I'm a Manhattanite originally from Staten Island. I'm glad to see some Islanders are opening pizzerias in Manhattan. Because Staten Island makes the best pizza in the city. The guys from Basille's aren't the best offering from Staten Island either. SI pizza makers could make a killing in Manhattan judging by the reception of Artichoke.
I'm debating whether I should go. $32 is a high price for a pizza dinner for one person. The pizzas look tempting.
I had eaten at the Grimaldi's in Henderson, NV this past December. It was above average. But after reading the menu that listed all of the Grimaldi's locations in the US, it made me realize Grimaldi's is more of a chain or franchise restaurant.
The pizza looks like garbage. I wouldn't eat it.
The real story is Avenue B turning into a pizza mecca. Gruppo, Russo's, Gnoccho Cafe all serve great pizza. I had eaten at Russo's recently and I love it. The pies are great and the calamari is excellent. I haven't had a chance to try Gruppo yet. But, I have friend's that swear by it.
I believe we need to come up with a consensus when it is no longer pizza and it's baked dough with all sorts of crap on top.
So, last night must have been Amateur Night at Artichoke; a total clown show. I walked in and the place was packed with drunken college kids making a ruckus. Unfortunately they remained there for a good 15 minutes b/c apparently it takes a half-hour for these guys to actually pump out a pie. During my ridiculously long wait (note - I'm not opposed to long waits for good pizza s/a Di Fara, but...) the place started filling up with smoke. It was no doubt due to the fact that they were liberally throwing flour into the oven to ensure the pizzas didn’t stick to the stone. These guys don't know how to maintain an oven at all. Eventually everyone had to leave the shop b/c nobody could breathe (including two of the workers). Once I finally got my Sicilian slice I was quite disappointed. Like other commentators have noted, it was definitely burnt on the bottom. Although, I must say, the Sicilian slice is much better than the original whose massive amounts of cheese overpower the pizza. It’s all about balance. These guys don't have any of it.
Adam, if you really are into breaking news about great pizzerias, pleeeeze let me know how to best reveal such a great location..youve asked me if i would be interested in doing occasional reports from the west coast the answer is yes..what is involved and again how should i inform our fellow dough sauce and cheese lovers of this info???????????????
Can't wait to see you there, Bubbles -- and you, too, "Hot Kate."
I remember having a pizza party one year for my birthday - my 11th, if I remember correctly. It was pretty f'ing awesome. Perhaps it is best if I attend!
Let's just hope none of my archenemies show up - I'd hate to have to give Michael Y. Park a lesson in the martial arts following the mozzarella making demo!
@KMC212: I don't necessarily want to bill the event as all-you-can eat/drink, but when we had this party in 2006, that's essentially what it was. The pizzas came out of the oven fast and furious, and I think it's safe to say that *nobody* left hungry. The beer and wine flowed pretty freely, too. I don't think anyone who attended 2006's event felt like they got ripped off on the deal. You might also consider that in 2006, Fornino made 16 of the 30 pizzas on its menu (including the Tartufo, the truffle pizza) — a variety of flavors you'd be unlikely to taste in one evening. If you're serious about pizza, it's really a fair price (and that's before taking into account the rising cost of flour and cheese).
@KMC212:
Three words: TAR-TU-FO. Ok, that's really just one word.
It's a "chain" in the sense that it has more than one location (though I have to point out that the NYC-area locations are separate from the western locations). And I can't speak for the western locations, but you really can't place this small chain in the same "chain" league as the Hut or Domino's. These places are still churning out better pizza than the majors.
I am in Colorado, and the green chile is common - Old Chicago (chain) uses it as meat substitute on veggie pizzas...the ranch thing just can't be any good for anybody!!! There is a well known skiier's pizza place with awesome whole wheat crust...there is honey on the table so you can eat it as dessert.
Subscribe to our RSS Feeds:
All of Serious Eats, Required Eating, Videos, Eating Out, Recipes, Talk
Subscribe by email:
Website:
Location:
About:
Favorite foods:
Last bite on earth: