Haiku #314 - DiFara Pizza

So, good intentions...yeah. What a boring theme! Can't wait for February. But here's a Monday pizza haiku about - wait for it - the best pizza in New York:

DiFara pizza

made the same way for decades

it is worth the wait

Daniel shows off his slices. I almost forgot to take a pic,
I was so excited to eat by the time the food came. 

A totally unassuming corner pizzeria in Midwood, Brooklyn, DiFara's pizza is not a quick slice, reheated from under a heat lamp. The owner has been making each slice/pie to order, no shortcuts, for coming up on half a century. Definitely worth the trek and worth the wait.

Haiku #302 - NY Pizza - Little Luzzo's

delicious pizza

and if you still have some room,

a Nutella treat

Little Luzzo's - E 96th between Lex & Park:
I've only eaten here a couple times, and both times been surprised at how good (and cheap) this place is - it's a non-fancy Upper East Side joint on the same block as the train. My pizza disappeared before I could get a picture (whoops), but here's a pic of the Nutella roll:

it's not much to look at, but it was yummy

They must go through a lot of Nutella; the tip jar is an enormous Nutella jar.

Haiku #297 - NY Pizza

Bear strikes a pose!

pushing through the crowds

to meet a friend for pizza

on a quick lunch break

Siena Pizza - 40th St and 8th Ave

Just plain ol' greasy New York pizza, cheap, unpretentious, filling, convenient.

Haiku #284 - NY Pizza - Artichoke

my margherita, Lacey's artichoke, and Rod's dainty little vodka slice

Artichoke pizza

passersby salivating

looking at my slice

Haiku #277 - NY Pizza - $1 Pizza!

see dollar pizza?

don't get scared and run away

it's really quite good!

People, Places, Things:

Dollar pizza places can be found all over NYC. The one pictured above is on 3rd Ave in Spanish Harlem. There are a lot in Hell's Kitchen. Dollar pizza slices are a little smaller then average, and have not too much cheese (so you aren't dabbing away 3 napkins' worth of grease), and, because of the high turnover, are always fresh! Conclusion: Dollar pizza sounds like a bad idea, but isn't (though I don't recommend it more than once a week or so...)

Haiku #270 - NY Pizza - La Nostra

Seriously. This is a small. 

i'm going to need
my roommate's help to devour
this "small" spinach pie

People, Places, Things:
La Nostra Pizzeria in my neighborhood - 110th and 2nd Ave. Nothing fancy, just average New York pizza - exactly what the doctor ordered for a cloudy, working-from-home, staying-in-my-PJs kind of day.

And probably three days thereafter, judging by the size of that pie. 

Note on linguistics/immigration/stratification: The menus and other material for this place say "La Nostra" (Italian)... the signage outside says "La Nuestra" (Spanish)...

 I don't think this place is very old, so I don't know what the scoop is behind that discrepancy, but it made me think of the different waves of immigrants who have come through this neighborhood.

Haiku #265 - NY Pizza - Patzeria

Grandma slice from Patzeria.
That it doesn't look so great is due entirely to my lack of photography skills.

if I had to pick

one slice for the rest of life

it would be this one

People, Places, Things:

Patzeria on 46th St between Broadway and 8th Ave -

My go-to pizza joint when I'm in the theater district. Approx the size of a postage stamp. They also have a sit-down Italian restaurant with a small bar a couple blocks away. 

Juan usually serves me my pizza.
The place is filled with show memorabilia (eg upper left corner)

Haiku #258 - NY PIzza - Itza Pizza

the preferred meal of

a New Yorker on the go

is some kind of slice

People, Places, Things:

Itza Pizza

A favorite of Soviet spies???

This was a random slice day - I didn't have time to go to any of my favorite places for this week's haiku, so I had to try a new place! I had an eggplant slice at Itza Pizza on John St. near the World Trade center; it was decent, and did the job of providing a quick meal on the run. 

Haiku #253 - NY Pizza - Patsy's

I got to introduce my roommate Andrew to Patsy's;
J serves us our pizza!

Patsy's Pizza Pic!

...huffy local behind me

thinks I'm a tourist

People, Places, Things:

Patsy's Pizza - one of New York's original pizzerias. There are now several locations.

Haiku #246 - NY Pizza - Mariella

me w/ John & Phil (wielding pizza cutter)

pepperoni slice

from Mariella fuels a

New York afternoon

People, Places, Things:

This haiku is the first in (I hope) a weekly series haiku about my favorite pizza in New York...you know, a guide for hitchhaikuers...

Mariella is located on 8th Ave between 56th and 57th. The staff is friendly and nice, kinda old school New York, and it's classic, non-pretentious, greasy New York pizza. I usually opt for the pepperoni slice, and sometimes have a root beer to go with. Good for fueling visits to the south end of Central Park, the Time Warner Center, and/or Broadway shows a few blocks south.

Apparently there is another Mariella on E 16th & 3rd...I'm not familiar with that one!