Jules, a New Slice Shop in Bensonhurst, Lives Up to the TikTok Hype

By Scott Lynch

Jules Pizza is located at 176 Avenue O, at the corner of West 4th Street, and is currently open on Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and on Sunday from noon to 9:00 p.m.  

It’s unusual (and cool as hell) to have your lifelong dream come true at the age of 19, but that’s exactly what’s going on right now in Bensonhurst for Julian Hamdi, who about a month ago joined forces with his father, Moe, and opened a killer new neighborhood spot, Jules Pizza.

“I’m a pizza-man kinda guy,” says Julian, whose passion for pies found him a following on TikTok. “I’ve been working in pizza places since I was 13 years old, and this is all because of my father. He’s been in the business for over 30 years, working seven days a week, always hustling, making a good life for me and my sisters. He showed me everything I know. He made me the man I am today.”

Moe and Julian Hamdi. Photo by Scott Lynch

At its core, Jules Pizza functions as a local slice shop, albeit one with an unusually large selection of both classic and more creatively constructed pies. Julian calls this latter category his “crazy pies,” and both of the ones I tried last week were excellent, a heavily loaded chicken-bacon-ranch beast (this had so much heft it broke Julian’s “no flop” rule), and a rich and funky spicy burrata “roni” beauty that comes on a crisp sesame crust.

Chicken bacon ranch slice, $4.50. Photo by Scott Lynch 

The squishy, Sicilian-style Carini slice was also really good, structured in upside-down fashion, with its bright tomato sauce, chunky with caramelized onions, ladled on top of the cheese. Other “speciale” pizzas that make their way into the case throughout the day include a cheesesteak pie, a chicken Caesar pie, and a penne vodka pie.

Carini square slice, $5. Photo by Scott Lynch

And I hate to say it because they already sell out so quickly, but maybe even better than the pizza here are the pinwheels, which are basically just spirals of chewy, soft-baked dough that get pummeled with sauce and fillings and toppings. I wolfed down a Buffalo chicken version, complete with a crock of extra blue cheese dressing, and it had me swooning in my seat. So sloppy, so gloppy, so delicious. Literally one of my favorite things I’ve eaten this year.

Buffalo chicken pinwheel with blue cheese, $5. Photo by Scott Lynch

In addition to all the pizzas and pinwheels, Jules serves a ton of other things as well, from the somewhat expected (meatball parm heroes, garlic knots, Sicilian rice balls) to more family-restaurant-type offerings like linguini with clam sauce, shrimp scampi, and sauteed broccoli rabe. “We have a full kitchen, so I figured, Why not?” Julian says. “This neighborhood needs a place where you can get a good chicken parm.” 

And creating space for the community is key for the Hamdis, who’ve lived in South Brooklyn their entire lives. Because although the restaurant has cultivated a significant buzz through Julian (a cartoon-style illustration of his face is the official logo of the place, and there’s Jules merch available if you need a new T-shirt with your meal), the father-son duo is really looking to build something lasting with Jules. 

Spicy burrata ‘roni slice, $5.75. Photo by Scott Lynch

“I’m here seven days a week,” Jules says. “You guys want to see me? You know where to find me. When you walk into Jules, I want you to be treated like family—like you’re walking into my house—because this is my dream come true.”