There's been some talk about the East Harlem Patsy's lately in the Simply the Best section over to the right. Some people (me) have raved about it, while others (Greg, C. Mike) have reported that it has gone downhill. Looking to kill two birds on Sunday, Patsy's became both the subject of a (quick) Slice review and the site of my thirtieth birthday dinner.
We don't know if it had something to do with the fact that the venerable institution is looking for a "pizzaman" (hello, EEOC!), but the first two pies to arrive at table were cause for concern among the assembled members of the Slice staff.
The plain pie (above right, foreground), which we ordered with regular mozzarella (some people believe the fresh mozzarella sogs down the light superthin crust), was only a few notches above what you'd get at a regular slice joint. Seltzerboy, E-Rock, and I exchanged worried looks as we got halfway through underdone, barely charred slices laden with too much sauce and too much cheese. The mushroom pie (above right, background) was saved only by the presence of the incredibly fresh high-quality fungi topping it.
After going through just two pies among five people (the crust is so thin that it's hard to fill up quickly), we were still hungry but waited for a sixth companion to show up before ordering more. The second round of pies consisted of a fresh-mozzarella-and-basil pizza and one with regular mozz topped with peppers and onions (sorry about the onions, LW!).
Oddly enough, something happened between the first round and the second round, with José (who was working the oven that night) making the save. The fresh mozz pie had a perfectly crisp yet airy and flexible crust—and just the right amount of telltale charring—with none of the sogginess that often comes about from the fresh cheese's moisture. Now, this was the stuff that makes Patsy's such a transcendent pizza experience. And pepper-and-onion pie was none too bad, either.
We can't explain what would make for the difference, though we have a theory. At the beginning of the evening (6:30 p.m. or so), there was only one other table of diners. But as we ate our first two pizzas, the place started to hop. By the time we ordered our second two pies, most of the other tables had been served. We think that the oven might have been allowed to cool down during the day but was then fired up during the dinner rush. Who can say?
Because Patsy's has long been one of our favorites and has rarely let us down, we'd like to think the first two pies were a fluke and that the best thing to do is order around 7:30 or 8 p.m. But maybe there's some truth to the rumors going around. What can anyone else tell us about Patsy's?
Thanks, Tien. After wiping out face-first into the ice—breaking my cellie—during Birthday on Ice IV, the pizza was a very welcome pick-me-up. (Despite the first two lackluster pies.)
Janelle: No worries on missing the event. I'll just take a write-up of Polish pizza as a belated present! With pix. No rush. I wanna know how the pies of my ancestral peeps stack up.
I don't think the pizza quality has to do with the timing. I've had plenty of perfect pies at all hours, and I've spent plenty of times there in the middle of the afternoon with no one else in the room. Really, the quality of the pizza mostly has to do with the skill of the cook. Everything else should be negligible.
Patsy's is going through a transitional period, so maybe it's no surprise that things aren't always consistent. In 2002, when I was going regularly, the place was very simple: no atmopshere, no paintings on the walls, no music, no menus, no non-pizza food, no alcohol license. Since then they've been making a serious effort to spruce up the place and turn it into more of a "real restaurant". As I'm sure you now know, it feels like much more of a restaurant today: all those things lacking from before are now there. There are also new waitstaff (who don't seem as experienced, and don't have the same character as Victor, who's awesome and has been there for I think 10 years). They even have separate restrooms for women and men now. :) With the alcohol license and all the other options it's harder to have a cheap meal there. And it's also a lot more crowded than it used to be.
So Patsy's is in transition. I miss the old, more easy-going days, but I hope to see the place do well and I hope it remains cool and the food quality stays up.
Just back from my first ever first to Di Fara's. Delicious, and mentioned because Patsy's is still no. 1 in my book-Di Fara's right there, just different, and Patsy's always delivers, so to speak..now i have to try those two Staten Island pizzarias..
Just back from my first ever first to Di Fara's. Delicious, and mentioned because Patsy's is still no. 1 in my book-Di Fara's right there, just different, and Patsy's always delivers, so to speak..now i have to try those two Staten Island pizzarias..
only been to the patsys on 29th st(?) i believe it is, just a bit past FIT. something i have found is to order the medium pies, and it helps to steer clear of the sogginess.
Normally I am not one to post comments because I am too lazy to do that. But in this case I am compelled, no, forced to do so because Patsys's was the absolute worst pizza I ever had in my life. There, I said it, it was awful: the pizza was completely burned--I felt I was eating charcoal--and the crust was completely soggy. It literally looked and tasted like someone had soaked it in water. To add insult to injury, it cost just as much to eat there as it would at a nicer and better-tasting pizzeria. After going there on sliceNY's recommendation, I cannot help but be utterly disappointed not only in the pizzeria but also in this website. All I can think now is that your credibility on the subject of pizza and of food in general is totally shot. Please go and try the pizza at Patsys again and see for youself. I do not consider what I had as a fluke because daring to serve something so horrible is indicative of the restaurant quality. I am no expert but try the pizza Sophia at Rosario's in the LES to see what's good. Now that's yummy! I dare say it is better than Lombardi's.
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After going through just two pies among five people (the crust is so thin that it's hard to fill up quickly), we were still hungry but waited for a sixth companion to show up before ordering more. The second round of pies consisted of a fresh-mozzarella-and-basil pizza and one with regular mozz topped with peppers and onions (sorry about the onions, LW!). 
11 Comments:
happy belated bday adam. sounds like a great way to celebrate. i've been to patsy's once and i loved it.
Slice tien at 6:12PM on 03/31/04
sorry i missed yr birthday - i was STILL on the shuttle back from JFK at 6:30... it took forevs. i.o.u.!!!
Slice janelle at 8:35AM on 04/01/04
Thanks, Tien. After wiping out face-first into the ice—breaking my cellie—during Birthday on Ice IV, the pizza was a very welcome pick-me-up. (Despite the first two lackluster pies.)
Janelle: No worries on missing the event. I'll just take a write-up of Polish pizza as a belated present! With pix. No rush. I wanna know how the pies of my ancestral peeps stack up.
Adam Kuban at 8:44AM on 04/01/04
I don't think the pizza quality has to do with the timing. I've had plenty of perfect pies at all hours, and I've spent plenty of times there in the middle of the afternoon with no one else in the room. Really, the quality of the pizza mostly has to do with the skill of the cook. Everything else should be negligible.
Patsy's is going through a transitional period, so maybe it's no surprise that things aren't always consistent. In 2002, when I was going regularly, the place was very simple: no atmopshere, no paintings on the walls, no music, no menus, no non-pizza food, no alcohol license. Since then they've been making a serious effort to spruce up the place and turn it into more of a "real restaurant". As I'm sure you now know, it feels like much more of a restaurant today: all those things lacking from before are now there. There are also new waitstaff (who don't seem as experienced, and don't have the same character as Victor, who's awesome and has been there for I think 10 years). They even have separate restrooms for women and men now. :) With the alcohol license and all the other options it's harder to have a cheap meal there. And it's also a lot more crowded than it used to be.
So Patsy's is in transition. I miss the old, more easy-going days, but I hope to see the place do well and I hope it remains cool and the food quality stays up.
Slice Greg at 4:30PM on 04/01/04
Oh, happy birthday. :)
Slice Greg at 4:34PM on 04/01/04
Just back from my first ever first to Di Fara's. Delicious, and mentioned because Patsy's is still no. 1 in my book-Di Fara's right there, just different, and Patsy's always delivers, so to speak..now i have to try those two Staten Island pizzarias..
Slice Pizza researcher at 8:33PM on 06/28/04
Just back from my first ever first to Di Fara's. Delicious, and mentioned because Patsy's is still no. 1 in my book-Di Fara's right there, just different, and Patsy's always delivers, so to speak..now i have to try those two Staten Island pizzarias..
Slice Pizza researcher at 8:33PM on 06/28/04
only been to the patsys on 29th st(?) i believe it is, just a bit past FIT. something i have found is to order the medium pies, and it helps to steer clear of the sogginess.
Slice xDFuNK at 10:02AM on 03/21/06
BEST PIZZA IN NEW YORK CITY !!!!!
Slice Anonymous at 10:13PM on 05/18/06
Normally I am not one to post comments because I am too lazy to do that. But in this case I am compelled, no, forced to do so because Patsys's was the absolute worst pizza I ever had in my life. There, I said it, it was awful: the pizza was completely burned--I felt I was eating charcoal--and the crust was completely soggy. It literally looked and tasted like someone had soaked it in water. To add insult to injury, it cost just as much to eat there as it would at a nicer and better-tasting pizzeria. After going there on sliceNY's recommendation, I cannot help but be utterly disappointed not only in the pizzeria but also in this website. All I can think now is that your credibility on the subject of pizza and of food in general is totally shot. Please go and try the pizza at Patsys again and see for youself. I do not consider what I had as a fluke because daring to serve something so horrible is indicative of the restaurant quality. I am no expert but try the pizza Sophia at Rosario's in the LES to see what's good. Now that's yummy! I dare say it is better than Lombardi's.
Slice epikorean at 1:06AM on 08/03/06
BEST NY STYLE PIZZA ..no doubt about !!!!
Coccodimamma at 9:36AM on 06/05/09