Lombardi's Pizza

Lombardi's Pizza claims to be the first pizzeria in New York City. Legally established in 1905, Lombardi's has been serving up pizza for over 100 years in the Village. As if their claim to fame was not enough to attract customers, Zagat rated Lombardi's pizza as the best pizza on the planet. With such an impressive resume, I was excited to see how their pizza was.

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Pizza Overall Grade: A-

Cheese: 3.5
Sauce: 5
Bread/Crust: 4.5
Presenatation: 5
Pizzeria: 4.5
Service: 5

Lombardi's Pizzeria has been nominated for many awards and prestigious honors for a reason: it serves great pizza. When my pie was brought to me, it looked both delicious and elegant. The sauce was very rich and tasted like tomatoes, the way good sauce should taste. The bread was very thin and firm, which helped keep the slice from falling apart. The pizzeria at Lombardi's is very nice with an 'old-fashioned' restaurant style. There were two main areas to eat, so there was plenty of space for a large number of customers. The service at Lombardi's was fantastic as well, my food was made and served quickly by a friendly waiter. It seemed pretty clear that all the waiters at Lombardi's were the cream of the crop.

The only thing I didn't like so much about Lombardi's pizza was the cheese. Although it was very stretchy, I couldn't really taste the mozzarella. I believe the taste was hidden by the sauce, and one ingredient should not hinder another. Also, the restaurant itself was a little cramped, even though there were plenty of places to sit. If you do visit Lombardi's, be financially prepared. The cost of everything there is more expensive than usual, most likely because of their achievements (pizza is served by the pie). Don't make the same mistake I did: I went alone.

I gave Lombardi's an A- because I really like the pizza and the service. The price, however, was asking for a little too much from me, even if I were to go with a friend.

Lombardi's Pizza is located at 32 Spring Street in Greenwich Village.
Phone: (212) 941-7994
Delivery, Take-out, Eat-In
Cost of Pie:   S  $16          M  $20
Dept. of Health Grade: A

Honorable Mention: Calzone