31 Days of Pizza: Day 17, 2013: Graziella's (Fort Greene, Brooklyn)

DAY 17: OCTOBER 17th, 2013

LOCATION: Graziella's (232 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn)

ORDER: 2 slices of Arugula Pizza with Parmesan, 1 slice of Clams and Pancetta

GUEST(S): Paulie Gee

REVIEW:

A great Italian restaurant that serves amazing pizza. Graziella's brings tasty food and a fun atmosphere to a relatively quiet residential area of Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Just sitting in the spacious dining area with a full bar on one side and a tiled wood-buring brick oven on the other puts you in the perfect place to wait in anticipation of your meal. Named in honor of the owner's Sicilian grandmother, Graziella's offers a vast number of menu options beyond pizza. Try not to fill up on rice balls and chickpea panelle, the pizza is worth the wait. Cooked quickly at a very high heat in the wood-burning oven, the slightly charred cracker thin crust support the toppings firmly and securely. The signature pies creatively combine high quality ingredients like clams, smoked mozzarella, shaved parmesan, and traditional Italian meats to form tasty flavor concoctions that will make you want to come back. I know this because, well, I want to come back. If you go during the summer, look for me on the roof deck!

PHOTOS:

Profile shot of a slice of the Arugula Pizza and Parmesan

Clam and Pancetta

Arugula Pizza and Parmesan

MISCELLANEOUS:

1. Paulie Gee is a pizzeria owner I met back when he was just a chef cooking pies in his backyard. Now he has opened up his own pizzeria (called Paulie Gee's). I told him that I was limiting my intake of non-pizza items so I could fit into my suit for an upcoming wedding and his dietary suggestion was for me to "buy another suit."
2. I went to the New York Musical Improv Festival (NYMIF) tonight and saw comedians make up funny scenes and sing improvised funny songs as part of the NYMIF Inspirado. It happens every year at the Magnet Theater and can't wait to see it again next year...probably during Pizza Month.