The Bite: Pizza D’Amore Is Pizza To Love
THE BITE: An afternoon trek through the trails in Marine Park is sure to provoke a hungry belly. Such was the case Saturday when I ventured out into the Salt Marsh with a few of southern Brooklyn’s bird enthusiasts to explore the area’s natural wonders. After our three-hour wildlife tour concluded, myself and a few other hikers decided we needed to refuel. Fortunately, Pizza D’Amore, at 3003 Avenue U, was just down the street.
The pizzeria opened last year, part of an expansion by the original Mill Basin location, and has already generated some solid reviews on Yelp. The restaurant has a casual dining atmosphere, which certainly made it inviting for our weary band of travelers who had literally stumbled off the beaten path.
The meal got off to a pleasant start when the fresh bread arrived immediately after we ordered. It wasn’t the artisanal bread you would find at an upscale Italian eatery. Instead, the crunchy breadsticks were topped with tomato sauce, garlic, and pesto, and served as a sort of amuse-bouche for the pie that was on its way.
We’d also asked for some hot coffee and soup in the hopes of unthawing from October’s brisk weather. The coffee hit the spot — comparable to anything you’d get at a quality diner. I ordered the pasta e. fagioli soup ($5.25), which was as comforting as it was tasty, and loaded with beans and cannellini pasta. It was also so piping hot the steam immediately fogged up my camera lens. My companions’ chicken soup ($5.25) was equally delicious, hot, and filling.
But the main attraction was the pizza. We ordered the large Margherita ($20.95), made with homemade sauce and mozzarella, fresh herbs and a few dollops of pesto that gave the pie a lightning green flair.
One of the things that made the pizza stand out was the way the ingredients held together. Unlike the the greasy, thin-crusted pies you’d find at a hole-in-the-wall, by-the-slice, pizza purveyor, which often wearily droop and spill the toppings onto your plate (Or the sidewalk, if you’re on the go), D’Amore’s crunchy, sturdy crust folded up neatly in our hands as we herded the slices into our mouths.
And the fresh ingredients really made a difference. The mozzarella was soft with a pleasurably mellow flavor that complemented the sauce’s sweet and tangy zip. We scarfed it down while trading smiles and stories.
Pizza D’Amore was nice finish to a weekend adventure. The relaxed, family-friendly feel of the restaurant makes for a great place to gather with friends, enjoy a family meal, or host a birthday party (as was the case for one large table in the back). Stop in. Often, life’s simple delights are the most treasured.
Pizza D’Amore, 3003 Avenue U, between Batchelder Street and Ford Street, 929-333-9553. Open daily, 11am – 10:30pm.
The Bite is Sheepshead Bites’ column exploring the foodstuffs of the Sheepshead Bay area. Each week we check out a different offering from one of the many restaurants, delis, food carts, bakeries, butchers, fish mongers, or grocers in our neighborhood. If it’s edible, we’ll take a bite.
