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Arturo's
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Italian Pizza, Italian [Edit]
106 W Houston St(between Broadway & Laguardia Pl)
New York, NY 10012
Neighborhoods: South Village, Greenwich Village
(212) 677-3820
- Nearest Transit:
-
Spring St (A, C, E)
Prince St (N, R)
Broadway - Lafayette St (B, D, F, M)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Liz D. said: "What an awesome place to have an event...! Not only is this place absolutely beautiful and super modern, the staff is seriously awesome, super welcoming and accommodating... you put down a glass, boom it's disappeared off your table…" read more »
232 reviews for Arturo's
Review Highlights
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"Cool live jazz also make this place worth a visit." In 34 reviews -
"This is coal oven pizza that has a nice crispy crust." In 26 reviews -
"One of the best thin-crust pizza joints in the city." In 11 reviews
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232 reviews in English
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Review from Joe S.
5/2/2012
Awesome! Love the prices, love the Italian staff, love the smell of the pizza, love the service, love that I need to be rolled out of here after eating too much bread and pasta.
Try the chicken Parm if you're not feeling pizza. I'd pass on the garlic bread. -
Review from Meghan P.
I was fortunate enough to be a guest of an elaborate food binge/end-of-the-year dinner event at Arturo's, where my host was good friends with the owner. I hit the jackpot on this one.
The service was friendly and attentive in providing refills. They took away half a slice of pizza before I could finish it, however, so I was horrified at that. Otherwise, no hiccups. The decor is very traditional, old New York, and extremely cozy and warm. They even have a jazz band.
On to the food. Not only is the pizza out of this world, but every other Southern Italian dish we could get our grubby little paws on was delicious as well. We sampled antipasto, garlic bread, fried mac-and-cheese balls (daily special), Caesar salad, house salad, veal parm, chicken marsala, cheese ravioli alfredo, NY cheesecake, and chocolate cake. So don't just stick to pizza, but feel free to branch out. -
Review from Dick M.
3/11/2012
Arturo's has moved into the teflon category of NYC restaurants. It's hard to have a bad experience and when it happens it is so rare that nobody pays it any mind. I have been here a few times and never leave disappointed. I have never had a bad time or a bad meal, and last Friday night was no exception.
We were a large group of nine (as opposed to a small group of nine) and decided to crash in on a whim without reservations. Sure, we waited in the cramped bar as long as anyone else, but the atmosphere is upbeat, the live music doesn't interfere with conversation, and everyone is friendly.
When we were seated, the staff went to work.
How do they do it? These guys are the James Brown of restaurant service. They work very hard, never miss a beat, and make everybody happy. As a large group at a long table, many of us were up and down moving from one end of the table to the other. There wasn't a single moment when we were an inconvenience. Everything was accommodated.
We started with rice balls and crab cakes. Have them both. They are standard fare at Arturo's, they are simple and straight-forward, freshly-made and delicious.
Next we had platters of mussels fra diavlo. The generous portions were impressive and I don't think we could finish them all. Some thought they were too spicy, but I thought they were perfect (they were "of the devil" after all). The sauce was perfect for dipping bread when I tired of gorging on the mussels!
Then the pizza. In New York there is no point of having the "best pizza" conversation, because so many excellent restaurants make so many different kinds of delicious pizza. Arturo's is no different. the crust is uniquely Arturo's, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They use the perfect amount of sauce, and the cheese is excellent. Toppings are generous: we had sausage, margherita, and pepperoni pies. I tasted all three and would have them all again.
Buckets of bottled beer were placed on the table and nobody suffered for drink.
Service didn't quit. These guys worked and worked and worked and no detail was overlooked. Want something? Just ask!
I was a guest, so I did not see the check; but I estimate it cost about $30-ish per person. -
Review from Bruce S.
Manhattan, NY
5/14/2012
This is the real deal. A truely great NYC Italian restaurant with a real 1950's feel. Although there was a jazz piano playing, i couldn't help but imagine hearing Dean Martin's Volare as I walked in. We had the meatball-eggplant pizza, which was cooked to perfection. Also ordered a couple of side salads (which were a main dish by themselves), some calamari and a bottle of wine (or was it two?)
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Review from L A.
Manhattan, NY
5/20/2012
If you like being physically ASSAULTED by Arturo's staff on your way out of this restaurant, then this is the place for you. Horrendous service, accusations of stealing others' food, having one's bag stolen out of hand by a staffer after leaving the restaurant then being subsequently locked back inside the restaurant for hours only to have the police set us free! Not exactly the type of late-night dining experience my friend and I had in mind for a Saturday night. Not only will I NEVER be returning to this class-act joint but I will definitely not be recommending it to any of my friends in the near future.
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Review from Tom H.
New York, NY
5/11/2012
The pizza is really good, but the services sucks. They shut down their brick oven when we went the so we had to wait 30 minutes for the pizza.
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Review from Jess K.
3/5/2012
What a great restaurant!!! We walked by Arturo's Saturday around 8 PM and were greeted by a friendly hostess who took our name, indicating about a 30 minute wait... the bar was lively and energetic, everyone seemed to know each other. The hostess sat us at a great table by the window perfect for people watching. The waitstaff and patrons were friendly, everyone chatting with each other. The restaurant had an authentic feel, homemade art adorning the walls, old photos, there was even live music playing in the back.
We ordered the regular pizza, large with fresh basil, extra sauce on the side (you know for crust-dipping). The ingredients were so fresh and delicious, the marinara was amazing, homemade and the perfect acidity/sweetness to it. We ended up finishing the whole pie not wanting any of it to go to waste.
The entire meal was so enjoyable and the atmosphere was so pleasant. Despite having to wait a few minutes for a table we weren't rushed at all. I am not even a huge pizza lover, but this was hands down one of the more enjoyable meals I've had in the city. -
Review from Bobby M.
Manhattan, NY
4/25/2012
I made the mistake of ordering pasta. I rate it as absolutely the worst pasta I've eaten in the USA, Europe and Australia. The lasagna tasted like slabs of supermarket cheese drowned in canned tomato soup... I could not discern any pasta. The spaghetti meat sauce (bolognese) was dry and tasted like salty, dehydrated, ground beef on noodles. And it was expensive to boot! I guess they are famous for their pizza, don't touch anything else!
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Review from Lavina D.
New York, NY
2/1/2012
This place has a really cute atmosphere. When you walk in you are like wow it's small, but don;t be fooled walk past the live musicians playing jazz, and you will see a lot more tables to sit at! We didn't need reservations for a Sunday night around 7ish, which was nice.
The live jazz was a real nice touch and this place felt like an old school pizza joint - part of the reason why I gave it 4 stars! My friends and I split a large pie with mushrooms, onions and green peppers; we also got a bottle of the valpolicella - yum! It was definitely enough pizza for 3 girls (we even had an extra slice leftover) and pretty good. The sauce was flavorful but a little too much sauce for my test, or maybe we put too many toppings which made it soggy. I will definitely try this again though with friends/visitors. -
Review from Joe G.
CANAL STREET, NY
1/19/2012
Hands down the best Pizza place in NYC! I grew up here and still haven't found a place that compares. The sauce and crust are what makes the pizza. The sauce is sweet but savory and the crust is cooked to perfection in the coal oven. Thin crust but nice and crispy.
The most under-rated thing about Arturo's is their calzone! I recommend it to any one who hasn't tried it. It is very filling so make sure to order it with a group of 3 or more. This place is the best. I have been going since I was a baby and don't plan on stopping. -
Review from Alison H.
So I made a reservation for 9pm tonight, upon arrival they had no reservation in my name. Hmm that's not cool. O well they were able to seat us right away anyways.
Our server Rose was a real doll she took good care of us. We planned to order a house salad when she suggested trying the arugula parmesan salad which was a great decision. Not the biggest arugula fan but the dressing and slices of fresh parm were amazing. Salad was a sharing size.
Large pizza with onion, sausage and pepperoni....4 for me and 4 for him....no problem :-) -
Review from Andrzrej K.
Brooklyn, NY
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
As I write, I eat my leftovers, an automatic 4 star minimum for that sequence of events alone.
Also, Arturo's evokes a pizzeria of yore, including the following 3 important elements
1. Crazy shit on wall
2. A sauce that tastes like they use it only for pizza
3. A strange bathroom setup- similar to Sallys (go through the kitchen) or of Luigis (none), Arturo's actually has a bathtub in the bathroom, so it passes.
Additional note- very interesting for a good new york pizza, arturos is seemingly made from a PAN, you can smel the quasi-pizza hut grease encrusted pan scent as you waltz in. Also, the bar looks like a blast, replete with a affable/maybe slightly agitated bartender- NICE! -
Review from Sara M.
New York, NY
12/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
One of my all-time favorite Italian restaurants in the city. I order penne Vodka and Margharita pizza every time I come, but the other menu items look just as amazing!
Really cool paintings covering the walls, wooden tables that are way to small for pizza but you learn to deal, and for some reason the bathroom has a bathtub and a chalkboard. (I would not recommend taking a bath) -
Review from Gregory I.
Greenwich Village, Manhattan, NY
12/29/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Food: Arturo's has the best penne vodka I have ever had. And it's pizza is the second best (After Sorrentina's in North Bergen, NJ). Probably the best Italian food you are going to find in this area of the city... certainly better than its main price-range competitor Rocco's (Which has decent albeit underwhelming pasta.) A great thing about the food here is that it comes with freshly baked bread which is hot and crunchy. Amazing. Perhaps the only downside is that the soda is so expensive ($3 a can! But I guess that's average for the city).
Atmosphere: There are two main seating areas here; each with their own style. The first one when you walk in has a bar area, a row of booths, and a piano. It is a bit more loud and busy . On nights when the piano player is in, the decibel level gets even higher...though its perfectly fine since he plays great songs. The second area is comprised of two rooms which are filled with old paintings and pictures which are really cool. The lighting is especially nice...It's kind of orange-y, which I really like for some reason.
Service: I can only describe it as polite pushiness. All the servers here are really nice, but they are always in a rush...even when the restaurant is empty. This certainly helps get the food out quickly though.
Takeaway: If you want great Italian food, come here. -
Review from Liam D.
Manhattan, NY
5/5/2012
Arturo's is the best pizza I've had in the city so good that although I've heard great things about other stuff on the menu I can't resist getting it. Combine that with an excellent location and live jazz music you've got a really great unique experience. The pizza is really different coal oven style pizza that just makes you salivate and the staff is very friendly. They have a bar as well that seems to attract an older crowd but I don't really care I'm there for the pizza!
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Review from Joseph K.
1/11/2012
Haven't been back in NY in ten years. But still craving the pizza from this place. Can't wait.
Planning on coming by soon. -
Review from Leslie S.
New York, NY
4/23/2012
I was here last night for the first time with a date that is a regular. He lives in the neighborhood so has been going to Arturo's for years, it's a perfect early Sunday night dinner spot. We walked in around 5 and it was about half full with mostly families with little ones celebrating birthdays. It smells delicious in here! Since my date is a regular I let him have free reign in ordering. We started with the garlic bread that is served with melted cheese and red sauce on the side. I could have made a meal out of this alone!! We ordered the chef's salad which had some meats and cheeses, pepperocini and other vegetables serves on mixed greens. The portion was large and everything was fresh. The only wrinkle in the whole dinner was the wine. I let my companion order the wine and it arrived while I was in the WC. Now I think it was corked but since my date didn't send it back and he does know his wine, maybe my taste buds were just a bit off. It was a Sangiovese/Merlot blend and when paired with the food it did taste ok. For entrees we ordered the basic spaghetti and meatballs and the chicken cutlet parmigiana. The gravy is just right, the meatballs were yummy and the chicken cutlet was ridiculously good. The portions were huge. I got a doggie bag and I couldn't believe how heavy it was after we had stuffed our faces! As I mentioned previously there were a lot of birthday celebrations happening so there was a touch of a TGIFridays type of atmosphere but it was the perfect cosy spot for a rainy Sunday evening.
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Review from Michael L.
Brooklyn, NY
1/6/2012
Ate: Arturo's special
Drank: Water
Liked: Decor
Disliked: Disaffected service
Chicken:No
Would mom like it?: No
Wait: none
Would I go back: Meh
Recommend: The pizza was good, but the crust was tougher and dryer, not for everyone in our party. -
Review from Aphiradi L.
San Francisco, CA
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
YOU MUST HAVE THE CRAB CAKES HERE
They were the best crab cakes that I've ever had..
Great pizza as well.... -
Review from Jess G.
11/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of my primary reasons for returning to New York as frequently as I do is the pizza. Arturo's is conveniently located in West Village on Houston, which means if you're waiting for a table--which you inevitably will be--there are plenty of little places to drop in and check out. This place was PACKED. People definitely flocked here, and the wait was long but totally worth it.
We were finally seated (around an hour and fifteen minutes, but we walked off to get a drink) in a cozily situated area among many other small tables. After selecting a bottle of chianti and placing an order for artichoke hearts casino, we flipped to the back of the menu for pizza. We opted for half pepperoni, half Italian sausage.
First, the artichoke hearts casino were delicious. Cheesy, melty, hot, and flavorful...my mouth is watering as I type this. Second, the pizza was coal-fired, chewy, saucy, and also flavorful. We devoured it.
I would say that the only downside to Arturo's is that they have only one bathroom. Major problem for those who are camping out at Arturo's for the long haul and drinking wine. -
Review from Ben G.
Brooklyn, NY
8/7/2011 1 photo
If you want that great brink oven in a fantastic atmosphere, Arturo's is always a sure hit.
Arturo's is one of those places that's a step back in time in NYC!, with some of the most solid pizza ever. I've been going to Arturo's for my sit down pizza desires since I was a little one, and every time I leave completely satisfied. A must go for any local, and if you want that classic brick oven pizza from NYC if you're just visiting.... this is the place. Arturo's is an institution in the west Village that will never go out of style.
Price: A nice meal for two (pasta dish, pizza, and wine will run you a fifty spot.
Menu: Classic Italian American cuisine with the pizza highlight... you came here for the pizza, or at least I hope so!
Atmosphere: Ultra class here, but not snooty about it. All art adorned brick exposed walls brings you to that good old time. Nothing modern here. The piece de resistance here is the grand piano that is being played for you while you eat. Often they have a small jazz set going on Thurs-Sat nights... AMAZING music to set the mood. They will seat you where they want, but I suggest the back room behind the bar for the ultimate experience where the tables are lined up and the experience is more intimate. I don't do the outside seating (never enjoyed the rediculousness of the village while I try to eat, also car exhaust.... YUCK! So stay classy and stay inside.
Service: The servers are amazing, and really seem to care about your comfortability. Always smiling.
Suggestions: Whatever your style is... get a pie. The crust, sauce, cheese is to die for. It's that perfect brick oven pizza. Be careful if you're planning on a custom pie with the works (price per topping can be costly... if you're worried about the price of your pie get one off of the specialty pie list). Always ask for your pie to be well done for that extra crisp. Get a pasta dish to accompany that pie too. I would recommend the putanesca, its killer... also pick the right past with your sauce, I'm not the biggest fan of spaghetti, get penne or linguine. A carafe of the house red will help you wash that down just right and liven up your experience that much more.
High Point: A wonderful time with friends or someone special over pizza, pasta, and wine. Great live music being heard. A nice wine buzz to take home. The best feeling ever.
Low Point: You didn't get a pizza... How can you not have gotten a pizza.... Whatsadamatta witcha!Listed in: Sit down eating in the City
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Review from Selena L.
Los Angeles, CA
7/16/2011
How many slices of pizza does one have to eat to achieve PIZZA WOLF status? Alas, I am nowhere close enough, so I'm like a pizza kitten or something equally innocuous. Don't you love the image of a tiny tuxedo kitten tangled in a strand of molten mozzarella? Yeah, me neither - imagine all that cat hair in your food. That's gross, and definitely a health code violation.
Some time ago, when I freelanced for an apparel company in the Soho area, we had to work late. My boss suggested that we order from Arturo's and handed us the menu. OK, here is where you guys can lambaste me - instead of perusing the pizza offerings, I went directly to the pasta section. Listen, I am a pasta python. I will wrap myself around your eggplant parm and swallow it whole. (Uh...) I gestured to the veal parmesan and requested that. My coworkers went with a basic pie. I giggled to myself, eagerly anticipating my delicious dinner.
Well, guess who had the last laugh? Sure my entree was fine - better than fine, even - but damn, did that pizza look beautiful. They offered me a slice. Never one to turn down free food, unless it's a big raw onion, I eagerly accepted.
Oh, dang. A crisp crust with a fantastic char at the bottom, a balanced, delicate sauce, and a mantle of cheese that melded the ingredients together to create a trifecta of terrific taste?
My horse lost that race. But the legend of pizza wolf is, and always be, #1. -
Review from JennyKayt C.
New York, NY
1/14/2012
Good pizza, live music, great prices. There's not much room for any haterism here. Oh, did I mention.. also, right next to the pegu club (where all my inebriated dreams come true)???
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Review from Laurie S.
Brooklyn, NY
4/12/2012
Went to dinner with very close friends on Monday. I been to Arturo's several times and the place is great. The best time to arrive for dinner is at 6:00 pm because you can get booth. The place does get packed. The food and service are always wonderful. I highly recommend Arturo's.
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Review from Danielle F.
Orange County, CA
What a great place! After standing in Times Square for almost nine hours, then being herded out of Times Square on New Year's Eve; my friends and I took a train and went downtown to the village to get away from the mob of people in midtown. By then we were STARVING and really had to pee. We came upon Arturo's and it seemed like a great little place. We grabbed a table, stood in line to pee and plugged our phones in to charge. We were all so blissfully happy to be with great company, we were drinking and enjoying the wonderful food. It was the best pizza I had on this trip to NY and would recommend it to anyone visiting. The staff was awesome, despite having to work on NYE. A great way to end our long night.
Listed in: New York
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Review from Joelle B.
Chicago, IL
10/31/2011
COME FOR THE PIZZA STAY FOR THE RACISM
The pizza was good but the young 20-something hostess referred to one a member of our party as "colored." What is this, the Civil Rights movement? Let's not forget they served my brother's incredibly expensive birthday cake to another table. We won't be going back there. I don't care how freaking good the pizza is. There are more important things than pizza. -
Review from Jenny S.
New York, NY
2/3/2012
I'm a big fan of Fettuccine Alfredo and at this place, it was honestly the best I have ever had. The sauce was like milk, afreakingmazing. Atmosphere is loud but chill with live music. Great place to hang with good friends, beer & italiano food. Didn't try the pizza sorry to say. And don't get the Zinfandel blush I was sleeping at the next bar.
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Review from Laura W.
Columbus, OH
11/27/2011
Arturo's is one of the best restaurants to get pizza that really captures what New York City pizza is all about.
We had to wait about an hour on Friday night and they "accidentally" gave our table away and had our name scratched off the list. We waited another twenty minutes and finally got to sit down. There were several large parties the night we came but it was still amazing. The jazz is a great addition to the dining experience. We got the mixed green salads that weren't really worth it and a pizza with basil and roasted red pepper. -
Review from Justin M.
Clifton, NJ
2/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
the pizza here is more or less perfect. Awesome flavorful crust. The coal burning oven adds alot of taste and texture. Also had an excellent garden salad, The rigatoni bolonese I split with my friend was the best I ever had.
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Review from Joey C.
New York, NY
9/25/2011
After spending a little more than a month out of NYC on a business trip, the bestie came to pick me up at LaGuardia, and we headed straight to the city; Houston, more specifically. There is a brick oven pizzeria that I had been eying for a while to indulge my love for well made pizza, and poof! there we were...Arturo's.
When we got there, we had to put our name on the list, since there was a 30 minute wait. We went to get some pastries while we waited, and we actually returned about 20 minutes later, and there was a table already available for us!
Very nice!
We ordered the pizza with fresh basil, garlic, and pepperoni. The flavors of the fresh ingredients with the perfectly baked crust was really satisfying, and our experience was really satisfying.
The only thing that took me by surprise a bit, was the fact that each topping was $4 or more. Ouch! (minus 1 star)
Tone it down a bit with that, fellas!
Overall, not a bad place, Very good pizza. -
Review from Meghan M.
8/23/2011
**Take out review!!**
(I'm guessing that's rather important information since my review is not exactly consistent with others who have dined in)
Delivery on a Saturday night took about 30 minutes, which was pretty good in my opinion.
The order, which was way too much food for two, was as follows:
Arugula & Shaved Parmesan - HUGE portion and good. Plenty of cheese.
Veal Cutlet Parmigiana - Another large portion. Appeared they sent eggplant instead of veal. I didn't eat any veal.
Side of Spaghetti - Tasty tomato sauce, pasta cooked nicely. I didn't try the meatballs.
Total bill came in around $40
I wasn't impressed but wasn't really disappointed either. Seems I need to try this place in person to really enjoy it next time around. -
Review from Josh d.
7/12/2011
A friend brought me here, saying that it was the best pizza in town.
I I humbly disagree, but it's pretty fucking awesome. The crust was crispy, and flavorful. The toppings were top notch. The beer was cold and delicious.
We also started with their clams. This is where found my disappointment. The clams were caked with way too much panko, so the juices were absorbed by the breading. I am not sure if it was because of the problem with the panko caused the clams to be chewy, or if it was just the sheer size of said clams... They were way too big and would have had to be cooked for too long... That could have caused them to be chewy... Flavor was good, but, I get very particular about my clams.
So, all in all:
Service: 4
Pizza: 4.5 (maybe even a 5er?)
Clams: 2
Beer: Is good.
Service was pleasant. I'd definitely go back, I just wont order the clams -
Review from Evan M.
8/16/2011
This was my first visit to Arturo's after walking past it many, many times. The place definitely has a homey, old-fashioned feel. There is a baby grand piano squeezed next to the bar for frequent live jazz.
Had baked clams appetizer, this was a miss. Dry bread crumbs with overdose of lemon juice.
The pizza was a hit. Crust is nice, a little toasty, medium crust similar to what I've had in Naples. The topping is solid.
The house Montepulciano is not so good.
Two red sauce dishes (spaghetti and meatballs and veal parmigiano) were ok, passable, nothing more to say about them.
My opinion is that Arturo's is a five for old school environment, nice treatment of customers, random live piano and vocal music. Maybe 3.5 for the food. Pizza is the way to go. -
Review from Neelam P.
I'm a fan!! I thought Arturo's had a great atmosphere and friendly service (although it got a little slow when we needed the check). They have live music in the evenings and our waiter was one of the singers! He was amazing and sounded very much like Sinatra.
We tried a plain pie and one with mushrooms/peppers/onions. Both pies were delicious! The sauce was very well seasoned and the crust was just slightly burnt and chewy.
This place is now on my top 5 list for pizza joints :o) -
Review from Erin W.
5/31/2011
Boyfriend and I came here around 9pm this past Sunday, and despite the crowds up and down Houston and long waits at other restaurants, we were seated immediately at a table inside, near the back. We naively thought we were off to a good start.
About 5 minutes passed before we realized a waiter hadn't come over to give us water or even say hi yet. We both chalked it up to how busy the place was, and tried not to get frustrated. We check out the menu, start deciding what we want to order.
Another 5 minutes pass, and to keep the vein in boyfriend's head from bulging too much, I distract him by talking about the tacky art on the walls. Another couple is seated next to us, and then abandoned by the hostess. Boyfriend and I share a look, like, "If they are served before us, so help me god...."
Another 5 minutes. No waiter. Boyfriend starts threatening mutiny. Trying to maintain an atmosphere of calm, I am talking about everything and anything but the fact that we have been seated for over 15 minutes and no one has so much as made eye contact with us since.
After 20 minutes, we leave. We get up, take our menus with us, and put them on the hostess's podium on the way out. No one sees us, stops us, asks us what's wrong. This doesn't surprise us, because by now we've come to understand that Arturo's has the magical ability to make certain patrons completely invisible.
We'll only be back if we're feeling particularly masochistic and feel like spending $19 (you are on drugs!) to add shrimp to a pizza. Until then, I'd rather take my business elsewhere. -
Review from Kelly S.
Berkeley, CA
3/18/2012
This was the first dinner on a multi-day business trip to New York and came recommended by a local. I was craving pizza and the idea of trying New York style pizza after a long flight from the west coast was mouth watering. Disappointment doesn't even start to describe it. The crust was neither thick nor thin, the sauce was bland, the cheese was unidentifiable and the topping were scarce and tasteless. I ate to fill up but that was about it. We ordered calamari to start and it was nice and meaty, which is why this place got 2 stars instead of 1. The salads should have been warning that the food could be described as mediocre at best. I believe the restaurants in this area of New York simply stands on its laurels that they have been around for ages and so it must be good. On top of that, they never filled my water glass. I had to ask at least twice before they would come back. Compared to the modern day palate and the bursting flavors that exist, this place just doesn't cut it. I would never go back and certainly would never recommend it to anybody.
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Review from Helen B.
Brooklyn, NY
4/28/2011
I'm on a quest to find the best tasting pizza in the New York area, and sadly this place just didn't do it for me. I can safely say that I've head better. MUCH BETTER. Yes, the ambiance is cute and it looks super old and funky inside AND there was live jazz playing as my bf and I devoured the large pizza pie. Arturo's serves COAL oven pizzas - I wanted a brick oven and yes, there's a difference. I definitely wouldn't categorize it under "thin crust"; it's more like medium crust and the sauce is mediocre. I was also trying to see if the cheese was fresh mozzarella, but I don't think it was (deeply saddened by this). However, I did appreciate the crunchiness of the peppers and onions that we got as toppings for the pizza (most of the time, they are soggy).
In all, there are far better pizzarias out there - i.e. Lombardis, Graziella's in BK and Zigolini's in midtown. I also wanted to note that our waiter seemed like he had no interest in his job and wasn't very inviting. -
Review from Scott C.
San Francisco, CA
5/30/2011
so everyone has their favorite pie in Manhattan. This is my favorite (with Grimaldi's my fav in all of new york). As NY pizza experiences go, this one is hard to top. The restaurant has tons of atmosphere and history--not just because its old, but also because there is character and stories soaked into the walls. The service is super friendly and they dont push you out like other popular pizza joints.
And there is the pizza. Coal over thin crust pizza. the only way it should be. The crust is crispy with a bit of chewiness. Even though it is thin crust, there is enough structure to allow to to raise the slice to your mouth for that amazing first bite. Pay attention Lombardis and Johns, your soggy ass pizza does not hold a candle to this one.
Get a large pie and whatever toppings you like, they are all good and the best thing, you have leftovers to take home.
The morning after slice is probably want takes this to 5 stars for me. Having had my share of cold pizza in my life, I have grown quite an appreciation for how good this could be. Arturo's is one of the best.
Don''t get me wrong, cold pizza is a different product from the fresh out of the oven. it is not even worth trying to bring cold pizza back to its original glory. Just enjoy it for what it is. The flavors from the sauce and toppings soak in and intensify. And where Arturo's pizza crust loses its crunch from the night before, you still have a wonderful chewiness. Kind of like what you get with a fresh bagel. You also taste the coal oven. Eaten with a glass of grapefruit juice is just about perfect. The tartness and slight bitterness of the juice compliments the grease and the salt of the pizza.
if all of this is not compelling enough, there is a baby grand piano and a jazz trio that will entertain you while eating at Arturo's. -
Review from Martin F.
West Chester, PA
7/25/2011
On a warm summer Sunday, we traveled into the Village with pizza brunch in mind. We targeted Arturo's, but found a long line around noon. We instead had our brunch at John's Pizza on Bleecker Street and went on with a day of shopping and strolling. Well, we spent enough time shopping that 5pm rolled around and we decided to eat before heading back to Brooklyn. Walking back towards our car, we went by Arturo's and saw no lines! The handful of al fresco tables on the street were taken, so we retreated into the "air-conditioned dining room."
Arturo's is a cozy place with two large dining areas of dark wood trim. The front room has a bar, and while we were there a nice jazz combo played softly. There is one, and only one, odd unisex restroom that includes a tub and shower! In case you get red sauce on your white shirt? At any rate, this place oozed old-fashioned charm and it's easy to imagine a scene from a mafia movie being filmed here.
I had two dining companions, who gladly ate pizza at brunch, but who needed no more for the day. One ordered spaghetti bolognese, the other chose amaretto cheesecake. I usually select a margherita or sausage pie for evaluation of a new place, but this time I ordered pepperoni.
I find there are two superior types of crust -- thin and crunchy Trenton style, or puffy and charred and chewy, Neapolitan style. The top Trenton type pies are DiFara of Brooklyn and DeLorenzo's; the top Neapolitans are Motorino of NY and Osteria in Philly. Arturo's crust is almost a hybrid of these styles, but let's call it simply a thin and crispy version of Neapolitan. This pie had a beautiful, textbook char on the bottom. The sauce and cheese were good, not great. The pepperoni added a nice zing but it seemed pretty conventional.
In fairness, it's best to have pizza when you are craving pizza. I still had four slices of John's pizza in my belly when we hit Arturo's. So I very much enjoyed this finely crafted pie, but there was no swooning. I actually had a fuller appreciation of it the next day when I reheated the final slice in the toaster oven.
Arturo's is great pizza; it's destination pizza. It's crust can stand with almost any; the sauce and cheese are fine but not distinctive. Arturo's nudged out John's on Bleecker for the best pizza of the day.
I am Pizza Quixote! -
Review from Soni S.
Astoria, NY
3/14/2012
Crabcake was great, pizza was fennomenal :)) for sure going back with my girlfriend
