Photo: Gothamist.com
Maybe I'm crazy, but I find it nearly impossible to get a good, innovative slice of pizza in this city. Every corner is overrun with (often great) traditional slice joints. There are a million pizza places where you can buy a whole pie with widely varied toppings. But if you want the originality in toppings, you gotta buy the whole pie. Baker's Pizza changed that for me, and I have Jordan Baker to thank for that.
The restaurant opened in an area I love on Avenue A for its small businesses. You'll find the likes of Harry & Ida's, Mikey Likes It, and Tompkins Square Bagels here. The neighborhood could surely use a new slice joint. The space is casual, no frills here. The floor is lovely white & black tiled mosaic, tables are simple high tops, and there is a vintage video game machine. The walls are lined with photographs from old movies and some original photography from the owner's clearly hip girlfriend. Feel like playing the piano? They've got one too.
The menu is fairly small. There are two sandwich options which both come on fresh focaccia. You can have a Meatball Parm with fresh mozzarella, mint and lemon zest and a Speck & Broccoli Rabe with herbed ricotta spread. Then there is a fantastic list of pies to choose from whole or by the slice. Choose from 8 options, weekly specials, or make your own.
The owner said he's sick of eating pizza because "I've eaten it every fucking day for 3 months." I'm glad he did because he came up with some great combos. The toppings set this place apart from most other NYC pizza places. The slices are enormous and generously weighed down by a multitude of toppings. My favorites were the B & B with brussels sprouts, bacon and white truffle oil and the Speck-tacular with speck, broccoli rabe, roasted red peppers and parmesan. If you're feeling slightly less adventurous they have a feet version of the "Supreme Pizza" topped with pepperoni, mushroom, green pepper and red onion. Here's what we had:
Garlic knots w/ Pesto
Speck And Broccoli Rabe Sandwich - herbed ricotta spread on homemade focaccia
Supreme Pizza - pepperoni, mushroom, green pepper and red onion.
Baker's Pizza herbed ricotta, homemade pork sausage and caramelized onion.
Speck-Tacular speck, broccoli rabe, roasted red peppers, parmesan.
B&B Pizza brussels sprouts, bacon and white truffle oil.
Special pie- Szechuan chicken & broccoli
