Posted by Adam Kuban, November 30, 2007 at 5:00 PM
Memo to Jeff B.: DUDE. Chill the frak out. We get the point. You think Isabella's Oven sucks. Did we need the drive-by on every post about the place?
That said, you bring up a good point. Here's the deal ...
Early reviews of the place were good. Phenomenal, in fact. Ed Levine, who made the earliest mention of the joint, loved it. I went a few days later and concurred. It was some of the best pizza I've had in months. We even dragged uber pizza freaks Jeff Varasano and his friend Scott R. there. And they, too, thought it was pretty damn good.
Then reports started coming in via the comments here on Slice and in emails. People who went on Saturday afternoons reported soggy pies. The descriptions from these disappointed readers were enough that one of the crew here at Slice HQ went on a Saturday to try it. Sure enough, he said. "You guys must have been smoking crack when you raved about that place."
OK. Those weren't his exact words, but close enough. We surmised that a different pizzaiolo was filling in on weekends.
As I said the last time I mentioned Isabella's on Slice, we found out that the magical Luigi, the man who made the incredible pies there, had gone back to Italy on personal business. In his place was the usual weekend pizza-maker.
While I wouldn't say he made "HORRIBLE" or the "WORST PIZZA" (chill with the caps, dude), I'd say it wasn't up to Luigi's level. It was a serviceable pie, plenty crisp and fairly balanced as to ingredients, just not "great."
It was, as I said, at the level of the chain Patsy's. And anyone who knows pizza here will know what that means -- adequate but not masterful.
I stand by my comment for 21$ for a soggy pizza I would rather eat at pizza hut right accross the street you have a great place called two boots they have great spicy pizza for as little as 2$ s slice and the pizza is always crisp and good patsys makes a great pie this place wont last unless they get a new management and luigi comes back
btw for the 60$ we spent there we could have gone to a nice place. also whats the deal no credit cards but they charge tax and dont like giving change?
Go to Kossars Bialys next door. They've been there about 75 years and are masters with dough. Even their bagels are awesome. Joan Nathan wrote a book about bialys and says their the best. Of course you can then head to the Pickle Guys down the block.
And I think the donut place is a rip-off. The donuts are no good and like $2 each.
Did I mention I used to have 4 aunts and uncles in the same building at the Seward Park co-ops in back?
The food needs to improve fast from what i hear this store is not paying rent to seward park management they owe over 19000$ in back rent and even with fran marino (owners mommy) on the board of directors a eviction is on the way
As I mentioned some months back, I was given a sample slice of Isabella's at a small street fair shortly after they opened. It was, frankly, inedible. Cloying sauce, soggy crust. I can't remember the last time before that that I didn't finish a slice, but that slice hit the trash bin as soon as I rounded the corner.
i went to this place 4 weeks agoit got such high marks from ed and dj bubbles. We had a party of 5 people we got brocley rabbe appitizers and rice balls also some mozz and tomatoes and 4 large pizzas the back yard was ok it is sort of fenced in with wood shingles of sort and there are plastic chairs and tables. now to the food the appitisers were nothing good they were very overpriced for the size and the quality of the food. we waited 40 minutes till the pizzas arrived the pizzas looked good but sorry to say they were not good 2 of the pizzas were room temputure and they seemed pretty wet not good at all the other 2 were very hot and also they seemed soggy and tasted kind of like a bad afghan bread with some cheese and sauce The waitress was never around we had to call her to get some water overall the food was 1 star out of 5 the backyard garden was 2 stars out of 5 service was 1 star out of 5 This place would be ok if the prices were 50% less. the pizza is on par with your neighberhood slice joint not in the same ballpark as UNP or patsy's the only item i kind of liked were the rice balls but again it was standard fare not something you could rave about OVERALL I RATE THIS PLACE 1.5 STARS OUT OF 5 YMMV
Holy crap!! I just ordered a 16" margerita DOC last night and thought it was a bit off - the crust was a bit more limp than usual and the sauce was oddly tangy, moving torwards bitter. I haven't ordered a pie from there in 3 months, because I've been experimenting weekly with home made pizza, slowly accumulating everything I need to make a proper pie (2 stones, peel, experimenting with uncooked sauce recipes, etc.) I was lazy and just ordered a pie and discovered....damn, I can't believe my homemade pie is almost as good as I.O.!
I agree this place is substandard the food is not even in the top 100 pizzarias of the city the kosher pizza store a few stores away is on par with this ripoff joint.. Pizza is limp and bitter, overpriced the salads are not fresh the pasta is overcooked if you want authentic italian food go to patsy's this place will disapoint
they were giving out free samples today in front of the store pizza was ok average fare they say luigi is back in italy scouting local pizza recipes for isabellas he will retern in june or july with new recipes
Isabella's is just another example of a sure thing being screwed up by the L.E.S. Syndrome of schlocky people coming to what they perceive as a schlocky neighborhood, thinking they can get away with things that would never be tolerated in any other Manhattan neighborhood. That's why the turn over is so great down here.. The whole "Luigi is in Italy scouting Pizza recipes" schtik is hysterical. Isabella's started out great but deteriorated due to cluelss, inept and poor management. They should be selling slices instead of turkey and cheese sandwiches $ 3.50 lunch specials[ with a free can of Coke!]. They won't last the winter.
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15 Comments:
too cool Mr Kuban...you need to bring your bootie to Portland so we can hang & eat some pies
Kim Nyland at 6:27PM on 11/30/07
I stand by my comment for 21$ for a soggy pizza I would rather eat at pizza hut right accross the street you have a great place called two boots they have great spicy pizza for as little as 2$ s slice and the pizza is always crisp and good patsys makes a great pie this place wont last unless they get a new management and luigi comes back
jeff b at 7:20PM on 11/30/07
btw for the 60$ we spent there we could have gone to a nice place. also whats the deal no credit cards but they charge tax and dont like giving change?
jeff b at 7:26PM on 11/30/07
Go to Kossars Bialys next door. They've been there about 75 years and are masters with dough. Even their bagels are awesome. Joan Nathan wrote a book about bialys and says their the best. Of course you can then head to the Pickle Guys down the block.
And I think the donut place is a rip-off. The donuts are no good and like $2 each.
Did I mention I used to have 4 aunts and uncles in the same building at the Seward Park co-ops in back?
Charlie Fogg at 10:24PM on 11/30/07
The food needs to improve fast from what i hear this store is not paying rent to seward park management they owe over 19000$ in back rent and even with fran marino (owners mommy) on the board of directors a eviction is on the way
sam 99 at 12:39AM on 12/01/07
As I mentioned some months back, I was given a sample slice of Isabella's at a small street fair shortly after they opened. It was, frankly, inedible. Cloying sauce, soggy crust. I can't remember the last time before that that I didn't finish a slice, but that slice hit the trash bin as soon as I rounded the corner.
Barbara Hanson at 12:34PM on 12/01/07
Tried it again yesterday just as bad as the last poster noted "Cloying sauce, soggy crust" except i paid for my pizza:(
sam 99 at 3:02PM on 12/02/07
i went to this place 4 weeks agoit got such high marks from ed and dj bubbles. We had a party of 5 people we got brocley rabbe appitizers and rice balls also some mozz and tomatoes and 4 large pizzas the back yard was ok it is sort of fenced in with wood shingles of sort and there are plastic chairs and tables. now to the food the appitisers were nothing good they were very overpriced for the size and the quality of the food. we waited 40 minutes till the pizzas arrived the pizzas looked good but sorry to say they were not good 2 of the pizzas were room temputure and they seemed pretty wet not good at all the other 2 were very hot and also they seemed soggy and tasted kind of like a bad afghan bread with some cheese and sauce The waitress was never around we had to call her to get some water overall the food was 1 star out of 5 the backyard garden was 2 stars out of 5 service was 1 star out of 5 This place would be ok if the prices were 50% less. the pizza is on par with your neighberhood slice joint not in the same ballpark as UNP or patsy's the only item i kind of liked were the rice balls but again it was standard fare not something you could rave about OVERALL I RATE THIS PLACE 1.5 STARS OUT OF 5 YMMV
karen s at 1:40PM on 12/03/07
jeff b, I would rather eat my own shoes than Two Boots pizza.
Barbara Hanson at 12:34PM on 12/04/07
Holy crap!! I just ordered a 16" margerita DOC last night and thought it was a bit off - the crust was a bit more limp than usual and the sauce was oddly tangy, moving torwards bitter. I haven't ordered a pie from there in 3 months, because I've been experimenting weekly with home made pizza, slowly accumulating everything I need to make a proper pie (2 stones, peel, experimenting with uncooked sauce recipes, etc.) I was lazy and just ordered a pie and discovered....damn, I can't believe my homemade pie is almost as good as I.O.!
noahwildman at 3:38PM on 12/06/07
I agree this place is substandard the food is not even in the top 100 pizzarias of the city the kosher pizza store a few stores away is on par with this ripoff joint.. Pizza is limp and bitter, overpriced the salads are not fresh the pasta is overcooked if you want authentic italian food go to patsy's this place will disapoint
zac simon at 9:20PM on 12/12/07
they claim luigi will be back the end of june
sam 99 at 6:10PM on 12/23/07
they were giving out free samples today in front of the store pizza was ok average fare they say luigi is back in italy scouting local pizza recipes for isabellas he will retern in june or july with new recipes
sam 99 at 6:15PM on 12/23/07
Isabella's is just another example of a sure thing being screwed up by the L.E.S. Syndrome of schlocky people coming to what they perceive as a schlocky neighborhood, thinking they can get away with things that would never be tolerated in any other Manhattan neighborhood. That's why the turn over is so great down here.. The whole "Luigi is in Italy scouting Pizza recipes" schtik is hysterical. Isabella's started out great but deteriorated due to cluelss, inept and poor management. They should be selling slices instead of turkey and cheese sandwiches $ 3.50 lunch specials[ with a free can of Coke!]. They won't last the winter.
DoctortedNYC at 8:04PM on 12/24/07
hey i am not a shlock they told me luigi was scouring italy for new recipes to amaze lowereastsiders and he will return by july
sam 99 at 9:32PM on 12/26/07