PrintOpenings and First Reports: Artichoke
"Manhattan has its Di Fara." —Eric Miller, tipster
Editor's note: A number of readers have flooded my inbox with reports on Artichoke, a new place on 14th Street in the East Village. —The Mgmt.
First with the word was Eric Miller, who today snapped the pix you see here:
As a pizza enthusiast, I get excited by the mere whispers of a new pizza joint opening up in my neighborhood. In the East Village, we have Vinny Vincenz and Una Pizza, but now it's time for a new slice. For a few weeks now, the buzz has been about Artichoke on 14th Street between First and Second. I tried it last night, and may I say—Manhattan has its Di Fara.
It's a small location without any seating and free—yes, free—bread (cooked on premises) and cauliflower fritters to snack on while you wait (I hate cauliflower with a passion, but these were amazing). And then the pizza comes out bubbling. The sauce is sweet, and the cheese layered on in perfect proportions with an ample amount of char at the bottom for a crisp crunch with every bite. This place is the real deal and with the "traveling beer" in 32-ounce styrofoam cups only two weeks away, it will sure be the talk of pizza town.
Also reporting is homeslice Steven B. His raves and more pix, after the jump.
Hi, Adam. My name is Steven B., and I'm a regular reader of Slice. I wanted to write to let you know that during a solo "slice crawl" earlier today, I discovered an excellent newcomer that bears visiting called Artichoke. This unique pizzeria opened only seven days ago and is located on 14th Street between First and Second. Anyway, the place serves up its own signature creation—an artichoke and spinach pizza that makes a powerful impression before, during, and after the first bite.
I'm not a food writer, but I am a foodie, and this place absolutely differentiates itself in a very good way. Run by two affable guys—lifelong friends and cousins—Francis Garcia and Sal Basille—both in their early 30s and hailing from a serious Italian food family (Francis's mom has been running Basille's restaurant on Staten Island for more than 20 years), these guys have food in their blood and create a nice, cool, welcoming atmosphere. They also serve up traditional Neapolitan and Sicilian pizzas, and, of course, stuffed artichokes!
I just discovered this place today, and will definitely be returning. Check it out.
Eric, Steven:
Thanks for the emails and pix, guys. I saw this place a couple weeks ago and am now kicking myself for not going in for a slice. I think you all can understand, though, when I tell you I was on my way to Momofuku Ssam for bo ssam dinner and needed to save stomach space. ;)
And, in case you didn't catch the location, here you go:
ARTICHOKE
Address: 328 East 14th Street, New York NY 10003
Address: 212-228-2004
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20 Comments:
That....looks...awesome.
Prairie at 2:33PM on 03/28/08
I received the same email from Steven B and as usual Slice is on top of their game with pics and a big claim. After reading Steven B's words, hearing Mr. Miller's unbelieveable comparison, and now seeing these awesome pictures NYC Food Guy will be adding Artichoke to Part 2 of the East Village Food Tour.
NYC Food Guy at 2:41PM on 03/28/08
Wow. I can't wait to try that place..wish it was in bkln. I suppose I can't really complain since we have our share of great pizza.
"Manhattan has its Di Fara" is a loaded statement in more ways than one.
Artichokes & spinach -- that sounds tasty enough to make me break my usual no toppings on good pizza rule. I also saw on Chowhound that they have a broccoli rabe sandwich. Hell yeah!
sloppy at 3:25PM on 03/28/08
I agree with with Mr. Miller and Steve B - Artichoke is amazing! Although not quite Di Fara (understandably so), I would agree that Artichoke is Manhattan's best pizza place I've had the pleasure of tasting, so therefore I suppose you could consider it "Manhattan's version of Di Fara".
Great pics!
hungry at 4:20PM on 03/28/08
Definitely going to check Artichoke out this weekend. This part of the EV is turning into a real pizza lover's destination! Una Pizza, Luzzo's, Vinny's...
Alaina Browne at 5:42PM on 03/28/08
We went to Artichoke this past Wednesday and I have to say it was GREAT!!! The spinach artichoke pizza was unbelievable as well as the other pizza (sicilian & regular). The two cousins that own it are really cool. They told us that Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones was there the other night. They had all these italian specialty items like cauliflower fritters and stuffed artichokes and every day they make something different. The place is decorated so authentic italian. Can't wait to go back. Good Luck Guys!!!!
Ralphyacovelli at 8:58AM on 03/29/08
I am just a tad curious about the concept of "traveling beer". Since NYC can throw one in jail if they have an open container with alcohol. Yes, people can take it home and all but...??
morty at 4:37PM on 03/29/08
Went last night at around 7PM. Found it to be wildly overrated. Definitely NOT DiFara level. I had a plain sicilian slice, and while the ingredients were high quality and the balance of cheese/sauce/crust was ok, it was far from a great slice of pizza. WAY too much oil/grease and a really uneven crust, some parts rock hard and burnt (not charred), some soggy and falling apart. I'd give it a 7/10 at best at this point.
Also, regarding service and first impressions of the kitchen, these boys need to get organized! They're not able to efficiently handle the ten or so people who were in the restaurant while i was there. Too many cooks in the kitchen, everybody bumping into one another, no clear division of responsibility. They were making fresh artichoke/spinach pies when nobody in the restaurant was ordering from the one that was already there, and people were scrambling for plain sicilians. Granted, that's their signature, but why make more if nobody is ordering them?
calmdahn at 5:28PM on 03/29/08
>>>WAY too much oil/grease and a really uneven crust
Have you been to Di Fara?
NYCviaRachel at 8:08PM on 03/29/08
Wow Calmdahn...have you ever run a restaurant? It's most hectic, especially during the first few days of being open..And how do you know someone didn't call up and order the artichoke/spinach pies for pick up? Anyhow, like most restaurants/pizzeria/new businesses ...it takes a little time to iron out the kinks, and before you know it, it will run like a well- oiled machine. Isnt this a forum on food? Next you will be commenting on the looks of the employees...
And Di Fara is just as oily, charry, and uneven...thats what makes it oh so good!!
I really enjoyed my sicilian slice, the cheese was top shelf, and the basil tasted freshly picked, and the crispy, oil rich crust was tantalizing...And the spinach artichoke sample was unique too...very rich and tasty...
I give you a 9!!
ACoby at 9:16PM on 03/29/08
This place is not even close to Difara's are you kidding me? This cheese is no where near the best. All of the comments left on here were by someone that is friends with the owners . Come on wake up. But i will say this the pizza is not bad. But not even close to top of the pizza list. But not bad
ronman at 1:02AM on 03/30/08
I've never been to Di Fara's so I don't know what you all are talking about, but this pizza was excellent. Even the blogs on here slamming the place are writing that it is good. Please what's the problem (uneven crust, disorganization, burnt this or that OH BUT it's still good). Shut up and enjoy your slice! Isn't that what this website is about? I'm just delighted a great slice place opened up the street from my house.
Jack402 at 9:13AM on 03/30/08
You don't even live in manhattan who are you kidding you live in Staten island
ronman at 11:15AM on 03/30/08
So what's the story? Do we love this slice or no? Where's Bubbles when you need him? I can't believe I just asked for the DJ. NYC Food Guy is going to have to hit this place himself and lend the definitive word. Stay tuned pizza lovers.
NYC Food Guy at 12:24PM on 03/30/08
Stopped in for a creamy, delicious spinach and artichoke slice this afternoon. Really good. The sauce is so thick -- could almost be used to dress pasta! I loved my artichoke slice and will definitely be back. I didn't try any of the other pizzas since my favorite Sicilian in the neighborhood is already Vinny Vincenz.
The place is kind of messy, random wooden boards, with big hunks of cheese and rolls of bread sitting out, basil peeking out of a wooden crate, a tomato can propping up a window. Definitely gives it a Di Fara feel. They apologized for not having any cold soda when we asked for a Coke. The two guys there were very nice and seem to have picked up fans in the neighborhood already. Good luck to them!
It's like Di Fara in that their specialty is unique from other pizzas in Manhattan, and the owners obviously put a lot of care into their product, at least the signature artichoke and spinach pie. But I think I like Dom's stuff better, although it is comparing two very different styles.
kathryn at 6:33PM on 03/30/08
Ok Ronman....keep hating on people. Meet you there anytime within 5 minutes Buddy. I got money on you owning a competitor restaurant. If you concentrated on your biz rather than hating on others you might be successful enough to not have so much time to blog on a friggin slice website!
Jack402 at 6:57PM on 03/30/08
I tried Artichoke this weekend, and really like the sicilian and the artichoke/spinach slices. Both are very good, but better than DiFara's - I wouldn't say that.
Skip the baked artichoke though, I found it to be lacking in taste and a waste of $8 or whatever it costs.
smokedgouda at 9:20AM on 03/31/08
NYCviaRachel - yes, I have been to DiFara, and yes, Dom uses way too much oil on his pies too. That's the one thing that prevents DiFara from being my favorite pizza in New York. It's a specialty pie, not an everyday eater. Yet, somehow the oil at DiFara *works*, but at Artichoke it fails, imho.
ACoby - I've worked in restaurants, and I know how hectic it can be, but a little bit of organization goes a long way. Not for nothing, but encouraging them to get organized is the point. "how do you know someone didn't call up and order the artichoke/spinach pies for pick up?" - it was pretty obvious, the pies were going directly onto the counter behind glass, while delivery pies/pickup pies were going into boxes.
calmdahn at 5:26PM on 03/31/08
When I stopped in yesterday afternoon, the fellow ahead of me was telling the pizza makers, "My sous chef says the cauliflower fritters are amazing." This fellow recently opened his third restaurant, and he wanted to extend good wishes to a new business in his neighborhood. The guys at Artichoke -- Francis, Sal, and Carl -- hadn't heard the name "Momofuku," but they were glad that this fellow, David, stopped in to introduce himself, and to pick up a few pies. No joke.
http://www.eatingintranslation.com/2008/04/artichoke.html
EatingInTranslation at 11:34AM on 04/01/08
We were truly disappointed by the regular slice and the spinach/artichoke, both bad for different reasons though the crust is a universal negative - dry, thick, tasteless and cardboardy. The toppings are equally bad. Slices are huge. No place to sit. Not sure how anyone raved about this place.
tsiblis at 4:43PM on 04/03/08