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Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
Take out of town guests to places you've already visited, preferably more than once. Orient yourself to a few choice dishes. On UPN specifically, I was there last week and the pizza was brilliant as always: Crust delicious, sauce vibrant, all elements unified harmoniously. They don't use any toppings. Try Vinny Vincenz for New York slices.
Off the Beaten Path: Serious Ceviche at El Anzuelo Fino
The new Whole Foods in Tribeca has an excellent Japanese station (Genji) that offers a delicious five-ceviche tasting lunch.
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Veselka Has a Burger You'll Continue to Crave the Next Day
I've tried to enjoy the Veselka burger but cannot, and have to agree with BL above. I want the burger you had! Go for the veal goulash. I love the Old Town Bar burger, but (and I rarely order burgers this way) get it medium for deep flavor.
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
Take out of town guests to places you've already visited, preferably more than once. Orient yourself to a few choice dishes. On UPN specifically, I was there last week and the pizza was brilliant as always: Crust delicious, sauce vibrant, all elements unified harmoniously. They don't use any toppings. Try Vinny Vincenz for New York slices.
Off the Beaten Path: Serious Ceviche at El Anzuelo Fino
The new Whole Foods in Tribeca has an excellent Japanese station (Genji) that offers a delicious five-ceviche tasting lunch.
Veselka Has a Burger You'll Continue to Crave the Next Day
Was excited to try this as it is on Top 10 lists. It is a far cry from belonging on any 'best of' list. Plenty of gristle and I'm still burping it up six hours later. Plenty of other good eats there -- do yourself a favor and pass on the burger.
Off the Beaten Path: Serious Ceviche at El Anzuelo Fino
I've visited both places and they both offer the same great Peruvian ceviche! The one in JH has a newly renovated interior and offers a great sangria. I've heard that they will be renovating the one in Woodhaven soon, I hope so because it needs it as long as the food stays the same I'm there! They have the best rotisserie chicken as well, very tender and full of flavor.
Veselka Has a Burger You'll Continue to Crave the Next Day
I take back my comment above. I had the Veselka burger again the other day. Ordered rare it came out just like Nick's, and it was superb.
Veselka Has a Burger You'll Continue to Crave the Next Day
Although I would prefer mine cooked a little more, that must be one hell of a tasty burger. When one can enjoy a burger with nothing more than the meat, cheese, and bun, it says a lot . (To those that got upset with me in the other reviews, did I do better that time fellas? :-( )
Not meaning to go off topic, but I must comment...
"I prefer griddle-cooked burgers, the one here makes a compelling case for charbroiling."
I am a huge fan of charcoal grilling, and love to make my own BBQ. I used to say a burger off a charcoal grill can't be beat. No way. no how.
A few weeks ago I decided to use my cast iron skillet to make burgers with a recipe mentioned on another site. I was going for that thin patty double with cheese. What I ended up making, was burger similar to one I saw on Diners, Dives, and Drive Inns. The one with cheese forming a round crust after covering and steaming everrything.
I swear that burger blew every burger I ever had away. All tht was needed was the burger, cheese, and bun. Anything else ruined it. I am not sure if you can call a cast iron skillet cooked burger "griddle-cooked", but by God, I am a changed man. I'll still make burgers on the grill, but I'm not sure I can top what I did that day. I even made it that way again to make sure, and the results were the same.
Veselka Has a Burger You'll Continue to Crave the Next Day
I've only had the burger once, and when I did it was overcooked and the bun was far to charred. I agree with HA, this one indeed looks like a hit.
Veselka Has a Burger You'll Continue to Crave the Next Day
That burger is usually hit-or-miss with me. That one looks like a hit.
Veselka Has a Burger You'll Continue to Crave the Next Day
Yeah, for real, i'd like to hear about these burger fanatics who don't love Veselka. It's great.
Veselka Has a Burger You'll Continue to Crave the Next Day
I had this burger once. It was awesome!
For the non-lovers, what was wrong with your burger?
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
UPN has always been spot on when I go, the only problem is it is too far across town for me to go as often as I'd like. Luckily, looks like I am maybe a month away from having Co. pizzas down the block from me. Hope it rocks too.
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
And if you wanted toppings, you should have gone to Luzzo's! They have some nice, out of the ordinary ones.
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
Due to the nature of the oven at UPN, you'll occasionally get some blisters of overcharring. It happens. Eh.
But the crust shouldn't be soggy. Not like some other places where they oversauce and the crust is too thin. If so, then something is wrong.
As for the toppings issue, I guess you should have looked at the menu online, huh?
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
hey moesizlacks, plenty of us do get it. We've been to all the great places. A lot of us think UPN isn't up there with them. Quit comparing people not liking UPN to the people that prefer McDonalds. It reeks of food snobbishness.
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
hey! everyone is entitled to their opinion, but i really think that most people don't "get" it. and i would never apologize for a superior pizza. it's ok if you grew up enjoying pizza hut. some people go to mcdonalds for hamburgers.
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
go check out citysearch reviews on this place. This is nothing new.
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
I'd love to see A.M. cook a Mama Celeste frozen pizza in his oven. Maybe Ed should bring one to the event.
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
@ayyappan I agree about it losing something. And I've never found those East Side pies to be as good as the Coney Island original anyway. I can't imagine AM letting a Totonno's pie be cooked in his oven. And that wouldn't be authentic anyway. We'll see.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
I was there about a month ago and it was as delicious as ever. I've never been disappointed at Una.
Paulie Gee - I was wondering about that Totonno's pie myself. I mean maybe it could work if it was one of the Manhattan branches and you rushed them down to Una by cab, but even then you lose something.
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
@Ed Levine Don't worry, I'm not gonna ask for my $85 back. I'm still tryin' to figure out though how you are gonna serve Totonno's pizza at UPN. You gotta eat that stuff right out of the oven. I'm also interested to see if the tatooed uber pizzaiolo will tell me that the pizza oven I built on my property ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/pauliegee/sets/72157603296443911/ ) is my version of a midlife crisis Harley.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
Going to a place you've never been before with a group is always a mistake. As for my girlfriend and me, we went to Una Pizza a few weeks ago and it was divine. Perfect blend of everything. Definitely didn't miss the toppings! Though I will say that Franny's in Brooklyn (thanks, Adam, for the recommendation!) gives Mr. Mangieri a run for his money.
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
I too am shocked by these reports, cybercita. I am hosting an event there next Saturday, and I am counting on UPN to deliver the goods, pizza-wise. I have eaten there 20 times at least in the past, and it has always been great.
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
I went to Una Pizza a couple of weeks ago and the crust was insanely thick. Delicious, as always, but just way too thick. Out of character.
Dear Slice: Una Pizza Napoletana Ain't All That
I also recently visited UPN for the first time due to all the talk on Slice about it. I wish I would have read about it more, the cost for 3 pies and 4 drinks was over $100! It was good but not worth the money...my friends that I brought to this place were mighty pissed they could not have sausage on their pie too. My fault for not reading into this place a little more.
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I've tried to enjoy the Veselka burger but cannot, and have to agree with BL above. I want the burger you had! Go for the veal goulash. I love the Old Town Bar burger, but (and I rarely order burgers this way) get it medium for deep flavor.