***2 1/2 stars***
This was about as uneven an experience as you're going to find. I stumbled across this place on a lunchtime constitutional a few days ago, and a quick gander at the actual slices indicated (at least visually) a decent pizza. So yesterday, I wandered back over and gave this a shot. Truly a tale of two slices.
This is a pretty bustling area of NYC (Broadway and 30th) not too far from Herald Square, so I was a little apprehensive about a lengthy line/wait time. Thankfully even though the place was decently crowded while I was there, the guy behind the counter noticed me immediately and was available to take my order. I also liked the fact that the slices were heated up in a timely manner; I feel like they often linger an extra minute or two (guy getting distracted by other orders, etc.) which potentially dries up the slices. Not here. They were in there for maybe a minute, minute and a half.
A few of the pies looked intriguing, but I ultimately went with a plain slice and their seasonal/edgy slice of the Sunny Goldstein, which caught my eye because it looked very similar to a vodka slice, one of my go-to's, especially if I can find a chicken parm variation. The gentleman behind the counter said it was basically a normal slice, just with a yellow tomato utilized for the sauce. Alright. I assumed that would be similar to when you go to an ice cream place and get vanilla ice cream that's a different color but still tastes the same.
The plain slice was totally decent; I'm not a huge NYC slice person (I'm snobby and like my artisanal Neapolitan stuff for the most part) but this was good. The crust was crisp and there was no sag to the slice, and it was tasty. There was a bit of crusty/dryness toward the bottom of the slice with respect to the tomato sauce, which is kind of inevitable with a reheated slice but overall it got a solid thumbs up from me. I like a slice that's slightly overdone.
The Sunny Goldstein is literally one of the worst slices I've ever had. Not an exaggeration. In no way does that sauce taste like tomato at all. I likened it to the love child of orange juice and tomato sauce, but mostly orange juice. Utterly mystified that someone would make this into pizza. I took one horrific bite, looked around unsuccessfully for a homeless person to give it to (the one time in this neighborhood there were none to be found; figures) and deposited it into a garbage can. Total waste. The only upside to that debacle was that as I was walking down 7th Ave back to work, disconsolate about only getting one slice of pizza for lunch (I know - MASSIVE first world problems), someone at Bravo Pizza was giving out portions of a plain pizza. Felt like kismet, and the only time I've ever been interested in sampling their wares (it was fine).
I guess in theory I'd be okay going back for the plain slice but you can throw a stick and hit a comparable option much closer to the office. Not seeing much of an appeal here. read more