Dear Slice: 'You Missed the Best in Bay Area Pizza'
Posted by Adam Kuban, November 11, 2009 at 2:30 PM
I am a transplanted New Yorker in California, and there is a place in the Bay Area, Napoli Pizza in Vallejo, that makes out-of-this-world pizza. I dare say it's even better than what is found in NYC these days. I am surprised this establishment is not mentioned on your blog while several others in the Bay Area are. This is easily among the best places I have ever eaten, and they do not sell slices at all.
Unlike some NYC establishments like Di Fara, which are nothing more than overrated tourist traps, this establishment is the real deal. The only other good place for pizza is a place that is actually better known for its sandwiches, the suburban branches of Primanti's in Pittsburgh makes some surprisingly fresh and tasty pizza, again by the pie only.
I think NYC's pizza scene has gone completely downhill, most establishments these days try to make gourmet bullshit and forgot how to make a good traditional pie. I recently also went to Europe to Germany and went to a little hole in the wall and was blown away by the pizza I had there and you get real fresh garlic, not the powdered crap they call garlic in NYC.
Listen up fruitcake, you sound like a complete moron. You're probably one of those people that likes the California Pizza Kitchen. I think all that legal weed has gone to your small brain. Quiet down, stay in, and enjoy your delivery!
@ratbuddy: Mangieri's place is Una Pizza Napoletana, not Napoli Pizza! And it's not open yet. Also: given the name and email address of the guy who wrote in, I don't think he's the owner or affiliated. (Cross-referenced it with the owner/staff page on Napoli Pizza's website.) I try to avoid running things that are shills on Slice, and though this has some of the signs of a shill, I took it to be legit. Especially in light of the posts I've been doing recently that have been mentioning the SF places I recetnly visited. Just figured it was someone upset that Slice hadn't covered his favorite place. Plus, I was more interested in his assertion that NYC pizza had gone downhill.
Sounds highly dubious..a Vallejo pizzeria thats bettter than that "tourist trap" DiFara...seriously now..Nevertheless, in the name of culinary investigation, I shall check out said pizza next month...cant wait..
Alright, lemme tell you somethin about NY pizza....it's some of the BEST pizza out there.
BUT,
That doesn't mean its THE BEST.
First of all, its an opinion so everyone's answer for the best pizza will differ...period.
I can't tell you how many people tell me NY pizza is the best but have never been to Chicago, San Francisco, Verona, or anywhere else for that matter. Try pizza all over the world THEN come back and tell me NY pizza is the best!! Give me some reasons why NY pizza is the best! Don't just say that it is.
Having lived there for a number of years this conversation would come up constantly. Often the answer was "its the water used to make the dough" Awesome. There's some substance to the answer, but why? Why is the water better? Because it comes from upstate? What's different about the water there than the water from the Sierra Nevadas? or Colorado Rockies?
I love NY pizza. Especially Emelio's and Lucali. Can't find pizza like that anywhere but NY. Just like Gino's East in Chicago, Zachary's in Berkely, and MellowMushroom in Atlanta.
My point is, New Yorkers are doing themselves harm by saying that NY pizza is the best because thats all they know or that it is just because it is.
I've been to over 200 pizza places this summer and I have to say NYC has some real bad pizza but the best that NY has is the best. Pizza outside of this area just looks and taste dif. Just the way it is. For the one or two great pizzas in other cites they have ten bad. With NY's moving and making pizza lets say in SF that will improve what that city has to offer.
"I can't tell you how many people tell me NY pizza is the best but have never been to Chicago, San Francisco, Verona, or anywhere else for that matter. Try pizza all over the world THEN come back and tell me NY pizza is the best!!"
I haven't been ALL OVER the world and still have a lot of places to hit here in the U.S., but THE BEST pizza I've had yet has been in Phoenix.
I agree with you wordksi but who are you correcting? All I see are responses to a silly hyperbolic email none of which claim that NYC has the best pizza.
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PrintI am a transplanted New Yorker in California, and there is a place in the Bay Area, Napoli Pizza in Vallejo, that makes out-of-this-world pizza. I dare say it's even better than what is found in NYC these days. I am surprised this establishment is not mentioned on your blog while several others in the Bay Area are. This is easily among the best places I have ever eaten, and they do not sell slices at all.
14 Comments:
thank you for leaving nyc. please stay in cali.
bobbob at 4:24PM on 11/11/09
come on!!! DiFara kills it!
good luck on the opening of your new pizza place in CA. hater!
pizzalove at 5:54PM on 11/11/09
Listen up fruitcake, you sound like a complete moron. You're probably one of those people that likes the California Pizza Kitchen. I think all that legal weed has gone to your small brain. Quiet down, stay in, and enjoy your delivery!
moesizlacks at 6:06PM on 11/11/09
Hey Adam, tell the truth: was that Dear Slice written by Anthony Mangina?
ratbuddy at 6:42PM on 11/11/09
@ratbuddy: Mangieri's place is Una Pizza Napoletana, not Napoli Pizza! And it's not open yet. Also: given the name and email address of the guy who wrote in, I don't think he's the owner or affiliated. (Cross-referenced it with the owner/staff page on Napoli Pizza's website.) I try to avoid running things that are shills on Slice, and though this has some of the signs of a shill, I took it to be legit. Especially in light of the posts I've been doing recently that have been mentioning the SF places I recetnly visited. Just figured it was someone upset that Slice hadn't covered his favorite place. Plus, I was more interested in his assertion that NYC pizza had gone downhill.
Adam Kuban at 6:57PM on 11/11/09
Sounds highly dubious..a Vallejo pizzeria thats bettter than that "tourist trap" DiFara...seriously now..Nevertheless, in the name of culinary investigation, I shall check out said pizza next month...cant wait..
L.A. Pizza Maven at 7:32PM on 11/11/09
I can believe Primanti's was mentioned in the same comment as DiFara. BTW- they do sell slices.
Pittzaburgher at 10:07PM on 11/11/09
Revise- I can't believe.
Pittzaburgher at 10:08PM on 11/11/09
Heh, I was mostly just joking. I'm sure Anthony has no problem badmouthing New York pizza under his own name :beer:
ratbuddy at 11:53PM on 11/11/09
Alright, lemme tell you somethin about NY pizza....it's some of the BEST pizza out there.
BUT,
That doesn't mean its THE BEST.
First of all, its an opinion so everyone's answer for the best pizza will differ...period.
I can't tell you how many people tell me NY pizza is the best but have never been to Chicago, San Francisco, Verona, or anywhere else for that matter. Try pizza all over the world THEN come back and tell me NY pizza is the best!! Give me some reasons why NY pizza is the best! Don't just say that it is.
Having lived there for a number of years this conversation would come up constantly. Often the answer was "its the water used to make the dough" Awesome. There's some substance to the answer, but why? Why is the water better? Because it comes from upstate? What's different about the water there than the water from the Sierra Nevadas? or Colorado Rockies?
I love NY pizza. Especially Emelio's and Lucali. Can't find pizza like that anywhere but NY. Just like Gino's East in Chicago, Zachary's in Berkely, and MellowMushroom in Atlanta.
My point is, New Yorkers are doing themselves harm by saying that NY pizza is the best because thats all they know or that it is just because it is.
wordski at 12:29PM on 11/12/09
wordski :
Often the answer was "its the water used to make the dough"
I found it hillarious recently to hear the same BS argumentative theories between pizza makers in Naples.
seriouspizza at 12:47PM on 11/12/09
I've been to over 200 pizza places this summer and I have to say NYC has some real bad pizza but the best that NY has is the best. Pizza outside of this area just looks and taste dif. Just the way it is. For the one or two great pizzas in other cites they have ten bad. With NY's moving and making pizza lets say in SF that will improve what that city has to offer.
pizzalove at 1:35PM on 11/12/09
"I can't tell you how many people tell me NY pizza is the best but have never been to Chicago, San Francisco, Verona, or anywhere else for that matter. Try pizza all over the world THEN come back and tell me NY pizza is the best!!"
I haven't been ALL OVER the world and still have a lot of places to hit here in the U.S., but THE BEST pizza I've had yet has been in Phoenix.
Adam Kuban at 1:51PM on 11/12/09
I agree with you wordksi but who are you correcting? All I see are responses to a silly hyperbolic email none of which claim that NYC has the best pizza.
bobbob at 2:08PM on 11/12/09