From Donuts to Delirium

A pizza that will make even the most discerning housewife crack a smile

While Mr P and I were in New York, we had the pleasure of trying pizza at three different places. The second restaurant we got our pizza on at was Lombardi’s. Lots of people say that this is the best pizza in New York (and hence, the world). It is certainly one of the oldest!  Actually, it IS the oldest! It is the very first pizzeria to grace America. Lombardi’s has been going strong for over 100 years. I was sooooo looking forward to this meal.

Lombardi’s is a fun and casual restaurant with red and white checked table cloths and brick walls. It’s just what you imagine it should be. This is the kind of place where you don’t feel to embarrassed about discreetly unbuttoning the top button of your jeans from extreme bloat (not that I do that daaaaaahlings, I have special “eating clothes” that  I wear for my big piggy meals in order to avoid that kind of thing).  Although they don’t accept reservations, Mr P and I did not wait long for our table, and service was prompt.

Normally, when I’m out,  I always order a diet coke or water. My philosophy is that I don’t like to waste calories on drinks, I save that for real food. I am normally never tempted by any fancy drinks or exotic juices–they just don’t hold much interest for me, but this was different. I really wanted to try their Italian soda. I saw a picture of it on flickr.com and since then, I knew I had to have it. Daaaahlings, seriously, this drink alone is worth coming to Lombardi’s for. It was amazing. It is now my second favourite drink in the world (first being the banana lassi at Tayyab’s in London). I ordered the raspberry Italian soda. It looked completely fabulous, but upon first sip, I didn’t like it. It tasted almost medicinal. Slowly, however,  it REALLY started to grow on me. Soon some of that delicious and heavy whipped cream started to mingle with the soda a bit and it became positively dreamy. Once I finished it you could hear me trying to slurp up any little remaining nectar amongst the ice cubes. You know that annoying sound that makes, right? Oh, I really am the worst dinner companion. Poor Mr. P… but actually, Mr P was really feeling that Italian soda too. They also have vanilla by the way, and for the purpose of research, I am happy to tell you that it is also just as excellent! Oh yes, I am horrible.

Okay, I know it’s a big picture, but something this wonderful demands it. She is a beauty, no?

For starters Mr P and I ordered the bread sticks with marinara dipping sauce. Yuck! Don’t order those. They tasted like old hot dog buns or something. Save the belly  space for your pizzas daaaaaahlings– isn’t it cool that I tell you this stuff? This way, at least when your thighs expand, it will be for the good stuff (please feel free to make a donation for this oh-so-valuable  service my lovelies).

And now, it’s time for the main even: the pizza. Luckily, in NY, unlike in the UK, you can order half of one pizza and half of another. I love that. Mr P and I ordered half of a regular margarita pizza and half of a white pizza. Behold…

You know what? It really was the best pizza I ever had– it left that pizza I had at Otto in the dust. So how is it different? Well, for one thing it is much bigger. I love these big pizzas. I’m not sure, but I think in Italy, the authentic pizzas are smaller, personal pizzas. But I am an American. I like big stuff. And I love this pizza in all it’s big-butt inducing glory. The crust was nicer than the one at Otto, being more crispy, crackly and wheaty-smelling. I have to admit though, I much preferred the white pizza to the much more demure regular pizza. While the regular pizza was without a doubt superb with its fresh mozzarella, San Marzano tomato sauce, and a sprinkling of basil, it was the raunchy cheese feast side that really stole the show for me. If you love cheese, this is Heaven my dears. The white pizza consists of mozzarella, tons of ricotta (yes!),  Romano cheese, herbs, and garlic infused olive oil. Who needs sauce??!? This half was incredibly, to use a Nigella Lawson term,”unctuous” and dense. Pure. Cheesy. Fatty. Indulgence. In fact, this is a pizza so decadent and scandalous, that it is almost adulterous! Yes, really! You can’t eat this if you are a salad girl, this pizza might kill you. Luckily for me, I’m not.

Unfortunately, Lombardi’s does not sell by the slice. You gotta buy the whole hog. If you live in NY, please leave your name and number so we can go on a pizza date if I’m ever there on my own (otherwise that whole hog is gonna be me). Because I can tell you one thing:  I  most definitely WILL come back here. Next time it’s going to be ALL white pizza and an Italian soda. God, I love New York.

Score for Lombardi’s Pizza: 9/10 (but if I just had the white pizza and the soda, it would have been a 10!)