World-Class Pizza in Delray? Scuola Vecchia Pizza E Vino

[CFByrne]

Big news for S Florida pizza lovers! Scuola Vecchia Pizza on Atlantic Ave opens tonight.

I did some digging and this looks very exciting.

The owners have brought down Roberto Caporuscio from Keste Pizza on Bleeker Street in NYC to help open the place. (He was sitting in a staff meeting when I poked my head in this afternoon).

If you’re not familiar with Keste, it appears on many “Best Pizza in NYC” lists. I’ve been there and I agree. http://www.kestepizzeria.com/press.html

As their website says: “It is also the official location in the USA for APN (Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani) whose mission is to protect and preserve the Neapolitan pizza tradition and promote the art of pizza making.”

“The organization also certifies professional pizza makers in the tradition of Neapolitan Pizza.”

And I’m guessing that’s what is happening at Scuola Vecchia right now.

More: “The Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani (the Association of Neapolitan Pizza) maintains strict member guidelines for ingredients, dough, and cooking. This elite organization maintains that pizza dough must be made only with flour, natural yeast or brewers yeast, salt and water. Dough must be kneaded by hand or mixers which do not cause the dough to overheat, and the dough must be punched down and shaped by hand. Also, only wood-burning, bell-shaped brick ovens are permitted in pizzerias that belong to this organization. The pizza must be cooked on the surface of the oven (often made of volcanic stone), and not in any pan or container, with oven temperatures reaching at least 400-430° C (750-800° F). These ovens often have to heat up for hours before the first pizza is cooked.”

http://www.kestepizzeria.com/about.html

We’ll see very soon how the pizza turns out at Scuola Vecchia.

I’ve raised the bar pretty high here before they are even open – but I have high hopes!

522 E Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach, FL 33444
South side, between N and S bound Federal Hwy (opposite Colony Hotel

)

PS: The photo is from Keste - for now that's the best I can do until I get one from here.

[freakerdude]

Their website is not up all the way but are they open for lunch on weekends? Yelpster says Mon-Sun 12pm to 3pm. And is it located across from Mellow Mushroom?

[CFByrne]

Well after checking out and giving much love to Pizzeria Oceano last week, I returned to Scuola Vecchia.

All I can say is - we are very lucky to have BOTH of these establishments in the area.

The three dishes I enjoyed at SV were just fabulous.

Check out the photos:

* Roberto Pizza: Basil, Grape Tomato, Fresh Burrata

* House made Linguine with Bolognese

* Funghi e Prosciutto Pizza: Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Mushrooms, Prosciutto de para, Basil

[erica]

Lucky, indeed! Thank you for your report, CF, and for those scrumptious photos! I've still not had time to get there but you have now pushed it to the top of my list.

[CFByrne]

Congrats to Scuola Vecchia for making this "best pizza" list.

http://www.thedailymeal.com/americas-35-best-pizzas

"There were hundreds of votes cast by a venerable panel of about 20 American chefs, restaurant critics, and pizza authorities, most of whom, besides the Los Angeles Times' Jonathan Gold and Chicago Magazine's Penny Pollack, requested anonymity. These are people who, like you (and us) live and die pizza. And you know what? The results are probably going to really bubble your crust, and burn your upskirt. That's just the nature of a list like this."

Read more: http://www.thedailymeal.com/americas-...

[OysterHo]

I still haven't gone here and today I feel compelled more than ever to try it! :)

I can have one last hurrah of carbs before starting my diet again tomorrow. I think I'll check it out tonight if I can. Thanks for reminding me about this place again. :)

[OysterHo]

I went today for takeout. I ordered the Keste pizza and the tiramisu. Both were excellent. If you want pizza in the style of Napoli, this is where you go. The crust had so much flavor and the arugula, prosciutto and mozzarella were awesome.

http://www.scuolavecchiapizzeria.com/

I hate that I'm going back on a diet again because there are so many other items to try but for now, I know where I'd go when the craving strikes again.

They were empty at 1:00 on a sunday for lunch. I hate to see that, especially in Delray. There was parking behind the buildings. If you go north on Federal, turn left before Atlantic. They even have their own designated spaces.

[CFByrne]

Fried Pizza - Sounds kind of weird at first.

But don't knock it until you've tried it. Check out the article in today's NYT.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/din...

And if you're in South Florida, you can check out one of these beauties at Scuola Vecchia Pizza e Vino in Delray Beach.

If your standard for"good pizza" is that you get "filled up" from two cheap slices, go somewhere else. If your standard is incredible sauce, crust, and toppings, go here.

I like to get one fried as above and one traditional - the Keste with Prosciutto and Arugula rocks.

Their pizzaiolos have been mentored by Chef Roberto Caporuscio, the American-chapter President of Associazone Pizzaiouli Napoletana, famous for Keste on Bleecker St NYC and now his own Don Antonio by Starita uptown on W 50th.
...

[CFByrne]

This Sunday evening... Chef Roberto Caporuscio from Keste Pizza on Bleeker Street in NYC will be hosting an event as S/V also unveils an updated menu,

He's president of Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani (the Association of Neapolitan Pizza) America.

So if you want to see what all the fuss is about Neapolitan Pizza, here's a good event to check out

http://www.facebook.com/#!/scuolavecc...

[CFByrne]

Went back here tonight, wife and I had a salad each and shared the Keste pizza. Fantastic, one of the best pizzas we've ever had.

Spent some time chatting with owners Shaun and his mom Sharon. Very nice folks and they'll talk about food all day if you like.

The lighting is now more subdued so the atmosphere was very pleasant, we finished things off with a cappachino and tiramiso which both were out-of-this-world.

I really think we're going to be going here much more often. It's really really good.

And you don't have to take it from me...

WorstPizza recently gave them a review here: http://www.worstpizza.com/2011/07/scuola-vecchia-pizza-delray-beach-fl/

and Biil Citara from New Times weighed in here: http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/cle...
"This is the best pizza you are ever going to eat. Spare me the earnest emails about this pizzeria or that pizzeria; one bite of this superlative pie, made in the finest Neapolitan tradition, and you will realize the error of your ways and beat yourself unmercifully."

-----
New Time
2120 NE 123rd St, North Miami, FL 33181

[mrmagee]

went on Sunday. was ok, wouldn't make an effort just to go there (which is what we did).

[CFByrne]

Clean Plate Charlie (NOT me) weighs in...

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/cle...

[johnmlinn]

Very interested to check this place out now. My favorite place at the moment is Pizzeria Oceano, so I'm curious how this stacks up. How were the wait times when you went, Charlie? PO can be a pain in the butt to get into. >.<

[CFByrne]

No wait at all when I went. Although one time was on something like a Tuesday night at 7PM, and the other was midweek at around 1PM. There's quite a bit of seating... let me think... hmmm maybe about 40 seats total. 8PM Saturday might be a different story of course.

[coffeyucf]

I had a chance to check this place out for lunch this week. Certainly not you're hole in wall grab a slice type place.

The interior is a very nice clean look with white marble tables. The menu was pretty straightforward a small selection of apps, some salads, and then the pizzas. Also the staff was very friendly. I especially liked how the owners came over to say hello and make sure everything was ok. This to me is a nice touch especially when you're starting out and trying to get people to come back.

Pizzas range anywhere from $12-$18. Which is a good pie price. Though these are individual pies not a big feed the family pie. So it is expensive. But hell this is Delray, if it's not Bru's Room, is it even worth mentioning whether or not it's expensive. If it's in Delray on the strip it's expensive.

My wife and I ordered two pies. One was a margherita with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. The other had sauasage. They were both good, though I did like the sausage better.

The fresh mozzarella was great on both. However I think the best part was the crust. It had just the right amount of saltiness and tasted really good. Also the pizza here is a little less well done than Anthonys. Which I know will be a plus to some and negative to others.

This place to me is kind of in the same vein as Anthonys or Carolinas. Though Carolinas I felt let their pizza get a little too well done if you know what I mean :-) Sorry for the bad joke I just couldn't help myself.

So if you like those 2 places you should like it here. I'd consider it to be a little better than both.

As for me. I'll be back. Though probably not too often. I've never quite latched on to this type of pizza. I prefer the taste of traditional hole in the wall NY slice joints instead.

[CFByrne]

I've been here 2 times now and I agree pretty much with everything coffey has to say. As for my opinions...

Minuses, in my mind, are:

* The decor might be a little too "clean and bright", There's lots of white tile and rather bright lights. They might think about subduing things a bit a night, maybe this will also happen over time as they add plants and other soft features.

* Yes the bill can add up pretty quickly. Let's say a couple comes in, orders a salad or delux app, two of the higher-end pizzas, and a couple of drinks. You're looking at about $10 + about $35 + say $10 and with tax you've got a $60 bill. For pizza. And this type of pizza cooks VERY quick. You might have it 5 minutes after you order. So you *could* wind up with a quick meal and $70 with tip.

That said, here are the plusses:

* Even though they called them "personal" size, I think with an app, one pie is *plenty* for two average eaters. When my wife and I ordered two, we ended up taking half of each home! So now you're talking more reasonable, maybe $10 app + $15 pie + $10 drinks = $35. Besides, if you want to be a bit more frugal, there are apps for $6, pies for $9, and have water.

Now you're talking a nice little meal, with some of the finest pizza anywhere, on The Ave, for two, for under $20. So the price is what you make of it!

* The pizza is fantastic. It's not NY slice pie, and it's not deep dish. It's definitely real authentic Neapolitan pizza. If you chat with the mgmt or cooks you will very quickly discover they are the real thing. Don't throw away the crust like you might do elsewhere - it's one of the best parts.

So far I've enjoyed the Margherita ($11), Regina Margherita ($16), and the Ortolana (veggie) ($16). Photos attached.

Next up I think is the Keste (named after the famous pizzeria in NYC) with "imported fresh buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, prosciutto de Parma, rucola, shaved gran cru, EVO, and basil". Yum. $18 but those are some serious ingredients there!

* Service was fast and friendly. As coffey said, the mgmt came over to check on things. Also even though I was there 1 week apart, the manager (?) recognized me and welcomed me back. Big extra points for this kind of non-cooler-than-thou service on The Ave.

I'll be back. Sounds like a great addition not only to Delray but all of South Florida. Check it out!

[coffeyucf]

Yeah I'd definitely agree with CF on the size of the 'personal' pie. If you add an app or a salad to share one pie is definitely enough for two.

[OysterHo]

Those look awesome! Can't wait to try this place. :)

[CFByrne]

Regarding some of my earlier critique, I see elsewhere a reviewer of this place says "the owner is currently researching some sort of acoustical treatments as well as some modified lighting."

Good ideas, it would be a shame for the decor etc to spoil an otherwise good thing.

[VaughnRmnE]

Love the name. Doesnt it translate to "Old school"? Sounds appropriate...