El Cuartito was opened in 1934 in a literal “cuartito”, tiny room, with a window to the street where they served up pizza by the slice.

Today, if you order a slice they often don’t even charge you until you’re finished eating. They trust you to come up and pay, and everyone does.

When I tried to pay in advance they pushed my card back and insisted I eat before my pizza got cold. It was all very charming and familiar.

But don’t get too comfortable, El Cuartito is extremely popular and if you go at peak hours the line can go out the door. Like Guerrin it’s best to visit right when they open for lunch or early evening for dinner.

A bit of El Cuartito lore: Aníbal Troilo, a famous tango musician and composer, often ate at El Cuartito, in the “sanctuary.”

He loved to eat anchovy pizza and drink whiskey with friends, but when he came with his wife she’d try to push healthy choices on her husband.

Don’t worry, the waiters took care of him, reserving a large glass of whiskey for him to drink in peace, in the bathroom!