Day 29, 2014: Marta (Flatiron, NYC)

DAY 29: OCTOBER 29th, 2014

LOCATION: Marta (29 E. 29th St, Flatiron District, NYC)

GUEST(S): Paulie Gee, Kitzi Taylor, Robin Rothman

ORDER: 1 slice of Margherita di Bufala (Mozzarella di Bufala, Basil), 2 slices of Salsiccia (Mozzarella, Pork Sausage, Crimini Mushrooms), 1 slice of Funghi (Fontina, Hen of the Woods, Chanterelles, Red Onion, Thyme), Coppa Cotta (Shoulder Ham, Fontina, Arugula, Red Onion)

REVIEW:
Meyer becomes a major pizza player. From the same mind that brought Shake Shack, the Gramercy Tavern and Blue Smoke, Danny Meyer's latest venture is called Marta.  The lobby of the Martha Washington hotel serves as the lavish-yet-not-pretentious setting for the Neapolitan style pizza joint. Two gorgeous wood-fired ovens and a behemoth Hibachi grill attract attention from the onlooking salivating patrons in the clearly visible kitchen.  The expansive yet variable dining area features a multitude of seating arrangements conducive to grabbing a bite with some co-workers, eating a nice family meal, enjoying a lunch date, or just sitting solo at the bar watching the pizzaioli work their magic.  These highly trained oven-tenders add high quality ingredients, elegantly manipulate the pies to ensure an even bake, and expertly retrieve and plate the pizzas like a finely tuned machine.  While this newcomer to the fancy pizza party may need some more familiarity with the high caliber equipment, Danny Meyer's magic touch will likely soon be seeing Marta near the top of all pizza charts.  I can't wait to return.

PHOTOS:

Funghi pie

Margherita and pizzaioli

slice of Funghi

slice of Margherita

Salsiccia pie

slice of Salsiccia

Coppa Cotta pie

slice of Coppa Cotta

underside of Coppa Cotta

MISCELLANEOUS:

Sean Taylor and Paulie Gee

1. I first met Paulie Gee at a pizza tasting he had at his house back in 2009.  By Pizza Month 2010, he had opened his own pizzeria. Just the other day, Zagat named Paulie Gee's the best pizzeria in NYC.

Kitzi and Sean with cheesesteaks

2. After pizza, Kitzi Taylor and I went home and watched game 7 of the World Series with Philly cheesesteaks.

Robin, Sean, Kitzi, Paulie

3. Robin Rothman finished the night singing at an open mic night at Scallywag's bar in Hell's Kitchen.  She sang the Cranberries hit "Zombie" in a Halloween influenced set.

Rockin' Robin Rothman

RATING:

 4.29/5

• VALUE:
   3.5/5


• AMBIENCE:
   3/3


• TASTE:
   8.5/10


• SERVICE:
   3/3

18/21 = .8571 x 5 = 4.2857