Dear Slice: I Have a Slight Complaint About SliceNY.com
Posted by Adam Kuban, November 20, 2006 at 9:12 PM
It's not always chocolate and kisses from the readers of Slice, but that which doesn't kill us ... Here's from the Slice mailbag.
Dear Slice,
I was looking at the page you dedicated to Bay Ridge pizza. You spent so much time on Lento's (which, believe me, I miss terribly) that you left out the regular Bay Ridge Brooklyn pizza that everyone loves so so so much!
Lento's is (or was) a specialty. It was special thin-crust pizza that you could only get by the pie and could only get there. There is a pizzeria on every other corner, and some are good and some are bad, but placing all of your faith of the best pizza in Bay Ridge Brooklyn leads me to believe that you didn't actually try any Bay Ridge Brooklyn pizzerias.
As the official online pizza aficionado of the whole country, I have to ask you to come back and try a few of the real regular pizza places that sell by the slice all along Fifth and Third avenues. In particular, Elegante Pizzeria on Fifth Avenue between Ovington and Bay Ridge avenues. The absolute best pizza on the face of the earth. I was in Italy and tried pizza in like 10 different places all over the country, and I just couldn't wait to get back to Elegante. They have been there for 42 years and make pizza Neopolitan and Sicilian, rolls, and heroes, and they have never offered a special. No coupons, no giveaways—they have never needed them because they are the best.
Before you make a blanket statement about pizza in a community, stay away from the specialties and try the downhome places that really make the standard!
Thanks,
Joe M.
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn!
Thanks, Joe. It's about time we did a Bay Ridge roundup. Any other places we should try besides Elegante? I'm partial to Pizza Wagon and Rocco's myself. —The Management
Elegante Pizzeria
Address: 6922 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn NY 11290; Bay Ridge [map] Phone: 718-745-9715
I agree on Pizza Wagon. Here's it and a couple more of my favorites (I'll try to mimic your format): GRANDMA S ORIGINAL PIZZERIAAddress: 6918 Third Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11209; Bay Ridge [map] Phone: 718-833-4646 CASA CALAMARIAddress: 8602 Third Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11209; Bay Ridge [map] Phone: 718-921-1900 PIZZA WAGONAddress: 8610 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11209; Bay Ridge [map] Map: 718-836-5725
Do not make a trip to Bay Ridge without making a stop at Peppino's (7708 3rd Ave., Brooklyn, NY). It is seriously good pizza from a wood-burning brick oven. It may be my favorite pizza in NYC and hey, I live 10 minutes from both Denino's and Joe & Pat's...
Oh, another thing Adam, before u go around eating pizza, make sure you check out the pizzeria inspection's! Papa's on 5th was closed down for a really bad inspection and yet they were able to re open and still sell there pizza.
Hey, and while you're at it, do a Midwood and Sheepshead Bay tour too!! Di Fara is not the only pizzeria around, you know! (And certainly not the best) My recommendations: Vesuvius - Kings Highway and East 18th Street Trio - Avenue U and E. 19th Street Del Mar - Sheepshead Bay Road.
Pizza Wagon is good, but it's not the same as it used to be... I think they changed their cheese? Something about it has been "off" for a couple years now, unless my tastebuds have changed. In that area, Roccos is awesome.
When in Bay Ridge, you should not overlook: 1. The fresh mozzarella pie from "Original 3" on 4th Ave and 69th St (Bay Ridge Avenue) 2. Both the "grandma" and the "Sophia Loren" pies from Nino's (91st and 3rd Ave). (though a Bay Ridge native, my fave Bklyn pizza is still Grimaldi's [we older Brooklynites still call it Patsy's though] and of course Totonno's in Coney Island)
I live in Bay Ridge and Elegante is By NO MEANS the best pizza. Joe M. must be the owner or owner's friend! Seriously. The only good thing about Elegante is it's open late.. the slice has way too much cheese and is your typical run of the mill crust. Try Pete's on 3rd, Original on 4th and Grandma's Grandma slice on 4th.
I live 50 miles away from Bay Ridge, but have eaten there frequently. I know that the type of pizza plays a big part in people's choice of their favorites, or that ambiguous term "the best". On that note, some people prefer part-skim milk cheese to whole milk cheese. I prefer the whole milk cheese. The advantage of part-skim is that it's neater to eat. You're less likely to drip butter fat on your clothing if there's less butter fat in the pizza you're eating. Also, many people are avoiding butter fat for health-minded reasons. But, in general, I prefer the greasier, original product - especially for pizza. First, and foremost, I'm a dairy lover - I prefer butter to margarine, and I love the taste of butter fat, whether in cream or cheese. Regarding slice pizza, whole milk slices reheat better than part-skim slices - they don't dry out as much. And to begin with, when not reheated and threatening your clothing, they are especially moister - that's the way I like it.
Regarding, Elegante Pizzeria, a poster above criticized the cheese they use. Either the poster doesn't like whole milk mozzarella or the poster is ignorant regarding the cost of cheese - or both. Elegante uses only Grande brand whole milk mozzarella. They pay a premium for the product over the cheaper part-skim product. So while one might not like the taste or presence of butter fat, logic dictates that the cheese Elegante uses not be called "cheap". Of course, "fresh mozzarella" costs even more, but its use isn't common in the making non-specialty slice pizza. Elegante's round pie is excellent and its Sicilian thick crust pie is extraordinary - tasty and moist. At least that the view of this dairy lover.
Thanks for commenting! Your comment has been accepted and will appear in a moment.
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it pleasant. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
Print
10 Comments:
I agree on Pizza Wagon. Here's it and a couple more of my favorites (I'll try to mimic your format): GRANDMA S ORIGINAL PIZZERIA Address: 6918 Third Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11209; Bay Ridge [map] Phone: 718-833-4646 CASA CALAMARI Address: 8602 Third Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11209; Bay Ridge [map] Phone: 718-921-1900 PIZZA WAGON Address: 8610 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11209; Bay Ridge [map] Map: 718-836-5725
Slice Luke at 1:42PM on 11/21/06
Do not make a trip to Bay Ridge without making a stop at Peppino's (7708 3rd Ave., Brooklyn, NY). It is seriously good pizza from a wood-burning brick oven. It may be my favorite pizza in NYC and hey, I live 10 minutes from both Denino's and Joe & Pat's...
Slice Sal C at 2:23PM on 11/21/06
ADAM , I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU!! ROCCO'S PIZZERIA, 7818 5TH AVENUE!!! ITS NOT BRICK OVEN, ITS ORIGINAL CHEESY PIZZA... GET READY TO MANGIA!!!
Slice ENZA at 8:04PM on 11/21/06
Oh, another thing Adam, before u go around eating pizza, make sure you check out the pizzeria inspection's! Papa's on 5th was closed down for a really bad inspection and yet they were able to re open and still sell there pizza.
Slice ENZA at 8:13PM on 11/21/06
Hey, and while you're at it, do a Midwood and Sheepshead Bay tour too!! Di Fara is not the only pizzeria around, you know! (And certainly not the best) My recommendations: Vesuvius - Kings Highway and East 18th Street Trio - Avenue U and E. 19th Street Del Mar - Sheepshead Bay Road.
Slice ilana at 4:45PM on 11/29/06
Based on the Bay Ridge posters advice. I checked out Elegante (I live fairly nearby). Decent sauce and crust, but nasty cheap tasting cheese.
Slice frances at 4:57PM on 12/03/06
Pizza Wagon is good, but it's not the same as it used to be... I think they changed their cheese? Something about it has been "off" for a couple years now, unless my tastebuds have changed. In that area, Roccos is awesome.
Slice pasc at 5:14PM on 12/05/06
When in Bay Ridge, you should not overlook: 1. The fresh mozzarella pie from "Original 3" on 4th Ave and 69th St (Bay Ridge Avenue) 2. Both the "grandma" and the "Sophia Loren" pies from Nino's (91st and 3rd Ave). (though a Bay Ridge native, my fave Bklyn pizza is still Grimaldi's [we older Brooklynites still call it Patsy's though] and of course Totonno's in Coney Island)
Slice sheila at 11:47PM on 02/01/07
I live in Bay Ridge and Elegante is By NO MEANS the best pizza. Joe M. must be the owner or owner's friend! Seriously. The only good thing about Elegante is it's open late.. the slice has way too much cheese and is your typical run of the mill crust. Try Pete's on 3rd, Original on 4th and Grandma's Grandma slice on 4th.
Slice paul at 10:01PM on 03/01/07
I live 50 miles away from Bay Ridge, but have eaten there frequently. I know that the type of pizza plays a big part in people's choice of their favorites, or that ambiguous term "the best". On that note, some people prefer part-skim milk cheese to whole milk cheese. I prefer the whole milk cheese. The advantage of part-skim is that it's neater to eat. You're less likely to drip butter fat on your clothing if there's less butter fat in the pizza you're eating. Also, many people are avoiding butter fat for health-minded reasons. But, in general, I prefer the greasier, original product - especially for pizza. First, and foremost, I'm a dairy lover - I prefer butter to margarine, and I love the taste of butter fat, whether in cream or cheese. Regarding slice pizza, whole milk slices reheat better than part-skim slices - they don't dry out as much. And to begin with, when not reheated and threatening your clothing, they are especially moister - that's the way I like it.
Regarding, Elegante Pizzeria, a poster above criticized the cheese they use. Either the poster doesn't like whole milk mozzarella or the poster is ignorant regarding the cost of cheese - or both. Elegante uses only Grande brand whole milk mozzarella. They pay a premium for the product over the cheaper part-skim product. So while one might not like the taste or presence of butter fat, logic dictates that the cheese Elegante uses not be called "cheap". Of course, "fresh mozzarella" costs even more, but its use isn't common in the making non-specialty slice pizza. Elegante's round pie is excellent and its Sicilian thick crust pie is extraordinary - tasty and moist. At least that the view of this dairy lover.
BuddyP at 2:29PM on 09/29/07