Slices of the City

Co., Chelsea

2009-11-29T14:42:00.009-05:00

Address: 230 Ninth Avenue at 24th Street
Purchase: Six 10" pizzas, a growler of beer, and two $7 bottles of sparkling water.
Cost: Pizzas range from $13 (Margherita) to $20 (Nightly specials), Growlers of draft beers $25
Pizza Rating:

AJ and I were in the city for a quick trip before Thanksgiving and finally decided on the relatively-new Co. in Chelsea for our pizza night out. Runners up were Kesté in the West Village, and Saraghina in Bed-Stuy, both of which we plan to visit in upcoming trips.

Co. is very trendy, despite it's generic exterior on 9th Avenue, so even though it was 7:00 on a Tuesday, we had to wait about 30-45 minutes. We were seated around the end of a long communal table, which was a tight fit, but I think we were all comfortable.

There were so many appetizing choices on the menu, plus three specials, so it took a while for everyone to settle on one. The waitress "encouraged sharing" as pizzas "may come out at different times." They were, in fact, delivered individually, but it wasn't too long wait for anyone. AJ and I shared a Margherita, which was as good as any I've ever had, with a light fresh sauce and deliciously fresh buffalo mozzarella. We also tried one of the specials of the night: the "Chanty Pie," with chanterelle mushrooms, leeks, and cubes of roasted turnips. It had three cheeses, and no red sauce. Absolutely scrumptious, although the turnips were a bit out of place.

Other hits at the table were the Brussels Sprouts pie, with shaved brussels sprouts and lardons, and the "Popeye," which had a very generous pile of spinach, and another combination of cheeses, pecorino, buffalo mozzarella, and gruyere. Both were without red sauce (as owner Jim Lahey explained to New York Magazine: "Tomatoes aren't even indigenous to Italy, so where do we get off saying it has to be tomatoes on top of the bread?").

My favorite part about the pizza at Co., however, was the crust. It was chewy and had a great flavor. Not too thin or crispy, but almost like Naan (it was also about the size of normal Naan, which is to say, rather small for a pizza.) I'm looking forward to trying a hand at the no-knead dough at home, with the recipe Lahey shared with NY Magazine.

The beer selection was good, and rather than pitchers, they offer $25 growlers served in their own Co. branded growlers, which match the Co. branded bottles of $7 sparkling water, of which Grier was so generous as to order two, despite the waiter's offer of "tap." A mistake he probably won't make again, but we all enjoyed the indulgence.

The Chanty Pie

A bit of the Margherita.

With Erin, Grier, Jake, and Lincoln.

Walking the Highline before dinner.

Motorino, Williamsburg

2009-08-03T11:25:00.018-04:00

Address: 319 Graham Avenue (at Devoe)
Purchase: Five varieties of personal pizzas, an heirloom tomato appetizer special, wine
Cost: Pizzas range from $10 to $15, wine starts at $18/bottle
Pizza Rating:

During our visit to the city for a fun (brief) weekend away before AJ starts medical school at UVa next week, we finally settled on the new Motorino in Williamsburg for our Saturday night dinner. Based on Frank Bruni's review, which ranked Motorino number one on the list of the city's "Best New Generation Pizzerias," (which comes with an informative interactive feature) we thought it would be a good choice.

With six of us we were able to get a reservation, so there was no wait and we had time to enjoy a drink before hand during happy hour at one of our favorites, Barcade (as a bonus, the bartender there had his Boston Terrier with him behind the bar).

The pizza was quite good. Not as stand out as Lucali, in my opinion, but I like the slightly chewy thin crust on my Margherita (good bubbles), and there was a nice proportion of cheese to sauce (pictured above). Lincoln ordered the Margherita DOC, which, for $4 more, is made with mozzarella di bufala instead of the housemade fior di latte. However, for $4 more, I think we were all surprised by how much less cheese was on the pie. If I wanted to enjoy the DOC cheese I would order some on its own from the left menu.

Grier orderd the Pugliese (left)—with burrata, broccolini, sausage, fresh chiles, and garlic— without the sausage, which was quite good, as Mario Batali agrees. Our appetizer, a fresh heirloom tomato in olive oil and seasalt with a sprig of basil, was, as Soraya described it, the essence of summer. Yet one small (not quite ripe) tomato, heirloom or not, for $6 seems a little much, but maybe that's just because we now have our own garden of them.

Motorino is soon to open a Manhattan location at the old space of Una Pizza Napoletana in the East Village. If the menu is the same as at the Williamsburg location, the spot's new incarnation will be much easier on the wallet. Even after three bottles of wine, the six of us left Motorino for just $30 each, with pizza left over.

The pizza makers and their wood burning oven.

Soraya, Catherine, Lincoln, Grier, and AJ.

Leaving quite satisfied.

Not Ray's Pizza, Fort Greene

2008-07-02T11:04:00.014-04:00

Address: 690 Fulton Street (at S. Portland)
Purchase: Two regular slices and a can of Coke
Cost: $6.00 ($2.50/slice)
Pizza Rating:

Well, $2.50 seems to be the new $2 in regular slices. However, at a place like Not Ray's, it's decidedly worth it. Not only does Not Ray's win extra points for its humorous name, but the slices are quality, if a little greasy. This was one of the first pizza places we visited after we moved to Brooklyn, so it's fitting that we got to review it before we leave. (P.S. This is baby Louisa's first official appearance (on the outside) on Slices of the City!)

Sitting outside Habana Outpost (which to many passerbys' disappointment, is closed Tuesdays)

Bite Me Best Pizza, East Village

2008-06-21T17:22:00.009-04:00

Address: 700 East 9th Street at Avenue C
Purchase: 2 regular slices
Cost: $2.50 each
Pizza Rating:

After attending the Boston Terrier Meetup at Tompkins Square this afternoon we walked over to Avenue C to get some coffee at Ninth Street Espresso and found Bite Me Best. We got some plain slices and ate them across the street in the lovely La Plaza Cultural community garden. Even though it was enjoyed under the very pleasant shade of the willow trees, the pizza was just okay. First of all, $2.50 is a little high, although it was a hearty slice. The crust was fairly thick, and a little bland. The cheese was also thick, and there was lots of sauce too. Next time I'd try the lasagna slice—maybe pasta is their thing.

Di Fara, Midwood

2008-05-28T19:33:00.011-04:00

Address: 1420 Avenue J at E 15th Street
Purchase: 1 regular pie, 2 cokes in bottles
Cost: $20 for the pie, $2 per coke
Payment: Cash Only
Pizza Rating:

Finally made it out to Midwood to get a taste of some of the most famously delicious pizza in New York—Di Fara's. We got there a little before 6:00 on a Wednesday and just beat the crowd. Watching the pizzaiolo Domenico de Marco (Domenic) in his slow and steady pizza-making routine was half the fun. The man is a New York legend.

Di Fara's regular pie features delicious thin crust, just perfectly charred on the bottom, flavorful tomato sauce, and sliced mozzarella. After the pie came out of the oven, Domenic swirled some olive oil all around, topped it with grated parmesan for some extra tang, and finally scissored off some fresh basil before handing it over. Pizza making is a methodical process, and Di Fara's is perhaps the most methodical of all the pizza places we've reviewed. It really shows in the final product. All of the flavors combined to form one of the most delicious pies we've ever had.

The famous old storefront.

After winning best pizza in NYC as many times as Di Fara's has, you can charge $4 a slice no matter how deep in Brooklyn you are.

Domenic making our pie.

Before the crowd arrived.

Time to enjoy!

40 weeks hungry!

Lucali (Update!)

2008-05-28T19:17:00.005-04:00

Address: 575 Henry Street at Carroll Street
Pizza Rating:

We are officially updating our rating of Lucali to the full five pizza rating because we just really like that place. We've been back a few more times, most recently while my parents were visiting for graduation, and those calzones are just to die for—ricotta, mozzarella, our favorite fillings (basil and garlic) and their delicious pizza sauce to dip. The wait can be a pain, even with their complicated call ahead but no reservations policy, and the service is often a little distracted, but the pizza is totally worth it. Don't forget, it's BYOB, and the corking fee is $4. Now if only they had cannoli...

Read our original review of Lucali here.

Most recent visit to Lucali—large calzone for us, basil and pepperoni pie for Mom and Dad.

Mario's, Fort Greene

2008-05-18T16:18:00.012-04:00

Address: 224 DeKalb Avenue near Clermont Avenue
Purchase: 1 plain slice, 1 mushroom slice, 1 root beer
Cost: $2.25 per regular slice
Pizza Rating:

Meredith and I had a pizza picnic at Fort Greene Park with Bruno while she was in town a few weeks ago. We stopped at Mario's because of its window service and its proximity to the park. The slices hit the spot, but I think the quality was a little less than that of Luigi's a few blocks back up DeKalb (on the Clinton Hill side). The cheese seemed a little cheap and the sauce was a little sweet. It wouldn't stop me from going back next time I need a slice while I'm down there, I just wouldn't make a point of it. Mario's is a solid neighborhood standby slice.

The baby seemed happy enough with the slice.
Pictures courtesy Auntie Meredith!

Rosario's, Lower East Side

2008-04-09T10:24:00.008-04:00

Address: 173 Orchard Street (at the corner of Stanton)
Purchase: 1 regular slice
Cost: $2.25
Pizza Rating:

Rosario's is the perfect place to grab a slice when your down around the LES. It's only a block away from the gallery, so I go there often when I am working. The guys are really friendly and the pizza is very dependable. Always fresh, tasty, and never over-reheated. The crust has a good flavor and good texture without being too thick or bready. Yesterday I also tried one of their spinach and cheese rollini which was had a generous garlic and cheese filling for only $3. It took a while to heat up, but I was happily watching the Mets home-opener on their tv while I waited (they were still winning at that point). I'd definitely choose Rosario's over the competition when you're looking for pizza around here.

A little greasy, but cheesy and delicious.

Otto, Greenwich Village

2008-03-16T10:03:00.012-04:00

Address: 1 Fifth Avenue at 8th Street
Purchase: Many personal pizzas, antipasti, wine, gelato
Cost: $10 to $14 each pizza
Payment: Cards accepted
Pizza Rating:

In honor of Marisa's special birthday celebration in NYC, Slices of the City had its first taste of celebrity-chef pizza at Mario Batali's Otto. The place was packed, as it has been every time we have walked by. However, we were seated as soon as our whole party of eight arrived, even though we were a little late for the reservation. The service was very good, once the waitress finally stuck around our table long enough to take our order.

The distinctive thing about Otto's pizza is its crust. It is very thin and very crispy, more like a cracker than a bubbly, yeasty dough. The toppings go right to the edge. The Margherita, which is really the standard with which we judge this type of pizzeria, was a little disappointing. The sauce was too sweet for AJ's taste, and a little too thick for mine, and I think they were a bit too sparing with buffala mozzarella. The Funghi and Taleggio was delicious, salty, and flavorful, but a little overpowering for a whole pie. Would have made a delicious bruschetta, especially with its parsley garnish. Our favorite was Meredith's choice, the Balsamic Onion and Goat Cheese, which was scrumptious. Highly recommended, especially for a twist on the sometimes bland white pizza.

The highlight of my meal was the gelato. The chocolate hazelnut sauce on our Black and White was divine. Don't skip dessert!

The Margherita D.O.P.

Funghi and Taleggio

Balsamic Onion and Goat Cheese

The delicious Black and White gelato dessert

I loved the refurbed Italian flip board. Very cool. Marisa and Jon are cute too.

Happy Birthday, Marisa!

Birthday Dinner at Lucali

2008-03-07T17:04:00.007-05:00

We celebrated my birthday last night with another visit to Lucali in Carroll Gardens, this time with Erin and Grier. It was just as delicious as I remembered, and this time we also tried the calzone, which was a real treat. The small is $10, and we split it as an appetizer. The same pizza toppings are offered as calzone stuffings, so we had basil and garlic, which went very well with the ricotta and mozzarella, and was absolutely delicious with their tangy tomato sauce, (when the waitress finally remembered to bring it over). We had called ahead to get on the wait list, so our time outside in the cold was tolerable, and although we waited a while for the first pizza, we ordered a second one when we were half way done, and it came quickly. Yum!

Erin and Grier make their first Slices of the City appearance. Finally!

Special topping of the night: Porcini mushrooms

Back at home for AJ's homemade red velvet cake and birthday candles!

Domino's Delivery, Clinton Hill

2008-02-28T20:49:00.014-05:00

Address: 539 Atlantic Avenue
Phone: 718-522-3733
Purchase: One large pizza
Cost: $14.89 (not including tip)
Payment: Cards accepted
Pizza Rating:

"You Got 30 Minutes?" Try 101. Yes, an hour and 41 minutes is how long we waited for our Domino's pizza to arrive on Thursday night. It was an all-time Slices of the City low. We ordered our pizza online at 7:14 pm. We called twice, once after 55 minutes, the maximum delivery time estimated, and then again at 8:49, when according to our online "Pizza Tracker" we already had the pizza. Both times, after first having to "talk" to the computer that answered the phone, (which also falsely reported that we already had the pizza), the woman at the Atlantic Domino's told us it was "on its way" and that the driver had several stops to make. The pizza arrived at 8:55 pm.

When we opened the box the pizza was at room temperature, which made sense if we are to believe the Pizza Tracker, which reported our pizza being taken out of the oven and put in it's "heat wave" bag at 7:25 pm (which would be an hour and a half before we received it.) Also, unlike Papa John's where you can pay with credit card and even put your tip on the card when you order online, when the Domino's guy finally arrived, AJ had to give him his credit card again for him to press and sign even though he had entered it on the website already. Plus you don't get the garlic dip or pepperoncini. The only reason it is receiving half a pizza rating is because it was, in fact, pizza (also, I haven't made a zero-pizza graphic).

The online "Pizza Tracker" that "hoped we were enjoying our meal" before we'd actually received it.

Yum, doesn't that cold, stiff, orange pie look delicious? Even Bruno sniffed it suspiciously.

"Is that what you guys were waiting for?"

Home-Built Pizzas, Park Slope

2008-02-24T13:13:00.007-05:00

Last night Carolyn and Schot invited their friend Sarah and us over for some home-made (except for the crust and sauce) pizzas. All the ingredients were fresh from the Park Slope Food Co-op, and the combination of toppings was delectable. We had sun-dried tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms, black olives, tempeh bacon, chopped garlic, and fresh basil. After we'd licked our plates we played a lively game of Balderdash (at one point during which I was laughing so hard I was afraid I might induce labor. I was reading AJ's description of the movie The Appointment— "A man and his therapist. What will they uncover next?"). It was a lovely Saturday evening in Brooklyn.

Carolyn primes the crusts with olive oil and a little sauce.

Prepping the toppings.

Finishing up with some basil and then more cheese.

Schot pops them in the oven!

Una Pizza Napoletana, East Village

2008-02-22T21:00:00.016-05:00

Address: 349 E. 12th Street between 1st and 2nd avenues
Purchase: 1 Margherita, 1 Filetti, 1 aranciata, 1 Moretti
Cost: $65 including tip (each 12" pizza $21)
Payment: Cash only
Pizza Rating:

UPDATE

The folks at Una Pizza Napoletana are very serious about pizza. There is even a lengthy brochure for guests to take on their way out explaining the value of true Neapolitan ingredients and techniques. The menu consists of four, $21, twelve-inch, personal pizzas. The Marinara, Margherita, Bianca, and Filetti. No substitutions, no condiments (don't ask for red pepper flakes). Each is made with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh buffalo mozzarella (imported from Napoli weekly), extra-virgin Souther Italian olive oil, fresh basil, and Sicilian sea salt. The dough is naturally leavened, and the pizza is baked in a wood-fired brick oven. "Nothing more pure or honestly wholesome can be bought at any price," the menu boasts (albeit somewhat defensively).

We had the Margherita and the Filetti. They were both absolutely delicious. The crust was fantastic—chewy, bubbly, fresh, and salty. We both preferred the Filetti, which has no sauce, but instead sliced cherry tomatoes, and fresh garlic (in addition to the bufala mozzarella, olive oil, basil, and sea salt that are on each of the four pizzas). It was honestly a mouth-watering combination of warm and complex flavors. Despite all the literature, and while we do recognize that the highest-quality ingredients are expensive, these "vera pizze napoletane" are a little rich for our blood. The bare-boned atmosphere and clothless marble tables didn't quite prepare me for what was probably the most expensive pizza bill of Slices of the City history. But that pizza tasted really freakin good. I'm pretty sure every pizza-lover should splurge for it at least once.

Overall, Una Pizza Napoletana serves pies of a quality with which I am fairly certain no other NYC pizzeria (and probably few in Italy) can compete. As owner Anthony Mangieri closes his brochure, "Taste may be an opinion, but quality is a fact."

The Husband

The Margherita

The Filetti

The Pizzaiolo

New York Times Sunday Style Announcement

2008-02-20T16:21:00.004-05:00

Read about our wedding in the Times!

Graziella's, Clinton Hill

2008-02-09T08:39:00.000-05:00

Address: 232 Vanderbilt Avenue between Dekalb and Willoughby
Purchase: 1 Arugula and Parmesan Pizza, 1 Pizza Italia, 1 Six Point Brown Draft
Cost: $40 including tip (12" pizzas $10-15)
Payment: Cards accepted
Pizza Rating:

With super friendly service, a happy and diverse clientèle, reasonable prices, and wood-burning brick oven pizza, Graziella's made for a nice Friday night out. I tried the arugula and shaved parmesan pizza, which was piled with a generous serving of fresh arugula and tangy parmesan over a regular pizza margherita, (and made me feel guilt-free about not ordering a separate salad). AJ had the Pizza Italia, with mozzarella, chopped cherry tomatoes, and a pesto swirl. My one complaint was that the crust was a little flat and singed around the edges, not as bubbly and light as it could have been. However, their draft list was quite nice for an Italian joint, and I enjoyed watching the pizzaiolo at his oven. Considering it's in Clinton Hill, there's a good chance we'll be back.

The Arugula and Shaved Parmesan Pizza

The Pizza Italia with a pesto swirl

First bite!

They also have adorable rooftop seating October-May.

We headed down Dekalb for take-out cheesecake from Junior's afterwards. Yum!

Mezzogiorno, SoHo

2008-01-20T15:33:00.000-05:00

Address: 195 Spring Street and Sullivan
Purchase: Many personal pizzas
Cost: $14 - $16 per pizza
Pizza Rating:

Bachelorette Party meets gourmet pizza! Spring Street's Mezzogiorno made for a very special pizza party on Saturday night with nine of my closest girlfriends (seven of whom came to the city from out of town just for my party!). Our table for ten was all ready for us when we arrived at 8:30 and promptly filled the front window with our homemade sequined tees. Despite our appearance, including my sparkly pink lei, we received excellent and proper service. After a few delicious appetizers, our pizzas came quickly, and disappeared almost as fast.

We ordered several variations and all were delicious. The pesto and pine-nuts Pizza Selvatica was especially a hit. Chris had a very delicious salad, the Costa Smeralda, with avocado, shrimp and crab. Marisa's and my Margherita pizzas were unfortunately lacking the basil that was listed on the menu, but perhaps that was due to the season. Tina and Launa's Bianca al prosciutto crudo looked pretty tasty, topped with fontina cheese, fresh tomato, arugula and prosciutto crudo (at left). The crust was not quite as bubbly as I like, but still thin, crispy and flavorful. Paired with the house spicy olive oil, it really hit the spot.

While the pizza alone probably only deserved a 4, our excellent window table, attentive service, and, of course, my gorgeous company made the night one of the best in Slices of the City history.

Tina and Launa sample the Selvatica pizzas before tasting their own, the Bianca al prosciutto crudo.

Soraya and Jessica and their pesto pizzas.

The Pizza Margherita

Four more: Joanna's Prosciutto Cotto, Marjorie's Selvatica, Meredith's Funghi, and Marisa's Margherita.

Meredith and Marisa, my bridesmaid and maid of honor, and hostesses extraordinaire.

All the girls before we left for the restaurant.

Il Réfolo, Venezia

2007-09-11T14:26:00.000-04:00

Address: San Giacomo dell'Orio, Santa Croce 1459, Venice
Purchase: 2 pizzas, 1/2 liter carafe of vino rosso, aqua frizzante
Cost: 37.80 euro (about $50)
Payment: Cards accepted
Pizza Rating:

Il Réfolo was probably the most note-worthy pizza we had during AJ's and my recent trip to Germany and Italy. It was certainly the best of Venice, and the crap we had in Germany didn't even compare. (In Catania, we were spoiled by Angelo's home cooking, and didn't get out much.) The crust was thin, but bready, the flavors were rich, and the atmosphere was the least touristy of all the places we went in Venice. Plus they have lots of outdoor seating, tucked away behind a church along a small canal. Che bello!

Il Réfolo, with outdoor seating by a small canal in the Santa Croce section of Venice.

The Porcini Pizza

The Buffalo Bill Pizza (with buffalo mozzarella)

Lil' Frankie's Pizza, East Village

2007-07-27T14:10:00.000-04:00

Address: 19 1st Avenue (at 1st Street)
Purchase: 1 Pizza Margherita, 1 Pizza Salsiccia, 1 Calzone, 1 Ravioli di Zucca
Cost: $62 including tip (10" pizzas are $9-12)
Payment: Cash only
Pizza Rating:

Ginny was visiting the city this week, finally back from Thailand, so we took the opportunity to check out Lil' Frankie's in the East Village. The pizza was... blah. It was fresh, with good ingredients, but kind of starchy and bland. However, they had a great beer selection, a nice and informative bartender, and a pleasant atmosphere (even though we didn't get to sit in the backyard garden). Even though Lil Frankie's seems to do a lot of pizza business, the highlight of our meal ended up being the homemade ravioli of the day, Ravioli di Zucca (squash) with truffle oil, which Ginny ordered for $15.95. It was especially delicious. Maybe Frankie should put as much care into his pizzas as he does into his pasta.

Pizza Margherita

Lincoln's Pizza Salsiccia

AJ's Spinach Calzone

We were on our best behavior.

Ginny and AJ

Lil' Frankie has a hairy butt!

Lucali, Carroll Gardens

2007-07-21T11:06:00.001-04:00

Address: 575 Henry Street, at 1st Place
Purchase: 1 pizza with basil
Price: $19
Payment: Cash Only
Pizza Rating:

UPDATE

When our waitress placed our fresh Lucali's pizza right under our noses, I was sure even before my first bite that it was going to get the five pizzas rating. I was still pretty convinced after I'd finished my first slice. But, unlike Grimaldi's, where the five pizza rating went without saying, AJ and I had to talk Lucali's out. Before we could really settle on that exclusive honor of Slices of the City perfection, we decided that we would try the espresso at the end, as a little tie breaker between Lucali's and some of our very favorites, like Driggs or Sam's. So, when the espresso machine wasn't even working... we had to settle with four and a half. (Which is pretty darn good pizza!)

Let me tell you, Lucali's was one of the freshest-tasting pies I've ever had. The crust was soft, but thin, the sauce was salty and tangy, with a hint of roasted garlic, and the buffalo mozzarella—topped with Grana Padano and basil after it came out of the oven—was heavenly.

The dining area is pleasant and homey, and the kitchen (if you can call an oven and two pizza makers at a table a "kitchen") is open and candle-lit, just like all the tables. Their simple menu adds to the charm. Two choices: pizza (one size only), or calzone. They offer a few toppings (pepperoni, sausage, peppers, garlic, basil, etc.), but all pizzas are $19, tax included. And, it's BYOB, with a $4 wine fee.

Many thanks to Marc for the stellar recommendation. Only when I was double checking the address online did I realize that Lucali, which just opened last fall, had already won 2007 Best Neighborhood Pizzeria in New York Magazine. I guess we're a little out of the loop... unlike the line of people waiting outside when we got there. One last tip—call ahead.

For pizzaiolo Mark Iacono's story about opening this neighborhood gem, you can check out the Times' review.

Hours of Operation: "6pm til we run out"

After dinner we walked down Carroll Street and over the BQE to Red Hook for a few drinks at the best little bar in Brooklyn.

Ricardo's, Bed-Stuy

2007-07-03T09:22:00.000-04:00

Address: 528 Nostrand Avenue (at Fulton)
Purchase: One large regular
Price: $11
Pizza Rating:

Perhaps better known as Pops, Ricardo's Pizza is pretty much awesome. It's cheap, it's fresh, it's right off the A train. Just look at how big our pizza is! It hardly fits in the box. So, the sauce was a little thin, and the cheese wasn't exactly buffalo mozzarella... you overlook it, cause it's Pops, and it's pretty much awesome. You don't have to take my word for it either--Pops got a pretty awesome shout in the 2007 Brooklyn Not for Tourists guide: "Best pizza in the Stuy, period. Pops is no joke with a pie."

The window at Pops--never empty.

That's one large, large pizza!
(The cheese slid around on the walk home.)

Bruno: "I gotta have my Pops!"

Pomodoro, Soho

2007-06-26T09:23:00.000-04:00

Address: 51 Spring Street (at Mulberry)
Purchase: Vodka Pizza (House Specialty)
Price: $13 medium, $15.95 large
Pizza Rating:

We stopped by Pomodoro's with a huge crowd on Thursday night after Lincoln's reading in the final round of the L Magazine Literary Upstart competition (Yay, Lincoln!). We (of course) ordered their house special, the Vodka Pizza. It smelled good, it tasted pretty good (maybe a little bland), but we hated the crust. It was some seriously thick, bready crust. Really distracted from the sauce and cheese. I felt like I was eating a pizza sub, rather than a slice of pizza. However, our waitress was very nice, and they serve pitchers of beer, so we were happy. I would definitely try a slice yourself when you are nearby.

Steamy hot vodka sauce. Yum!

AJ, Soraya, Lincoln's friends from Columbia, and Lincoln, while we're placing our order.

Tony's Pizza Spot, Clinton Hill

2007-06-11T11:32:00.000-04:00

Address: 431 Dekalb Avenue at Classon
Purchase: 3 regular slices
Price: $1.90 each ($12 for a whole pie)
Pizza Rating:

Tony's pizza is of a different caliber than the usual neighborhood pizza-by-the-slice joint. Rather than a scalded, greasy layer of cheese over sweet, tasteless red sauce and a soggy, thin crust (e.g. Mariella's), our slices from the Pizza Spot (fresh from the oven) had a springy, doughy crust, (still thin, but thicker than usual), yummy sauce and some good cheese. When I finished, my hunger was satisfied and I didn't feel like it was at my arteries' expense. I am curious to find out how long Tony's has been around. Though right next to Pratt, his clientele seemed pretty local. Thanks to Brooklyn Stableboy (Bruno's new dog-walker!) for the recommendation!

AJ and Bruno head over to Tony's.

The view inside Tony's. (Note: It may look like he's at the pizza oven, but he's actually watching America's Funniest Home Videos on a small TV).

A classy Saturday night dinner: pizza, paper towels, and a 16 oz. Budweiser.

Mariella Pizzeria

2007-06-09T11:07:00.000-04:00

Address: 965 Lexington Avenue between 70th and 71st
Purchase: 1 regular slice
Price: $2.25
Pizza Rating:

Mariella's caught my eye on a walk to the post office during my lunch break. It seems to be a pretty busy place, close to Hunter College. There were still some people in line even though it was already two o'clock. They have a very large, clean, and tiled seating section, and very friendly pizza-makers. My plain slice was served up quickly, scalding hot, which means it was nice and fresh... which unfortunately also means I can't blame its poor quality on its sitting under heat lamps too long, (which I like to do when I like the place but not the pizza). The cheese was seriously greasy (see photo), the crust was extremely thin, and the sauce was so hot that the cheese was just sliding all over the place. On my way out, however, I saw their takeout menu, boasting their "best GRANDMA in Manhattan." I didn't notice any grandma slices, so it is quite possible that this claim is true, and the grandmas sold out at 11:30. Maybe I'll go back and try it next time I'm over there.

That is one shiny slice of pizza!

NYPD "Pie-racy"

2007-06-07T16:33:00.001-04:00

It's always exciting when pizza is the cover story of a daily paper. It's even more exciting when the headlines are full of "cheesy" puns. Apparently this Florida franchise is not the only case of NYPD "pie-racy." This flickr post conveniently links to all the details.

Mario's Pizzeria, Clinton Hill

2007-06-03T16:56:00.000-04:00

Address: 141 Greene Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Purchase: Two plain slices
Cost: $3.50
Pizza Rating:

I really wanted to give Mario's a higher rating than 2.5--they were friendly, the slices were cheap, and there was a window for ordering outside so I didn't have to pick up Bruno and carry him while I was inside. However, my two slices were totally blah. They were both sort of soggy and not very flavorful. Mario's is not a high volume pizza place, the two slices that I got for dinner looked like they had been sitting there since lunch time. I don't think I would every go back to Mario's for slices but I would certainly order a whole pie from them. Their pizza would be quite good if ordered fresh.

Bar Toto, Park Slope

2007-05-07T00:01:00.000-04:00

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.

Bravo Pizza

2007-04-26T09:01:00.000-04:00

Address: 146 5th Avenue at 19th Street
Purchase: 3 plain slices, 2 bottles of water
Cost: $2.25 a slice (Water $1.80!)
Pizza Rating:

Slices of the City may have been on a rather long stretch of delicious speciality pizzas, but we are still on our mission for that perfect plain slice you can grab in whatever neighborhood you find yourself. So, last weekend, when we were pressed for time on the way to the New York Boston Terrier Meetup—this month at Madison Square Park—we stopped for a slice at the first place we saw on 5th avenue. Probably won't stop there again. For me, it was an altogether Sbarros-esque experience. Greasy, and overheated. Apparently, however, they have several other locations around the city, so maybe a trip to another Bravo would raise its score.

Bravo Pizza (one of six locations.)

Bruno scopes out his new friends at the New York Boston Terrier April Meetup.

Amorina, Prospect Heights

2007-04-22T01:12:00.000-04:00

Address: 624 Vanderbilt Avenue at Prospect Place
Purchase: 1 Norma Pizza, 1 Fava Bean and Artichoke Pizza, 1 Glass of Wine, 1 Brooklyn Pennant Ale
Price: $50 (including tip); Individual pizzas are $9 to $14.
Pizza Rating:

We actually found out aboout adorable little Amorina when it was featured in tables for two in the New Yorker a few weeks ago, and realized that not only did it sound delicious, but it was pretty nearby us, down on Vanderbilt Avenue. We walked there last night for dinner and really enjoyed it. The seating area is fairly small, (it was full the whole time we were there, but there never seemed to be a wait) and the kitchen was even smaller. Despite the take out service and deliveries, the pizzas are gourmet and individual-sized, with lots of traditional Italian ingredients, and more. AJ had the pizza special, with ricotta salata, artichoke hearts and fava beans, and it was absolutely delicious. I had the Norma, with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, eggplant, cherry tomatoes, ricotta salata, basil and fresh mint. The crust was a little doughy, but all in all I was very happy. Plus, the flowered wall paper and old Italian coke and gelati signs were quite charming.

The Norma, with eggplant, tomato sauce, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, ricotta salata, fresh basil and mint.

The pizza special of the day with ricotta salata, artichoke hearts, and fresh fava beans.

The City So Nice She Named it Sheisse

2007-04-11T17:04:00.000-04:00

While our sporadic (at best) updates make me feel a little guilty for this awesome shoutout on my favorite NYC blog, I was still quite excited that Miss Heather, pizza lover or not, noticed that I had added her to our highly-selective blogroll. When I recently discovered newyorkshitty (through our neighborhood's blog when Clinton Hill's shit was featured) I spent about three hours straight reading old posts and laughing through tears while I read them out loud to AJ. I personally suggest checking out her McGolrick Park escapade and the tale of the beer fairy for a good laugh.

In pizza-related news, I got a sweet gummi-pizza in an Easter package from Mom!

Yes! Another trip to Sam's

2007-04-09T08:54:00.000-04:00

When Jessica came to visit from Boston last weekend, we couldn't resist going back to Sam's. Delicious once again. Plus, it satisfied AJ's craving for their cheesecake... for a little while!

Jessica enjoys a first bite.

Awesome sign I didn't get a shot of the first time. Despite the black tape, I don't that smoking is allowed either.

Mellow Mushroom, Charlottesville

2007-03-18T10:06:00.000-04:00

Address: 1321 West Main Street, on the Corner
Purchase: 14" pesto swirl & tomato pizza, pitcher of Rogue Dead Guy Ale, (and a half avocado sub!)
Price: $35 including tip
Payment: Cards accepted
Pizza Rating:

Mellow Mushroom has always been a favorite of ours, despite the cheesy psychedelic theme, and sometimes annoying underage-UVa student clientele. It's a southern-based, college-town, franchise with a tie-dyed mushroom as a mascot... you can pass your own judgements. But the draft beer list is always great (seriously, the best in Cville), and the pizza has a really delicious wheat crust (perfect for dipping in honey), lots of parmesan cheese, and a very addictive pesto swirl topping. The pesto-swirl gives the pizza a lot more oil, but it's worth it. They also happen to have my very favorite sandwich, the avocado sub, which I couldn't resist ordering a half of, despite our blog-review mission. Yum!

We're in town over NYU's spring break, so Margaret graciously puppy-sat Bruno at her lawn room while AJ and I ate.

New York's $1000 Pizza

2007-03-17T09:37:00.000-04:00

This is a slice of city I don't think we'll be trying. With six types of caviar, shaved fresh lobster, and creme fraiche, New York Magazine reports that it tastes a lot like a bagel with lox and cream cheese. Hmm. Find it at Nino's Bellissima Pizza on Second Avenue and 47th Street. If you haven't already seen the video on every news channel, you can watch it here. Nino must have an awesome publicist.

Sam's Restaurant

2007-03-16T10:16:00.000-04:00

Address: 238 Court Street at Baltic, Cobble Hill
Purchase: One large regular, plus drinks, antipasti plate, and dessert
Price: The meal was on Charlie (Thanks, Chas!)
Payment: Cash only
Pizza Rating:

This old-school Italian restaurant and pizzeria had a lot of things going for it when we went with my godfather Chas and his niece Cyndy last month.* First of all, great atmosphere--charming decor, my favorite pizzeria-checkered table cloths, etc. Second of all, a ten-year-old was having a surprise party in the back room, which added a lot to the place's friendly mood. And third, the pizza was delicious! Fresh, hot, flavorful, thin but not too thin crust... Sam's is great. It's been on our list for a while, so I'm glad Cyndy, (who lives in Prospect Heights--and knows what's up with Brooklyn pizza!) recomended it for Charlie's visit from Cary, NC. It ended up being one of my very favorite pizzas yet. Plus the homemade Italian cheesecake was a tasty bonus. I can't wait to go back.

The pizza looked so good we forgot to get a picture before we started chowing down.

Chas and Cyndy

I'll take it!

I got this storefront photo off flickr. Don't know much about the steaks and chops... maybe it's best stick to the pizza. However, Sam's has been on Court Street since the 1930s, so they've probably got it all down.

*Thanks to Chas for the great pictures... better late than never!

Capone's

2007-02-20T22:02:00.000-05:00

Address: 221 N 9th Street (between Driggs and Roebling)
Purchase: 2 Newcastles... with 2 free pizzas!
Cost: One free pizza with each $5 drink
Payment: Cash Only (and their ATM is always broken)
Pizza Rating:

Free pizza! It's true. And it's not half bad! Williamsburg's Capone's actually makes you a fresh, personal, thin crust, cheese pizza for every drink you buy (you can pay extra for toppings). With no school on Monday, and no groceries in the fridge, Capone's was calling my name on Sunday night. It wasn't our first visit, but this time I brought my camera. So, cool bar, free pizza. Word to the first-time visitor: don't be discouraged by the closed door. The bar is open! ...just don't tell anybody! You can also check out their two other locations, Alligator Lounge on Metropolitan at Lorimer, or Crocodile Lounge in the East Village. Pizza is served daily from 6 pm to 3:30 am.

Cheers!

Look! I told you--it's not half bad!

Sweet Kuszyk graffiti across the street.

We got a second round of drinks (and a third pizza to share!) and even had a piece leftover for Bruno. (That picture is for you, Lincoln!)

Lombardi's

2007-02-18T11:26:00.000-05:00

Address: 32 Spring Street (at Mott)
Purchase: Small Breadsticks, Large Original Margharita Pizza, Wine and Beer
Price: $16.95 for the pizza
Payment: Cash Only
Pizza Rating:

We've heard a lot of talk about Lombardi's, so we had pretty high expectations for this pizzeria napoletana in Soho. Licensed by the city in 1905, Lombardi's is "America's First Pizzeria." Marisa was here from DC, so we were excited to try it out. The sauce was delicious (a little sweet for AJ's taste), but the fresh mozzerella and little bits of basil, paired with the bubbly, coal-oven crust won this pie the four pizza rating. The commercialized atmosphere, complete with multiple hostesses with radios and waitlists, kept it from anything higher. We missed the "real" feeling of Grimaldi's chaotic crowd, but in all honesty, it was worth it to be able to wait at the bar instead of out in the cold. I don't know how soon I'll be back, but everyone should give this historical NYC pie a try.

Gennaro's Original® Pizza

Marisa's so pretty!

Marisa takes the first slice! (Excuse the demonic red-eye.)

The busy kitchen.

The pizza makers.

Pausing in the freezing cold for pic out front.

Marisa and I smile with Mona Lisa.

Pizzeria de Santo

2007-02-11T17:37:00.001-05:00

*UPDATE! Pizzeria de Santo has since closed.*

Address: 173 Ludlow Street (between Houston & Stanton)
Purchase: One Margherita Slice
Cost: $3.00
Pizza Rating:

Even though the slice we had last night at this new Lower East Side blessed pizzeria was pretty much as close to cardboard as a piece of pizza can get, we were totally into it. In truth, Pizzeria de Santo's appeal was probably based on the late hour of our visit, relief from the sub-freezing temperature outside, and the fact that they (usually) have Peroni on draught. Nevertheless, We'll definitely be back. Brick oven, clean seating area, open late, holy pies--what more could you ask for?

(Late night pizza = crappy camera phone pics!)

Koronet Pizza, Morningside Heights

2007-01-28T10:52:00.003-05:00

Address: 2848 Broadway between 110th & 111th
Purchase: One jumbo slice
Cost: $2.75
Pizza Rating:

While out on the Upper West Side last night, (a very rare occasion for us Brooklynites), Lincoln took Soraya, AJ, and me to the renowned Koronet's to get a quick pre-party bite for Soraya. Certainly a great resource for hungry (or drunk) Columbia students, the most notable aspect of Koronet's is their 32 inch pie. A huge slice is only $2.75. This pizza is by no means artisanal, (more like a huge greasy mess), but still a delicious pizza-craving fix.

Soraya displays her hot, jumbo slice.

Focaccino Delivery

2007-01-20T19:31:00.000-05:00

Address: 1069 Bedford Avenue at Lexington, Bed-Stuy
Phone: (718) 622-2228
Purchase: $11.99 (18" cheese brick-oven pizza)
Payment: Cash
Pizza Rating:

Nearby Focaccino opened in the fall, but they just left a delivery menu on our doorstep this week, so tonight was the first time we tried it. Despite some relatively poor reviews on other local blogs (see eating for brooklyn and the Clinton Hill Blog*), we were excited to order in, especially because of their almost exclusively vegetarian menu (they seem to have a thing for eggplant). To be brief, we were disappointed. The delivery was pretty quick, but when we got the pizza it was completely cold (granted, it is 24° outside and it came by bicycle). The crust was way too thin (and I like thin!) and had flecks of rosemary in it, which I didn't like. The sauce was a little sweet and a little spicy, in a kind of Prego-brand, mass-produced way. We're holding out for a in-house visit though, because from the street the place itself has some cool decor, and espresso too. Maybe a fresh, hot slice would improve Focaccino's Slices of the City rating?

Bruno smells something tasty!

AJ was disappointed before his first bite as the pizza flopped and dripped when he tried to fold it. Plates necessary.

* The pizza in her pictures seems to have a much thicker crust. Maybe she got the 10" pie?

Franny's

2007-01-14T23:09:00.000-05:00

Address: 295 Flatbush Avenue at Prospect Place
Purchase: Four pizzas (they come personal sized), one carafe of wine
Cost: $100 including tip. (Pizzas are about $14 each.)
Payment: Cards accepted.
Pizza Rating:

Franny's was ranked number 10 in the recent Time Out pizza review, so this weekend, while my sisters were visiting, we made a trip to nearby Prospect Heights to see for ourselves. It ended up being very different from the other places we've reviewed. Upon first impression Franny's had a lot of hip potential, considering its exposed brick, eco-friendly philosophies, and trendy minimalistic menu. But in the end, it was pretty expensive—a little too "Manhattan wine bar" rather than "Brooklyn pizzeria" for our taste—and, to be honest, a little bland. AJ's choice was by far the best: the white Buffalo Mozzarella, Garlic, Olive Oil, and Sea Salt combo. The regular Buffalo and Tomato pizza could have used a little spice. But the crust was thin and bubbly and the wood-burning oven gave it a delicious Italian-true flavor.

My tomato and buffalo mozzarella pie.

AJ's pizza gave me serious entrée envy.

Margaret and Isabelle, guest Slices of the City reviewers.

The happy pizza makers.

Famous Ben's Pizza of Soho

2007-01-11T00:03:00.000-05:00

Address: 177 Spring Street at Thompson
Purchase: Two Plain Slices
Cost: $4.50
Pizza Rating:

For the life of me I cannot figure out what Ben's could possibly be famous for. The slices that we got were nearly as orange as a pumpkin and had a thick sheen of grease. The sauce was mediocre and the crust was forgettable. I know we were in Soho but when I pay $2.25 for a slice, I expect more.

Thumbs up? I don't think so.

Dr. Ho's Humble Pie

2007-01-01T14:41:00.000-05:00

Address: The Crossroads on 29 South, North Garden, VA
Purchase: 1 Fat 'n' Sassy, 1 Medium Classico Pie (Feta, Roasted Garlic, Tomatoes), Starr Hill Beers
Cost:$45, with tip. ($16.95 for a 16" Speciality Pizza)
Payment: Cash or Check Only
Pizza Rating:

This is the second of our "Slices of the City's Christmas in VA" reviews. Dr. Ho's is a fun excuse to get out of town to the country of Albemarle County and enjoy some delicious gourmet pie. The specialty pizzas have lots of creative ingredients, and some of the best, including the famous Fat 'n' Sassy appetizer, feature delicious roasted garlic cloves. Bring your breath mints! The pizza itself is tasty, but a little topping-heavy. My favorite parts of our visit were the boys' friendly, down-home attitude, the young customers' crayon-colored paper plates that cover the walls, and the cheap local beers. It's definitely worth the trip.

AJ and Launa

The Classico and the Fat 'n' Sassy

Launa and Allie!

Crozet Pizza

2006-12-29T16:30:00.000-05:00

Address: 5794 Three Notch'd Road, Downtown Crozet, VA
Purchase: One Medium (14"), 1/2 Cheese, 1/2 Spinach, Tomato, and Cherry Peppers, 1 Pepsi, 1 Bass Ale
Cost: $25.00
Payment: Cash or Check Only
Pizza Rating:

Crozet Pizza has been on our short list of places to review since we started this blog. We finally made the trip over our Christmas visit to Virginia. We were accompanied by Allie's little sister, Isabelle. The secret at Crozet Pizza is to only order the small or the medium pies. They use the same amount of dough for each size pie and if you order the large the crust is much thinner and more likely to be burnt. So we got a medium and chose spinach, tomato, and cherry peppers from their extensive toppings menu (which even includes peanuts!), and kept one half plain. I found the crust to be the best part of the pie; it was thin and crunchy yet still fluffy on the inside. Allie felt that the crust isn't as bubbly as it used to be and therefore not as good. (Another disappointing change is that they will no longer do 1/4 pizza toppings, which was always nice.) I thought that the peppers were too spicy and the crust got soggy rather qucikly. Overall Crozet Pizza scored so highly not due to quality of their pizza but because of the atmosphere and the memories associated with such an historic pizzeria.

Heading off towards Downtown Crozet

THE Crozet Pizza

The Menu Board

T.J.

The Back Room (also the site of Allie's 8th birthday party...)

The Pizza Maker (the next Bob Crum)

Our pizza before it entered the oven... yum!

Crozet Pizza Customers Around the World

Alex and John!

Isabelle serves it up!

Mangiamo!

Time Out for Pizza

2006-12-05T15:23:00.000-05:00

Check out Time Out Magazine's all pizza feature this week.

Grimaldi's, DUMBO

2006-12-04T09:24:00.000-05:00

Address: 19 Old Fulton Street, Under the Brooklyn Bridge
Purchase: One regular with garlic, One regular with riccotta, and half sausage, One bottle Chianti.
Cost:$75 including tip. One large pizza is $16.
Payment: Cash Only
Pizza Rating:

Finally Grimaldi's! After many recommendations, we made the trip to DUMBO for one of the most famous pies in the city, in honor of AJ's birthday. Lincoln and Andreas joined us, which made standing in line outside in the 40˚ for 45 minutes waiting for a table a little more fun. When we finally got a table, it was perfect. The menu is simple, no crazy preconceived combinations of toppings, you just choose your own. And since they come with a delicious crushed tomato sauce, the most exquisite mozzerella, fresh basil and grated parmesan, it doesn't really need anything. The crust is thin and crispy, without being brittle or charred, probably the result of the super-fast cooking time in the coal burning brick oven. We all agreed to give it five stars—not because it's Plato's ideal pizza, or even the best pizza I ever expect to have in New York, but just because it was really freaking good. Don't pass it up—just remember your hat and gloves!

Yep, that's the line.

We made it to the front!

There they are, making pizzas!

Check out that coal-burning oven.

So hungry.

Don't miss the view of Manhattan right down the hill! Bellissima!

Wedding Pizza at Joe's

2006-11-12T11:32:00.000-05:00

wedding pizza
Originally uploaded by jsmooth995.

While AJ procrastinates actually reviewing Joe's (despite eating there four times a week), he did at least stumble across this very appropriate slice-of-the-city shot on flickr.

Pizza can be so romantic!

Fornino, Williamsburg

2006-11-03T09:24:00.000-05:00

Address: 187 Bedford Ave. at N 7th, Williamsburg
Purchase: One bottle of wine ($18), One large Al Roker Pizza, One large Spinach Pizza
Cost: About $75 with tip (about $20 for each 8-slice, large, speciality pie)
Pizza Rating:

I realize this is our second (and overdue) non-traditional "Slices of the City" review, but good pizza is good pizza. Last weekend Meredith was in town from Boston, Lincoln came down from the UWS, and we met up with Helen, (who actually lives in Williamsburg) to finally try out Fornino. As expected from its rave reviews from all the reliable sources (Zagat: 22, 14, 18, $21), it was delicious! Truly "artisnal," and unique!

The spinach pie had fresh spinach leaves with white truffle oil (yum!), ricotta, pecorino, and pinenuts. The Al Roker, with roasted peppers, caramalized onions, garlic, rosemary (we held the prosciutto), had a red base and a really good flavor. The pizza on a whole was just like it would have been in Italy, especially the crispy crust. I'll admit, our server often dissappeared for long periods of time--perhaps because we were seated in the back room with the greenhouse (where they grow their own herbs and other ingredients), but that's not going to stop me from craving another Fornino pizza again soon!

The Spinach Pizza

The Al Roker

Papa John's Delivery

2006-10-07T15:45:00.000-04:00

Address: Our apartment! (Fresh from 1111 Fulton Street)
Purchase: One large cheese pizza
Cost: $15.99 (with tax, delivery, and $3 tip)
Pizza Rating:

So a Papa John's just opened down street from us, and last night seemed as good as any to try it out (in the name of blogging research, of course). While we do consider ourselves idealist, "keep it local" folks, the convenience of online ordering, 20 minute delivery, and deliciously buttery garlic sauce, we have to indulge in the Papa once in awhile. The two and half stars were pretty much awarded entirely upon those three qualities, (the garlic sauce winning 2 whole pizza-stars (YUM!), and the convenience bringing it up a 1/2). The pizza itself was a little cold, the sauce a little sweet, and the cheese a tad bit chunky (rather then the melted warm gooeyness you get from a truly artisnal slice). I was inclined to bump it up to a 3 after enjoying a hits-the-spot slice this morning from the fridge, but AJ refused to stoop so low.

Arturo's Pizza (UES)

2006-09-23T21:24:00.000-04:00

Address: York Avenue at E 85th Street
Purchase: One Plain Slice, One Peppers and Olive Slice, Ice Tea and a Water
Cost: $6.75
Pizza Rating:

Tonight Michelle treated me to pizza and ice cream after a tough afternoon of IKEA assembling. Arturo's was a nearby and well-reviewed place on menupages.com, so we decided to check it out. (I was of course attracted to it for its namesake.) The pizza wasn't too fresh, but then again it was a little late for pizza by the slice. The sauce had a nice flavor and I was pretty happy with the overall taste. Crust was a little flimsy though. I wouldn't mind trying Arturo's again in the future, but on the walk to Baskin Robins I noticed lots of competition.

Pizza Mercato

2006-09-22T17:11:00.000-04:00

Address: 11 Waverly Place
Purchase: Two Slices, 12 oz Soda
Cost: $3.50
Pizza Rating:

Pizza Mercato is just as close to Washington Square Park as Ben's and probably even worse. They serve pizza plus other Italian dishes, spaghetti, lasagna, etc. It reminded me very much of a Sbarro's. The only reason I went there is that I had seen an advertisement for their specials. For $3.50 I got two slices and a soda. What a deal. I haven't seen anywhere in Manhattan with such good prices. But even if they started giving away the slices I don't think I would go back. The crust was thin and tasted like drywall and the sauce was sweet and from a can. The only reason they get such a high rating is due to the extremely cheap combination specials they offer.

Ben's Pizzeria

2006-09-22T16:31:00.000-04:00

Address: 123 West 3rd Street
Purchase: Two Plain
Cost: $4
Pizza Rating:

Ben's is probably the closest pizzeria to Washington Square Park. This is the only reason that I would go back. Convenience, not quality, is Ben's only selling point. The slices are super greasy, chewy, and irregularly sized. The worst part is that half the times I've been there they either don't heat up the slices or only put them in the oven for about 30 seconds. Maybe the slices would be decent if they heated them up all the way, but I don't think that I'll be back to find out.

Don Filippo Pizza, Upper East Side

2006-09-12T16:21:00.000-04:00

Address: Lexington Avenue at 78th Street
Purchase: One plain
Cost: $2.20 (I still don't get why some places don't include tax.)
Pizza Rating:

The closest *quality* slice to my school (that I've found so far, that is). A self-proclaimed "trattoria," this hole-in-the-wall pizza place offers a wide range of other Italian specialities, and even table service, although you wouldn't know it from the line of business men pushing and shoving to get a slice to go during the lunch rush. The place is a little dirty, and you can get a little clostrophobic while ordering, but it's pretty good for being right off Museum Mile, and there's almost always a place to sit once you get past the counter. The cheese slice is tasty, although the crust is a little thin and floppy. Definitely the place to go if you are starving after a visit to the Met. Anything closer to 5th Ave is a rip-off.

Famous Ray's of Greenwich Village

2006-09-08T20:02:00.001-04:00

Address: 465 6th Ave (Corner of 11th St)
Purchase: Two plain, One Water
Cost: $5.60
Payment: Cash Only
Pizza Rating:

A friend of ours, Christi, told us that this was THE original Famous Ray's Pizza. The other original Famous Ray's Pizzas (NOT affiliated) have a lot to live up to, because the pizza here is quality. They were efficient, serving us plain slices straight out of the oven with no reheating wait. There was lots of cheese (maybe too much?) and the crust was tasty and bready, (a little thick?)--both of which made folding this slice in half to eat in the true New Yorker style a little difficult. All in all, the pizza here was tasty and fresh, and it's a convenient walk west of NYU on busy Greenwich 6th Avenue. At $2.25 a slice,* however, we really want it to wow us.

Mmm, cheesy!

* 3/8/08 UPDATE: Slices at Ray's are now an utterly out of control $2.75!

Driggs Pizza

2006-09-04T23:38:00.000-04:00

Address: 558 Driggs Street at N 7th Street, Williamsburg
Purchase: One Plain Slice, One Grandma Slice, One Grandpa Slice, One Iced Tea, One Cream Soda
Cost: $9.75
Payment: Cash, Visa/MC ($10 minimum)
Pizza Rating:

Originally recommended to us by the girl at Built by Wendy, this was actually our third trip to Driggs, and certainly won't be our last. Driggs is an all around great shop, with good atmosphere, service, and most importantly, pizza. We tried three different slices on our visit. The plain slice was excellent. The cheese was fresh and gooey. There was minimal sauce but it was very tasty. In addition to a great plain slice, Driggs offers some delicious specialty slices. Instead of the usual dried out ricotta and ziti slice Driggs has the Grandma and Grandpa slices. Both are Sicilian style square slices with a medium thick crust. The Grandpa has a base of red sauce and cheese topped with fresh, extra garlicky, bruschetta. The Grandma is topped with a mixture of pesto, fresh mozzarella, and finely diced tomatoes. Both of these specialty slices were very good and much better than what you normally find for the price. Combined with the great plain slice and the cozy dining area, this is an overall excellent pizzeria.

New Roma Pizza, Lower East Side

2006-09-03T23:44:00.001-04:00

Address: Essex Street at Delancey (LES)
Purchase: Three Plain Slices, Two Waters
Cost: $8.00
Payment: Cash only
Pizza Rating:

What attracted us to this particular place was, first, hunger, then, the humongous pizza slice towering over its bright red store front at corner of Delancey and Essex. While the customer service was quite friendly, the plain slices we had didn't make this any place to write home about. The crust was not a good texture, the sauce did not taste homemade, and the cheese was a little chewy and had that cheap reheated quality that becomes the deciding factor between a bad and a good slice. However, conveniently located at the Delancey Street Station on the F, J, M, and Z, New Roma served its purpose.

Photograph courtesy Lincoln Michel.