465406 Sat Dec 01 09:37:42 -0800 2007 9 18 Manhattan 0 3170577 So, we finally tried this place. Having read all of the discussion here, we were prepared for the worst. But, instead, we were thrilled! We had the Margherita (the fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce pie) and the Filetti (a "white" pie with sliced cherry tomatoes.) We loved the dough (fluffy and slightly charred on the outside, one of the few pies where eating the crust is actually pleasant), and the mellow, salty cheese. And, unlike at DiFara's, I think the basil really contributed a lot. Dom's round pies seem to be about the sharpness of the cheese (the grana padano?) merged with the oily goodness. On the squares, at least, the basil often burns to a crisp. Here the cheese is relatively unassertive so the basil is an equal partner. Service was actually pretty friendly - we had "the guy," I guess. The three red wines listed meant nothing to us, so we asked for a run-down. He was very enthusiastic about a carbonated red - my wife ordered it and it was delicious! They were finishing off the last bottle of the season, and so he even came back and poured another half glass. Hey, we've been to Totonno's out at Coney Island (with its insanely hostile hostess) and DiFaras (stand at the counter or Dom will forget your order, clear your own table, if you can get one) - they make this place feel like Per Se. A lot of the negative posts are about expectations, wanting things they just don't offer etc. But, we were fully informed: - It's expensive! ($21 for an individually sized pie, $9 wine, which comes in a water glass but appeared to be the same volume as a standard pour AFAIK.) Fine with us, for an occasional indulgence. - It's all about the cheese pie (or the marinara, which is tomatoes only.) Again, no problem, we are cheese pie snobs anyway. I usually don't take it personally when something is too expensive - New York is full of things that are really great but too expensive to enjoy all the time. We won't be back next week, but we WILL be back! Sat Dec 01 09:37:42 -0800 2007 12628 scooter 1 3170628 I finally went there in October (it took me long enough, since I live about twenty steps from the place): loved the pizza, hated the service. Somebody was shooting video of their oven, and it held up service to such an annoying degree that we almost walked out. (The customers who had ordered just before us got their meal half an hour before us.) No apology, no explanation from the servers. We had one Margherita, and another pizza made with fresh cherry tomatoes, both were amazing. The real revelation was finishing one left over slice at home that had cooled to room temperature - somehow the flavor of the crust revealed itself in all its complex, tangy glory, like no other crust I've tasted before. It wasn't just that doughy thing that holds all the flavors, it was truly delicious on its own. Sat Dec 01 10:03:50 -0800 2007 3170577 132418 hungrycomposer 2 3171210 I believe comparing Difara or Totonno's to Una Pizza is not a fair comparison. Difara for example defines NYC style pizza whereas Una Pizza is a very authentic version of pizza you would find in Naples (like Da Michele). Its like comparing Babbo to Il Mulino, the styles are so different, it just doesn't make sense....That being said, i love Una pizza, the hell with the prices or service; that being said I want Dom to cook my death row last meal..... Sat Dec 01 15:14:17 -0800 2007 3170628 10479 Cpalms 3 3184305 Agree, I've had both several times and appreciate both, but they are worlds apart in terms of style. The Una Pizza haters are almost uniformly people who believe you just cannot charge a premium price for pizza, not matter how good it is. Because it's seen as a street food especially in NY, the price there really pushes people's buttons. Thu Dec 06 06:53:19 -0800 2007 3171210 15750 Mandymac 4 3184515 i disagree...i will shell out $50 a pie for difaras any day of the week (especially if i didnt have to wait). una pizza was just the most overrated thing ive ever experienced in ny and im born and raised here. the pizza was so meh that i cant even type without feeling duped. it was bland and boring. and my favorite? no ice for my diet coke. Thu Dec 06 07:57:48 -0800 2007 3184305 14393 sam1 4 3185173 Yeah, I think that is a good point. I've heard the same thing said about high end Chinese food, which pretty much doesn't even exist in NYC. Thu Dec 06 11:03:17 -0800 2007 3184305 42235 eca 5 3185186 I LOVE Una Pizza Napoletana. I agree that many people don't like it just because it's so expensive. The owner is always beyond sweet to me....a total doll. Thu Dec 06 11:05:08 -0800 2007 3185173 14043 Buttercream 6 3185205 "i disagree...i will shell out $50 a pie for difaras any day of the week (especially if i didnt have to wait)." i agree totally. price has nothing to do with it. Thu Dec 06 11:08:58 -0800 2007 3185186 122578 TBird 7 3185303 But you don't pay $50. And the second that you did, millions of haters would come out of the woodwork saying: the pizza's not all that. I don't think there's any question that the price looms large in most people's assessment of Una Pizza. All you need to do is look at all of the threads about it. Thu Dec 06 11:36:12 -0800 2007 3185205 15750 Mandymac 8 3185372 "I don't think there's any question that the price looms large in most people's assessment of Una Pizza. All you need to do is look at all of the threads about it." i wasn't speaking of "them". i was speaking for myself. :-) Thu Dec 06 11:57:56 -0800 2007 3185303 122578 TBird