#95 – MARGHERITA at GIUSEPPINA’S

For the third year in a row, I’m going to attempt to eat every single item on Time Out New York’s annual 100 Best Dishes list. In no particular order, here’s my take on their Top 100. Let the gluttony continue…

When I was little, my younger brother wanted to be just like me. I would dance to Michael Jackson songs and he’d also don the white glove. I’d dream up imaginary movies and he’d be the first to write the imaginary theme song. It’s natural to look up to your older sibling and try to emulate (or perhaps surpass) their accomplishments. Either that or I was just really cool!

So I get why Chris Iacono opened a very similar restaurant to his brother Mark, after training at Lucali. Both restaurants are intimate, neighborhood pizza spots with no fuss, no major frills, and just pizza.

In fact, Giuseppina’s menu only lists pizza and calzones. That’s all they serve here. No salads, no soups, no fried mozzarella sticks. Just pizza!

So guess what we ordered? Although we wanted some toppings, Time Out included the plain margherita pie on their list. With just cheese, tomato, and basil. I asked if we could get artichokes on half the pie and I was surprised to be met with an affirmation.

Many people have been calling Giuseppina’s Lucali East and after re-reading my initial thoughts on Lucali, I’d have to agree. Most of my complaints about the original spot still ring true for me here.

The pizza is quite large and for $22, plus $3 for each topping ($8 for the artichokes!), it better be. Two of us couldn’t finish one pie and we left with enough leftovers for a midnight snack.

Much like Lucali, I find the thin, slightly blistered crust here to be a bit dry. The tomato sauce is also rather heavy for me, feeling more like gravy than fresh tomatoes. But I appreciated the generous portion of basil, the strong whiffs of garlic, and the fantastic stretchy cheese.

Maybe it’s because of the out of the way area (is this South Slope, Greenwood Heights, or Sunset Park??), but it doesn’t seem like Giuseppina’s garners the frustrating crowds that Lucali does in Cobble Hill. And it’s a shame because from my memory, the pizzas are pretty identical. Like brother, like brother.

Would Giuseppina’s Margherita make my Top 100 of the year? Is Giuseppina’s the best pizza in NY? If you like Lucali’s large and thin NY-style, you’ll love this. I like the atmosphere and appreciate the ingredients and technique, but they only get a 7 out of 10 for the dry crust and heavy sauce.