Pizza That's Worth The Wait - John's on Bleecker in the Village
Written: Aug 15 '03 (Updated Aug 15 '03)
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Pros: Delicious pizza, cooked to perfection. Fun atmosphere. New York at its finest!
Cons: They don't take credit cards. Long lines to get in.
The Bottom Line: Quite simply, John's Pizzeria has some of the best pizza I've ever had in my entire life. The service isn't bad either!
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| mrs-j's Full Review: John's Pizzeria |
Introduction
I am a pizza snob and a bit of a pizza connoisseur. I like to make my own pizzas, from scratch, and slap them on the grill in our backyard. It churns out pizza with a flavor that's remarkably close to brick oven pizza.
So it shouldn't come as any surprise that I am always in search of great pizza. For most people, pizza seems to be filler. Bland, cardboard-scented pizzas from Domino's, Pizza Hut and Papa John's will be happily consumed by my crew without complaint here at the office and I join in and chow down with them. But I am of the mindset that truly great pizza is hard to come by and should be sought out vigorously as often as possible.
So when I heard the hubbub about John's Pizzeria in the Village I went to check it out.
About John's Pizzeria
John's is tucked away under a bright red awning on Bleecker Street. Established in 1929, the restaurant has added an additional room and sprouted up secondary locations in Manhattan. Aside from that, not much else has changed.
In the evening it is not uncommon to find a line outside the door to get into John's. A peek inside the windows over the rows of autographed pictures and glowing restaurant reviews reveals a packed restaurant with people sharing tables with strangers if necessary. Pizzas, stacked double decker, line the tables as do pitchers of beer and sodas.
Booths line all of the walls with freestanding tables in the middle. And there in the back corner you'll see it, in all its splendor and glory: the coal-fired brick oven that's the secret to making exceptional pizzas.
Waiting in line is often interesting in and of itself. You get to know other people. I've found them to be chatty and we even ran into Dave Atell (of Comedy Central's "Insomniac" fame) while waiting! The last time we were at John's, the rest of the street was closed down for the filming of a movie, so we got to see some entertaining production crew activity while we waited in line.
The door remains clear for patrons to leave. Every so often, a John's virgin shows up and walks directly in the door, only to quickly be turned around and directed to the back of the line outside to wait his turn. The waiter manning the front tables keeps an eye on those clearing out. They are quickly bussed and he comes outside to gather the next patrons in line.
Atmosphere
John's is not a quiet place. It's hustling and bustling with activity and laughter and loud discussions. On our last visit, as the waiter escorted us in he directed us to the other side, where the brick oven is. We were sat at a booth and had a chance to look over all the glowing letters of praise and autographed pictures hanging on the wall. Jerseys and memorabilia adorn all the walls at John's.
The wooden booth tables are heavily carved into with names. Graffiti takes on an art form here, with scores of people leaving their mark unabashedly. Waiters even pause before setting down a plate where someone might be carving or inking in his or her name on the table.
The Menu
What are you going to get at John's, if not pizza? Oh sure, you can get salads and calzones, but I don't (well, there was that one salad) and I make no apologies for it. Go to John's for the pizza. Capeche?
The menu is on the wall over every table and is very simple. You can order a variety of pizzas, or craft your own with various ingredients. Extra cheese, tomatoes and garlic cost $1.00 to add to a pizza. Ricotta is $2.00.
There are two sizes - Small (14" and 6 slices) or Large (16" and 8 slices) on the menu. 54 different pizzas are listed, ranging in price from $12.00 to $23.00.
Okay, okay, so you want to go against the grain and order something besides pizza. Fine. You can get a Calzone, big enough to serve 3 for $16.00. Or you can get Italian favorites like spaghetti, manicotti, ravioli or stuffed shells - all for around $10.00 or less. If you want a salad to start, John's house salad is only $6.00 and big enough for two.
John's sells pitchers of soda and beer. A pitcher holds about four 10 ounce glasses of your favorite beverage. And they also carry about a half dozen wines in bottles, or you can get a house red or white for $5 a glass.
The prices are very reasonable by New York standards, and they'd better be because John's doesn't accept credit cards! Very annoying, that. Be sure you have enough green with you when you go, but if you don't there's an ATM just down and across the street.
Food Quality
John's salads are delicious and fresh and huge. If you like standard Italian restaurant style salads, you'll enjoy John's. Your pizza, as the menu reminds you, is made to order. It doesn't take long. Those are some hot ovens. The pizza is browned to perfection on the bottom with a crispy crust.
We like to order standards such as pepperoni, or pepperoni and sausage. When the pizza comes out we slice off pieces and wait. You can burn the roof of your mouth right off on the pizza it's so fresh from the oven.
Garlic powder is provided in a canister on the table if you'd like to add it, as is crushed red pepper. I love red pepper flakes on my pizza so I sneak some on usually. The pepperoni is a little greasy but the cheese and the sauce - which they ladle on lightly - taste marvelous. The pizza is so good that you'll never taste the bland products of Domino's or Pizza Hut without a tugging in your heart for John's again. (Really, I'm not kidding. Would I kid you?)
Service
The service is quick and efficient. You're in Manhattan - where waiting tables is a serious profession not an After School Special for teens. The waiters aren't exceedingly friendly, or overbearingly gracious. They are there to get your order and get you your food as efficiently as possible. And that's just how I like it.
Summary
John's Pizzeria is legendary. It's the kind of restaurant that's a "must visit" whenever I'm in Manhattan.
Website: http://www.johnsofbleeckerstreet.com
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations I can't say it enough: Get the pizza! Pizza and a pitcher of beer to wash it down with is the ultimate John's experience.
Best Suited For: Large Group
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mrs-j
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"Man was made for something better than disturbing dirt." - Oscar Wilde
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