Peters' Restaurant and Grille 1606 First Avenue, New York, New York 10028
Living in N.Y.C. there are always seemingly limitless dining options and as my philosophy is that most any restaurant can be a gluten-free dining experience. If I have a particular craving I am not going to let Celiac dictate where I can eat. Remember, it is all about asking the right questions of your server or manager when dining out to ensure that you are not going to get glutened. Many of you know that I am also deathly allergic to shellfish (all types) so dining out is truly a challenge but I do not let it stop me. In all my years since my Celiac and Shellfish allergy diagnoses, I have yet to go into anaphylaxis (woo-hoo) nor have I had any adverse reactions to gluten making its way into my meal. Sure, I may not always get exactly what I am looking for but I have never gone hungry no matter where I am in the world. Oh, and for those grammarphiles out there the restaurant is Peters' not Peter's because, as you will see if you visit, various famous Peters photos don the walls.
So back to Peters'. It is one of those gluten-free places you hear about and always mean to get to. It is a bit outside of my normal circle (and my office is just outside of their delivery zone) so I never really got around to making a special trip. The other day I was at the Tavern on the Green auction preview with my other half and afterwards thought why not head East and give Peters' a try?
The first thing you will notice is that the restaurant itself is small. In the warmer months they have seating out front and in a back garden area but neither were options when the temperature was below freezing. We were lucky enough to snag the last table (though turnover is quick thanks to fast and efficient service). There is also a counter/bar where diners can sit as well.
The menu itself is very lengthy featuring your traditional diner fare with some ethnic specialties thrown in for good measure. When I go to a gluten-free or friendly establishment I try to order something I would normally not make at home. When we arrived we were still in the brunch/lunch time zone so I really had a hankering for a gluten-free Monte Christo which came with a good-sized bowl of chicken and rice soup that was actually very good (if a bit on the salty side). The sandwich arrived open-faced with a good portion of turkey, ham, and Swiss – piled on two pieces of gluten-free French toast. It arrived with a side of maple syrup and a selection of jelly. It was well prepared and despite the $3.00 surcharge for gluten-free was well worth the price. I always find surcharges to be a bit on the tacky side – I mean you know what the price is going to be, just price your items accordingly rather than the dreaded surcharge. My partner had an omelet with toast and home fries that he also enjoyed.
The one thing about Peters' menu is that it is a bit confusing. They have some items that are clearly marked as not being available gluten-free – okay, no problem there. However, you are left wondering if that means absolutely everything else (which I am guessing is the case) can be modified to be gluten-free (with the relevant surcharges of course). It would be nice if the menu was a bit better organized or provided a bit more information on the gluten-free preparations (i.e. dedicated fryers, griddles, etc.).
All in all Peters' was a typical diner experience with solid service. It was nice to order something that was gluten-free and not have to explain myself. In fairness, I only had a small taste of their gluten-free offerings but would I make a special trip to dine there – probably not, though I will likely be back to try their meatloaf and turkey with gluten-free stuffing next time I find myself in the neighborhood. If it was in my neighborhood I could see myself eating there more frequently but to make the trip with so many other options around is just not that practical.
Their Web site, while a bit on the light-side does not appear to have been updated in a while but the menu appears to be pretty much the same. You can also find them on Menupages as well.
So back to Peters'. It is one of those gluten-free places you hear about and always mean to get to. It is a bit outside of my normal circle (and my office is just outside of their delivery zone) so I never really got around to making a special trip. The other day I was at the Tavern on the Green auction preview with my other half and afterwards thought why not head East and give Peters' a try?
The first thing you will notice is that the restaurant itself is small. In the warmer months they have seating out front and in a back garden area but neither were options when the temperature was below freezing. We were lucky enough to snag the last table (though turnover is quick thanks to fast and efficient service). There is also a counter/bar where diners can sit as well.
The menu itself is very lengthy featuring your traditional diner fare with some ethnic specialties thrown in for good measure. When I go to a gluten-free or friendly establishment I try to order something I would normally not make at home. When we arrived we were still in the brunch/lunch time zone so I really had a hankering for a gluten-free Monte Christo which came with a good-sized bowl of chicken and rice soup that was actually very good (if a bit on the salty side). The sandwich arrived open-faced with a good portion of turkey, ham, and Swiss – piled on two pieces of gluten-free French toast. It arrived with a side of maple syrup and a selection of jelly. It was well prepared and despite the $3.00 surcharge for gluten-free was well worth the price. I always find surcharges to be a bit on the tacky side – I mean you know what the price is going to be, just price your items accordingly rather than the dreaded surcharge. My partner had an omelet with toast and home fries that he also enjoyed.
The one thing about Peters' menu is that it is a bit confusing. They have some items that are clearly marked as not being available gluten-free – okay, no problem there. However, you are left wondering if that means absolutely everything else (which I am guessing is the case) can be modified to be gluten-free (with the relevant surcharges of course). It would be nice if the menu was a bit better organized or provided a bit more information on the gluten-free preparations (i.e. dedicated fryers, griddles, etc.).
All in all Peters' was a typical diner experience with solid service. It was nice to order something that was gluten-free and not have to explain myself. In fairness, I only had a small taste of their gluten-free offerings but would I make a special trip to dine there – probably not, though I will likely be back to try their meatloaf and turkey with gluten-free stuffing next time I find myself in the neighborhood. If it was in my neighborhood I could see myself eating there more frequently but to make the trip with so many other options around is just not that practical.
Their Web site, while a bit on the light-side does not appear to have been updated in a while but the menu appears to be pretty much the same. You can also find them on Menupages as well.
Palà 198 Allen Street New York, New York 10002
I had the absolute pleasure of dining at Palà last night with a dear friend and colleague of mine who actually suggested do a gluten-friendly restaurant…nice. We cabbed it down to the Lower East Side and were there in about 15 mins. I actually had not been in that neighborhood in years so it is always fun to see how neighborhoods are changing.
When we arrived at the restaurant it appeared as though we would basically have it to ourselves. There was one other table of four but it was Monday evening after all and we were eating early for NYC. More people did come in as the evening progressed. I had made a reservation, just in case, but clearly it was not needed. I am a big planner so like to have set plans. The restaurant has a rustic feel to it with a large glass garage door that can be opened in nice weather to make an open air dining room – coupled with the sidewalk seating.
We were greeted by a friendly waitress (who would be with us the entire meal) and given our choice of tables. We were presented with the menus and specials and our cocktail orders taken. Overall the service was very good. It was efficient, our server knowledgeable, and service was non intrusive. So what did GFM eat?
Well, the menu is divided into two sides the regular with gluten-free options and a vegan side (which is nice for my vegan friends out there). The menu is cleverly coded with what options are available gluten-free or vegetarian or dairy free (so multiple sensitivities and allergies are addressed). Perhaps the most notable messaging on the menu is the fact that they use a dedicated fryer AND pizza oven. Unfortunately I could not sample any of the fried delicacies as their one shellfish item was also deep-fried. Oh, well…nothing lost.
I opted to start with the Rapa salad which was roasted yellow beets, ginger, red onions mixed greens and pecorino cheese dressed in a light vinaigrette. It was, in a word, delicious. Just the right amount of tart dressing paired with the earthiness of the yellows beets and the saltiness of the cheese made for a wonderfully simple salad that was full of complex flavors – all of which worked remarkably well together. For my main course I was torn between the pasta or the pizza. Their extensive pasta choices (GF diners get a choice of three types of pasta: penne, fusilli, or spaghetti) can be dressed in any of the seven sauces they offer. I make tons of pasta at home so decided to go for something I do not make regularly – pizza.
My pizza of choice was the Parma which contained prosciutto di Parma, cherry tomatoes, Parmigiano cheese emulsion, tomato sauce, and mozzarella. I think there was also peppercorns in there as well which I could have done without. The pizza was also sprinkled with fresh rosemary which was a nice touch. Funny enough, when I ordered this pizza our waitress asked me if I liked a lot of cheese because this variety is apparently their cheesiest – and they were not kidding. The pizza itself was absolutely, hands down, the best I have had to-date. The crust was light and airy and really tasted like the real thing. I was almost in disbelief asking my friend if her (gluten-filled crust) looked different. It of course did, and this restaurant takes food allergies very seriously.
The majority of their desserts are also gluten-free but after a few glasses of wine, my rather generously-sized salad and a large pizza, GFM was, gasp, too full for dessert. Not to worry though as I will most definitely be going back very soon – maybe I’ll make it a wine and dessert excursion. You can check out Palà’s menu online but next time you find yourself on the Lower East Side, do yourself a favor and give this place a try.
When we arrived at the restaurant it appeared as though we would basically have it to ourselves. There was one other table of four but it was Monday evening after all and we were eating early for NYC. More people did come in as the evening progressed. I had made a reservation, just in case, but clearly it was not needed. I am a big planner so like to have set plans. The restaurant has a rustic feel to it with a large glass garage door that can be opened in nice weather to make an open air dining room – coupled with the sidewalk seating.
We were greeted by a friendly waitress (who would be with us the entire meal) and given our choice of tables. We were presented with the menus and specials and our cocktail orders taken. Overall the service was very good. It was efficient, our server knowledgeable, and service was non intrusive. So what did GFM eat?
Well, the menu is divided into two sides the regular with gluten-free options and a vegan side (which is nice for my vegan friends out there). The menu is cleverly coded with what options are available gluten-free or vegetarian or dairy free (so multiple sensitivities and allergies are addressed). Perhaps the most notable messaging on the menu is the fact that they use a dedicated fryer AND pizza oven. Unfortunately I could not sample any of the fried delicacies as their one shellfish item was also deep-fried. Oh, well…nothing lost.
I opted to start with the Rapa salad which was roasted yellow beets, ginger, red onions mixed greens and pecorino cheese dressed in a light vinaigrette. It was, in a word, delicious. Just the right amount of tart dressing paired with the earthiness of the yellows beets and the saltiness of the cheese made for a wonderfully simple salad that was full of complex flavors – all of which worked remarkably well together. For my main course I was torn between the pasta or the pizza. Their extensive pasta choices (GF diners get a choice of three types of pasta: penne, fusilli, or spaghetti) can be dressed in any of the seven sauces they offer. I make tons of pasta at home so decided to go for something I do not make regularly – pizza.
My pizza of choice was the Parma which contained prosciutto di Parma, cherry tomatoes, Parmigiano cheese emulsion, tomato sauce, and mozzarella. I think there was also peppercorns in there as well which I could have done without. The pizza was also sprinkled with fresh rosemary which was a nice touch. Funny enough, when I ordered this pizza our waitress asked me if I liked a lot of cheese because this variety is apparently their cheesiest – and they were not kidding. The pizza itself was absolutely, hands down, the best I have had to-date. The crust was light and airy and really tasted like the real thing. I was almost in disbelief asking my friend if her (gluten-filled crust) looked different. It of course did, and this restaurant takes food allergies very seriously.
The majority of their desserts are also gluten-free but after a few glasses of wine, my rather generously-sized salad and a large pizza, GFM was, gasp, too full for dessert. Not to worry though as I will most definitely be going back very soon – maybe I’ll make it a wine and dessert excursion. You can check out Palà’s menu online but next time you find yourself on the Lower East Side, do yourself a favor and give this place a try.
Sambuca 20 West 72nd Street New York, New York 10023
Last week I was looking for a restaurant on the Upper West Side and stumbled across Sambuca, which is not only one of my favorite cuisines–Italian–but also just happens to have a gluten-free menu available for Celiac diners.
I was dining with my other half who is non-Celiac. I thought this place would be perfect because I could sample their gluten-free menu while he could enjoy a gluten-filled dinner. I arrived at the restaurant early and was quickly seated at a primo table ideal for people watching. Once seated I was presented with both gluten-free and regular menus along with the wine list. I quickly began to peruse the gluten-free selections when my server keyed right in on this and said “Oh, are you gluten-free”. When I responded she quickly offered up a selection of gluten free breads and took my drink order so that I could imbibe whilst waiting for my guest. Two cheesy sausage muffins (one large, one small) and a corn bread disc soon arrived. I thought this to be a very nice touch. The muffins were actually very good. A bit tough and slightly dry but the sausage and cheese taste sensation I was experiencing one over the fact that these were not likely baked that day. The cornbread disc was, well, in a word confusing, and not very good. It was extremely dry and tough lacked any sort of taste.
Soon after I sampled the gluten-free bread offerings, my partner arrived and quickly ordered a Martini. I was drinking a fabulous Sauvignon Blanc that was really quite good. The restaurant offers a relatively decent selection of wines that are well-priced along with a gluten-free beer option (Redbridge) which I was dying to try but decided to stick with wine for the evening.
The restaurant is family style – offering essentially two portion sizes, a large and small option, both of which feed more than one person. As we would only be splitting a starter and a side dish we opted for the smaller portions. We agreed on the grilled Portobello mushrooms with arugula. I had a hankering for their ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach as my main course and my partner had the Chicken Picatta. We ordered a side of broccoli rabe with garlic to share and for dessert I opted for the chocolate chip cake with cream cheese filling covered in chocolate ganache and my partner their signature Sambuca Tower consisting of banana praline gelato layered with chocolate wafers, chocolate sauce, chocolate chips, and whipped cream (non gluten-free desserts appeared to all be family style).
The Portobello appetizer was rather disappointing. They were tough and really lacked any flavor. They were presented atop a bed of arugula and a lemon. Now I love simple, rustic options but this was neither of the two – it was just rather tired and lazy. My ravioli on the other hand were quite good. They were well cooked and flavorful but were swimming in an overload of marinara sauce that really was not necessary. Some freshly grated cheese would have been most welcome vs. the pizzeria-style shaker placed on the table. My partner enjoyed his chicken which looked very good and was not overly sauced. Both of our portions were rather large and we had plenty to take home but unfortunately it was not an option as we had plans afterwards. The broccoli rabe side was plentiful and sautéed well so that it had a bit of a crunch as I prefer rather than the often lifeless version many places pass off.
My dessert was a large piece of cake but it tasted old so I am not sure how many of these they are selling during the week. It had the dreaded refrigerator taste that makes me cringe. It was otherwise dry and just okay. My partner’s signature dessert was enough for a small army and was presented in all of its towering glory which really was on the line of being obscene and pretentious. He commented that it was just good – not great.
On a high note, The service was stellar and very attentive without being obtrusive. There was a fellow Celiac at the table next to us who I heard comment that the bread disc needed a chain saw to cut. I commend the restaurant for offering gluten-friendly options but given the prices and overall mediocre quality it was not worth the money. I could have easily gone to a non gluten-free locale and eaten far better (and gluten free) for the price. I might not have had quite the selection but quality trumps quantity in my book.
I was dining with my other half who is non-Celiac. I thought this place would be perfect because I could sample their gluten-free menu while he could enjoy a gluten-filled dinner. I arrived at the restaurant early and was quickly seated at a primo table ideal for people watching. Once seated I was presented with both gluten-free and regular menus along with the wine list. I quickly began to peruse the gluten-free selections when my server keyed right in on this and said “Oh, are you gluten-free”. When I responded she quickly offered up a selection of gluten free breads and took my drink order so that I could imbibe whilst waiting for my guest. Two cheesy sausage muffins (one large, one small) and a corn bread disc soon arrived. I thought this to be a very nice touch. The muffins were actually very good. A bit tough and slightly dry but the sausage and cheese taste sensation I was experiencing one over the fact that these were not likely baked that day. The cornbread disc was, well, in a word confusing, and not very good. It was extremely dry and tough lacked any sort of taste.
Soon after I sampled the gluten-free bread offerings, my partner arrived and quickly ordered a Martini. I was drinking a fabulous Sauvignon Blanc that was really quite good. The restaurant offers a relatively decent selection of wines that are well-priced along with a gluten-free beer option (Redbridge) which I was dying to try but decided to stick with wine for the evening.
The restaurant is family style – offering essentially two portion sizes, a large and small option, both of which feed more than one person. As we would only be splitting a starter and a side dish we opted for the smaller portions. We agreed on the grilled Portobello mushrooms with arugula. I had a hankering for their ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach as my main course and my partner had the Chicken Picatta. We ordered a side of broccoli rabe with garlic to share and for dessert I opted for the chocolate chip cake with cream cheese filling covered in chocolate ganache and my partner their signature Sambuca Tower consisting of banana praline gelato layered with chocolate wafers, chocolate sauce, chocolate chips, and whipped cream (non gluten-free desserts appeared to all be family style).
The Portobello appetizer was rather disappointing. They were tough and really lacked any flavor. They were presented atop a bed of arugula and a lemon. Now I love simple, rustic options but this was neither of the two – it was just rather tired and lazy. My ravioli on the other hand were quite good. They were well cooked and flavorful but were swimming in an overload of marinara sauce that really was not necessary. Some freshly grated cheese would have been most welcome vs. the pizzeria-style shaker placed on the table. My partner enjoyed his chicken which looked very good and was not overly sauced. Both of our portions were rather large and we had plenty to take home but unfortunately it was not an option as we had plans afterwards. The broccoli rabe side was plentiful and sautéed well so that it had a bit of a crunch as I prefer rather than the often lifeless version many places pass off.
My dessert was a large piece of cake but it tasted old so I am not sure how many of these they are selling during the week. It had the dreaded refrigerator taste that makes me cringe. It was otherwise dry and just okay. My partner’s signature dessert was enough for a small army and was presented in all of its towering glory which really was on the line of being obscene and pretentious. He commented that it was just good – not great.
On a high note, The service was stellar and very attentive without being obtrusive. There was a fellow Celiac at the table next to us who I heard comment that the bread disc needed a chain saw to cut. I commend the restaurant for offering gluten-friendly options but given the prices and overall mediocre quality it was not worth the money. I could have easily gone to a non gluten-free locale and eaten far better (and gluten free) for the price. I might not have had quite the selection but quality trumps quantity in my book.
Lili's 57th 200 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019
It is rare to find a mainstream specialty restaurant that also caters specifically to the celiac crowd. Well, if you are in New York one of my favorite guilty pleasures is Lily's 57th located at 200 W. 57th Street in Manhattan. Now if you are a health finatic, stop reading now but if you enjoy a bit of delicious indulgence from time to time Lili's is the place to satisfy your need. You can check out their GF menu here.
Lili's offers a dedicated gluten free menu for diners and having spoken with the manager it is something that they take very seriously in order to prevent and cross-contamination. While Lili's offers a decent range of classic Chinese specialties, my favorites have to be the GF General Tso's Chicken and Sesame Chicken. Both dishes feature wonderfully crunchy fried pieces of tofu, chicken, or shrimp depending on your mood. Now given my shellfish allergy I have only tried the tofu and chicken which never disappoint. The chicken is all white meat and swimming in a wonderfully balance sweet brown sauce that combines just the right amount of sweet and heat, The GF portion is relatively large and can easily make two meals though I have been know to consume an entire portion in a single sitting.
Lili's also offers a range of GF appetizers and noodles to accompany any meal. The GF pork dumplings are a meal unto themselves and come complete with a piquant GF soy dipping sauce, The GF dishes that I have sampled have all tasted like their non-GF counterparts. Again, while not an everyday option Lili's 57th certainly helps fill a void for quality Chinese food that is suited for Celiacs. If you find yourself in Manhattan do check it out.
Lili's offers a dedicated gluten free menu for diners and having spoken with the manager it is something that they take very seriously in order to prevent and cross-contamination. While Lili's offers a decent range of classic Chinese specialties, my favorites have to be the GF General Tso's Chicken and Sesame Chicken. Both dishes feature wonderfully crunchy fried pieces of tofu, chicken, or shrimp depending on your mood. Now given my shellfish allergy I have only tried the tofu and chicken which never disappoint. The chicken is all white meat and swimming in a wonderfully balance sweet brown sauce that combines just the right amount of sweet and heat, The GF portion is relatively large and can easily make two meals though I have been know to consume an entire portion in a single sitting.
Lili's also offers a range of GF appetizers and noodles to accompany any meal. The GF pork dumplings are a meal unto themselves and come complete with a piquant GF soy dipping sauce, The GF dishes that I have sampled have all tasted like their non-GF counterparts. Again, while not an everyday option Lili's 57th certainly helps fill a void for quality Chinese food that is suited for Celiacs. If you find yourself in Manhattan do check it out.
Mozzarelli's 38 East East 23rd Street, New York, New York 10010
I have to first preface that this is not a full review as I just popped-down for a couple of slices and to check the place out. As you will soon find out, I will definitely be going back and will add to this review.
I had the pleasure of trying out Mozzarelli’s here in NYC yesterday. I had seen them on Twitter but when I saw bklynallergymom post an early morning crave I thought, why not pop-out at lunch and head down to grab a slice. Now I do not really work anywhere near the restaurant but the subway is close enough and I figured it was as good a time as any to get my pizza on.
I grabbed a colleague and together we made it over to the subway and 37 blocks later we had arrived. Upon walking in we were flanked with a wide-range of baked goods that looked simply delicious. Some were prepared in-house while others appeared to be from My Dad’s Cookies. I have been feeling a bit fat lately so it took all my strength to walk past without stopping but a brightly colored rainbow cookie (quite a good portion) did catch my eye and I will definitely be back to sample. The lengths I will go for my readers, LOL.
When you reach the counter there is quite a presentation of calzones, pizza, and hot entrées. I was fully expecting a single type of GF pizza as the GF offering but boy was I wrong. There were several types of GF pizza available by the slice and I must say they looked delicious. I had a hankering for pepperoni so was quick to order two slices to go. At $4.95 a slice ($3.95 without toppings) it was a steal. The restaurant was quite busy (which was great to see) so I paid the tab and heading back up to my office. Again, walking past the extensive dessert section this time stopping at the My Dad’s section and once again channeled all my will power to get out without any tempting sweets.
The anticipation riding back to the office was almost too great but I wanted to thoroughly enjoy my lunch so I just kept counting the stops. Upon arriving at the office I ran into my office, closed the door and opened the cardboard box to reveal two gorgeous slices of GF pepperoni pizza – and they do not skimp on the toppings. I then made my way to the kitchen and popped a slice into the oven to re-heat. I do love cold pizza but wanted to enjoy all the pizzaness the slice has to offer. The first thing I noticed was the crust. It was, well, real. Not the cardboard pre-made rice slabs that some other places (who will remain nameless) try to pass off as crust. This was light, CRISP (am I dreaming?), and looked to be super crunchy.
A few moments later I was back in my office and I again closed the door to enjoy what promised to be a food experience. I picked up the slice, it was heavy, but not too dense. I could see air pockets within the crust and took a bite. The crunch was intoxicating – just the right balance between doughy and firmness. The sauce, clearly homemade was rich but not overpowering…and the CHEESE, gooey and simply wonderful. Also I want to point out that given the generous amount of pepperoni, it was NOT at all greasy. I also have to confess that it was so good I ate the second piece cold and it reminded me of my college days (P.C. pre-celiac) when I would indulge in the cold pizza ritual before heading to class. So good!
Now I am a tough sell – particularly when it comes to pizza. It is one of those GF foods that is really hit or miss (more often miss). I am looking forward to trying the GF pasta dishes and there is a rainbow cookie with my name on it. Thank you Mozzarelli’s, I will be back very soon. Bravo!
I had the pleasure of trying out Mozzarelli’s here in NYC yesterday. I had seen them on Twitter but when I saw bklynallergymom post an early morning crave I thought, why not pop-out at lunch and head down to grab a slice. Now I do not really work anywhere near the restaurant but the subway is close enough and I figured it was as good a time as any to get my pizza on.
I grabbed a colleague and together we made it over to the subway and 37 blocks later we had arrived. Upon walking in we were flanked with a wide-range of baked goods that looked simply delicious. Some were prepared in-house while others appeared to be from My Dad’s Cookies. I have been feeling a bit fat lately so it took all my strength to walk past without stopping but a brightly colored rainbow cookie (quite a good portion) did catch my eye and I will definitely be back to sample. The lengths I will go for my readers, LOL.
When you reach the counter there is quite a presentation of calzones, pizza, and hot entrées. I was fully expecting a single type of GF pizza as the GF offering but boy was I wrong. There were several types of GF pizza available by the slice and I must say they looked delicious. I had a hankering for pepperoni so was quick to order two slices to go. At $4.95 a slice ($3.95 without toppings) it was a steal. The restaurant was quite busy (which was great to see) so I paid the tab and heading back up to my office. Again, walking past the extensive dessert section this time stopping at the My Dad’s section and once again channeled all my will power to get out without any tempting sweets.
The anticipation riding back to the office was almost too great but I wanted to thoroughly enjoy my lunch so I just kept counting the stops. Upon arriving at the office I ran into my office, closed the door and opened the cardboard box to reveal two gorgeous slices of GF pepperoni pizza – and they do not skimp on the toppings. I then made my way to the kitchen and popped a slice into the oven to re-heat. I do love cold pizza but wanted to enjoy all the pizzaness the slice has to offer. The first thing I noticed was the crust. It was, well, real. Not the cardboard pre-made rice slabs that some other places (who will remain nameless) try to pass off as crust. This was light, CRISP (am I dreaming?), and looked to be super crunchy.
A few moments later I was back in my office and I again closed the door to enjoy what promised to be a food experience. I picked up the slice, it was heavy, but not too dense. I could see air pockets within the crust and took a bite. The crunch was intoxicating – just the right balance between doughy and firmness. The sauce, clearly homemade was rich but not overpowering…and the CHEESE, gooey and simply wonderful. Also I want to point out that given the generous amount of pepperoni, it was NOT at all greasy. I also have to confess that it was so good I ate the second piece cold and it reminded me of my college days (P.C. pre-celiac) when I would indulge in the cold pizza ritual before heading to class. So good!
Now I am a tough sell – particularly when it comes to pizza. It is one of those GF foods that is really hit or miss (more often miss). I am looking forward to trying the GF pasta dishes and there is a rainbow cookie with my name on it. Thank you Mozzarelli’s, I will be back very soon. Bravo!
