NEW YORK PIZZA BY DARSHAN JESRANI

Darshan Jesrani, one half of Metro Area, shares with us his favourite pizza joints in New York City.

Di Fara, 1424 Avenue J, Brooklyn +1 718 258 1367
Di Fara is the platonic ideal of Italian-American pizza. The owner and proprietor is in his 70s and makes every pie himself, by hand. He uses great ingredients, but the result is magic, and truly better than the sum of its parts.

Frank Pepe, 1955 Central Avenue, Yonkers +1 914 961 8284
Frank Pepe is another great Italian-American pizza parlor located about 45 minutes from the city. It’s cool to see the huge, open kitchen and big wood-fired ovens where the pizzaiolos stow their pies deep inside to bake, and then retrieve them with with long-handled, charred, wooden pizza peels.

Paulie Gee’s, 60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn +1 347 987 3747
Paulie Gee is a new “old style” start up.  He specializes in Neapolitan-style pizza (meaning emphasis on thin, bubbly crust, elemental ingredients). A great, solid pie even if a bit “clean” tasting and missing some funk.

Nick’s Pizza, 108-26 Ascan Ave, Queens +1 718 263 1126
A great, way-above-average pie, but their calzones are really special.

Roberta’s, 261 Moore St, Brooklyn +1 718 417 1118
Wood-fired pizza in Bushwick, Brooklyn – nice, solid, smokey-tasting pizza in a fun, rustic spot. Just a good place.

Fornino, 187 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn +1 718 384 6004
I don’t know if a pizza connoisseur would consider this place special, but my experiences here have been very good. Fresh ingredients and a nice pie.

Motorino, 319 Graham Ave, Brooklyn +1 718 599 8899
Very good Neapolitan-style pies in Williamsburg.

Artichoke, 328 East 14th Street, Manhattan +1 212 228 2004
Huge, classic Italian-American slices and pies – order either the margarita or artichoke.

Grimaldi’s, 19 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn +1 718 858 4300
Pizza snobs might think this place is over but I still think the pies are very good, up there with most of these places.

Adrienne’s Pizza Bar, 54 Stone St, Manhattan +1 212 248 3838
Very good rectangular pies – more of a “Lazio” or “al taglio” (rectangular slices cut by scissors or knife) style than Neapolitan or Italian-American. Located in the financial district/South Street Seaport area, it’s by far the best place in lower Manhattan.

By Darshan Jesrani
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