Sal Senan, Amani Rachid and Huss Rachid – the team behind Bexley North pizzeria My Mother’s Cousin – flew to New York and visited around 25 pizza joints before opening MMC Slice in Marrickville’s old Barzaari space.

That research trip informed what is now one of Sydney’s best examples of a proper New York pizza joint, from the pepperoni-pocked slices lining the cabinet to the pizzaiolos in crisp whites. A collection of comfortable tables and booths look like a mix between a sleek but homey Marrickville dining room and an idealised, rose-tinted memory of Pizza Huts gone by.

But MMC Slice is also a departure from the city’s perception of pizza being an accessory to drinking. Slice Shoppe doesn’t serve booze, which makes it a family-friendly proposition among the neighbouring breweries and pubs. That aspect also puts the focus squarely on your slice.

Pizzas are stone baked and come in classic flavours: pepperoni; sausage and peppers; salami and jalapenos; white sauce with caramelised onion; and mushroom. The line-up is available in whole rounds or by the slice. A selection of square pies includes an “upside down grandma” with cheese on the bottom and sauce on top.