Pizza in Cobble Hill area

I have been living in Cobble Hill for a little over a year and I have been disappointed with the few pizza places (by the slice) in the neighborhood(s). Any suggestions?

[gspeed]

Pizza at Sam's Restaurant in Cobble Hill:

Stopped in for a quick visit to Brooklyn this week. Last night, my cousin took me to the Best Pizza Place in the World (in her estimation, and she has been all over the world). Sam's. She has been visiting for 50 years. Yes, the baked clams were good. But the pizza, ahhh...., the pizza! It was sublime.

We ordered a pie with fresh garlic, sausage and mushrooms. The sauce was sweet, delicate and fresh. The cheese, a slithering pool of goodness. I'm still reminiscing the mingling of flavors on my palatte.

This is worth a trip for the old world ambiance, unpretentious atmosphere and the friendly give-and-take conversation with the family servers!

I was born and raised in carroll gardens before it was called cobble hill ,actually before it was called carroll gardens.but lets not go there. I can only say that everyone that lives in this area should be grateful due to the fact that not only do you have great pizza choices in the neighborhood. But you have the best pizza in the city. That's right I said it!Although I would get many arguments no one would ever make me think otherwise........ house of pizza and calzone on union street between hicks and columbia.....find it

I like Nino's on the corner of Henry and Union Streets and Vinny's at the corner of Court Street and 4th Place for deliveries. Nino's also has a small dining area and serves beer. Vinny's does a great Philly cheesesteak.

Kevin

Try House of Pizza & Calzone, on Union between Hicks & Columbia. Read about it here on this board, went, loved the calzones and the regular slices.

i'm new to the site, and coincidentally was researching this very topic yesterday. people say the pizza at The Pizza House, across from Ferdinando's on union st. (just on the other side of the BQE) is otherworldly. of course i logged off and immediately (even though i was home from work with the flu) went over for a slice; alas, they were closed. the guys at the italian takeout next door (which is also supposed to be great) said the Pizza House guys had taken an extra day off, post new year's. so they should be open today. i'm too sniffly to go, so if you do, tell me what you think.

cheers!

Hi "no cilatro!" and welcome to Chowhound. Going out in search of pizza when you're suffering from the flu gives you very high marks for intrepidness! If you get to The Pizza House when you're better, let us know what you think. In the meantime, get well soon. Pat

thanks, pat. you made my day. last night i was well enough for some of zaytoon's lentil soup with lemon. it almost made up for no longer being able to ring up the 2nd ave deli and have them trot over with matzo ball soup.

hmmm...I actually like a lot of the pizza by the slice in Cobble Hill, so maybe my advice won't be very helpful as our tastes may be different. But, I like the pizza on Court and DeGraw, I always order a slice with spinach, which is really nice. Over at the other end of Cobble Hill, the place near the Community Bookstore on Court (can't remember the name) has a really good Quatro Stagioni slice- no prosciutto, just eggplant, garlic, tomato and olives (not a true Quattro Stagioni, but pretty good). I HATE the pizza at Ninos, and subsequently have never tried their food, which I hear is pretty good. I also really don't care for any of the pizza by the slice on Smith Street.

That said, there is such good whole Pie pizza in the Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill area that is maybe makes up for the lack of good by-the-slice pizza.

can i ask what your fave whole pie is, in the neighborhood? we've tried a few--lately stuck on caruso's, but their last two pizzas were overdone and too greasy. although i always enjoy the sesame seeds.

Pizza House, if I'm thinking of the right place, the one with the garden with the umbrellas and the Madonna is whole pie, and it's very good. Also the contentious Red Rose used to have fantastic whole pies, but the last time I went they weren't on the menu, but that may have just been a fluke.

thanks, annab.

say, have you (or has anyone) discussed the pizza at Sam's on court street, that place that seems to have no one in it? (near warren st.; you have to walk down a few steps to get in) some friends last night claimed they had fantastic pizza, and also escarole and meatball subs. tried to search the site for Sam's info, but got all bad links. thanks.

Surprised that you weren't able to find any posts about Sam's -- it was discussed a few months ago. Anyway: The pizza is, to my taste, superb -- closer to the brick-oven style than to the more typical corner-pizzeria style. Personally, I also love the atmosphere at Sam's -- a total time warp. Highly recommended.

-- Paul

I like it- was gonna mention it, but forgot.

Classic establishment. Had the most interesting stewed Calimari dish there. Never had Calamari in a red sauce that was so tender! I asked the waiter what was good and he said "Everythings Good! we've been in business 75 years" ( or something to that effect) Only been once but it was your typical hearty southern italian fare...

Through the cold rain to Sam's tonight. Pizza: outstanding--a nice, not too sweet, standout tomato sauce, tons of cheese, just the right, foldable thinness. We had one plain, one with escarole, and one with olives & mushrooms--all, perfection. Tried the calamari in red sauce, too; it was an odd texture. True, not rubbery, but strangely cakey. Can't recommend. My boyfriend vouched for the two-ton meatballs. A splendid, vanilla-y ricotta cheesecake. And a fine whiskey sour. Well okay two.

But the best part was feeling like you'd stumbled into someone's basement in 1970: the bar of unnameable, orangeish wood, the yellow plastic panels in front of the kitchen. And the waiters who, passing by, inject bits of wisdom into your conversation: "Yoga. That have anything to do with scuba?"

Remember the Sam's motto (as stated on the menu), "If your wife is a lousy cook, don't divorce her, eat at Sam's"

You're right Kevin. That slogan was on Sam's menu in the 1950s and the same family still runs the place. Louie is the best in terms of being son/owner/manager/cook/waiter etc. I remember him as a kid, when I was a kid. I've been out of the neighborhood for 26 years but whenever I go back I always "hit" Sam's for pizza and baked clams. It's one of those "institutions," as far as neighborhood restaurants go. I remember stories of my family eating there in the 1940s. I was there for lots of family gatherings in the '60s and '70s.
A wise man once said, "The Irish have food, but no cuisine."
I'm a grateful Irishman for growing up in a neighborhood with lots of Italians.
Regards,
Tom K., in Las Vegas.

Sam's easily makes the best regular pizza (they sell by the pie only) in the Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill vicinity. Also, if you like Sicilian, try Cristardi on President St. near Clinton I believe...it's a tiny little storefront that can easily be missed if you are driving. A very good Sicilian slice though.Best Wishes for the New Year !

Unfortunately, Christardi's is long gone. The pharmacy on the corner expanded thru the entire space. It was great.

Steve, thank you for mentioning the closing of Cristardi's. I had no idea having not been on President Street in nearly two years. My apologies to anyone who may have tried to locate it. I've been to their other location in Dyker Heights, but never felt it was as good. It makes me sad now knowing another great pizza maker is gone.