More on New York pizza places
One effect of the wave of Northeastern transplants to our area is a proliferation of New York-style pizza parlors. I was surprised to receive votes for more than 45 places in response to my recent queries in my blog and column. My article in today's paper listed the top 10 most popular vote-getters; for those who didn't see it, they were:
Tony’s Pizza in Hickory, Mooresville, Huntersville and Ballantyne (Huntersville was the one most often recommended); Brooklyn South in Cornelius, Brooklyn Boys in Mooresville and Brooklyn Pizza Parlor in Charlotte (same ownership); Luigi’s Pizza, tucked behind the Wal-Mart at Interstate 485 and South Tryon, which earned the most testimonials from recent New York transplants for its authenticity; Big Guys Pizza near Mint Hill; Carmella’s Pizza in south Charlotte; Portofino’s Italian Restaurant, with three Charlotte locations plus Gastonia; Mama’s Pizza, Pasta & Seafood of New York in Mint Hill; Due Amici near University City in Charlotte; Paluso’s Pizzeria in south Charlotte and Luisa’s Brick Oven Pizzeria near Park Road Shopping Center.
Read on for a more complete list containing most of readers' selections.
Personally, I made it to Luigi’s, Luisa’s and Portofino’s over the past week (I’ve had previous experience with several of the others). No complaints so far - and I’m looking forward to working my way through more of these.
Charlotte:
Amalfi’s Pasta 'n Pizza, 8542 University City Blvd.
Anzi Pizza-n-Pasta, 7308 E. Independence Blvd., 7828 Rea Rd.
Avanti’s Italian Specialties, 8128 Providence Rd.
Big Guys Pizza, 6914 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd.
Brooklyn Pizza Parlor, 7725 Colony Rd.
Capriccio Pizza & Italian Restaurant, 9611 Brookdale Dr.
Carmella’s Pizza, 6654 Carmel Rd.
Da Vinci’s, 8511 Davis Lake Parkway.
Due Amici Pizza & Pasta, 5346 Prosperity Church Rd.
Fuel Pizza, 1501 Central Avenue and five other locations in Charlotte, Davidson and Gastonia (www.fuelpizza.com)
Gourmet Pizza &Wings, 4450 The Plaza.
Hawthorne's NY Pizza and Bar, 1701 E 7th St.
Juliana Pizza, 9808 Monroe Rd.
Luigi’s Pizza, 8170 S. Tryon St.
Luisa’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, 1730 Abbey Place.
Mio Posto, Pineville-Matthews Road at Tower Place.
Palone’s Pizza, 8133 Ardrey Kell Rd.
Paluso’s Pizzeria, 10106 Johnston Road, south Charlotte.
Paventi’s Pizzeria, 6434 W Sugar Creek Rd.
Pizza & More, 7008-2 E. Harris Blvd.
Portofino’s Italian Restaurant, has three Charlotte locations plus Gastonia, but the most votes came for 3124 Eastway Drive. www.portofinos.us
Riccio’s Pizza Villa, 2212 Park Rd.
Rotelli Pizza & Pasta, 9211 N Tryon St.
Tony’s, locations in Hickory, Mooresville, Huntersville and Ballantyne (Huntersville, 9548 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Rd., was the one most often recommended). www.tonyspizza.org
Zio Authentic Italian, 116 Middleton Drive.
Concord:
Brooklyn Pizzeria, 3481 US Highway 601 S.
Romano’s Pizza, 349 Copperfield Blvd.
Rosario’s Pizza, 5303 Poplar Tent Rd.
Cornelius:
Brooklyn South, 19400 Jetton Road.
Fort Mill:
Village Pizza & Italian Restaurant, 773 Crossroads Plaza.
Harrisburg:
Laroma's Italian Restaurant & Pizza, 12058 University City Blvd.
Richie's NYPD Pizza, 5084 Highway 49 S.
Huntersville:
A Taste of Buffalo, Shops on Statesville across from Northcross Lanes on Statesville Rd.
Indian Trail:
Mona Lisa More Than Pizza, 5850 Highway 74.
New York Pizza and Pasta, 624 Indian Trail Rd S.
Matthews:
Fontanella’s Italian Restaurant, 10412 E. Independence Blvd.
Mario’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant, 3016 Weddington Rd.
Mint Hill:
Mama’s Pizza, Pasta & Seafood of New York, 7106 Brighton Park Drive.
Mooresville:
Brooklyn Boys, 119 Market Place.
Pomodoro's Italian American, 350 W Plaza Dr.
Pineville:
Upstate Pizza, 9101 Pineville Matthews Rd.
Waxhaw:
Marino’s Philly Pizzeria and Grill, 3909 Providence Rd.
Tony’s Pizza in Hickory, Mooresville, Huntersville and Ballantyne (Huntersville was the one most often recommended); Brooklyn South in Cornelius, Brooklyn Boys in Mooresville and Brooklyn Pizza Parlor in Charlotte (same ownership); Luigi’s Pizza, tucked behind the Wal-Mart at Interstate 485 and South Tryon, which earned the most testimonials from recent New York transplants for its authenticity; Big Guys Pizza near Mint Hill; Carmella’s Pizza in south Charlotte; Portofino’s Italian Restaurant, with three Charlotte locations plus Gastonia; Mama’s Pizza, Pasta & Seafood of New York in Mint Hill; Due Amici near University City in Charlotte; Paluso’s Pizzeria in south Charlotte and Luisa’s Brick Oven Pizzeria near Park Road Shopping Center.
Read on for a more complete list containing most of readers' selections.
Personally, I made it to Luigi’s, Luisa’s and Portofino’s over the past week (I’ve had previous experience with several of the others). No complaints so far - and I’m looking forward to working my way through more of these.
Charlotte:
Amalfi’s Pasta 'n Pizza, 8542 University City Blvd.
Anzi Pizza-n-Pasta, 7308 E. Independence Blvd., 7828 Rea Rd.
Avanti’s Italian Specialties, 8128 Providence Rd.
Big Guys Pizza, 6914 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd.
Brooklyn Pizza Parlor, 7725 Colony Rd.
Capriccio Pizza & Italian Restaurant, 9611 Brookdale Dr.
Carmella’s Pizza, 6654 Carmel Rd.
Da Vinci’s, 8511 Davis Lake Parkway.
Due Amici Pizza & Pasta, 5346 Prosperity Church Rd.
Fuel Pizza, 1501 Central Avenue and five other locations in Charlotte, Davidson and Gastonia (www.fuelpizza.com)
Gourmet Pizza &Wings, 4450 The Plaza.
Hawthorne's NY Pizza and Bar, 1701 E 7th St.
Juliana Pizza, 9808 Monroe Rd.
Luigi’s Pizza, 8170 S. Tryon St.
Luisa’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, 1730 Abbey Place.
Mio Posto, Pineville-Matthews Road at Tower Place.
Palone’s Pizza, 8133 Ardrey Kell Rd.
Paluso’s Pizzeria, 10106 Johnston Road, south Charlotte.
Paventi’s Pizzeria, 6434 W Sugar Creek Rd.
Pizza & More, 7008-2 E. Harris Blvd.
Portofino’s Italian Restaurant, has three Charlotte locations plus Gastonia, but the most votes came for 3124 Eastway Drive. www.portofinos.us
Riccio’s Pizza Villa, 2212 Park Rd.
Rotelli Pizza & Pasta, 9211 N Tryon St.
Tony’s, locations in Hickory, Mooresville, Huntersville and Ballantyne (Huntersville, 9548 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Rd., was the one most often recommended). www.tonyspizza.org
Zio Authentic Italian, 116 Middleton Drive.
Concord:
Brooklyn Pizzeria, 3481 US Highway 601 S.
Romano’s Pizza, 349 Copperfield Blvd.
Rosario’s Pizza, 5303 Poplar Tent Rd.
Cornelius:
Brooklyn South, 19400 Jetton Road.
Fort Mill:
Village Pizza & Italian Restaurant, 773 Crossroads Plaza.
Harrisburg:
Laroma's Italian Restaurant & Pizza, 12058 University City Blvd.
Richie's NYPD Pizza, 5084 Highway 49 S.
Huntersville:
A Taste of Buffalo, Shops on Statesville across from Northcross Lanes on Statesville Rd.
Indian Trail:
Mona Lisa More Than Pizza, 5850 Highway 74.
New York Pizza and Pasta, 624 Indian Trail Rd S.
Matthews:
Fontanella’s Italian Restaurant, 10412 E. Independence Blvd.
Mario’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant, 3016 Weddington Rd.
Mint Hill:
Mama’s Pizza, Pasta & Seafood of New York, 7106 Brighton Park Drive.
Mooresville:
Brooklyn Boys, 119 Market Place.
Pomodoro's Italian American, 350 W Plaza Dr.
Pineville:
Upstate Pizza, 9101 Pineville Matthews Rd.
Waxhaw:
Marino’s Philly Pizzeria and Grill, 3909 Providence Rd.
posted by Leigh at
7:46 AM
34 Comments:
OKAY I have found a great PIZZA shop " NEW YORK PIZZA EXPRESS" In Stalling/Matthews area on JOHNs/Monroe rd nect to the CITGO station . Very Busy shop and I can see why they do a great job with the food. (704) 821-2020 I loved it and dont like much of anything here but the weather. Im the "GRUMPY GOURMET"
Prosciuttos in Cornelius has really awesome pizza! Plus a great atmosphere.
LUIGI'S. PERIOD.
It all has to do with the water. My grandfather makes his own pizza from scratch. When he came down to visit he couldn't get the dough to rise right, so next time he brought water from NY in jugs to make us pizza, and it worked. Amazing.
It all has to do with the water. My grandfather makes his own pizza from scratch. When he came down to visit he couldn't get the dough to rise right, so next time he brought water from NY in jugs to make us pizza, and it worked. Amazing.
Does anyone remember Nirchi's on South Blvd and have any idea what happened to it?
Rosario's in Concord, DaVinci's and Amalfi in Charlotte are just like home to me (NJ) Enjoy!
I have tried most of them, and Portofino's is still our favorite, but DaVinci's is close. DaVinci's is very reasonable too! Portofino's has a good blend of cheese.
Okay, so I have some time on my hands! I actually went out and visited a few pizza parlors yesterday - Palone's, Carmela's, and Upsate. I've had all the rest and until yesterday felt that Luigi's and Hawthorne Pizza were the only legit NY-style pizza in CLT. Carmela's is flat out bad! Crap. Tastes frozen, cheap cheese and overcooked. I didn't even finish it. It's far from good pizza, let alone NY pizza. Upstate pizza is exactly what the name says - "upstate" pizza. It's more like pies from Connecticut, Syracuse, NY, etc. I lived in CT for 17 years, moved to Manhattan after I graduated college, and consider myself someone who knows good pizza. Upstate Pizza has smallish slices, with quality cheese, and it's overall pretty tasty. It has a terrific pizza parlor smell when you walk in - reminded me of being a kid and picking up pizza with my Dad on Friday nights. Palone's is very good - plenty of bright red, fresh tasting sauce and lots of cheese. Awesome crust and quality cheese, not that part-skim crap that most people use down here. I will say again, that Luigi's and Hawthorne's is the most typical of a NY pizzeria (huge slices, thin crust, etc), and Palone's is pretty darn good too. If anyone ever travels to NYC, do yourself a favor and stop by Lombardi's on Spring Street (Soho/Little Italy). Zaggat's calls it "The best pizza on the planet". When I lived there, I brought many people to Lombardi's from out of town. They now crave it (and living here now, so do I!) And yes, it is the New York water. Same deal with bagels and hard rolls.
The water is very Important and as most of you KNOW the Carolinas water supply is very hard mineral; This could be the reason many dough makers have said " they have had more problems with Dough rising here ". The water is hard from all the minerals and to many minerals can be dangerous so, have your water tested and try to get rock salt from LOWES and add it to your Laundry and Baths ; Carolinas red clay has hemathite'in other words "rusting iron" in the clay and can eat the paint finish off your car. This added weight to the water may be the problems with dough . Just a theory.
The water is very Important and as most of you KNOW the Carolinas water supply is very hard mineral; This could be the reason many dough makers have said " they have had more problems with Dough rising here ". The water is hard from all the minerals and to many minerals can be dangerous so, have your water tested and try to get rock salt from LOWES and add it to your Laundry and Baths ; Carolinas red clay has hemathite'in other words "rusting iron" in the clay and can eat the paint finish off your car. This added weight to the water may be the problems with dough . Just a theory.
The water is very Important and as most of you KNOW the Carolinas water supply is very hard mineral; This could be the reason many dough makers have said " they have had more problems with Dough rising here ". The water is hard from all the minerals and to many minerals can be dangerous so, have your water tested and try to get rock salt from LOWES and add it to your Laundry and Baths ; Carolinas red clay has hemathite'in other words "rusting iron" in the clay and can eat the paint finish off your car. This added weight to the water may be the problems with dough . Just a theory.
If only I knew how to post my comment once, I could be dangerous. I think it's the water.
If only I knew how to post my comment once, I could be dangerous. I think it's the water.
LUIGI'S !!!!!!! PERIOD !!! AGREED !!!!
I went to Carmella's a few weeks ago when the owner was there cooking. Slices were GREAT.
I have been back twice since and he was absent and it was total garbage.
Now we just need a Luigi's uUptown, Dilworth, Central to wipe Fuel off the face of the planet.
Bring it on..WE WILL EAT IT !!!
COME ON LUIGI's !!!
COME ON !!!!!!!!!!
Are you deaf ? Luigi................
COME ON ALREADY !!
I'm FRIGIN' Hungry here !!!!!
You will be SLAMMED with late night and the lunch crowd. They've never seen slices so BIG.
They will FREAK the HELL out !!
I can see it now in lights.
"Uptown Luigi"
Okay Luigi,
We know you are reading this post.
Give us an answer. Are you going to open uptown and retire filthy rich or not ?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Sticky Fingers barbeque thats going to be a next thing on PARK rd. They have the best ribs anywhere and are headquartered in Charleston, SC so dont no Charlottian lie and say its from NEW YORK. This comapny does a great job with Ribs and sliced pork sandwiches and the ERNIES pecan pie is wonderfull. They have Mephis dry rub , tennesses whiskey , habenero style and sweet carolina ribs . This is great food people and Im from OHIO and dont like much here but the weather.
ets face it most People from Charlotte are really from somewhere else and most decendants of WEST VIRGINIANS and Wythville, VA. You have to have a GIEGER counter to find an original Charlotean. No One really knows what happened to them ALIENS to them up like the AZTECS
Palone's is the real deal! Great pizza and their cheesecake is delicous.
Went to Carmella’s Pizza on the way home from work tonight. I have been in Charlotte for 3 years. Before that I lived in the Chicagoland area for school. This is the best pizza I have had since I moved away from Chicago.
PSSST... I'm letting the cat outta the bag, i found a new pizza/restaurant in mint hill ! Try ANGELA'S . FANTASTIC! I'm a NYC transplant. (although i hear they are from Jersey) only problem is ...i can never decide , pizza or entree it's all sooo GOOD ! NOW THAT'S AMORE !( GIMME SOME MORE-A )
Charlotte needs more Italians <3
Okay, alright, I asmit it. I'm a pizza junkie. I've been hooked my entire life. Been in Charlotte 20 years so I kind of rode the wagon for years since there were no good pizza joints. Now that we have NY pizza popping up everywhere I am jonesin' weekly for a slice.
I've been to most all of the places in this area and Luigi's beat them all hands down.....................
until yesterday.
Palone's !
The previous poster is absolutely correct !
You've had the rest.......Palone's in by far the best.
The crust is PERFECT. So it's not the water issue.
If they can get it right so can everyone else.
The cheese. O.M.G. !! It's incredible. Same goes for the sauce.
I had a eggplant parm sub as well. Great taste but "come on guys", 2 measly slices of thin eggplant on the entire sub. Great taste but I was still starving.
Back to PIZZA ! The BEST ! Worth the drive for sure!
But I shouldn't have to drive. Wake up pizza makers. There's a thousand times more pizza freaks in the city and surrounding neighborhoods. Stops setting up shop out in the cow feilds.
I tried Palone's pizza the other night and it is by far THE BEST! The line was out the door, but definetly worth the wait.
You see now why this type of post is so dangerous, you first get 40% business owners fake posting themselves to be the best, you then get alot of people of varying opinion. The catch phrase New York style pizza is so abused its sad, there may not be a single place that would pass as truly that style, and in NY they make good thick and thin...THIN is not = NY style, it can be thick or crusty, its just the better crsut better water and more pride in doing it right amogst competition that is greater in NY.
DaVincis is pretty good, but Ive found nothing even Close to Pontillo's of upstate NY. And its not thin.
Ny Style Pizza Charlotte
I dont know about the pizza, but I gotta tell you that Mama's in Mint Hill was a major dissapointment all around. From the lack luster service to the food. Lousy. I'm not sure if they even want to have kids there. How can you not have even one crayon to help keep kids entertained? The "hostess" looked at us like we were retarded when the question was posed. She came back with a Chick-Fil-A kid's meal book that was left behind by some other family who no doubt were pulling their hair out, had to run out to their vehicle and dig deep under the baby seet to find this greasy/sticky children's tale that they got at a fast food restaurant that offers better service at it's drive thru! Yes it IS a run on sentence. At least it kept with the whole "Italian" theme though. Pinnochio.
And that's about as far as the Italian theme goes. Oh yeah, the music. Sorry. They played plenty of Italian music. Good for them. $9 for baked ziti. I don't mind that down at Marios in Matthews, that is good ziti. But Mama's? I have had better pasta dishes at Carowinds. I don't think any of this will matter though. I mean, it is Mint Hill after all. Hell, Penny's place is a staple in this dump of a town. Most of these people will fight you to the death when you tell them Sub-Way really isn't the best sandwich. As far as most people around here are concerned, Italian is Egg noodles and Ketchup. And that's just fine.
Arrivederci!
once you have been your search is over
Brooklyn's Pizzeria in Concord (there's one near Hwy 29 and the speedway and another at Hwy 49 and Hwy 601) is awesome and authentic. It's not Nirchi's but it's damn good all the same and they use quality ingredients, not that cheap crap.
I had a great meal at mamas and the service was excellent.Don't know what your talking about but the way your trashing this wonderful town shame on you.
I have been a regular customer at Mama's For the past year or so & I feel I have to write this in reponse to the nasty essay written about this restaurant. Abviously this person has a problem with out Town of Mint Hill along with Mama's. I have become good friends with the workers and owners of the restaurant & I find to be one of the better Italian restaurants in out area. They are not a chain their food is not chain food. It is all home-cooked. The sauce and pizza dough are made fresh daily along with the dressings, tiramisu & garlic-reputation. While they maybe do not provide their customers with crayons for their children, they do proviode delicious home style meals. Also $9 is not unreasonable for a pasta dish.Go back to a chain restaurant & pay 13! (Including the crayons)
I am originally from Holtsville. I moved down to Charlotte from Long Island 5 years ago and have found very few “New York” style pizza and Italian restaurants around Charlotte. I have been going to Mama's in Mint Hill since they opened in the fall of 2006. The food is great and the wait staff is friendly. The owners and many of the employees are from New York. I like coming in and finding new friends that have moved from New York. The pizza is some of the best New York style pizza I have found in Charlotte. You can find a pizza that you like better, but in the Mint Hill area Mama's is the best pizza I have found nearby. The owners and the other employees are real friendly, if you go there you will see that they genuinely love running the restaurant.
The dinning room has some great dishes, I love the Chicken Francese and my wife likes the Seafood Fettuccine. Everything I have tried here is just like it was at the other Mama's I used to eat back in New York. I don't want to write a novel, but if you try Mama's in Mint Hill you will enjoy Italian and NY style pies like you used to back in New York.
I have lived on most sides of Charlotte(well the inhabitable ones that is). Best 5 Pizza places in no particular order. On the North side, Due Amici & DaVinci's.
On the Southwest side(Lake Wylie), Luigi's & Lake Wylie Pizzeria.
And Portofino's has several locations (Park Rd.,S.Tryon)
Best Sicilian Pizza goes to Due Amici & Luigi's. And a special award goes to Luisa's Brick Oven pizza(Montford) for being here so long as
pretty much the only quality pizza
place.
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