boccalupo's Profile
Dinner in Bococa area--Italian
I have had several meals at Rucola and they have all been wonderful. My favorite restaurant in the area. I love the rustic decor and the service has always been friendly and helpful.
The only caveats I have is that it is rather cramped (some might say cozy and convivial) and their menu selection is rather limited (actually a plus in my book).
Craving veal osso buco but can't find any Itaian restaurants with the dish listed on the menu...
Villa Mosconi has it. Solid (if pricey) old school Italian.
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Villa Mosconi
69 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
Where can I find Silician chocolate (Valrhona/ Bonajuto) in NYC??
I have bought Boajuto it at DiPalo's in the past, but I can't be sure if they are currently stocking it. Buon Italia might be a good place to check for it as well. I thought Valrhona was French. It is pretty widely available in any case. Trader Joe's carries it.
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Di Palo's Fine Foods
200 Grand St, New York, NY 10013
Buon Italia
75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Sottocasa - Neapolitan Pizza in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
Sottocasa, a new Neapolitan style pizzeria has recently opened on Atlantic Ave. near Smith Street in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. I have been passing by for the last several weeks, noticing a “coming soon” sign, and eagerly looking forward to giving them a try when they opened, pizza fanatic that I am. Living in the area, I was hoping for decent neighborhood joint where I could satisfy my Neaoplitan-style pizza craving without having to travel too far afield.
Sottocasa is a located in a cozy lower level storefront, with minimalist décor. There is also a nice backyard with picnic style benches. A nice ambiance. When I dined there last week no wine or beer was available as they said their liquor license had not arrived yet (they said they were expecting it within days). The co-owners are Italian (as is much of the staff). One of them manages the front of the house while the other mans the oven. Always a good sign when the owner is there making the pizza. So far so good.
So how was the pizza? Our party got several pizzas, so I got to try a few. The benchmark regular Margherita was excellent, although with perhaps a bit too much extra snap from grated cheese sprinkled on top, masking the subtle flavors of the fresh mozzarella and sauce. The Radicchio, a white pizza with smoked mozzarella and hot sausage, was superb, although the sausage was sliced, not crumbled like I prefer. The stars of the show were probably the Laura and the Diavola. The Laura was made with speck and marscapone. A bit unusual in that the speck was cooked with the pizza and placed under the cheese in this pie, rather than layered on top after cooking. In any event, the flavor was exceptional. Perhaps the best of them all was the Diavola, which was topped with spicy soppressata and olives. This salty, briny pizza packs a massive flavor wallop. although the Laura was perhaps a bit more subtle and refined. My preference for one over the other may depend on my mood on any given evening.
Of course, the key to any good Neapolitan pizza is the crust. Here the crust was a winner. Flavorful and with a nice smokey char from the wood oven. The chef-owner apparently cut his pizza-making chops at Keste, but in my opinion he has exceeded that establishment’s crusts. Perhaps Keste’s crusts are more "authentic", but they are just too soggy for my taste. The same goes for the recently opened Forcella. Sottocasa makes a crust that is compliant, but not too soggy. A bit more like Motorino, but with a better texture. Overall one of the best Neaopolitan-style crusts I have tried.
The pizza chef came out personally to see how our table was doing and ask how we liked our pizzas, something I always appreciate.
I can’t wait to return to try some of the other pies, as this place has reached the pizza pantheon right off the bat. I hope they can keep it up. And if they can up their sausage game, I think they might be a strong contender for the best Neapolitan style pizza place in New York City.
I was hoping for a good neighborhood spot, but this place really exceeded my expectations. It is well worth a detour.
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Sottocasa Pizzeria
298 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Best Pizza Slice in Midtown
I second Naples 45 (yes, they have a by-the-slice place). Plus a nice discount in the afternoon.
I also like Previti.
I will add Pizza by Certe to the mix. Square Italian Wedding slice is really good.
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Naples 45
200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166
Previti Pizza
122 E 41st St, New York, NY 10165
Pizza by Cer Te
132 E 56th St, New York, NY 10022
Cacio e Pepe - where else to get it?
Emporio, Gusto Ristorante and Testaccio (Queens)
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Gusto
60 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011
Emporio
231 Mott Street, New York, NY 10012
Giuseppina's on 6th Ave in South Slope-the non review
I was there last night. The pizza is almost indistinguishable from Lucali (a good thing in my book). No wait for a table for 4 at 7pm on Sunday. I don't think that we'd be have been able to get a table at Lucali at that hour, or at least not without a really long wait.
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Lucali
575 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Best burger on Smith or Court Streets?
Agree on Bar Tabac if you keep it simple. Good burger. Frites. Decent beer selection. Usually pretty lively. Good neighborhood joint.
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Bar Tabac
128 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
LA Hound looking for great Neopolitan Pizza in Manhattan
Keste. I really only like their Margherita variants. But I think it is as close as we get in NYC to Neapolitan style pizza. Puffy cornicione, soft wet crust. Not everyone's cup of tea.
Motorino is pretty close to Neapolitan but a bit firmer crust, Luzzo's not really Neapolitan style (more of a hybrid), Patsy's is old school New York/Neapolitan style.
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Luzzo's
211 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003
Keste Pizza & Vino
271 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014
Motorino
349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003
lunch near columbia university?/UWS
Massawa.
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Massawa
1239 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027
Looking for inexpensive Italian resto near Film Forum
Quinto Quarto. Stick with pasta. Inexpensive although portions are not large.
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Quinto Quarto
14 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014
I would love to do a "Dumpling Crawl" through Chinatown but have no idea where to go or where to start
Prosperity Dumpling and Vanessa's Dumpling House both on Eldridge St. would be a good place to start. I also like the boiled dumplings at the hand pulled noodle shop at Lan Zhou Handmade Noodles on 144 East Broadway.
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Vanessa's Dumpling House
118 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002
Prosperity Dumpling
46 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002
Virgil's -- worst restaurant in NYC?
I have always found their barbeque to be decent (although there is better BBQ to be had in NYC, there is also far worse). I would not and have not ventured from their BBQ fare.
Drinks for first date by Columbus Circle?
Ava Lounge or maybe one of the wine bars in upper Hell''s Kitchen.
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Ava Lounge
210 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019
Best Pizza in Time Square?
Nothing really good near Times Square for slices. But in Midtown I like Certe, Previti and Naples 45 (there is a takeout spot with a few seats that serves slices, NY style and Naples style...plus half price deal after 2pm).
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Naples 45
200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166
Columbian Breakfast Manhattan?
If you don't want to trek to Jackson Heights you can check out El Tequilazo in Midtown (serves both Mexican and Columbian fare).
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El Tequilazo
43 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036
4 People at keste
You can always start with two and add a third or fourth. I like the regular margherita with cow's milk mozzarella.
small bites midtown west
Bocca di Bacco's food is hit and miss, but good selection of wines and nice atmosphere. For Greek tapas, Unlce Nick's Ouzaria is pretty good. Xai Xai is a South African wine bar. Wines are pricey and I've never tried the food there (small plates). Nice atmosphere though.
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Bocca di Bacco
828 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10019
Xai Xai
365 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019
I am trying to find the best wing spot in west side manhattan.
Dino's BBQ are my personal favorite as well. Just so you know, they are smoked and are not buffalo-style fried wings. If that is what you are looking for Blondie's on the UWS gets a lot of mentions. You can try a search on Chowhound for some other suggestions.. Here is a link to a relatively recent thread on the topic. Enjoy!
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/701204?tag=search_results;results_list
Need some quick recs for East Village or Soho for tomorrow night
To filmbomb's nice list I'd also add:
Pylos, In Vino, Motorino, Cacio e Vino, Jimmy's 43 and The Redhead.
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Pylos
128 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009
In Vino
215 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10009
Cacio e Vino
80 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003
Motorino
349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003
Brooklyn Pizza Survey
Pie man Mario Migliaccio has been working at Sam's since 1950. He may well have made your pie 53 years ago. I am guessing the decor has not changed a bit since you were last there. You might be interested in checking out the "Roots in the Garden" documentary of the Carroll Gardens neighborhood. Sam's was featured in it.
http://www.mediastorm.com/training/roots-in-the-garden
Brooklyn Pizza Survey
Motorino, Totonno's, Roberta's, Lunarossa, Toby's, Sam's, Paulie Gee's.
Brooklyn is the best borough for pizza.
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Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Moules Frites in Brussels
Chez Leon is a tourist trap. My favorite places are Le Pre' Sale', 't Kelderke right on the Grand'Place and Bij Den Boer. There are many other fine places. One rule of thumb is to avoid places that invite you in, they abound on Rue de Bouchers.
Help Tonight near 49th and bway Quiet bar/lounge with food
Xai Xai and Bocca di Bacco.
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Bocca di Bacco
828 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10019
Xai Xai
365 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019
Cool "literary" cafe downtown?
71 Irving Place. Cafe Pick Me Up.
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71 Irving Place
71 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003
Cafe Pick Me Up
145 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
Times Square dinner with my parents AND my kids
Virgil's would be my choice in the Times Square area.
Restaurant near McSorley's
Burp Castle has a nice selection of interesting beers. And Jimmy's is more or less downstairs from it.
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Burp Castle
41 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003
Tangled Vine in UWS?
Agree that the fideos negros are delicious. That dish alone makes the place worthwhile.
Bakery/coffee place in LI - forgot name - HELP!
Yes. Sounds like Caffe Roma. Very old school. Supposedly has been run by the same family and been in the same location since the 1890s.
As far as I know there are only three true bakery/cafes in Little Italy. Aside from Caffe Roma, there is Ferrara, which has also been there forever ( although the decor has been updated) and La Bella Ferrara (no relation), which has been there a long time, but perhaps does not date back as long as the first two.
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La Bella Ferrara
108 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013
Caffe Roma
385 Broome St, New York, NY 10013
