Nicoletta

One of the thicker, deeper pizza pies offered in NYC comes from Nicoletta, a cozy spot in the East Village on 2nd Ave between 10th and 11th street. The menu here offers patrons over 20 different toppings for your pizza: you can choose one of the restaurant's specialty pizzas or make your own creation if you wish. The Chicago-influenced pizzeria serves a different take on NYC pizza.

Pizza Overall Grade: A-

Cheese: 4

Sauce: 4.5

Bread/Crust: 3

Presentation: 5

Pizzeria: 4
Service: 4.5

Nicoletta takes pride in the endless combinations you can make from their various toppings. The pizzeria suggests you supplement your main course with a side dish from their appetizer or salad menu. Just like their pizzas, the side dishes like meatballs or cauliflower are made from a collection of rich ingredients (unlike your local pizzeria down the block). From my own experience, ordering a salad and a pizza pie was more than enough food for 2.

The cheese was melted to a nearly perfect crisp on the pizza, with mozzarella stretching on every bite. The sauce was rich in flavor and you can find chunks of fresh tomatoes over the entire pie. However, the sauce was too plentiful, overpowering the taste of the cheese. The bread was thick and doughy, which is unusual for most NYC pizzerias, making it a bigger part of the pizza eating experience (compared to other pizzerias).

Nicoletta's venue is a bit small but can fit a good amount of people when the outdoor seating is available. Most of the tables are meant for parties of 2 or less, so if you are coming with more people, make a reservation or prepare to wait. The restaurant gives off a young and chic vibe, hosting people who are looking to change up their standard NYC pizzas. The service was great, we got our salad and pizza exactly when we started to crave them.

I gave Nicoletta an A- because the cheese and sauce were both incredibly delicious and plentiful. I think Nicoletta could ease up a bit on the sauce for their pizza, and perhaps find someway to make more room for the demand they attract. Be sure to try one of their side dishes with your pizza!

Nicoletta is located at 160 Second Ave between 10th and 11th streets.

Phone: (212) 432-1600

Delivery, Take-out, Eat-in

Cost of Pie: Classica Pie - $17
Dept. of Health Grade: A