Bite Of The Day: Pizza For One At Graziella’s
Graziella’s Italian Restaurant is the perfect place for pretty much any occasion, from a first date or a graduation lunch, to a casual after-work dinner or as that place you take your parents (or kids) when they visit.
It is also an ideal spot for anyone too hungry/lazy/independent to coordinate with someone else’s schedule. Between the list of 12-inch and 16-inch wood-fired pizzas — which you can watch being made — the savory soups, fresh salads, insanely tempting pastas, and plenty of seafood, there’s something for just about every craving.
On this visit, we opted for one of the homemade pizzas, a 12-inch gorgonzola pizza ($17/$24). Topped with gorgonzola and mozzarella cheeses, caramelized onions, spinach and a few basil leaves, the crust is thin and crispy, warm from the oven, and satisfyingly savory. The gorgonzola gives it a slightly tart punch while the onions end up lending a sweetness that is cut through by the fresh spinach. Pair it with a glass of wine or something non-alcoholic like an Arnold Palmer Pink Lemonade ($2.75) and you’re good to go.
Pizza is a great way to also leave just enough room for dessert. The Italian cheesecake ($6) came dusted in sugar and is firm and creamy in a solid, not yogurty, way, which I am grateful for. The taste is subtly decadent on its own, but we recommend dipping it in some of the extra virgin olive oil that sits on every table. The oil enhances the flavor and gives the texture an added smoothness in the mouth.
Verdict: A perfect meal and there is so much more to choose from for future visits. Some other dishes that sound great are the baked clams ($9/$15), orecchiette pesto ($14), grilled baby octopus ($12/$13), pizza inferno ($15/$23), and wild mushroom ravioli ($16). There are also daily specials like rack of lamb and various catches of the day. But don’t take our word for it; go and eat!
GRAZIELLA’S
232 Vanderbilt Avenue (between Willoughby and DeKalb Avenues)
718-789-5663
Open daily from 11am-11pm
Delivery available