Lucali

Hidden in the residential sector of Carroll Gardens lie the pizzeria called Lucali. The small venue fits about 20-30 people inside, promoting a relaxing night out to dinner. The candle-lit tables, BYOB policy and lack of menu options (just pizza pies or calzones) all exhibit the simplicity that defines Lucali. The restaurant has a way of making a simple meal seem classy.

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Pizza Overall Grade: B/B+

Cheese: 4

Sauce: 3.5

Bread/Crust: 4

Presentation: 4.5
Pizzeria: 3.5
Service: 3

Lucali's small venue definitely made my pizza pie feel more special. With one oven and one preparation station in the back of the restaurant, it was clear that each and every pie was made with care. When I first saw the pie, it looked well-made, clean, and most importantly, delicious. The cheese was not only melted perfectly, but it was also rich in flavor, which is rare from the other pizzerias I have visited. The sauce was also tasty, but not as noticeable as the taste of the cheese. However, the bread was my favorite part of the pizza. The thin crust and smoky flavor really set this pizza apart from the competition. The combination of all these factors made for a great slice.

That being said, each slice didn't hold all three of these components for too long. It seemed like each slice only was covered with cheese and sauce on the bottom half. While the cheese and sauce were both great, there wasn't much of it to eat with each slice. The bread, or crust per slice was much larger than any other of the pizzerias I have visited. Combine this with the fact that thin sliced pizza doesn't fill you up very easily, and you'll be asking for more.

The pizzeria is away from the busy main streets of the neighborhood and is nicely organized inside, but it is very small. To eat in, you will probably have to call for reservations, especially on the weekends. The service is good, but there is only one waitress for the restaurant, along with one pizza oven, so wait times for your food could get long.

I gave Lucali a B/B+ because I really enjoyed the key ingredients of the pizza. However, Lucali would have had a much better grade if they used more cheese and sauce to fill up their pizza.

Lucali is located at 575 Henry Street in Brooklyn.
Phone: (718) 858-4086
Take-out, Eat-in, No Delivery
Cost of Pie: $24
Dept. of Health Grade: A

BYOB  ‎