Lombardi's Pizza
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Lombardi's may have lost it's old-style family feel but the fact is it still serves great pizza. With probably the best crust EVER the toppings are a little lackluster but the crust makes up for anything the toppings may miss. The building itself is cute and quaint on the outside, but the restaurant follows the typical pizzeria formula on the inside. Come for the pizza and the good service, and take the rest with a grain of salt.
Atmosphere
Following the typical formula, Lombardi's may be the oldest pizzeria in the U.S. but it looks pretty much the same as the all the others: a little too bright, crowded, noisy, and slightly corporate, complete with the headset-clad host who negotiates your table before handing you off to another sub-host, who finally seats you at a tiny table crammed against the wall. Although the building itself was architecturally interesting, with exposed brick wall, old octagonal-tiled floors, and vintage ceiling fans, mostly it is just more of the formula: lots of wood, crowded tables, red and white checkered tablecloths, framed photos of pizza, and celebrities, and celebrities with pizza, and Frank Sinatra playing over the sound system. Of course, since Lombardi's claims to be the original American pizzeria, perhaps it is all the others that do the copying. Either way, Lombardi's looks and feels pretty much like the a Pizzeria Uno......or vise versa.
Service
Service is casual but very friendly and efficient. Besides referring to us as 'you guys' a few too many times, our server was genuinely concerned, helpful, and nice. Actually, it was some of the best service we've had in NYC. Lombardi's takes CASH ONLY. There is an ATM on the premises.
Food
Lombardi's may look like a chain pizzeria but, thankfully, its pizza is on a way higher plane. Coming is 2 sizes, small 14"- 6 slices ($15.50) or large 18"- 8 slices ($19.50), the Original pizza is simply mozzarella, tomato sauce, Romano cheese, and basil to which you may, or may not, add toppings. The list of toppings is kept small and simple, with things like pepperoni, meatballs, roasted peppers, olives, anchovies, and the like. Toppings are $3 each, $5 for 2, $6 for 3, and so on.
After a quick 15-20 minutes, the made-to-order pizza comes fresh out of the oven, hot and steamy. Ours was pepperoni, meatballs, and peppers. We ordered a small because we didn't think a large would fit on the tiny table. The crust was thin but crispy, doughy, yeasty, and chewy, all the things a pizza dough should be. Without a doubt, the crust is the star! On top, the cheese was nice, the peppers simple but good, and the meatballs garlicky with a little taste of fennel. The pepperoni did not standout as I would have liked it to, nor did the tomato sauce or fresh basil. Overall, the toppings were not anything outstanding but the crust more than makes up for what the toppings lack. We made a passing comment about wishing we had added fresh garlic to the pizza and the server, who had overheard us, appeared unprompted with a dish of garlic, which was nice. The garlic added a nice and much-needed punch.
After a quick 15-20 minutes, the made-to-order pizza comes fresh out of the oven, hot and steamy. Ours was pepperoni, meatballs, and peppers. We ordered a small because we didn't think a large would fit on the tiny table. The crust was thin but crispy, doughy, yeasty, and chewy, all the things a pizza dough should be. Without a doubt, the crust is the star! On top, the cheese was nice, the peppers simple but good, and the meatballs garlicky with a little taste of fennel. The pepperoni did not standout as I would have liked it to, nor did the tomato sauce or fresh basil. Overall, the toppings were not anything outstanding but the crust more than makes up for what the toppings lack. We made a passing comment about wishing we had added fresh garlic to the pizza and the server, who had overheard us, appeared unprompted with a dish of garlic, which was nice. The garlic added a nice and much-needed punch.
Cleanliness
Very clean, including the restrooms.
Pros
Great pizza, reasonable prices, excellent service.
Cons
A little bit of a corporate feel, especially with the headset-clad host; small, cramped tables, too bright to be romantic.
