Pizza, just like art, is pretty subjective. You may like thin crust with a variety of toppings. She may like an overly cheese-laden deep dish. And he might prefer a Totino’s frozen pizza. (Ewww. Shiver the thought.) But crowning a particular one “The Best”? Well, you might as well be discussing religion and politics. They just don’t mix! All you’ll be in for is an all-out pizza war!
I think most of us can attest to the fact that New York pizza (up there with our bagels), is pretty much King. (Ooops. Did I just start something?) *ducks for cover* Must be our water. C’mon, haven’t you ever heard a tourist say, “I need to try NY pizza!” I don’t blame them. Many moons ago, my husband and I went on our honeymoon to Tahiti. Being stuck on a (GORGEOUS) tropical island for 2 weeks (awww, poor sad us), we started to get a little homesick. Towards the end of our trip, on one of our adventurous escapades, we noticed a small pizzeria off the side of the road. I know. Pizza on the island of Moorea??? What??? Well, we were hankering and ducked inside just to test it out…and also to avoid another Mahi Mahi dinner. I couldn’t believe I ended that dreamy trip on such a sour note. I mean, blecccchhh! I couldn’t even describe the flavors to you, but I can tell you goat cheese replaced the mozzarella, the sauce was like nothing I had ever tasted in my life (I would much rather chug a jar of Ragu alone than to taste, whatever that was, again), and I think there were even pineapples on it. Definitely not my thing and horribly inedible. And definitely not what the South Pacific is known for. Note to self: stick with the Mahi Mahi when on a tropical paradise.
Breaking it down a little further, I think it’s even safe to say that out of New York’s five boro’s, Brooklyn takes the “pie”. *holds up garbage can lid* Go on. Go on. Jeer. Boo. Throw your tomatoes at me. I’m sorry, but biased much? YES! This doesn’t mean I would guffaw at the thought of eating a slice when in Queens or turn my nose at grabbing a square in Staten Island. I’ll try anything…once.
And, hey, about that…now that I mentioned it, let’s move onto the subject of Sicilian vs. Square. If you consider Brooklyn as your nationality, then you know that we call our Sicilian’s “squares”. That’s it. You walk into any pizzeria and ask for a square, the language is completely understood. Once while on a quick lunch break in Manhattan, I walked into a busy pizzeria. I perused the pies behind the glass, eyeing the piece I wanted and called out to the man behind the counter, “I’ll take that square.” Suddenly, it was almost as if the hustle and bustle of the city came to a crashing halt. Heads turned. Yellow cabs screeched. Even the street rats hid in fear. The man looked at me as if he was looking for the subtitles underneath my chin and asked, “What is it that you want?” Feeling like my mouth was moving in slow motion, I responded, “A square. That square.” He offered a snicker and said, “Lady, that’s called a Sicilian.” To which I said, “Yes. I’ll take it…the square.” He obviously knew what I meant and I was bound and determined not to give into his terminology. Knowing that I couldn’t have been the only one raised on the “square” culture, I decided to take a personal poll asking my friends what they call their squares…oh, I mean, Sicilians. The majority of those who were NOT born and raised in Brooklyn call it a Sicilian. Even my husband (Brooklyn-transplant originally from Queens) admitted that the first time he had ever heard it being called a square was when he started dating ME! Hmmm. It is then that I realized that pizza is not only subjective in taste, but it’s a regional thing as well. And based upon your upbringing, it is only human nature for people to have their preferences.
So with that, I will give you a list of the best “squares” that I’VE ever tasted and if you happen to be in this neck of the woods, then you can be your own judge. Oh, and just a little piece of advice…we’ve already established that Sicilian’s come in “squares” (hence why we call it that), but don’t ever ask for it as a slice because you’ll just wind up getting your everyday run-of-the-mill plain cheese slice from the round pie.
Brooklyn Mama’s Choice Square/Sicilian Selections:
DaVinci Pizzeria (6514 18th Avenue): Growing up in Bensonhurst, there was practically a pizzeria on every corner. But the absolute BEST square along 18th Avenue (again, my personal opinion) would have to be DaVinci. Just make sure to order when they’re fresh out of the oven. The dough is nice and soft and it’s loaded with cheesy goodness. Definitely a must-have.
J&V Pizzeria (6322 18th Avenue): Not too far from DaVinci is J&V. A runner-up, for me, in the square saga. The dough that they use is made from a secret family recipe and all their ingredients are top-notch. If you don’t feel like making the trek out to Brooklyn, be on the lookout for their new Manhattan location coming soon! www.jvpizzeria.com
Grotta Azzurra Pizzeria & Restaurant (8505 21st Avenue): A little further up the Bensonhurst grid is Grotta Azzurra. I know we’re talking squares, but I’ve never tried one from here. I can tell you that they make a mean vegetable pie though, so I had to throw them in the mix. Loaded with garden fresh veggies like peppers, onions, eggplant, mushrooms, and then some. Definitely my pick if you’re feeling a little…well…healthy? Well, it has vegetables! That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
L&B Spumoni Gardens (2725 86th Street): Okay, okay…here is everyone’s FAVORITE place. Home of the famous square pie. I’m indifferent to it. I tend to steer away from popular opinion. Call me a misfit. It’s not bad though. You have to at least try it just to say you have. www.spumonigardens.com
Victoria Pizzeria (2716 Gerritsen Avenue): The day I moved from Bensonhurst, I thought that might be the day the pizza died. Well, I was proven wrong. Upon moving in, we didn’t have an oven so we made Victoria our kitchen away from home. Better for me since I didn’t have to cook and clean, but not so great on the waistline. Squares. Are. To. Die. And I love that they added the grandma pie to their menu! I like it saucy and they definitely deliver. www.victoriapizzeria.com
Knapp Street Pizza (2157 Knapp Street): Not too far from Victoria, in neighboring Sheepshead Bay, sits a cozy corner pizzeria with outdoor seating. Not only does Knapp Street make a killer deep dish eggplant pie, but I have to give them props for their grandma pie as well. So good!!!
I could go on and on, but figured I’d give you a little tease for now. Don’t take my word for it though. Go out there and taste for yourself. Or, better yet, let me know what your favorites are and I’ll judge for myself. But remember, when it comes to pizza, to each his own.
My name is Brooklyn Mama and I am a self-proclaimed pizza snob. Oh, and I don’t care what they say…it’s still called A SQUARE!
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