Did NJ Monthly get it right?

bklyngirl said:
I prefer NY-style pizza, which is why I think Maplewood Pizzeria is the best.  La Estrada in Millburn being second.  When in the mood for "fancy pizza" as I call it (or when i'm not that hungry!) I like Arturo's or Femnia (sp?) in Millburn.  

 I'm also a big fan of Maplewood Pizzeria for the same reason.

soda said:
Is El Greco still open?
-s.

 I forgot about El Greco. Something about me not spending as much time on that corner as I used to. Yes they are still open.

mrincredible said:

soda said:
Is El Greco still open?
-s.

 I forgot about El Greco. Something about me not spending as much time on that corner as I used to. Yes they are still open.

 I never liked them, or their pizza, but I felt it important to be thorough for purposes of this thread...

-s.

foxychica said:

bklyngirl said:
I prefer NY-style pizza, which is why I think Maplewood Pizzeria is the best.  La Estrada in Millburn being second.  When in the mood for "fancy pizza" as I call it (or when i'm not that hungry!) I like Arturo's or Femnia (sp?) in Millburn.  

 I'm also a big fan of Maplewood Pizzeria for the same reason.

Agreed on both. Maplewood Pizzeria was always our favorite for regular pizza and Arturo's for fancy pizza. I think that Millburn place is also in Westfield- Fiamma? If so, it's also very good "fancy pizza".

What is N.Y. style pizza?

conandrob240 said:

foxychica said:

bklyngirl said:
I prefer NY-style pizza, which is why I think Maplewood Pizzeria is the best.  La Estrada in Millburn being second.  When in the mood for "fancy pizza" as I call it (or when i'm not that hungry!) I like Arturo's or Femnia (sp?) in Millburn.  

 I'm also a big fan of Maplewood Pizzeria for the same reason.

Agreed on both. Maplewood Pizzeria was always our favorite for regular pizza and Arturo's for fancy pizza. I think that Millburn place is also in Westfield- Fiamma? If so, it's also very good "fancy pizza".

 Personally I find the Trat has Maplewood Pizzeria beaten for regular pizza. The main advantage of MP is that they deliver, but where I live I can also get delivery from Fiamma, so if I can't drive I'm ordering from there every time. I love Arturo's, but I haven't eaten there in about a year.

galileo:  NY-style pizza meaning thicker crust, larger slices and lots of shredded mozzarella.  The kind that drips oil when you fold over to eat.  

bklyngirl said:
galileo:  NY-style pizza meaning thicker crust, larger slices and lots of shredded mozzarella.  The kind that drips oil when you fold over to eat.  

 Roman Gourmet might hit that spot. I find their pizza a little more robust than Trattoria.

Many times I just base my decision on which way I'm driving home from work, and the fact I can usually park closer to South Orange Trat than Roman Gourmet in Maplewood. Cutting out 2-3 minutes of walking time looms large on a Friday evening when I just want to go home and dig into a slice and Shiner Bock in front of a family-friendly movie.

Hm. New thread idea: which beer is the best pairing with pizza?

and it should’t flop over on the end if you hold the slice out straight if the dough is good. That to me defines NY pizza.

I don’t know about “thicker” crust. NY pizza is a fairly thin crust. Not Bunny’s but not thick either.

All I know is you can walk into virtually any pizza place in NYC and get a great slice. In NJ, it seems around 50% of them suck

I've had some lousy pizza in NYC. 

Christ, I've had terrible pizza in NYC, not even counting chains.

Like conan, I don't think i've ever had a bad slice of pizza in NYC.  Definitely don't recall having had a bad slice in Bklyn.  Although, I am particular about where I'll go:  no chains, and no pizzerias near tourist areas like Rockefeller Center.  

Mrincredible:  I never could pair my pizza with beer.  Love my cheesy, greasy pizza by itself!  lol

not even a Brooklyn Lager?

Not even!  Not sure why, because everyone I know loves beer with their pizza.

I can’t think of any food that makes me thirstier than pizza.

it's definitely one thing I do miss about living in New York. There's a significant lack of places in New Jersey where you can get a pie and a pitcher of cold beer and as many glasses as you need for all of your friends. I know you can bring a six pack of your favorite brand in with you to any place, but it's just not quite the same as having one of those big plastic pitchers with a nice foamy head on top of it.

DaveSchmidt said:
I can’t think of any food that makes me thirstier than pizza.

 These pretzels are making me thirsty.

Not even.

bklyngirl said:
Like conan, I don't think i've ever had a bad slice of pizza in NYC.  Definitely don't recall having had a bad slice in Bklyn.  Although, I am particular about where I'll go:  no chains, and no pizzerias near tourist areas like Rockefeller Center.  

 Agreed no chains and avoid some of those $1/slice places. I’ve had some I’ve liked better but never a “bad” slice in NYC

A good slice of pizza no longer exists in midtown nyc or if it does the place is well hidden.  Lots  of good spots in brooklyn and in Greenwich village.   

The slices at Trat in S. Orange are lousy.  Sometimes I think they have been sitting there for days. I  only order whole pies there when enough of  us  want pizza.  

mrincredible said:
not even a Brooklyn Lager?

 Wrong terroir    (sp?)...

-s.

mrincredible said:
it's definitely one thing I do miss about living in New York. There's a significant lack of places in New Jersey where you can get a pie and a pitcher of cold beer and as many glasses as you need for all of your friends. I know you can bring a six pack of your favorite brand in with you to any place, but it's just not quite the same as having one of those big plastic pitchers with a nice foamy head on top of it.

Bud in a plastic pitcher with a plain 10oz glass is the only way to go on SI, where in most good joints you have to be at least 75 to earn/deserve a seat at the bar.  And the best is only served in a “tavern”, with the possible exception of Joe & Pat’s. 

bklyngirl said:
Like conan, I don't think i've ever had a bad slice of pizza in NYC.  Definitely don't recall having had a bad slice in Bklyn.  Although, I am particular about where I'll go:  no chains, and no pizzerias near tourist areas like Rockefeller Center.  

You will rarely, if ever, have a bad slice in Brooklyn or SI.  Manhattan is hit or miss.  NJ is far more miss than hit.  

Yes!  How could I forget SI.  Rarely a bad slice there too.

My most memorable slice in Manhattan, about 25 years ago. 14th. Street, east of 5th Avenue.

Guy sitting next to me on a stool, looking out at the street. 

"Yup. I killed em."

(Me -- no response)

"He was big, too."

By now, I'm finishing the slice and soda as fast as I can.

"It was a tiger..... BIG."

Me:  "Good job."  as I quickly left.

Now you don't  get that kind of experience in Reservoir or Trat.

I knew that place: Eenie Meany’s. Now it’s Hermione and Moe’s.

mrincredible said:
it's definitely one thing I do miss about living in New York. There's a significant lack of places in New Jersey where you can get a pie and a pitcher of cold beer and as many glasses as you need for all of your friends. I know you can bring a six pack of your favorite brand in with you to any place, but it's just not quite the same as having one of those big plastic pitchers with a nice foamy head on top of it.

 Benny Tudino's in Hoboken

I take pizza reviews with a grain of salt (and grease and cheese).  We once got a pie from that Santillo's place in Elizabeth and we both thought it was a big nothing.  Yet it makes the "best" lists every year.  I've had that experience with other supposedly out of this world pizza places.  By default and laziness, we usually go with Joe's but most of the the places discussed above in the area are good (enough).

we had really not great service and the bathroom was awfully dirty. won't be back.