Dining Review: Feeling Private About South Slope Public House
Soft openings don’t always open softly.
South Slope Public House (426 7th Avenue between 14th and 15th Streets) wasn’t planning anything splashy when it warmed up its brick oven last week before Labor Day weekend.
“We thought it’d be a good way to have some customers come in and we could see how everything went,” said Giacomo, an assistant manager for the new restaurant. He gestured towards a four-top in their outdoor dining area. “I think this was the only table that was empty all weekend.”
On a muted weekday after the holiday, I stopped in to try a slice for myself. The place was hushed, while a few parents with their kids sat down to do the same thing.
Actually, South Slope Public House doesn’t sell slices — rather it’s a casual sit down venue which serves about a dozen types of brick oven pies, as well as snacks, salads, sweets, and sports a full beer, wine, and liquor menu.
And sports are indeed part of the atmosphere.
Tennis balls from the U.S. Open matches shot across the flat screen televisions which line both walls of the new place. And those images will be replaced with baseballs and footballs soon enough.
The pizza menu gives way to wings and beer specials as well as weekend brunch, featuring mimosas, bellinis, and Bloody Marys.
And their oven stays open until their 2am closing time.
But let’s stick with the pizza for a moment, shall we?
Now I’m not going to tell you that the pizza here is on par with the haunts that you swear by. That said, the Margherita was crispy, flavorful, and nimble — the quality that you’d be more than content with if you were in the neighborhood and wanted to drop by for an evening of pizza and beer.
And the folks seem friendly. When I stepped in back to check out the outdoor dining area, a dad and his two kids had the place all to themselves. The staff had put Dinosaur Train for those happy little pteranodons while they were munching away at their pizza.
Let’s be honest, the previous tenant didn’t do well and exited quickly. Windsor Roast House opened in September 2015 and closed less than six months later. Even though the neighborhood is not a very “meat and potatoes” type of area, it wasn’t the menu that seemed to be the main issue. I sensed a disconnect between the restaurant and their surroundings.
Giacomo explained they want to make sure it’s simply a family-friendly place. “We’re going to do movie nights out here, we’re going to have trivia,” he said. “But we want anyone in the neighborhood to be able to come.”
It’s very early days for South Slope Public House, but you sense they generally want to accommodate.
And while it’s easy to see the place buzzing at night as the local teams go to the playoffs (hey, we’re allowed to dream), the quiet afternoon “privacy” of this public house was more than agreeable.
The Dining Rundown: South Slope Public House
Where: 426 7th Avenue between 14th and 15th Streets
Hours: 11am-2am, seven days a week. Hours may adjust as they settle in.
Phone: 347-689-2119
Kid Friendly? Yes, they’ll do well during the daytime. And the staff put on some cartoons out back for one happy family.