Patrizia’s of Brooklyn

Have you ever wished you were in Rome dining at one of those adorable el fresco cafe’s while drinking a glass of prosecco and eating the most perfect slice of pizza?  Yeah, so do we! However, if jetting off to the Eternal City whenever you feel like it for a pizza pie isn’t an option, we discovered a place that will make all your italian culinary wishes come true (minus the eight hour flight).

Patrizia’s of Manhattan (the brand new sister restaurant to Patrizia’s Brooklyn) is one of the most authentic and creative pizza joints in all of Manhattan. Their spin on pizza is one we simply couldn’t resist (and if we are being honest, we didn’t want to).

Before we give you all the yummy details of why we fell in love with Patriza’s, let us give you a quick background on this one of kind pizza palace. The owner and executive chef, Giacomo Alaio, is originally from Naples so we automatically knew we were in for an authentic italian experience. Alaio has run this family business for more than 25 years and prides himself on using his family recipes that date back 150 years! We couldn’t wait to see what this chef had in store for us.

First, the staff brought us some much needed bread, olive oil and champagne (because let’s be honest- what’s an Italian meal without some good ole’ carbs and lots of bubbly?)

Right before we finished off the bread basket, our waiter surprised us with a plate of fresh and lightly fried eggplant parmigiana. As soon as we took a bite, we were mesmerized by the explosion of flavor that happened in our mouths. The zest of the marinara sauce topped with parmigiana cheese was a match made  in heaven.

Now that we have worked up your appetite, let us share with you the true “star” of the show. What makes Patrizia’s super unique is how they shape and bake their pizza. Each one is shaped like a star and baked in a brick fire oven at a very hot 600 degrees fahrenheit! This adorable (yet extremely delectable) looking pizza is what Patrizia’s is famous for. We aren’t exaggerating when we tell you that this the closest you will get to real Italian pizza in the states: light sauce, crisp yet fluffy crust, and fresh toppings that sit lightly baked on top of heaps of bubbly cheese (minus all of the gunky grease).

Of course we couldn’t leave Patrizia’s without getting dessert (could you leave any legit Italian restaurant without ordering dessert? If your answer is yes then you are on the wrong blog).

Would you believe us if we told you they have a Nutella pizza? You read us right: a nutella. *star*. pizza. We are about to blow your minds, people. The “Stella Nutella Pizza” is a prefect concoction of pillowy pizza crust stuffed with sweet mascarpone cheese, lathered in a tub of Nutella, and topped with a dollop of thick whipped cream. When this star made us drool like a pasta fazool, it really was amore! (don’t mind our “cheesy” puns).

Tourists and locals alike must put Patrizia’s on their “must try” list while in the Big Apple. Their authentic Italian recipes and family-fun atmosphere will give you a true taste of Italy right here in the states. We will give one piece of advice: Patrizia’s is on the verge of a mega breakthrough, so you might want to visit before the lines are out the door. If you get the pleasure of dining there, make sure you come hungry, and don’t forget to tell them the East Coast Contessas sent you.