Artichoke Pizza in NY Mag/Grub Street

4/8/2008 Tori "L'enfer, c'est les autres" K. says:

OMG...that's Edward F in the pic.  Figures! He is there everyday!

The BEST pizza by the slice in Manhattan! Read the reviews.  http://www.yelp.com/us...

Lines from now on...for days fo' sho'!

4/8/2008 Edward "FAB*ulous LIVING NYC" F. says:

FYI, New York Magazine's Grub Street has a funny interview with Francis Garcia and Sal Basille, the cousins behind Artichoke.

http://nymag.com/daily...

4/9/2008 Lauren "Bag Lady: Founding Mother of Team Dirtbag Assoc." S. says:

I'm going back for dinner tonight.

4/9/2008 Joolie "mzjoolz if you're nasty!" T. says:

call me lauren. i work a block away.

4/9/2008 jeff "walking.Yelp.com" c. says:

hosting a meetup there..thanks to Ed!

4/9/2008 Atif "Mister Dessert" I. says:

To all those yelpers giving me grief on my 4 star rating, and who obviously believe in the power of the published word (over mine) - here's an extract from the NY Magazine article itself that was linked to this thread:

"
The round "Neapolitan" is nearly as good, though you might fault its somewhat stiff, unyielding crust.
"
.... which is precisely what I faulted them with.

My final $0.02 on the matter.

4/9/2008 Joolie "mzjoolz if you're nasty!" T. says:

i don't give you any sh*t about the matter.
i actually agree w/ you, Atif.

4/9/2008 Steve "10 Lemon" M. says:

You need at least a LITTLE grief in your life, Atif. Artichoke is small potatoes in the grand scheme of things. I respect you, your review and your opinions.

4/9/2008 Atif "Mister Dessert" I. says:

Joolz: Thanks much for being the voice of sanity. You rule. I've always said that :-)

Steve: There's ENOUGH grief in my life. If you still don't believe it, take a look at how your stock portfolio is doing. ;-)

4/9/2008 Steve "10 Lemon" M. says:

LOL, Atif! We'll be back on top very soon and I'll treat you to a slice and a beer at Artichoke when (if?) it happens!

4/9/2008 Jen "Sporky" D. says:

i want some!!!!!!!!!! Pizza in San Francisco sucks balls.... seriously...

4/9/2008 Edward "FAB*ulous LIVING NYC" F. says:

I gave Artichoke 5*****, based on 8 visits -- but  I would never give you sh*t, Atif (all is fun in love & PIZZA) -- if anything, it provides Francis & Sal the opportunity to improve based on constructive criticism and EARN your fifth star!!  

But if you had anything this do with the credit meltdown -- then giving you sh*t would be another matter ;-)

all this talk is making me hungry for some cauliflower fritters...

4/10/2008 Lauren "Bag Lady: Founding Mother of Team Dirtbag Assoc." S. says:

Joolz! I'm sorry I didn't call you. I didn't read any of the updates to this until just now. :(

4/14/2008 Steve "10 Lemon" M. says:

Apparently, some fellow with the seemingly spurious handle, "Mohammedepstien" has it in for these guys based on his dubious comments posted to the NY Mag article that Ed cites above. I flagged both of them as duplicates, (as they basically were). If you agree with my reasoning, you might want to do the same.

4/14/2008 jeff "walking.Yelp.com" c. says:

Def setting up a meetup for this...hot!

4/14/2008 Mike "'~The-Boss~'" V. says:

NOBODY likes Pizza more than Mike the Boss. This is a known fact around these parts. That is one of many reasons I am looking forward to my NYC trip this summer. Oh ya, we have good pizza here, even the odd great pizza, but, no, not legendary Pizza!

4/14/2008 Joolie "mzjoolz if you're nasty!" T. says:

i had a ginormous slice on Fri w/ friends. happiest memory this month. lol.
i seriously crave for it like crack now. thank goodness i work 2 blocks away AND they deliver. yay.

4/14/2008

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4/14/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

I went back today to try the cauliflower fritters and broccoli rabe and they were out of both! :(

4/14/2008 Lauren "Bag Lady: Founding Mother of Team Dirtbag Assoc." S. says:

going back friday night ... YUMMAY!!!

4/14/2008 Edward "FAB*ulous LIVING NYC" F. says:

Whatever Mohammedepstien's motive is, I'm sure it doesn't hold much weight to those who've experienced what Michael F. calls, "spiritual pizza".

On a side note, Francis & Sal were closed last Thursday in honor of their late grandfather's 90th Birthday (the man who taught them how to make pizza when they were children) - these guys are a class act all the way!  http://www.flickr.com/...

4/14/2008 Steve "10 Lemon" M. says:

I know - I went down there Thursday, salivating all the way and I saw Steve outside a lineless Artichoke. He then broke it to me that they were closed for the day. No biggie though. I unexpectedly bumped into a friend IN Otafuku and after we ate there, we took ourselves to Oh! Taisho. I ended up getting my Artichoke fix late Saturday night.

4/14/2008 Joolie "mzjoolz if you're nasty!" T. says:

why didn't you call me, Steve? =(

Lauren, this time... holla! let's go together.

4/14/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

Goddam Joolie, you have 700 reviews!

I am going to go EARLY on Wed to assure myself  I get the things I went for today in vain.

4/14/2008 Lauren "Bag Lady: Founding Mother of Team Dirtbag Assoc." S. says:

you got it babe! we'll be there around 9:30

4/14/2008

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4/14/2008 Steve "10 Lemon" M. says:

Joolie "mzjoolz... if you're nasty" T. says:
"why didn't you call me, Steve? =( "
------------------------------ --------------------
I was gonna on Thursday Joolz, but they were closed. Saturday I was there around 1 AM and was just in for a quick bite and then back to the UWS. Next time fo' sho' though!

4/14/2008 Joolie "mzjoolz if you're nasty!" T. says:

lol Julia. that was random!

well, Lauren and I will be there 9:30 on Friday.
=)

actually, i'm going there tomorrow hahahaha. for lunch! are they even open for lunch? i went there last Friday @ 3:30p w/ my accomplice and they said they were opening up later. do they always do this?

4/14/2008

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4/14/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

Yeah apparently they are not often open for lunch, watch out Joolie!

And yeah, I just noticed your review count. I'm late to the game, what can I say?

I may need a dose by Friday, we shall see! I fear lines at 9:30 on a friday though...egads!

4/14/2008 Michael "Weatness  ® ™  2009 All RIghts Reserved" F. says:

Um, in some people's books, repeated visits to a FOUR STAR pizza place REQUIRES you change the rating to FIVE STARS (like it deserves).

:-P

Thank you very much.

Just sayin''.

4/14/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

I didn't GET anything because they were sold out of everything except pizza,  of which I have tried all varieties already. :(

4/14/2008 Michael "Weatness  ® ™  2009 All RIghts Reserved" F. says:

Um, just in case you're wondering: pizza is the entire point of that restaurant. :-)

4/14/2008 Edward "FAB*ulous LIVING NYC" F. says:

Joolie "mzjoolz... if you're nasty" T. says:

actually, i'm going there tomorrow hahahaha. for lunch! are they even open for lunch? i went there last Friday @ 3:30p w/ my accomplice and they said they were opening up later. do they always do this?
------------------

My advice Joolie would be to phone them ahead of time -- unfortunately they haven't been able to consistently open on time for the lunch crowds! They stay open late most nights (on weekends as late as 5AM!) and are currently doing the long commute to/from Staten Island.  But the artisans at Artichoke are looking to rent an apartment in the neighborhood -- so they can start kneading the dough and prepping all the ingredients to make those amazing 'Neopolitan,' Artichoke and Spinach and Sicilian pies in time for lunch!  It takes time to make 'spiritual pizza,' capiche?  Just sayin'.  ;-)

As for the other items like the cauliflower fritters, the broccoli rabe, the meatballs, the hearty, artisinal bread etc. -- I heard that Francis & Sal make them when they feel like it, so your selection may vary depending on when you visit...and believe me, they sell out FAST!  But if you do get lucky -- ask them to make you a broccoli rabe sandwich or a meatball hero!

Jeez, all this talk is making me hungry!  Just sayin' ;-)

4/14/2008 Michael "Weatness  ® ™  2009 All RIghts Reserved" F. says:

Edward "5 * * * * *" F. says:

My advice Joolie would be to phone them ahead of time -- unfortunately they haven't been able to consistently open on time for the lunch crowds!

===

Too true.  Both Saturday and today they weren't open until 3.  Such a bummer to show up there and have there be no pizza. :-(

4/14/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

Well, I want to try their other offerings so that I can be a full expert, unlike SOME people who only ever get ONE thing and then go ranking all highly....

:P

4/14/2008 Michael "Weatness  ® ™  2009 All RIghts Reserved" F. says:

Oy. :-)

It's a pizza place.

P-I-Z-Z-A

That's THE reason to go there.

The rest is just window dressing.

4/15/2008 Joolie "mzjoolz if you're nasty!" T. says:

thanks for the advice, folks!

as i too... commute from SI.- i feel their pain. lol

4/15/2008 victoria "mama snark" v. says:

yeah joolz - ya think they will drop of a pie at our place(s) before heading into the city?

just sayin

and...i also have to say...last night, S and i tried their family place in staten island (Basille's) with super high hopes for a neopolitan heaven. but NO DEAL. it was absolutely freakishly bad.

4/15/2008 Wednesday L. says:

disappointing....closed when they said they would open.  

it's manhattan, but the lines were soviet era...

4/15/2008 Michael "Weatness  ® ™  2009 All RIghts Reserved" F. says:

victoria "mrs. snarky 2008" h. says:

It was absolutely freakishly bad.

====

Wow... FREAKISHLY bad??

Did you have the leprosy pizza or something? Ha.

4/15/2008 Edward "FAB*ulous LIVING NYC" F. says:

I walked by on my way from work and they had a sign - made from paper plates: "Sorry for the inconvenience, we'll be opening in a few minutes -- help us find an apartment nearby and we'll give you free pizza (and no waiting in line!)"

But happy to report, they are open today as of 5pm -- the first batch of Sicilian, Neopolitan and Artichoke/Spinach pies are on display (and being sold). How do I know?  I'm sending this from across the street (and looking at the line from my window).

I talked to Francis while he was putting the final touches on prepping -- he's working on getting the hours on track (NY Mag misquoted him their opening time).  But he did tell me he's working on the following:
- additional staff to come early morning to start prepping dough, chopping/grating the cheese, making sauce
- getting more menus printed (I'm having Francis & Sal autograph one for you Julia N.!)
- installing an air-conditioner in time for the warm weather

Some ideas I bounced off of him were (he's definitely open to feedback):
- A webcam looking from the kitchen Northward to the street -- so you can see how long the line is.
- Putting a Twitter badge on their website so he can text what time they'll be opening each day.  And what items they have available.

But they'll be opening consistently for lunch soon!

4/15/2008 Rebecca "the Claw" H. says:

This thread cracks me up, I walked by at 11am on Sunday and they were closed.  I hope to get there before Passover rears its ugly anti-carb head.

4/15/2008 Joolie "mzjoolz if you're nasty!" T. says:

that's sad, Victoria. what would be your fav. pizzeria in SI?

so far (i haven't tried many), i love Grandma's. vodka pizza only. lol.

4/15/2008 Vishal D. says:

I went there today at quarter to 7 and I gotta say, the line was pretty much out of control.  It was hilarious watching all the people pass by and curiously peer over the line and through the window and try to figure out what was going on in there that would make so many wait outside.  I heard a couple ladies speculate that they were giving away something for free...which of course they weren't.  The line just kept on getting longer behind me, but this being my 2nd time down there and it being almost 10 days since my last visit, I had to stick it out.

They've got a few new faces back there, and a bunch of people.  But that unfortunately, doesn't make the store bigger, which is where they suffer.  They also have no menu of any kind posted, which confounds the people walking by trying to figure ou the hype.  People will continue to line up for Pizza this good, but I wonder what'll happen come winter time and also when its unbearably hot outside.

No cauliflower fritters today, and its unfortunatel cause I was dying to try those.  But they did have the stuffed artichokes that looked amazing and greasy- but I passed today in favor of one artichoke slice and one neaopolitan slice.  I'm happy to report that after a walk over to union sq. and a 4 train ride up to Grand Central, the slices held up pretty well and still tasted as great reheated.

But I still can't bump to 5 stars cause the of the crust- a little to thick and tough in spots.  The sauce might be the best pizza sauce I've ever had though.

4/15/2008 matthew "rehab is for quitters" h. says:

rebecca , along with cheeseburgers being non-kosher, no pizza on passover is one of the things that convinced me religious laws were stupid.

4/15/2008 Michael "Weatness  ® ™  2009 All RIghts Reserved" F. says:

Vishal D. says:

But I still can't bump to 5 stars cause the of the crust- a little to thick and tough in spots.  The sauce might be the best pizza sauce I've ever had though.

======

I gotta say (and no offense, Vishal, it's not just you, it's several people): this stuff about the crust is absolute crap. It's unbelievable the level of nitpicking that's going on with this pizza. I've been there half a dozen times, I've lived in NY all my life, I've been eating pizza since ... FOREVER... and that crust could not be better. Thick? It's normal pizza crust, only better.  Tough?? I mean, seriously. I was even dissecting the crust tonight with my friend Vinny, who was there with me. He was blown away by it.  The crust is crispy on the bottom, chewy in the middle, and it doesn't droop.  It's fantastic.  All this deconstructing is in my view way out of hand. The pizza is head and shoulders above the average slice in NY, and equals in quality ANY PIZZA in NY. Not giving this pizza five stars is a travesty. You guys who are finding fault like this are, in my opinion, looking for reasons to find fault and coming up with flaws you would never even notice on a place without all this hype.

To wit all the Di Fara fanatics who gave it 5 stars (me included).  Seriously, his pizza is far from perfect, but because the guy slaves away making pizzas out in the middle of Brooklyn, and has been for close to 50 years, people forgive him some serious flaws:

1. The crust is good, but it droops.  I pick up the slice to eat in the standard NY fashion (folded in half down the middle like a paper airplane) and the tip is soggy and all the stuff slides off.  No matter, I slap it back on and yeah, it's amazingly tasty, but I would hardly call that perfect crust.

2. HE BURNS THE PIZZA. OFTEN.  

3.  Most of the time he literally douses the pizza in olive oil to the point where it's a fire hazard.

My strong contention is that people are holding these folks at Artichoke o a far higher standard than any other place in the city and it's because of all the hype.  People are rating them four stars because of their BREAD for chrissakes.  People, this is a PIZZA place. You don't walk into a pizza place and rate them on their garlic knots or bread.  I mean, you can, but that's freakin' SILLY.

I maintain, this is 5 star pizza. You might not agree with their aesthetic, but it's a choice they make, and you have to respect them for it. Anything less than five stars is a travesty.

Just sayin'.

I love you guys, but seriously.  Get over this. :-)

4/15/2008 Vishal D. says:

The crust is just as integral as the sauce and cheese.  I've found the crust to be of "pan" pizza thickness in some spots and not as forgiving or as crispy as I'd like it to be.  Perhaps its a quibble in the grand scheme of things, but I don't I guess I'm a little tougher with the 5 stars than most.  Still, its like, only 4 weeks since this place has been around, so I definitely will give em some time.  It is a damn good pizza, and considering how many spots in Manhattan have declined over time, its easily the most exciting pizza in Manhattan.  My favorite's still Full Moon out on Arthur Ave. in the Bronx, but its not easy to get there.

4/15/2008 Steve "10 Lemon" M. says:

OK, sit yourselves down for a long story...

I am about the world's biggest thin crust, NYC pizza snob. I love this stuff though. The only analogy I can draw to best illustrate this pizza conundrum is the following anecdote:

When I lived in MPLS, my composer roommate and I were immense fans of Baroque music. We were such aficionados that we would only buy and listen to recordings of such music played on original styled instruments from the period that said music was composed. It is a definite and distinctive sound, radically different from how such music sounds when played on modern era instruments.

The MPLS/St. Paul area also is home to America's premiere orchestra that specializes in such music, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. They performed MANY concerts of this type of music all over the metropolitan area. We would often go to hear these concerts.

Always, I would be sitting there enraptured with the incredible sounds I was hearing from the nations best chamber orchestra. My roommate however would be audible groaning(!) in pain. He didn't like it, as perfectly beautifully performed as it was, strictly because the music was being performed on modern instruments and it was "an affront to his ears".

I found this to be overly snobbish and also shallowly elitist and I told him that I too, preferred Baroque music to be performed on original instruments, but here we were listening live to the best chamber orchestra in the land and regardless of the stuff being played on modern ones, still, these were incredible performances of great beauty, depth and expression and it sounded amazing to boot!

He however, was so blinded by his pig-headed purism that he could not even enjoy beautiful music. How sad for him.

So, I had the benefit of enjoying the music performed two totally different  ways, he was limited to liking one and being offended by the other even though both were wonderful.

The same is true about NYC pizza and I wish this feud would end! Traditional NYC thin-crust is incredible. Di Fara is incredible. Artichoke is incredible. All THREE are incredible!!! They are just different styles of wonderful and there's lots of room for excellence in my world. Let's please just enjoy all three equally in our embarrassment of riches and all count our blessings. It's not a contest - it's merely one of the many advantages of living in (MHO) the world's greatest city - NYC, NY.

4/15/2008 Michael "Weatness  ® ™  2009 All RIghts Reserved" F. says:

C'mon. Pan pizza thickness?  That regular round neapolitan?  Seriously?  Have you even looked in your average pizza store of late? They're generally far worse. And "forgiving"?!?  You can call a crust "not forgiving" and possibly think you're not nitpicking?? Ha.

That crust I had today was about as crispy as it could be without being burnt.

I'll take your word on that place on Arthur Avenue. I'm quite sure that there's amazing pizza up there, but it's the excitement that is making people deconstruct this slice. Look at the love that goes into it.  These guys have craft.  They care about pizza.  Again, you may not agree with their particular aesthetic, but it's purposeful, and that and the art that they uphold makes them deserving of 5 stars.  

One man's view.

4/15/2008 Michael "Weatness  ® ™  2009 All RIghts Reserved" F. says:

Steve's right.  We could be in Peoria eating Domino's.  How bad would that suck?

Aw, c'mon, Steve, this isn't a feud.  It's good natured debating.

I just happen to be right. :-P

4/15/2008 Vishal D. says:

The crust was about 1/2 of an inch thick.  I don't think every slice comes out the same and some parts of the pie are thicker than other's.  I've run into a couple of "problem" slices if I could call them that.  They were still delicous...I also wish they weren't as thick and a little crispier- that might me just me, but it seems I'm not the only one.

Its obviously leaps and bounds better than your average pizza store- those generally get 2-3 stars or no review from me cause I don't bother eating in them.  And I agree, I love that these guys put a lot of time into making the pie, always serve a fresh slice, and the main guy is always back there making them.  They do a lot of things the way it absolutely should be.

4/15/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

Michael, dude, you are not going to claim their crust is crispy. It's not! It's tasty, but it's NOT CRISPY.

4/15/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

(at least not on the neo - it is on the Sicilian which is amazing)

4/15/2008 Michael "Weatness  ® ™  2009 All RIghts Reserved" F. says:

I had Neo tonight and it was totally crispy. I'm not sure how we define crispy other than it makes a crunching noise when I bite into it.  Every piece of Neo I've had there did. EVERY ONE. :-P

4/15/2008 Steve "10 Lemon" M. says:

Sorry, Vishal but I couldn't resist:

Vishal D. says:
"I don't think every slice comes out the same and some parts of the pie are thicker than other's.  I've run into a couple of "problem" slices if I could call them that."
------------------------------ ------------------------------ -----------
Vishal, there's a place called Domino's in town. Each perfectly, machine measured  ball of dough plops out of a contraption operated by a high school dropout and is then mechanically rolled out, dressed and sent through a conveyor to be cooked. Perfect uniform pizzas every time! Whether you're in Dodge City or the UWS of NYC. No surprises!

Like I say, sorry, but that was just too juicy a one :-D

P.S. - Every piece of Artichoke I've had has been "crispy" - but mine were always fresh from the oven. Thicker than I'm used to, though crispy.

4/15/2008 Vishal D. says:

Ok, so b/c I don't like Artichoke's crust I like Domino's?

Their's nothing wrong with uneven, I just don't like portions of my crust to be what I deem to be too thick and chewy in consistency.

4/15/2008 Steve "10 Lemon" M. says:

Hey, Vishal - I kid, I kid!!!

4/15/2008 Michael "Weatness  ® ™  2009 All RIghts Reserved" F. says:

Um, here's where we're nitpicking.

New York pizza is supposed to be chewy. And crispy. BOTH.

It always has been.

4/15/2008 Vishal D. says:

Well maybe I'm just a compulsive quibbler.  Less than 10% of my reviews have 5 stars (12/128).  I love Burgers, and Rare, Shake Shack and Five Guys are 3 of my favorite places to eat anywhere.  Yet I don't rate them 5 stars for one reason or another.  It's just the way I grade things...I like the bell curve approach.

4/15/2008 Steve "10 Lemon" M. says:

I respect that, Vishal and hey - please realize I was just joking with you just as 94.3295% of my posts on these threads are - jokes.

Anyway seriously, a bit over 20% of my total reviews are five starrers, but if you'll look at my pizza list: http://www.yelp.com/li..., the same quotient holds - three 5 star reviews out of 15. To me, that seems pretty restrained and not really willy-nilly.

I think I might award stars as much with my right brain than my left, because as analytical as I am, I still step back and view the entire experience from a hedonistic, overall point of view whenever I review a place from Babbo to the local hardware store.

There are some things in my ratings that just manifest themselves as a bit on the intangible side, because by my line of thinking. some things just can't be reasoned out through logic and must be pounced upon through passion and instinct. It's what makes being a human animal all the more fun.

4/16/2008 R "Jokey McJokerson" J. says:

it's PIZZA--eat it and enjoy! 99.9% who claim to be afficionados of NYC pizza weren't even f'ing born in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queen, Da Bronx, or SI, so their collective experience of eating NYC pizza is this 1996 boom and beyond of pizza places in NYC claiming to have the most traditional "NYC pizza." Please eat more pizza...the population needs more thinning via degenerative heart disease and clogged artieries. p.s.--the pizza @ Artichokes tastes great!

4/16/2008 Rebecca "the Claw" H. says:

Does anyone have a menu that they can scan and send to me.  I'm not one for lines and would love to just order by the phone and have it delivered this week.

Anyone?  Thanks!

4/16/2008

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4/16/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

Rebecca - delivery isn't up and running yet, and they don't have a menu. :(

However, I can snag you some when I go later today if you like.

I can tell you what they typically serve - well just go read my review. Let me know!

4/16/2008 Atif "Mister Dessert" I. says:

Julia: while you're there ask them what they put in Michael and Edward's pies... for that sure seems to be working :)

Rebecca: You don't need a menu, just stare intently at the profile pics of the yelpers promoting them enthusiastically. The entire menu should flash before your eyes... and if it doesn't, it can only mean that you just don't love pizza enough.

Just sayin'.

4/16/2008 Edward "FAB*ulous LIVING NYC" F. says:

Rebecca "the Claw" H. says:

Does anyone have a menu that they can scan and send to me.  I'm not one for lines and would love to just order by the phone and have it delivered this week.

================

Right now it's just Francis, Sal, a few cousins & childhood friends helping them make pizza, sauce & fritters so right now they're concentrating on getting the food out fresh.  They are working on getting delivery set up and running (the place is only a month old).  

Basically their menu is:
-Neopolitan round pie $15(?)
-Artichoke/Spinach special pie $20
-Sicilian square pie $20

-Special "burnt" anchovy pie (I haven't tried this one yet --*soon*)

Cauliflower fritters, broccoli rabe, fresh-baked bread (read Steve M.'s review) are made fresh daily (subject to availability and demand).  And they usually have a tray of cannolis out for people to sample in the evening.

Jeez, I've been here so much I remembered this off-the-top of my head....and no, I'm not on Artichoke's payroll. ;-)

Anyway, with all this friendly banter from overnight about NYC pizza (it's all good and valid points).  Let me add my .02 cents.  The quality of pizza at pizzerias has declined over the years as establishments have focused away from their core product (c'mon it's pizza - bread, crust, "gravy" and cheese).

But this gave rise in popularity to the brick/coal oven pizza restaurants in 1990s.  The excitement and buzz of Artichoke (well deserved in every way, good and bad) brings back the old-world neighborhood pizzeria joint to the East Village (and Manhattan) where the quality/freshness of the food is first priority and keeping things simple are a close second.   And guess what, it's working so far!

Sure it's going to be crowded for a while (and by the looks of things, a LONG while). Sure, rumor has it Rachel Ray is telling people when she's out at dinner, "Have you heard about Artichoke?".  But that's the beauty of it.....only in America!
Let me digress off the pizza topic and mention the experience I had watching Francis make me a broccoli rabe sandwich (they had just opened and didn't have any pies ready yet).  I can only say it was like out of a dinner scene in Goodfellas.  This thing was bigger than my head!  For the click inclined: http://tinyurl.com/5kytgp

WIth that said, I'm moving in my food obsession to fish tacos....and I've found the place where you can find tacos de pescados like they make them in Baja California, but in Manhattan! For the click inclinced: http://tinyurl.com/3h7pnl

Happy eats everyone!

4/16/2008 Rebecca "the Claw" H. says:

Dude you're making me hungry with those links.

4/16/2008 Michael "Weatness  ® ™  2009 All RIghts Reserved" F. says:

Atif I. says:

Julia: while you're there ask them what they put in Michael and Edward's pies... for that sure seems to be working :)

Rebecca: You don't need a menu, just stare intently at the profile pics of the yelpers promoting them enthusiastically. The entire menu should flash before your eyes... and if it doesn't, it can only mean that you just don't love pizza enoug

====

You guys are just jealous that you didn't get there first. ;-)

4/16/2008

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4/16/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

Edward, please for the love of god let me know when they open today because I'm going to be first in line for that sandwich!

4/16/2008 Javier M. says:

Have a heart..... summer is around the corner and you guys HAD to start this feud... all I'm thinking is pizza, pizza, pizza and I can't fight this conditioning anymore *sigh*  I'll also be heading there after work like goddamn zombie

THANKS ATIF, THANKS MICHAEL, you ruuuuinneed my life!

4/16/2008 Rebecca "the Claw" H. says:

I guess I will see you all in line there then...  Party.

4/16/2008 Edward "FAB*ulous LIVING NYC" F. says:

Julia "Blood Type: Espresso" N. says:

Edward, please for the love of god let me know when they open today because I'm going to be first in line for that sandwich!

================

GOOD NEWS FIRST:  They will be open at 4:30PM today!  Pies are in the oven as we speak!

BAD NEWS: They didn't get a shipment of Broccoli Rabe today : (

4/16/2008 victoria "mama snark" v. says:

i can't live without pizza. their pizza.
ack.

4/16/2008 Rebecca "the Claw" H. says:

Dumb question, but do they have to go boxes?  When I binge I like to do it in the privacy of my own home...

4/16/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

I'm about ready to SUBTRACT stars.

SECOND time I've gone in and NO cauliflower fritters, NO broccoli rabe. FUCKING A.

Rebecca, they do indeed have boxes to go. Many.

4/16/2008 Javier M. says:

How was the line?

4/16/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

Almost nothing. Not even out the door. THAT was amazing.

BUT OF COURSE NONE FO THE FUCKING ITEMS I WANT.

Not that I'm  bitter because every single store I have gone to today has NOT HAD the exact items I needed. WTF. DAY OF FUCKIGN SUCK.

4/16/2008 Joolie "mzjoolz if you're nasty!" T. says:

i feel your frustration, Julia! lol.
i went to Staples and they didn't have the calculator i wanted.
i went to the Soup Man for lunch and they were out of the tomato basil.
i went to Sephora for a high-pigment lipstick and they didn't have my color. WTF

4/16/2008 Rebecca "the Claw" H. says:

That's really weird, my friend and I were shopping for hiking shoes and the store literally did not have anyone's sizes...weird.

4/16/2008 Javier M. says:

I'm rethinking Pizza... regained my will; but I definitely need a drink after a hellish day at work.. T-minus 43

4/16/2008 Rebecca "the Claw" H. says:

I'm leaving here in ten minutes, guess I won't see you there.

4/16/2008 Vishal D. says:

I had to resist the urge to go there again to see if they would serve me a crust that wasn't too thick/tough in spots :)...Seriously that pizza sauce is fantastic...

4/16/2008 Michael "Weatness  ® ™  2009 All RIghts Reserved" F. says:

The whole thing is fantastic, but then again, I've never experienced what you did. :-)  And if you're so attached to the thick/tough criticism, you should tell them. They seem receptive to feedback.

4/16/2008 Nic B. says:

I love Edward for starting this thread.  Amazing pizza.  That is all.

4/16/2008 Rebecca "the Claw" H. says:

I went right after work.  WOOHOO!  I ate way too much I might ralph.  I posted the photos of my take out.

4/17/2008

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4/17/2008 matthew "rehab is for quitters" h. says:

http://www.chowhound.c...

4/17/2008 Clarence "Respect MY Authorit-ay!" V. says:

I walked by Artichoke this evening and the line looked like this!
http://guestofaguest.c...

Is it really that good?  I couldn't wait so I went down the street and had a slice at Vinny Vincenz - not nearly as crowded, and they had seats!

4/17/2008 Clarence "Respect MY Authorit-ay!" V. says:

I saw this on Metromix and now I am really intrigued.
Just might have to trek to 14 Street to find out myself.

From Metromix http://newyork.metromi...
You know you've hit the big time when David Chang starts sending over Berkshire pork buns: That seems to be the lucky fate of Francis Garcia, whose new slice joint counts the Momofuku guru as a frequent visitor. "[David] asked me how I make my cauliflower fritters," Garcia tells us. "He said, 'Take my cellphone number if you ever run out of product or if you need anything.'" The signature artichoke-and-spinach pie and four-cheese square Sicilian pizza have already developed a Magnolia Bakery-esque following, with lines snaking out the door.

4/17/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

Did anyone go today - did they have either cauliflower fritters or broccoli rabe?

They better have them tomorrow or I may throw a hissy fit.

4/17/2008 Vishal D. says:

I haven't seen either the fritters or the rabe in the 3 times I've been, the stuffed artichokes have been there the last two times I went though.

4/17/2008 jeff "walking.Yelp.com" c. says:

talk about a cultish following..can't wait!

i'll be there on the 22nd
http://singles.meetup....

4/17/2008 Clarence "Respect MY Authorit-ay!" V. says:

I heard from people eating outside the store yesterday that the brocolli rabe gets served on days they get a shipment in.  I guess everything is made fresh the day it comes in?

The more I'm reading about this place, the more I want to try, but I'm dreading to wait on line.

4/17/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

i've had the mediocre artichokes. DO NOT WANT!

You were there today, Vishal?

4/17/2008 Vishal D. says:

Nah, but I was there Monday and Tues of this week....ill see if i can resist the urge to go tommorow....

4/18/2008 Rebecca "the Claw" H. says:

Once they get delivery service, then I am totally going to be in trouble.  When I went at 6:15pm on a Wednesday the line was only 6 ppl deep, not bad at all.

4/18/2008 Steve "10 Lemon" M. says:

When they start delivering, the unemployment rate in NYC is probably gonna drop by about 40% because they're going to have to hire a veritable army of delivery-folk to meet up with demand!

4/18/2008 Edward "FAB*ulous LIVING NYC" F. says:

Wow..this little thread grew to 100 posts!

Reading the good, bad and the ugly posts about the 'Choke (Michael F.' s brilliant nickname for this place) on Yelp...I have to say at least we're more 'cordial' that some of the posters on Eater's Complaints dept:
http://eater.com/archi...

BTW, I see that Eater also now has a new feature called "The Week In Yelp" - the world is catching on to this "thing of ours"!
http://eater.com/archi...

4/18/2008

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4/18/2008 Atif "Mister Dessert" I. says:

Edward: "The Week in Yelp, wherein Amy Blair takes aim at the ridiculousness that is the world of Yelp."

Not too sure I'd be doing high fives at that!

4/18/2008 Steve "10 Lemon" M. says:

Near the new ramen place too, Joanie! (Oops! I hope Chauchee doesn't notice me talking to you! GULP!)

4/18/2008 Clarence "Respect MY Authorit-ay!" V. says:

Edward: "I see that Eater also now has a new feature called "The Week In Yelp" - the world is catching on to this "thing of ours"!

=======

By "the world," I'm assuming you mean the 8 people that read Eater?

I walked by at 12:30pm, storefront was open but the doors were locked with the pizza plate sign posted.  Saw an old guy making dough through the window.

4/18/2008 Julia "hiatus in random parts of Europe" N. says:

They didn't open till nearly 4, only ONE guy there, and NO broccoli rabe or fritters - just pizza and stuffed artichokes. I did have an excellent slice of sicilian today, however.

Now I cannot have anything from there till after passover. Hopefully those items I seek will be around then.

4/20/2008 Edward "FAB*ulous LIVING NYC" F. says:

Here's the Sunday night report on Artichoke: http://wonderfulanddel...

(for those who don't like to click):
*CLOSED* - "I'm going to cry" and "Don't forget to call me - Really need it, Marc" notes written on the paper plates!

It looks like the Eater blog has started a weekday post "Artichoke opening at ___". Go to http://eater.com/