In the borough war over the perfect pizza slice, Queens has slowly but surely been adding to its arsenal against Brooklyn and Manhattan, and its latest weapon is this family-owned pizzeria and friggitoria (fried-food shop), slinging piping-hot pies the old Neapolitan way. For a pillowy crust, owner and Paulie Gee’s vet Stefano Menna adheres to a 200-year-old method of naturally leavening sourdough, which is then topped with add-ons both classic (mozzarella di bufala, imported Italian tomatoes) and oddball (dried raisins, roasted pistachios). A two-minute turn in the 1,000-degree Stefano Ferrarro wood-fired oven, built in Naples and born from the volcanic ash of Mt. Vesuvius, gives slices their browned, bubbling finish.
Details
Address
36-08 Ditmars Blvd
Queens
11105
Cross street:
between 36th and 37th Sts
Transport:
Subway: N, Q to Astoria–Ditmars Blvd
Price:
Average pizza: $13, AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V
Opening hours:
Tue-Thu noon-9:30pm; Fri, Sat noon-11pm; Sun noon-9pm