Famed Soho Pizzeria Accuses New UWS Spot Of Recipe Theft: Report

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Two New York City pizza men named Frank are engaged in a heated legal battle over a recipe for a famed spicy pepperoni slice, according to reports.

Frank Morano, owned of the famed Prince Street Pizza in SoHo, is taking his former chef Frank Badali to court for attempting to copy the pizzeria's acclaimed Spicy Spring slice, Eater New York first reported. Badali now helms Made In New York Pizza on Amsterdam Avenue and West 80th Street after leaving Prince Street Pizza in December to partner with restaurateur Eytan Sugarman, according to the report.

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The Spicy Spring slice — a Sicilian-style slice loaded with pepperoni and topped with garlic and a spicy tomato sauce — draws lines down the block at Prince Street Pizza. Morano claims that Badali is ripping off the concept at Made In New York Pizza and calling it the "Spicy Pepperoni" slice, Eater reported.

"This is a copy cat that is trying to capitalize on Prince Street Pizza and their success," a spokesperson for Morano told Eater.

The restaurateur behind Made In New York Pizza denied the recipe theft and instead told Eater that Badali — who helped develop some of Prince Street's recipes while he worked there — made "noticeable changes and improvements" to the slice. The duo plan to open a second location of Made In New York Pizza in Hell's Kitchen.

Read the full Eater New York report here.

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