Stars: $$$ 1/2
Price: $$$
Weirdness factor: 2
Piola
48 E 12th St, New York, New York, United States
Piola was recommended to me as a place to interact with Italians and enjoy an authentic Italian gastronomic experience stateside. It didn't disappoint.
The restaurant is easy to find, about 1 1/2 blocks from the Union Square station.
Piola is mainly a pizzeria, but also offers salads, some pasta dishes, and a selection of meat and fish appetizery-things. It's quite authentically Italian, as there are many pizza joints, especially in Rome, set up with menus just like this.
The pizza menu has about 40+ different kinds, such as the "Siracusa" with mozzarella and artichokes or the "Giallanera" with eggplant and bell peppers. And, just as you'll find in Italy, there is a selection of "pizze bianche", pizzas without tomato sauce. I'd rate Piola's pizza crust a 10/10 - delicious. You can even see the pizza chefs hand rolling out the dough in the centrally located, open kitchen.
Each pizza is a managable 4-piece custom creation, and prices range from $10 to $16 depending on which you choose. You can even make personalized additions and substitutions; I had them put bell peppers on my "quattro funghi".
One high point are the $9 daily deals; your choice among 4 or 5 pizzas/pasta dishes, a soda, and (I believe) salad for a fixed price.
Piola has an acceptable wine list; I recommend asking your (authentically Italian!) server for a suggestion, as the wine we picked (the Piola house blend) was absolutely atrocious, especially at an exorbitant 25 bucks a bottle. Next time I'll try the "kiwi caipiroska", which looks awesome from its advertised picture.
Piola hosts events throughout the week; while it was pretty dead during the day (when we went) it becomes a cool local hang out at night, particularly on a Monday (when there's live music from 5-7 with drink specials and free finger food at the bar).
I'd recommend Piola for its relaxing, loungy atmosphere and authentically Italian staff, not to mention the delicious pizza.
Pretty averagely priced eats in NYC, and a nice experience overall.
Showing posts with label pizza. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pizza. Show all posts
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Pizza Design - Unbelievable Kebab in Residential Rome
Stars: *****
Price: $$
Weirdness factor: 4 - it's a little weird
Pizza Design
Circonvallazione Cornelia 17-17a - , Rome, Italy
If you've been to Rome lately, you'll know that the Romans like their Kebab (it's actually Schwarma, but the Italians call it Kebab, so it's Kebab from here on out). And if you've been to Pizza Design, it's likely you'll never look at Kebab in the same way again.
I cannot begin to describe my love for Pizza Design. It is the most amazing food ever and it's not even expensive. Ok, ok. Calm down, stop salivating, and give the people a review.
First off, it's a small-ish, modern looking, clean little restaurant (I believe it's run by Syrians) right outside of the Cornelia metro stop. Like all Roman pizzerias, they sell their pizzas by weight, so you can go in and get 100 grams of this, 100 grams of that, etc, and pay a flat price.
Their pizza is always amazing, different flavors every day, depending on what is freshest. They have tricolore, seafood, tomato/basil/fresh mozzarella...all different kinds, always looking fresh, green, and delicious.
However, we're really here to talk about the kebabs. Although the name says Pizza, the kebabs are where it's at! The meat they use is not the usual overseasoned gyro ground-up lamb paste that is formed into a log shape, no way. The lamb at Pizza Design is actual visible layers of real solid lamb meat, interspersed with thin layers of red bell pepper, so that it keeps the meat moist while imparting a delicious flavor. At the top of the roasting spit are different kinds of fruit- the heat releases the essences of the fruit and it therefore drips down and flavors the meat. SO delicious.
The wraps are more like soft flatbread (think Gordita) than pita or tortilla, and they warm them up for you on a giant metal drum thing.
But here's the best part - there is a smorgasbord of things you can choose to make-your-own-kebab, which, like the pizza, is a different selection everyday! In every other kebab joint I've been to, even the good ones, they have a selection of lettuce, tomato, onion. MAYBE they have some kind of slaw or relish. That's it. But! At Pizza Design, there are all different kinds of lettuces, tomato, and onion. They have tomato and cucumber salad, roasted eggplant or zucchini, falafel, babaghanoush, spicy pickled peppers, hummus, loads of different things.
Part of the selection is "food", presented in pans and set up like a cafeteria; mediterranean specialties, curried chicken and rice, etc...but they're right alongside the fixin's for the wraps- so basically whatever they have displayed, you can put in your sandwich.
They top it off with a creamy white sauce and a spicy red harissa sauce (I always got extra of that). Then, get a beer or a fanta from behind the cassa, and you're good to go.
I went in there so many times they knew me by name, I'd say at least once... maybe twice... a week! They are all super friendly and go out of their way to make you a great sandwich!
The whole thing will cost you about 10 euro, drink included.
I absolutely cannot praise Pizza Design enough. It's one of the top 5 places I've ever eaten in my life. You have never had a kebab until you've had Pizza Design. This is probably my highest recommended restaurant in Rome (!), and for my money, truly worth travelling for.
Price: $$
Weirdness factor: 4 - it's a little weird
Pizza Design
Circonvallazione Cornelia 17-17a - , Rome, Italy
If you've been to Rome lately, you'll know that the Romans like their Kebab (it's actually Schwarma, but the Italians call it Kebab, so it's Kebab from here on out). And if you've been to Pizza Design, it's likely you'll never look at Kebab in the same way again.
I cannot begin to describe my love for Pizza Design. It is the most amazing food ever and it's not even expensive. Ok, ok. Calm down, stop salivating, and give the people a review.
First off, it's a small-ish, modern looking, clean little restaurant (I believe it's run by Syrians) right outside of the Cornelia metro stop. Like all Roman pizzerias, they sell their pizzas by weight, so you can go in and get 100 grams of this, 100 grams of that, etc, and pay a flat price.
Their pizza is always amazing, different flavors every day, depending on what is freshest. They have tricolore, seafood, tomato/basil/fresh mozzarella...all different kinds, always looking fresh, green, and delicious.
However, we're really here to talk about the kebabs. Although the name says Pizza, the kebabs are where it's at! The meat they use is not the usual overseasoned gyro ground-up lamb paste that is formed into a log shape, no way. The lamb at Pizza Design is actual visible layers of real solid lamb meat, interspersed with thin layers of red bell pepper, so that it keeps the meat moist while imparting a delicious flavor. At the top of the roasting spit are different kinds of fruit- the heat releases the essences of the fruit and it therefore drips down and flavors the meat. SO delicious.
The wraps are more like soft flatbread (think Gordita) than pita or tortilla, and they warm them up for you on a giant metal drum thing.
But here's the best part - there is a smorgasbord of things you can choose to make-your-own-kebab, which, like the pizza, is a different selection everyday! In every other kebab joint I've been to, even the good ones, they have a selection of lettuce, tomato, onion. MAYBE they have some kind of slaw or relish. That's it. But! At Pizza Design, there are all different kinds of lettuces, tomato, and onion. They have tomato and cucumber salad, roasted eggplant or zucchini, falafel, babaghanoush, spicy pickled peppers, hummus, loads of different things.
Part of the selection is "food", presented in pans and set up like a cafeteria; mediterranean specialties, curried chicken and rice, etc...but they're right alongside the fixin's for the wraps- so basically whatever they have displayed, you can put in your sandwich.
They top it off with a creamy white sauce and a spicy red harissa sauce (I always got extra of that). Then, get a beer or a fanta from behind the cassa, and you're good to go.
I went in there so many times they knew me by name, I'd say at least once... maybe twice... a week! They are all super friendly and go out of their way to make you a great sandwich!
The whole thing will cost you about 10 euro, drink included.
I absolutely cannot praise Pizza Design enough. It's one of the top 5 places I've ever eaten in my life. You have never had a kebab until you've had Pizza Design. This is probably my highest recommended restaurant in Rome (!), and for my money, truly worth travelling for.
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