Sunnyside Smiles

I work in Queens, so I am often walking around the smirkingly charming neighborhood of Sunnyside in search of a decent lunch option. This is Irish pub central, but I can't really swig pints of Guinness then go work for another 4 hours, right? And while I'm mostly of Irish descent, shepherd's pie and corned beef are not always crave worthy cuisine. Friday lunches are all about pizza, and Friday lunches in Sunnyside are all about Sunnyside Pizza.

The owners are second generation Italians from a town called Pomigliano d'Arco, a Neapolitan suburb set in the shadow of Mount Vesuvio. From the moment you step into the peanut sized pizza shop, you feel like you're part of this cozy neighborhood, part of the old New York City in the 20th century. The owners are always welcoming, from their overall warm disposition to their "how's it taste?" inquiries, and "have a great weekend sweetie" valedictions. They know their regulars. They appreciate the business. And they play oldies radio.

The pizza succeeds due to the quality of the ingredients, but also due to the chef's thoughtfulness. A plain slice is fantastically juicy and satisfying, but so are other slices. They experiment with Nonna slices, BBQ chicken, and the garlic bread slice. The garlic bread slice is pretty creative. Inspired by garlic bread, they dress the dough with chunky tomato sauce, mozzarella AND parmesan cheeses, and ribbons of minced garlic. Vampires beware.

Crust Thickness: Very Thin
Crust Softness: Soft
Crust Puffiness: Flat
Sauce: Authentico; chunky on some slices
Cheese: Grated, Superior.
Grease: Greasy
Style: NY Style
Slice Appeal: Good
Known for: Sesame Seeds on the outer rim of the crust

** Stars - Very Good

What the Stars Mean:
Stars are awarded similarly to the New York Times restaurant reviews. 1 star is recommended, 2 stars is very good, 3 stars is excellent, and 4 stars is pizza perfection.

http://www.sunnyside-pizza.com