Kazuo Matsui's Seibu Lions card, with an actual piece of a game-used baseball (top left). Shea Stadium, or, as Seltzerboy likes to call it, "Shea International Airport" (top right). Mets players swarm Cliff Floyd, whose ninth-inning single drove in the game's winning run (middle). The food directory that led us to the pizza stand (above left). FOS (Friend of Slice) H.S. digs into (but doesn't dig) a lackluster slice (above right) at Shea.
日本語訳 [NIHONGO] | When it comes to sports, this reporter couldn't care less who's on first or who f_ _ _ed around and got a triple double. But give me a free Mets ticket and just watch how fast my tune changes. "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," indeed.
Not only did last night's complimentary tickets to the Mets-Cardinals game give E-Rock and me the opportunity to see Japanese shortstop sensation Kazuo Matsui in action (as you might know, Slice is an unabashed fan of all things Japanese), it also gave us the chance to sample some Shea slices for our readers.
This will be a short review; the pizza at Shea leaves much to be desired and little to write about. On offer by Cascarino's, which apparently has non-Shea locations, the individually boxed and outrageously priced slices are available plain ($4.50) or topped with pepperoni ($4.75).
Your intrepid editor and publisher tried a plain slice. The crust: Tasted like the cardboard it no doubt sat in too long. The sauce: Its overt sweetness soon mercifully masked the taste of the crust. The cheese: A rubbery blanket that was tasteless at best and which, at worst, glued the slice to the bottom of the box.
Our crew of four only got through each of our slices because we hadn't yet eaten dinner. Next time you're at Shea, we recommend you buy yourself some peanuts and Cracker Jack instead.
Now that we've gotten pizza out of the way, let us just say that Mr. Matsui once again displayed the kickassness with which he started the season. Down by one run in the bottom of the ninth and with two outs, Mr. Matsui shattered his bat while putting a single over the head of Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. That hit drove in the tying run and seemed to rally the team and the fans. Cliff Floyd stepped up, Matsui-san stole second, and Mr. Floyd made a similar hit, driving in the winning run.
I know, Tien, I know. I was envious of all the hot-dog eaters that night, but I'd be a monkey's uncle if I was gonna pay $4.50 for a frankfurter on top of the crazy pizza prices. This is how I suffer for my readers.
Cascarino's pizza is soooo bad. Unbelievably bad. As season ticket holders, we got a special letter before the season began which let us know about all the great new food options at Shea. Last year Cascarino's served personal pies, but this year, the letter read, they were going to serve SLICES!!!
Shea food in general is just so terrible. There are but a few great options available, foremost the Mama's of Coronas stands on the field and loge level. But who wants to spend $9 on an Italian sub at the game? (I have had their Mama's special and it *was* really great).
At this past Sunday's game, I nearly walked the entire loge section trying to find a non-prewrapped Hebrew National dog. Finally found them - they were foot longs and a good "bargain" at 5.75, compared to 4.50 for a regular kosher dog and 4.00 for a Ballpark frank.
My hope for the Mets in the next five years is for them to not just win another championship, but to rip up that contract with Aramark! The Wilpons should be really embarassed. Actually, both New York teams show be embarassed - the food in the Bronx is nothing to get excited about either. No one's asking for exotic, but Shea can barely make an edible burger or order or fries.
It's incredible that we're in this food metropolis and the most ethnic fare Shea can serve us is a greasy Italian sausage. There's a Japanese stand, but only on the field level. The sushi stand at Jacob's Field is easer to access!
I went to the Mets' AAA stadium in Norfolk a couple years ago and was very much impressed by their selection of local beer and vegetarian options (including boca burgers and not dogs, if i remember). It's just a shame because local eats unique to the region is what I look to try at the game, whether it's the garlic fries at Pac Bell, the homemade potato chips with Old Bay dusted on them at Camden Yards, or a Vienna Beef dog at Wrigley.
In all fairness, Cascarino's locations (one in whitestone and an original in college point) serve very good pizza. mind you, nothing like di fara's, or the other giants, but it is thin, tasty, and perfect (in my experience) for a hangover. they supposedly sold the recipie to shea's foodservice, but i doubt it comes anywhere close to what they are serving in the stores.
Point taken, Jill. The best pizza recipe in the world would undoubtably be mangled by the Shea food service. It's not unlike the situation with Patsy's, with the original East Harlem location outshining all the others they sold the name to.
I have bben apart of the cascarino family for quite some time. I have been to Shea and have tasted the pizza. As Jill had stated before, the family has sold their recipe to Shea, and was not aware of the treatment that the staff would be using towards their family secret. It was not made aware of the constant pre-heating and re-heating way to serve the pizza. I have been apart of both locations and actually do prefer the whitestone location to the College Point one. They also have one upstate in Montgomery, and are expanding to bell Blvd. in Bayside. I know they are misjudged through the Shea Stadium Pizza stands, and are really one of the best restaurants in Queens.
Robert Cascarino and his staff work very hard to make great Italian fare. You guys at Shea should consider yourself lucky to have local pizza. At the Diamondback games we are suffering the likes of Pizza Hut for 6.50.
And you should see some of the crap that passes for pizza in Arizona.
Cascarino's pizza in general stinks. You don't have to go to Shea Stadium to figure that one out. Instead of dropping 6 bucks on a crappy frozen slice of pizza people should stop at Amore Pizzeria of Linden Place. It is like a local landmark when it comes to pizza. Me and my boys drop by 2o minutes before the game and put down three slices each for six bucks and can even walk to the stadium since it is so close by. The pizza is awesome, no place in New York can compare especially Cascarino's. Any real pizza lover knows Amore is the place to be for great pizza, guaranteed.
lucia pizza in flushing near the 7 train main street, and xtra cheese pizza on northern blvd in flushing and barone's pizza in flushing on main street are the best places to go for a slice in flushing.
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Your intrepid editor and publisher tried a plain slice. The crust: Tasted like the cardboard it no doubt sat in too long. The sauce: Its overt sweetness soon mercifully masked the taste of the crust. The cheese: A rubbery blanket that was tasteless at best and which, at worst, glued the slice to the bottom of the box. 
Now that we've gotten pizza out of the way, let us just say that Mr. Matsui once again displayed the kickassness with which he started the season. Down by one run in the bottom of the ninth and with two outs, Mr. Matsui shattered his bat while putting a single over the head of Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. That hit drove in the tying run and seemed to rally the team and the fans. Cliff Floyd stepped up, Matsui-san stole second, and Mr. Floyd made a similar hit, driving in the winning run. 
11 Comments:
The Great Kazu!
e-rock at 7:20AM on 05/19/04
ack, pizza at the ballpark! bad, bad idea. only someone with a pizza blog would do such a thing.
Slice tien at 11:27AM on 05/19/04
I know, Tien, I know. I was envious of all the hot-dog eaters that night, but I'd be a monkey's uncle if I was gonna pay $4.50 for a frankfurter on top of the crazy pizza prices. This is how I suffer for my readers.
Adam Kuban at 12:44PM on 05/19/04
Cascarino's pizza is soooo bad. Unbelievably bad. As season ticket holders, we got a special letter before the season began which let us know about all the great new food options at Shea. Last year Cascarino's served personal pies, but this year, the letter read, they were going to serve SLICES!!!
Shea food in general is just so terrible. There are but a few great options available, foremost the Mama's of Coronas stands on the field and loge level. But who wants to spend $9 on an Italian sub at the game? (I have had their Mama's special and it *was* really great).
At this past Sunday's game, I nearly walked the entire loge section trying to find a non-prewrapped Hebrew National dog. Finally found them - they were foot longs and a good "bargain" at 5.75, compared to 4.50 for a regular kosher dog and 4.00 for a Ballpark frank.
Slice sujan at 2:15PM on 05/26/04
My hope for the Mets in the next five years is for them to not just win another championship, but to rip up that contract with Aramark! The Wilpons should be really embarassed. Actually, both New York teams show be embarassed - the food in the Bronx is nothing to get excited about either. No one's asking for exotic, but Shea can barely make an edible burger or order or fries.
It's incredible that we're in this food metropolis and the most ethnic fare Shea can serve us is a greasy Italian sausage. There's a Japanese stand, but only on the field level. The sushi stand at Jacob's Field is easer to access!
I went to the Mets' AAA stadium in Norfolk a couple years ago and was very much impressed by their selection of local beer and vegetarian options (including boca burgers and not dogs, if i remember). It's just a shame because local eats unique to the region is what I look to try at the game, whether it's the garlic fries at Pac Bell, the homemade potato chips with Old Bay dusted on them at Camden Yards, or a Vienna Beef dog at Wrigley.
Slice sujan at 1:27PM on 05/28/04
In all fairness, Cascarino's locations (one in whitestone and an original in college point) serve very good pizza. mind you, nothing like di fara's, or the other giants, but it is thin, tasty, and perfect (in my experience) for a hangover. they supposedly sold the recipie to shea's foodservice, but i doubt it comes anywhere close to what they are serving in the stores.
Slice Jill Sheehy at 10:47AM on 07/04/04
Point taken, Jill. The best pizza recipe in the world would undoubtably be mangled by the Shea food service. It's not unlike the situation with Patsy's, with the original East Harlem location outshining all the others they sold the name to.
Adam Kuban at 10:53AM on 07/04/04
I have bben apart of the cascarino family for quite some time. I have been to Shea and have tasted the pizza. As Jill had stated before, the family has sold their recipe to Shea, and was not aware of the treatment that the staff would be using towards their family secret. It was not made aware of the constant pre-heating and re-heating way to serve the pizza. I have been apart of both locations and actually do prefer the whitestone location to the College Point one. They also have one upstate in Montgomery, and are expanding to bell Blvd. in Bayside. I know they are misjudged through the Shea Stadium Pizza stands, and are really one of the best restaurants in Queens.
Slice K. Cascarino at 3:05PM on 07/26/04
Robert Cascarino and his staff work very hard to make great Italian fare. You guys at Shea should consider yourself lucky to have local pizza. At the Diamondback games we are suffering the likes of Pizza Hut for 6.50.
And you should see some of the crap that passes for pizza in Arizona.
Slice Anthony Redendo (Arizona) at 8:09AM on 08/20/04
Cascarino's pizza in general stinks. You don't have to go to Shea Stadium to figure that one out. Instead of dropping 6 bucks on a crappy frozen slice of pizza people should stop at Amore Pizzeria of Linden Place. It is like a local landmark when it comes to pizza. Me and my boys drop by 2o minutes before the game and put down three slices each for six bucks and can even walk to the stadium since it is so close by. The pizza is awesome, no place in New York can compare especially Cascarino's. Any real pizza lover knows Amore is the place to be for great pizza, guaranteed.
Slice jeff at 1:54PM on 07/20/05
lucia pizza in flushing near the 7 train main street, and xtra cheese pizza on northern blvd in flushing and barone's pizza in flushing on main street are the best places to go for a slice in flushing.
Slice realpizza at 11:04AM on 01/28/06