On Chkalov, just south of Mill Plain Blvd, just east of I-205. Vancouver, WA
December 29th 2009
General Information: NYC Pizzeria is a single pizza restaurant owned by a guy who may or may not be GREEK AS FUCK! It's in a classic Vancouver building (meaning a strip mall). NYC Pizzeria is located immediately off of the Mill Plain exit of I-205 in Vancouver, WA (Chkalov Dr.). It started out as “Aldo’s Pizza” and was run by an extremely nice couple (I remember the lady as a down-to-earth middle-aged Italian woman), and I (Frank Booth) have been eating at this place since it opened up. A few years back the owners of Aldo’s sold the place and the recipe to some Greek (I’m guessing) folks. The pizza recipe is exactly the same, or extremely similar. They serve
The Story: Frank and I had just finished a shit ton of food at the fantastic Muchas Gracias. I ordered a steak fajita burrito and a fish taco. Frank ordered the same + an additional fish taco. We were both full as fuck, but started talking about NYC Pizza. We decided to go and stuff ourselves even further. It was a genius plan.
-The Pizza-
1 Small Pepperoni w/ extra sauce
Crust-
NYC style crust, meaning thin as a crack addict but not that awful shitty flimsy horseshit. It had a good flavor, but allowed the rest of the taste to shine. It was certainly quality. (Ray) The outer crust is fantastic. Soft and chewy, but not the left over gum in a dead hooker's twat kind of chew. The consistency is great, the flavor is bready, but mild, leaving a perfect halo around the rest of the pizza. The inner crust soaks up all the mother fucking GREASSEEE like a Chinese bush. Fucking FLAVOR.
Sauce-
Mild as hell and thin, but it had a good flavor that complimented the thin crust. We were wise and ordered extra sauce which worked out tremendously. The taste of the sauce was more tomato and less herbs, but not in a bad pasty way, as can typically happen when you go the mild route. I wouldn't say it is their best attribute, but it was still quite good. (Ray) Sauce is quality. We got extra, per usual. I'm not sure how this sauce would do on its own, say, with some cheesesticks, etc... But what makes it and this pie so fucking delicious is the overall blend. All of the ingredients going into the pies at NYC Pizzeria are quality and FRESH. The sauce has a fresh, tomatoey flavor throughout it, slightly seasoned, but not too herby. Melds together with the melting cheese and grease sopped crust like an Arab in a sandstorm.
Toppings-
The pepperoni was top notch. Some of the best pepperoni I've had. It reminded me of the pepperoni American Dream in Portland uses. I don't know if they are the same, but they are both fantastic. It wasn't overbearing, it worked well within the full flavor of the pizza, not standing out too much. (Ray) Ray said it. Top fucking notch. I think the quality of the pepperoni specifically is actually a bit better than American Dream (though I love Am Dream). Again, fresh flavors, not stale horse cooch flavors. Mild in hotness but fucking outstanding in spice-level.
Cheese-
This is where NYC really shines. Their cheese was fantastic. Just a mozz, but high quality I'm certain. It's the kind where you get a long string with every bite. Flavor was perfect. It really brought the whole taste of the pizza up to another level. (Ray) Fresh, flavorful, and plenty of it. Not over cheesed like some places with shit quality do to cover up the mess. It's stringy, but TENDER. When you bite through it, it almost melts in your mouth.
Overall taste-
This pizza represented what I would call BALANCE in a pizza. Nothing stood out in flavor above anything else. Everything complimented each other very well and was flavorful enough to please but mild enough to not feel like I was eating a few pounds of meat. (Ray) A blend of fresh, quality ingredients in what is one of the best pure flavors in a pizza that I have experienced.
Value-
$10.25 for a small pepperoni with extra sauce. It was enormous, but it was about the size you'd expect from a small pizza. However, for the flavor and that it was a decent amount of pizza, it was well worth the money. Save your stripper tipping cash and make the trip to NYC, it's a much better value than blowing $10 looking at pussy you'll never get. (Ray) Average price if you're comparing, but because of the quality, it easily makes it worth it.
-Beer-
On tap-
3 beers. THREE FUCKING BEERS. Drop Top, Widmer Hef and I think it was Coors Light. Incredibly unimpressive if you live and eat in the Portland Area. (Ray) They basically have no room for tapped beers, but somehow fit in three of them. I suppose it's a fuck of a lot better than no beer on tap.
Bottled-
I think there were 6 or 7 beers. Your typical boring domestic shit, plus Kingfisher, which I've never had. The Kingfisher is the only thing that saved this from being one of the worst beer selections I've seen at a Portland Metro pizza joint. Oh, they also had Heineken. In recognition of Frank, FUCK THAT SHIT!! WHERE THE FUCK WAS THE PABST BLUE RIBBON!? (Ray) Not a fucking happy hour deal or anything. Go for the pizza, not the beer.
-Atmosphere-
Location-
Easy to get to if you have the street name. Right off the freeway, not too far from one of Vancouver's major thoroughfares. The place can is certainly not in the most economical spot, which is a fucking shame, because I'd like to see them do more business.
Exterior Atmosphere-
A strip mall, and one of the least impressive ones you'll find. Doesn't really matter though, because the pizza makes up for it. (Ray) What Ray said.
Interior Atmosphere-
The ONLY thing good about the inside of this restaurant is the wonderful gyro meat spinning in the kitchen. Makes you hungry as hell. Otherwise it looks like one of those cheap ass, atmosphere free teriyaki places you see everywhere. Just tables and chairs, nothing to separate it from a high school cafeteria. (Ray) Very clean, very dull, very white. Some pictures of Italy on the walls, and a TV. Maybe 20 small tables at the most...I'd guess 10-15.
Service-
FANTASTIC. The food came out fast as you cum on your first fuck. The guy also helped us out a little bit with the price. I was impressed by this. Just a quality experience. (Ray) By little bit he means a quarter... but it was still from his tip money.
-Review Notes-
Overall a great experience. Good times, great pizza, and great service. Aside from the beer selection and the atmosphere this is about the best New York Style pizza I've had. (Ray) Absolutely the best NY pizza I've had. Better than the ones I tried in NY (not that I hit even the smallest percentage of them when I was there). It comes out fucking HOT, so be careful. I've burnt the roof of my mouth more times than not on the first bite. You'll want to use a fork for this one, because of the greased up crust, but the flavor is to die for, so it's worth the forking.
-OVERALL RATING-
8/10. A great pizza to have when you just want pizza. No frills, no bullshit, great taste, balance and best of all, relatively inexpensive. I'm not a fan of NY Style, but this is quality. (Ray)
8/10. Fantastic pizza, and the top of my NY style list. I'll have to stop by and try a Gyro sometime, but it will be hard to avoid the pizza.
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