Astoria has never been short on good pizza. Great pizza, even. The kind of pizza that sparks passionate debates at parties. But R&R Pizza Connection isn't here to join the debate. It's here to end it, mostly by handing you a pie so good you forget what you were even arguing about in the first place.
Located on 34th Avenue, this is the spot where a dream turned into dough and dough turned into a full-blown neighborhood obsession. According to the team behind the place, Pizza Connection was born from a simple but bold idea: Bring the flavors of Italy to New York and make them so authentic that you question your own geography. And if that meant importing ingredients, techniques and the pizzaiolo himself from Italy, then so be it. Astoria wanted great pizza. These guys took that personally.
The dream team behind the dough
R&R Pizza Connection is the brainchild of Antonio Rescigno and cousins Frank and John Paul Riccardi. Their goal wasn't to reinvent pizza, but to connect New Yorkers to the kind of pizza that would make them close their eyes for a second longer than usual because their brains needed to process joy. That connection starts with imported artisanal flour that's unbleached, unbromated and treated with more respect than most people treat their houseplants.
The dough is long-fermented and high-hydration, which is the polite culinary way of saying this pizza crust has been coddled, nurtured and given room to grow into its full potential. It's airy, crisp and unexpectedly light. This is not the crust you leave behind on your plate after pretending to be full. You will eat it. You will enjoy it. You may even brag about it later.
And then there is Alessandro, the pizzaiolo, who was imported straight from Italy, which is a flex in itself. He brings the attitude and craft that make the whole operation sing. If you've seen their Instagram, you already know they take the craft seriously, but never so seriously that they can't have a little fun with it.
Astoria roots, global flavor
The restaurant's website says the place was built on one idea. Keeping it real. Real ingredients, real flavor, real New York energy. And that realness seems to be working. R&R Pizza Connection isn't trying to be a shrine to old-world pizza making. It's trying to be the place where Italian technique meets Queens swagger. And where Astoria pride is a badge of honor. And, it's all succeeding.
They start with Caputo Italian flour, premium olive oil and a dough that’s folded and stretched with the kind of confidence that comes from years of experience. The result is a pizza that tastes like Naples but behaves like New York. It’s fast and full of flavor, and it shows up at your table smelling like you should probably take a photo before touching it.
The menu leans into crowd favorites without ever feeling predictable. While their classic pies are treated with respect and love they deserve, the specialty pies can often steal the spotlight. No matter which, though, these are the kinds of pizzas that make even the quietest person at the table suddenly start speaking passionately with an Italian (or Queens!) accent.
A connection worth making
The beauty of R&R Pizza Connection is how deceptively simple it all feels. No gimmicks. No unnecessary flourishes. Just a team that loves pizza enough to perfect it, serve it and then post it on Instagram with enough confidence to make you consider going out for a slice at 11pm.
Astoria has many great restaurants, but R&R Pizza Connection has carved out its own corner by embracing tradition without getting stuck in it. The flavors are Italian, the spirit is Queens and the result is a pizza place that feels both comforting and exciting.
R&R Pizza Connection isn't just a restaurant. It's a reminder that sometimes the best connection is the one between a dream, a neighborhood and a very good pie.