Arthur Avenue

[JohnL]

I've yet to try Mario's. I've been told several times by others that I should go.

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It's been a while for me--I am planning to go in the next couple of weeks--I have been eating there for a long time--twenty five years or longer.

I have gotten some good reports from reliable friends who have been there recently.

If ever there were an old war horse--Mario's is it!

It is often overlooked--as it seems to have blended in with the streetscape.

Solid Neapolitan cooking.

I believe that a lot of people are "dazzled" a bit by the hype based on Dominick's schtick!

Family style, no menu, long lines etc.--"It must be good!"

Though when I lived in the neighborhood and was "known" or with the "known" I had a number of really fine (and reasonably priced) meals there.

Also the pizza at Mario's (not on the menu) is not not be missed.

Ed Levine has a nice anecdote/write up in his "Pizza, a Slice of Heaven" book.

The key is to order a pie before dinner--as an appetizer! or as I have done many times-- a pie to go after dinner! (the ride back to anywhere is shorter and more enjoyable.

basic pie or with sausage is the way to go. They hate if you just sit down and order only a pie!

[Jason Perlow]

Speaking of Pizza on Arthur Ave... I'm beginning to make a habit out of bringing home a pizza from Full Moon after dinner. Say what you want about Patsy's or Arturos -- which I both love as far as the coal fired genre goes -- but when it comes to steel deck pies, Full Moon is what I think if when I want a New York style pizza. Not too thin, not too thick -- just right.

[JohnL]

Speaking of Pizza on Arthur Ave... I'm beginning to make a habit out of bringing home a pizza from Full Moon after dinner. Say what you want about Patsy's or Arturos -- which I both love as far as the coal fired genre goes -- but when it comes to steel deck pies, Full Moon is what I think if when I want a New York style pizza. Not too thin, not too thick -- just right.

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I agree totally!

Definitely try a Mario's pie.

with or without dinner!

also--

I posted about another find in Mt Vernon--Johnny's.

I bring this up because there was a discussion on another web site about the pizza at Full Moon and someone posted that Johnny's reminded them of the old days at Full Moon.

(there is some debate as to the new full moon vs the old).

IMOP--Johnny's is about as good as I have had in a while.

They are right off the Cross County Parkway.

Edited March 6, 2006 by JohnL (log)

[tautog]

Mario's pizza is the best up that way, just a notch below the original Patsy's and original John's when it was still good. I also still like Emilia's, especially for lunch.

[Juanito]

also--

I posted about another find in Mt Vernon--Johnny's.

I bring this up because there was a discussion on another web site about the pizza at Full Moon and someone posted that Johnny's reminded them of the old days at Full Moon.

(there is some debate as to the new full moon vs the old).

IMOP--Johnny's is about as good as I have had in a while.

They are right off the Cross County Parkway.

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I'm a big fan of Patsy's in Harlem, and Louie and Ernie's in the Bronx. Thin crusted, judiciously topped pizza just floats my boat in a way few other foods match. So I'm always on the lookout for alternatives, new pizza hills to climb. For some time now, I've heard of this place, Johnny's, in Mount Vernon. "Just as good as Louie and Ernie's" they said. "You've got to try this place."

So I did. First of all, it isn't a pizza place in the vein of the others, but a kind of dressed down red sauce joint that serves pizza. They don't sell slices, just pies. And there's waitress service. The double deck oven was manned by an older gent, kept busy shuffling pies this way and that, assisted by two younger kids making and topping the pizzas. I ordered a small margherita pizza. A few minutes later, out comes a 12" pie, cut into six slices, and set upon our table.

As soon as I grabbed the first slice, my heart sank. Rigid. No give to the slice whatsoever. What we were served was a thin, cracker like crust, topped with a sweet, fairly tasty sauce, and sparingly applied mozzarella. Despite the margherita designation, I found no fresh basil on the pie. While it was tasty enough, and frankly, one I'd be happy to eat under most circumstances, the inclusion of this place into the ranks of Patsy's and Louie and Ernie's was a cruel misrepresentation, one which caused my high expectations to be dashed on the rocks, tainting whatever pleasure I might otherwise get from the pie. It's not even in the same league.

What it is, is a decent to good pizza - okay to eat if presented, but certainly not worth a special trip from anywhere.

[TarteTatin]

We were in the Bronx for the first time this weekend.

Saturday, we had lunch off of Arthur Ave. at an indoor market. It had a few vegetable stalls and a few lunch/take out places. Also there was a cool handmade cigar making place where you could watch them making the cigars.

Arthur Ave. Retail Food Center. The Mercato cafe, I think it was called.

We had fresh fried zucchini flowers, two for a $1.00. Hubby had an already made delicious sandwich. Vegetarian friends had a freshly made eggplant, raddichio, endive sandwich. I asked for the pastrami, broccoli rabe sandwich, which sounded wonderful and unique! They didn't have pastrami. So the gentleman recommended a prosciutto, broccoli rabe, red roasted pepper and mozzarella sandwich. Very good!

The night before we ate at an Italian place called Patricia's. I don't think it's near Arthur Ave?

More likely near a hospital? It was a good family run Italian place. The type that gives you a big old fashioned salad for our table of five...and lots of bread and garlic oil to dip it in. Then we had a small margherita pizza for an app. I had Rotini with broccoli rabe (love it) and shrimp. Hubby had gnocchi, very light. Others had puttanesca, pasta with beans and broccoli rabe, another had mushroom ravioli that was delicious. House carafes of wine, all was good.