurant next door into a restaurant named “Patsy’s Pizzeria.” The couple sold their shares in the 1990s, only to make a return with Julianna’s, affectionately named after Patsy’s mother.
The cannoli at Julianna’s have a sweet dedication, too. Named on the menu as “Carol’s Cannoli,” they’re inscribed to Patsy’s late wife and co-founder. They’ve been voted the 2nd best in NYC by Grub Street, and the recipe still follows Carol’s precise specifications: fresh, all-natural ingredients, no preservatives, filled on the spot, and topped with sprinkles.