31 Days of Pizza: Day 26, 2024: Limelight Pizzeria (Chelsea, NYC)

exterior

DAY 26: OCTOBER 26th, 2024

LOCATION: Limelight Pizzeria (656 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011)

GUEST(S): Robin Rothman, Valerie Corbett, Matt Shafeek, Dave Eng, Ange DeManti, Shannon Krowicki

ORDER: 1 slice of Margherita (tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil), 1 slice of Triple Sauce (san marzano tomato, vodka, pesto sauce, fresh mozzarella), 1 slice of Classic NY (San Marzano tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella) with Sausage

REVIEW:
A landmark pizza experience. It might not be too farfetched to hear that a building constructed in 1845 is the home of a coal-fired oven. What is shocking is that this building was originally consecrated as a church and the pizza oven is one of the newest in Manhattan. According to wikipedia, what was once the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion today is called the Limelight Coal-fired Pizzeria. In between, the building has served as a drug rehab facility, the iconic New York Limelight nightclub, another nightclub and, believe it or not, another pizzeria. That other pizzeria, Grimaldi’s, was kind enough to install a coal-burning oven and leave it there when they closed up shop. Limelight Pizzeria and its patrons are the beneficiaries. The centrally located Chelsea pie place has a decent sized dining room in addition to outdoor seating should weather permit. Another carryover from the prior tenant (the pizzeria, not the nightclub) was the baking preparation and high quality ingredients. Just like at Grimaldi’s, I suggest ordering a Margherita with no more than one salty topping like olives, pepperoni, or sausage with extra sauce cooked “well done.” Expect the characteristic coal-fired char around the outer edge and a crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside crust, in general. Also, expect to love LimeLight Coal-fired Pizzeria.

PHOTOS:

sign out front

interior

Triple Sauce pie

Margherita pie

Day 26

slice of Triple Sauce

underside

Classic NY with Sausage

slice of Classic NY with sausage

VIDEO:

coming soon

MISCELLANEOUS:

Valerie Corbett, Dave Eng, Ange DeManti, Shannon Krowicki, Matt Shafeek, Sean Taylor, Robin Rothman

1. Valerie Corbett, Dave Eng, Ange DeManti, Shannon Krowicki, Matt Shafeek, Robin Rothman and I all got pizza prior to seeing the debut of a musical written by mutual friends called The Algorhythms at the Magnet Theater. It's fun, the songs are catchy, and I recommend you get a ticket for it sells out.

Sean and Valerie

2. Valerie Corbett and I both got each other pizza tshirts years ago. Randomly we both chose to wear them tonight.

3. Dave Eng is a trivia nut like me. Today he taught me why they call it a quarantine. It comes from the Latin for 40 days which was the period of time that one would have to remain docked "at sea" before coming into a new town to prove they didn't have a sickness.

4. Matt Shafeek had to leave dinner early to participate in his own show at the Magnet Theater called Metal Boy. It's an improv comedy troupe that has been together for over 10 years. Check them out when you get a chance too.

5. Ange DeManti and Shannon Krowicki remember a lot of stuff from their Catholic upbringings.