Monday, May 07, 2007

Bar Toto, Park Slope

Address: 411 11th Street (at 6th Avenue), Park Slope, Brooklyn
Purchase: 4 individual pizzas, and one terrible bowl of Butternut Squash soup, plus drinks
Cost: $9 to $12 a pizza
Payment: Cards accepted.
Pizza Rating:


Rating Bar Toto was tough because our visit there was so nice--good company, good conversation, great atmosphere, convenient location. Problem was, the pizza was... not so good. Despite the fun time, the definitive "no" to our standard "would-we-go-back?" screening left Bar Toto with a three-pizza rating. The Kentucky Derby brought us to Park Slope on Saturday to Carolyn's (a KY native) and Schot's apartment for Mint Juleps with their friend Jennah. After plenty of bourbon and chips and dip, we were ready for some real food, in walking distance. Bar Toto had great ambiance, and friendly service. However, the Quattro Formaggi pies that AJ and I both ordered (in spite of the menu only listing three cheeses, as Schot was so observant as to notice) started off with a warm and intriguing bacon-like flavor, but faded into a sharp burnt-cheese taste. Jennah pretty much nailed it when she described the crust, which was quite certainly of the "school cafeteria" variety.


Carolyn enjoys her first bite.


The "Quattro" Formaggi


Jennah's addition of ricotta to the traditional Margherita was a good call.


I actually like Carolyn's pizza the best--its caramelized onions and olives combination gave it a delicious sweet and salty mix.


All that crust left on AJ's plate? Not a good sign.