Pizza near DUMBO tonight 2/14/10

[lamlex]

Someone told me that Grimaldi's is great, however after researching briefly, I now know that it is NOT recommended here on Chowhound. My husband and I are first-timers to the area, so we are New York pizza virgins. We didn't manage to hit any of the must-try places in Manhattan, which leaves us with tonight...,and we do not know Brooklyn at all. Di Fara seems a bit far from DUMBO, but I am not sure. Can someone chime in? Other last minute pizza recommendations in the area (20 minute walk or short cab ride)?

Thanks in advance.

[boccalupo]

Agree on Lucali. About 30 minute walk or a 5 minute cab ride. In the alternative, take the F at York St. in Dumbo 3 stops to Carroll St. Many places to pick up wine in the area. If there is a wait at Lucali you can leave them your cell phone number and go to a bar on Court St. for a pre-dinner drink. Lucali also has nice cozy atmosphere that I find quite pleasant.

[lisabnyc]

lucali's - its byob, cash only and FANTASTIC!

[NYJewboy]

Yup. Lucali's is great. As good as it gets without going extremely out of your way.

[burton]

I may well represent a minority view but I found Lucali's to be merely pretty good. Pies were better than average but with indistinct crust and too much cheese. Plus they came out luke warm. Also they held back the second pie until the first was finished (without letting us know this would be the case) so the second also was barely warm. Plus they got the toppings wrong. Substandard service (indifferent, inattentive) and hostess with the brusque manner of a traffic cop more than offset the appeal of the attractive setting. Once was enough. Give me Motorino or Franny's any day (albeit the styles are substantially different).

[boccalupo]

I am not doubting your experience, but think it must have been an off night.

I have been to Lucali's on numrous occasions and I have never had a lukewarm pie. A lukewarm pie seems odd because it is such a small place and all they serve is pizza. The pizza should come right from the oven to your table.

Regarding the second pizza. If I am with a group of say four people and we know we are likely to eat two pies, we generally order them one at time so there is no issue of the slices sitting around at the table. But even if you ordered them both at the same time, it would be odd for them to hold the second pizza cooked but not served at your table. It certainly would have made more sense if they cooked the second pizza after you were finished the first. In any event, it is odd that they would not ask you how you would them served.

Agree that the hostess could be a bit friendlier.

In any event, the owner, Mark, is almost always there and is usually responsive to issues regarding the food or service if you bring it up to him.

The flavor of the crust at Lucali's is a weak point, and they are not light on the cheese, but the quality and flavor of the cheese and toppings makes up for it in my opinion.

I have also been to both Motorinos and have never recieved great service, however much I love the pizza there. So I really wouldn't give Motorino the edge in that department. And the styles of pizzas in both places are so different it is really hard to compare them.

Actually Lucali's pizza is quite a unique style. Perhaps the biggest influence in the style would be DiFara, but the dining experience at DiFara is a nightmare in almost every way, and I think in the last couple of years Lucali has surpassed DiFara's in the quality of pizza as well.

The price of Lucali's pizza (esp. the toppings) is rather high, but given the BYOB policy and nice ambience, I think the overall package is still a good deal.

[burton]

From the exceptional praise bestowed on Lucali's from near and far I am also inclined to think our mediocre experience was atypical. Despite earlier oaths I will head back for another go. I dearly hope to have a very different (and vastly improved)experience. Regarding temperature, timing and order snafus, I also was entirely perplexed. It was borderline bizarre. Mark the owner was not present. (It was a Sunday evening to the extent that makes a difference.) Agreed the service at Motorino is rather perfunctory; based on my single experience, however, Lucali's service was far worse in virtually every respect. Thoroughly discombobulated and unpleasant to boot. Agreed the pizza styles are totally different making direct comparisons more or less pointless. Finally, DiFara is unto itself in almost every respect. Suffice it to say that in my personal experience, Lucali's doesn't come close. I'm ready to try again though. Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

[Peter]

Wow. Been to Lucali 25 times and never had a pie that didn't come directly from the oven piping hot. When you order 2 they frequently will make one, let you get mostly through it, and then bring the 2nd. They do this in part because some of the tables don't hold 2 pies and in part, so the pizza *doesn't* get cold sitting around waiting for you to eat it.

As far as the hostess, I miss Mark's wife but I think the woman there now gives what she gets. She's a VERY harried person. If you're all sweetness and light she's fine. If you cop anything she can possibly interpret as an attitude -- even if it was completely unintentional -- she'll give attitude right back. I consider that part of the genuine "Don't F*** with Carroll Gardens" experience. ;-)

Peter
http://www.flashlightworthybooks.com

[NYJewboy]

Peter: yes, I have noticed her demeanor as well. I don't buy the excuse of her being 'harried'. it is her JOB to be friendly and accommodating. We are the customers. What we say and what we want is the issue. She is not doings us a favor. She simply stinks at her job....but the pizza is uniformly great. I too have never had a lukewarm pie. Never.

[tex.s.toast]

One recommendation on your return - try the calzones. i cant say why doubling the amount of okay-but-not-great crust makes them better, but we liked our pizza but LOVED the calzone we ordered.

As for the service, on my one trip it was a bit cold but competent, and we did laugh about how easy the servers have it - no menu to memorize, stack of plates and a pie and glasses for wine are about it.

I think Lucali gets so much love because: a. it really is a good pizza (maybe not my #1 but solidly better than a lot of the competition) b. its more atmospheric than most pizza options - i wouldnt consider standing in the (smokey) madness at DiFara's date-night-worthy, and though i guess getting crammed into one of the coal oven places int he city has its charms. In a world where many places get by solely on the ambiance and experience (and not the food) im glad to have a place that is both good to eat at and serves good food.

that said, motorino is totally my favorite pie when i dont feel like spinning the roulette wheel/schlepping to midwood.

anyone know when guissepinas in the south slope is set to open? drove by recently and it looked pretty put together.

[boccalupo]

I totally agree with everything you said tex.s.toast. You nailed it.

And I totally agree about the calzone. The calzone at Lucali is the best calzone I have ever had anywhere. Without question.

[Peter]

If your date doesn't "consider standing in the (smokey) madness at DiFara's date-night-worthy" then you're dating the wrong person. ;-)

-Peter