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Lucali
Category: Restaurants Pizza Pizza [Edit]
575 Henry St(between Carroll St & Summit St)
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Neighbourhood: Carroll Gardens
(718) 858-4086
- Nearest Transit:
-
Carroll St (F, G)
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sun 6 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
418 reviews for Lucali
Review Highlights
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"BYOB as well as BYOD (d = dessert." In 109 reviews -
"I love the open kitchen/brick oven format." In 27 reviews -
"BOTH the pizza AND calzone were sooo good." In 100 reviews
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418 reviews in English
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Review from Jackie turner T.
Seattle, WA
5/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Fantastic pizzas. Maybe it was the hunger talking, but it was worth the 2-hr wait!
The four of us shared two pies and they were gone in less than 10 minutes. Perfect combination of cheese, sauce and crust.
You know it's out of this world when you are planning your next trip. Can't wait to return! -
Review from Mike K.
5/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
My friends and I rolled up to Lucali on a Saturday night a couple weeks ago for dinner. I specifically say 'roll' because we drove and were fortunate enough to find an open parking space in front of the restaurant, where my friend made a hilariously awful parallel park. It was so bad that the hostess asked him if he was from New Jersey (ouch!). This really hurt his pride, but I think it's partly what got us a table.
Lucali is a busy place and when we arrived people were crowding underneath the awning, but someone cancelled right when we got there, so a combination of that and a little sympathy for parking-gate nabbed us a table in fairly short order. On our way in I overheard the hostess remark that the wait was an hour and a half. Yikes!
I first heard about Lucali from Paulie Giannone at Paulie Gee's, which is the first pizza joint I've been to that I would ever consider a date spot. Paulie said that he modeled his restaurant on Lucali, and I can see why. Low candle lighting, exposed brick, molded tin ceiling and wood furnishings? Yep. Kitchen(?) and pizza oven in the totally exposed and hardly separated back half of the restaurant? You bet. BYOB? Hell yeah! Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong playing? Ain't misbehavin'.
Lucali has a very sparse menu - pizza and calzones, nothing more. Choose what you want, add toppings and go! We got sausage and onions in our calzone and garlic and basil on our pie.
The calzone wasn't what we were expecting - instead of a short speed bump-shaped lump of dough and cheese, what came out was something that looked like a big slice of pizza that had been folded over on itself in thirds from tip to crust. Inside is nestled an impressive array of cheeses that I can't entirely remember, but I think there was ricotta, mozzarella, bufula mozzarella, parmigiano and a secret cheese that our server couldn't disclose (we think it was a mild blue). The calzone was pretty good, but a little light on the toppings.
Out next came the pizza. If you are a devotee of thin crust pizza, you need to drop everything and get to Lucali now. The crust was so paper thin and brittle that it felt as though it shattered like a very finely caramelized sheet of sugar. It also had a decent bit of char on it. The cheese was great and the sauce was good, but the entire experience was overshadowed by the basil. Instead of dropping a couple leaves here and there, our pie had a generous helping of sprigs, such that I had a tough time tasting anything but the basil.
Service was a little distracted - we had to flag down the servers multiple times to refill our water glasses - but overall the experience was really great. -
Review from Raffi M.
5/10/2012
Lucali is the restaurant I would have if I could have a restaurant. One master craftsman, no menu, one dish, one giant brick oven aflame with the heat of sweet wood. What could be better?
I would say more, but what's the point? There are 400 reviews of Lucali already. I'll only add that the people who don't like it (and there are some) have no idea what they're talking about. It's possible to like other pizza more than lucali - there are good arguments for a doughier crust, or different cheese, or some other sauce, or whatever - but if you don't think this is great pizza, you've got other problems. -
Review from Jozef M.
Salt Lake City, UT
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
A collection of misguided and patriotic americans will claim that the red white and blue has more of a claim on pizza than it's homeland of Italy. Such a statement is what gives us the name "home of the brave". Lucali's, however, is a land unto itself. A pizza parlor where the host, and craftsman are the same. Mark Iacono sweetly hummed guantanamera while rolling the dough with old vino bottles. Despite a busy night, he stopped rolling dough to pull my espresso. The ambiance is mystery. The dish is pizza. You will find very little else on the menu(mostly because a menu does not exist). What god is to heaven, pizza is to earth. If you can't afford a plane trip to naples, rough up $327 and fly yourself to brooklyn.
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Review from Sherley k.
Glen Oaks, NY
5/20/2012
OMG! I have no words! Just go....and bring some good vino!
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Review from Jane I.
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, NY
4/23/2012
I'd say, there's pizza, then there's Lucali.
This pizza really is above and beyond anything I've ever had that was called
'Pizza' which leads me to think I never really had good pizza. Now, I'm
ruined! Lucali is it.
There is a wonderful atmosphere in the room, candles everywhere and the
pizza dough is rolled with empty wine bottles. Fresh ingredients sit proudly
on display -big rounds of fresh mozzarella, artichokes, other cheese and basil
which they proudly and generously adorn all their pizzas with.
The pizza is beautifully thin, crisp and simple. The calzone, heavenly, but only if you're hungry.
Get there before 6 for an early meal or be prepared to wait -Bar Bruno nearby mix a good Negroni! -
Review from Rebecca S.
Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
The best pizza that I've ever had was at Lucali.
Cracker-thin crust, fresh and plentiful toppings, delicious sauce, and made to order right before your eyes.
Service was great. We called ahead to avoid the wait, and when we arrived, the waitress greeted us warmly, listed off all the ingredients for the day and took our order. We ordered two pizzas - one with artichokes and one with bell peppers. After she took our order, the owner came to our table and asked if we wanted both pizzas at the same time, or one at a time so that they would stay hot. I thought that was considerate and it was actually more enjoyable to eat the two seperately, than to have two huge pizzas right in front of us.
The ambiance was perfect. Small, dark, lit with candles, and you can watch the owner make your pizza from your table.
Next time I'm in NY, I'll definitely be going back to Lucali.Listed in: New York
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Review from Christine G.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 4/10/2012 3 Check-ins Here
This is my favorite pizza. Not just in Brooklyn. In NY as a whole. I love the pizza here with the ultra-fresh ingredients that change on a day-to-day basis. It's also BYOB which makes it even more enticing. Plus the candle-lit, romantic, cozy ambience makes this a wonderful place for a date or a nice, casual dinner among friends.
I'm updating my review since I wanted to write about their new desserts. They used to just have pizza, calzones, BYOB and BYOD. But they now have these delicious dessert calzones. Stuffed with ricotta and smothered in chocolate and powdered sugar, it is awesome... The only thing that would make this perfect would be a scoop of gelato on top!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/2/2010
Come here on a rainy, cold day like today right at 6pm so you can avoid a line and get a seat for… Read more »
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Review from Adele C.
Brooklyn, NY
5/2/2012
I confess, I live around the corner from Lucali and have been eating at Lucali since they opened. As the favorable reviews avow, the pizza here is amazing and well worth the trip.
As for making reservations and the infamous wait time to be seated, the trick to scoring a table without a long wait time is to literally go to the restaurant by 5:15/5:30, (they start seating at 6pm) and to put your name on their list. The hostesses here in my experience are very courteous and accommodating. Usually the wait is only 15 min or so (depending on how large your party is) if you arrive early. If however your wait time is longer they will take your number and call you when the table is ready.
They don't take reservations in advance, only the day of can you put your name on the list whether in person or by phone. But keep in mind that reaching them by phone is hit or miss as their lines are ringing off the hook. So showing up in person is best in my experience.
My other favorite way to enjoy their pizza/calzones is to order takeout and simply pick it up myself.
This is a cash only establishment.
Cheers! -
Review from Shirley D.
Staten Island, NY
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Located in Carroll Garden, the residential area, which is beautiful and peaceful. We got lucky today with the restaurant not being crowded today. When you walk in, it's a bit dark with candles at the wooden table and at where they make the pies, but has an intimate setting and like you've been brought back to Europe (somewhere). You can see them making your pie as you order. Oh yeah, no menu when you sit. Actually, the menu is on a small blackboard outside by the door - straightforward menu. Only choices, large pie or calzone, toppings sausage, onion, artichoke, mushroom and I think one more. Cash bases only and BYOB.
Onto the pizza, thin crust with fresh mozzarella which is so nice and crispy and not soggy. Yes, it is a bit expensive, but you are getting quality pie. The greatest part is seeing them make the pizza as you order and eat your pie. Everything is so fresh, from the dough to the homemade marinara sauce used on the pie, to the homemade mozzarella. We ordered two pies - first pie was devoured by my husband with me eating 1.5 slice and second pie for dinner the next day, but he had to eat one more slices on the way home cause he couldn't get enough....I know rt, what a pig and he's not even big, just his stomach is huge.
I really loved their setup in the restaurant. Brick exposed, open kitchen, seats about 32 people at a time. They are open 4 hrs a day, only for dinner...they're that good that they don't need to be open all day. They take reservations on the day of, but not 24-72 hrs ahead. Suggestion, call at exactly the time they open up - 6p.
You'll love this place. Apparently my husband's stomach and taste bud does because we ordered another pie before we left the place. C u all there,we are waiting for the outside seating to open, which will be refreshing. -
Review from Christopher H.
Staten Island, NY
5/14/2012
Hands down the best pie I have ever had in NYC. It was nice showing up, and having the hostess take our number so we didn't have to stand outside for the 1 hour wait. We walked up to Court St and grabbed a drink. The hour past by quickly and soon we were being sat at our table. The ambiance is great, with lots of candles and an old world Brooklyn feel. I loved being able to BYOB, and the pizza was well worth the cost. Service was good, but a bit rushed. I can't wait to go back.
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Review from Amy D.
Brooklyn, NY
5/23/2012
Great ambiance and decor - but the very very loud. Pizza and calazone was very good (not the best I have ever had) but tasty. Not a good place to bring kids under 6 years old. The staff was very nice, we had great service, especially the hostess outside - she kept us up to date on where we were on the wait list to get a table. Bonus there was seating outside while we waited for our table (we waited for an hour and a half). I was surprised it was BYOB.
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Review from Derek M.
Brooklyn, NY
4/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
There's something hypnotic about the way they put the sauce on the pizza. The spinning. The pouring. The red.
You haven't had pizza until the ingredients are literally freshly sliced 10 feet away from your table before cooking. Even the cheeses are freshly grated onto your pizza.
The ambience is amazing. It feels like you are walking into another world.
The service is fantastic.
I see why Jay-Z and Beyonce would rather go here than an awards show.
I've never had better pizza in my life. -
Review from Pamela T.
Brooklyn, NY
4/24/2012
Hidden gem!
It's small, dark, cozy and BYOB. I'm not a big fan of pizza but couldn't resist because it was sooooo good! The ingredients are so fresh; hubby and I finished the whole pie.
We plan to return with friends next time so we can try their calzones. -
Review from Chris K.
Brooklyn, NY
5/14/2012
Without a doubt, one of the best pizza places in the city. Try a calzone too.
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Review from Saleh M.
New Orleans, LA
4/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am sorry but I really had to calm myself down before writing this review. The restaurant is dark and boring. The pizza cost 30 dollars!!! and for what? Plus 3 dollars a toppings! This place should be BYOT (Bring your own toppings). I am sorry but if you have money to blow go right ahead. Plus before getting totally ripped off you have to wait for at least an hour and a half.
I kind of get it why everybody loves this place because after waiting for so long for a seat and then getting your pizza in record time it must be phenomenal. Pretty smart but a total waste of time and money. It is all just HYPE! Its as if people here have never had a pizza from a decent pizza oven with fresh toppings. Don't get me wrong its a good pizza but really left me with a bad taste in my mouth. -
Review from Sebastian L.
Beverly Hills, CA
4/2/2012
First, a moment about my server, Vanessa, who greeted this LA'er thusly: "we only make our pizza two ways. Did you not hear what I said? Do you want to know how to make a pizza? First you take the dough...then you put some sauce on it...and then you can add toppings!"
I had the biggest crush on her from that moment on and haven't forgotten her since.Sorry about that unecessary aside, I just felt compelled to comment on her because she was so special.
Was in town to visit the fam a couple of weeks ago and came here on a reco. BYOB, so the overall bill will be quite reasonable, although most would probably consider the pizza prices quite high.
No issues with the wait, b/c they took my bro's cell number and we went to a nearby bar to drink until they were ready for us. Blessings to them for that.
The interior design is great. It just feels so nostalgic and comfy. Lighting is dim. Unfortch, Beyonce and Jay did not make an appearance this evening. Oh well.
But all of that wouldn't matter if the pizza wasn't as advertised, right? It is. In fact, I'd have to say that Lucali has the best pizza that I've ever had in my life. No question.
I highly recommend coming to Lucali for some outstanding pizza with a dose of Brooklyn sass.
And you can trust me on this one; I'm an Elite. ;) -
Review from Regina W.
I heard this was the best pizza place in the world so my b/f and I had to try. The place is small so go early to avoid waiting. I love the feel of the place and how they make everything fresh right in front of you. We ordered half mushrooms and shallots and half pepperoni. The pizza was very good. The highlight was the crisp crust. However, I do wish they had more toppings to choose from, perhaps brussels sprouts? Overall, it is definitely worth trying and the waitress & hostess were friendly.
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Review from Rohit J.
3/27/2012
I don't know how I haven't reviewed this place yet I've been here 4 times already and its has been amazing down to the last bite. Everything is so fresh and flavorful, the pizza and calzones are cooked to perfection. Staff is sooo nice, its BYOB and no extra charges. The place is cash only of course and the only downside is there is usually a long wait but they do take call a heads!
***Excellent date spot*** -
Review from Andrew M.
Brooklyn, NY
4/22/2012
Probably the very best pizza I've ever had, and a really great dinner experience. For starters the food was excellent, we got a pie with artichokes and half pepperoni, half mushrooms...we both liked the pepperoni better, but the mushrooms were very good. Definitely ask them for fresh basil & garlic on top of the pizza, it really made a huge difference! The atmosphere was great! We live about a 10-15 minute walk away, called ahead and they called me back when our table received their check. For a place with an hour to hour and a half wait you would never have known it while eating your fancy pizza. Lastly, the waitress was great, 100% Brooklyn Italian and perfect for the place. I was a little disappointed that we didn't see Jay-Z, but it was a really great evening.
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Review from Asparagus S.
Brooklyn, NY
3/27/2012
It's a pretty hyped-up place, so I was skeptical. But the staff was great, the food was amazing, and the BYOB kept the prices low.
Try this combo on your pizza: artichoke hearts, garlic and basil. So good!
Also, the "desert calzone" was really good. It had sweet ricotta inside, with Nutella and powdered sugar on top.
The wait for a table can be as long as four hours, but if we can get seated again with no wait...we'll be back! -
Review from Sean Matthew L.
New York, NY
4/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
New to New York and was given this recommendation from a local broker. I'm glad we went, by far the tastiest pizza I've ever had in my opinion.
Now with that taste there are some drawbacks, so let me give you the heads up.
They open at 6:00 but you can put your name in starting at 5:30. You can call ahead and it is no different than walking right up. So get there early or call ahead. If it is already 6:00 expect an hour or two wait. The restaurant seats maybe 20 people max.
They sell by the pie, which will run you $24.00. They offer it plain or with garlic and basil for the same price. From there you look at daily toppings from $2.00-$8.00 per topping. So unless you are up for bringing the bill up the garlic and basil is amazing.
The basil is clean and fresh, the garlic is fine and just the right amount to pump the flavor without being overpowering.
So, go and enjoy a pizza. Call ahead, and enjoy the awesome. -
Review from Munira L.
Stamford, CT
5/4/2012
The best pizza I have ever had.
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Review from Darryl J.
Portland, OR
3/31/2012
Incredible. You need to take a calzone home. I eat that in bed while I watch Leno. Great place, even better food.
It's one of those places you wanna take your agent to once you learn he finally signed the papers for his new wife whom he ordered via the mail.
Best pizza in Brooklyn. -
Review from Michelle L.
Brooklyn, NY
1/29/2012
Lucali is a small restaurant with an open kitchen where you can easily see how the pizza is made. I was lucky to sit at the biggest table which was close to said kitchen. Although I was there my entire stay I still cannot tell you what they put in the pizza or how they make it to taste so frikken good. It just... is.
I came on a weeknight when it was freezing out so luckily my friends and I didn't have to wait for a table. We brought our own bottle o' vino and enjoyed the warmth of the heater, wine and big huge pizza pies in front of our faces.
I love how people say that this place is "out of the way". Maybe for the Manhattanites, it is, but for us Brooklynites / Brooklyners / Brooklyn people / whatever it's luckily just around the corner for us. Brooklyn 1, Manhattan 0.
Bottom line, this place is awesome. I hope you think it's "too out of the way" for you so I can just sashay in here whenever I please and not wait in line, ever. ;)Listed in: Ca$h Money, y'all, Best of Brooklyn
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Review from Katie S.
2/22/2012
First thing that ran through my mind when we arrived: 'Are Jay-Z and Beyonce here??' I know I've read that they frequent this spot a lot (including the night of the Grammy's) so I had to see what all the HOVA hype was about myself! We anticipated a long wait so we decided to go backwards and eat dessert nearby before pizza so that we could get there right before they were open. As a group of three we arrived at 5:50 PM and we were immediately seated at the last available table.
I would say Lucali is pretty on par with Di Fara's pizza as both are neopolitan style and use super fresh ingredients (and also cost you an arm and a leg for just pizza). But Lucali gives you the atmosphere in addition. It's rustic with wooden tables, open kitchen, and lighting by candlelight. There's no menu except the one written on a chalkboard. Every pizza's the same size and you just choose your toppings. Be prepared to pay at minimum $24 for a pie though and it's CASH ONLY. It's also BYOB. They don't sell any drinks except for soda so if you're fiending for some alcohol make sure you make a pitstop at the beer and wine.
At the end of the day, I still think pizza can only get so good. Lucali probably has a pizza that is definitely as fresh as it gets and I'm glad I had it at least once, but I honestly also get the same satisfaction from 99 cent pizza down the block. Perhaps if I made as much money as jiggaman and his lady I'd get my chaeuffer to drive me down here every time I had a pizza craving, but alas this is reality and I am just a poor peasant media planner living in an overpriced (yet wonderful) city. Definitely recommend trying at least once though, it's worth it! -
Review from Alex E.
Brooklyn, NY
2/9/2012
I'm sorry when it comes to pizza there is no competing with Lucali. You know why this place is always packed. Because the food is consistently amazing. Not bad one day and insane another. No it is consistent. Restaurant owners take notice. No one wants to take a chance when you're paying your hard earned cash for food.
The cool NY ambiance and the Sinatra on the speakers doesn't hurt either! -
Review from Nikos M.
New York, NY
1/22/2012
There are a few things you should know before going to Lucali. First, you will most likely have to wait a while. You may leave and they will call you when your table is ready, but the wait might be long. I believe I waited for an hour and a half on my last visit. Second, it's cash only so make sure you are prepared for that. Third, you can bring your own bottle (they will gladly open it for you) and, from what I hear, dessert.
Once in, your waiter/waitress will fire off a list of toppings you can get on your pizza and you can order to your liking. I believe a pie starts at $24 and goes up depending on which toppings you get. They also serve calzones.
Overall, the pizza is good but I'm not so sure it's worth waiting a couple of hours for. The curst is OK but, as others have mentioned, it can be large and super thin/crispy. That being said, it's definitely good pizza and worth trying at least once. -
Review from Andrzrej K.
Brooklyn, NY
1/19/2012
Overall, an above average experience. Firstly, I never let wait times muddy the review waters, find out what you're getting into, then plan appropriately. They will CALL you, so go get a beer at Bruno Mars Bar down the block and talk to the elderly travel agent lady who will probably be there (or you can take tour chance talking to the guy in a beret mulling over blank G-Clefs) But I digress,
The place is reminiscent of my favorite spot, Sallys, especially in the one room schoolhouse way, this place even more so. There is little evidence of this being a business operation, save for a large chalkboard on the left wall.
That's right, no greeters station, no service bar (no bar at all), and no cash register in sight. It was Grandma's kitchen and dining room, plus dim lighting, less the linoleum, and welcomed claustrophobia most middle class Italian families packed in small rooms at big tables are used to( I am). Here, The only evocation of a profitable business was the *ding* of a bell with each complete pizza.
Our waitress was Vanessa. She was casual, yet attentive, matching the motif in here.
And the pizza- the most important- In my opinion, the extra-pizza experience really made this place for me. The pizza was great, but not the best ever. The Mozz was overtook the rest of the slightly off balanced physical ratio of Cheese (40%) Bread (40%) Basil (a BIG 10%) and Sauce (only 10%) ratio.
To put it in conditional Tasty mathematical form, the Basilica was equal to or greater than the mozzarella. I took some off to enjoy the full quadfecta. The bread was very good, but left me without the residual flavor kick found at some other high end pizza spots.Meanwhile, sauce was scant.
To taste the sauce, I had to find a virgin region of the slice. Then... A knife tip to dissect this sample region, Stradivarius like, until an appropriate amount could be sequestered and placed upon my recently water doused/cleansed palette. Tasty! but I need more per bite!
Lucali- I appreciate your attention to detail, I honor your method of having no specials, no gimmicks,Keeping it Italian, no 600 pound chocolate dragon like the one in Xi'an. Just pizza (and pizza destiny's other child) the calzone. -
Review from Andrew M.
Philadelphia, PA
12/16/2011
Before you go to Lucali, ask yourself:
Do I want to wait an hour and forty-five minutes to get seated?
Do I want my pizza to begin at $24?
Do I want the crust to be enormous, flavorless, and crackery?
Do I want my meal to arrive at the table in under five minutes?
Finally, do I want to look around and realize I'm in a place where hipsters have come to fleece each other? -
Review from Ryan D.
Fernandina Beach, FL
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am giving this place a three star because I like the way they have the place decorated. It's very old school style. At night, you would think this place has no electricity because they make it seem like they have candles on, but instead they are those battery operated tea lamps. Regardless, it made the place look very romantic.
The food itself here was ok. I wouldn't say GREAT, or BAD but it's ok.The crust was a little bit on the bland side. Pizza was $26.00 and it was huge, so it was a pretty good deal. You could feed approximately 4 people with it.
Apparently they don't have menus? Because the waiter never gave us one, and I remember her saying that they only serve pizzas and calzones. Menu's would be nice to show the types of toppings they have instead of having the waiter to repeat it over and over again since they have several different varieties. -
Review from Paul S.
I don't have any experience with upscale NYC pizza.
And now I don't want any more.
Lucali is tucked away in a quiet, quite unaccessible area of Brooklyn. My first foray over there, having read about it on one random "top ten NY pizzas" list, I got vehemently denied. On a Sunday night. At 8pm. 3 hour wait.
I made the repeat trip a week later, on a weekday, at opening time. With 4 bottles of wine and 5 friends. That's right, I am definitely partly responsible for the wine bottle limit sign. You only live once.
Anyway, when I heard there were roasted shallots as a topping, I nearly shat myself. Although that may have had to do with the excess of wine in my system. But nah, mostly the shallots. So we ordered one of them with pepperoni and a calzone.
Thin, floppy, soft, crunch, flaky. And the sauce is just the right sweet/sour/tart. And the cheese. The stretch in those bastards is maddening. mostly because that tantalizing moment when youre trying to remove a slice from the pie is sheer, sweet torture.
And a calzone comes with panmesan and sauce on the side. And you can just load that bad boy up.
Lucali is the kind of experience you never want to end. Damn this small stomach. It's actually quite reasonably priced. The only trick is the schlepp out there.
I agree with Peter D. If this place were in my neighborhood, I would have no reason to ever eat anything else. -
Review from John T.
Manhattan, NY
4/7/2012
Re: Allie P's review below:
"Real Italian charcuterie"? I think you mean salumi. Charcuterie is French.
Regardless, asking for "charcuterie" on your pizza is akin to asking for your Big Mac au jus.
Pizza is one of the glories of Italian-American cuisine, precisely because it is earthy, hugely satisfying, and unpretentious.
Here's a tip: Next time you want to have a meal you would probably describe as being "classy", don't go to a pizzeria. -
Review from Lawrence C.
New York, NY
3/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
The pizza's amazing, but i would say have the calzone if you need to pick. the ricotta is amazing. Lucali greater than grimaldi's and lombardi's
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Review from Roy P.
West Hollywood, CA
12/7/2011
5 stars for a 5 star experience.
I went over with a friend who knows the owner. He parked his car right in front at the hydrant and we went right in. There was a line/wait but we were whisked right to a table and a few moments later we had some of the best Pizza I have tried in NYC since my first time at the original Grimaldi's.
Good Pizza, great service (based on my experience) and a nice vibe.
Not sure I would go all the way back there, from the city, for pizza and wait for a table, but I surely won't be turning down any future invites from the friend that introduced me to this place. -
Review from Gabriel G.
Brooklyn, NY
11/9/2011
Had I reviewed Lucali in 2009 I would have given it 5 Stars. 2010, 4 Stars. Let me get this over with now before I have to move out of the neighborhood.
The Pizza is really good at Lucali! It is excellent pizza!
However... Lucali and other Neapolitan pizza makers are getting a little cocky on the heels of all the blogging foodies blowing smoke up their you know whats.
Went here last week.. ordered 1 pizza with mushrooms, peppers, and artichokes. Ate in. Under no sane circumstance should this pizza have cost me $37, but somehow it did.
I left dazed and confused, feeling a little bit like Lucali just turned pizza into the food version of the ticketmaster service charge.
Am i wrong about this? Am open to other opinions on the matter. Maybe my pizza wallet needs recalibration, but i doubt it.
By the way... on a week night its really not a challenge to get in. I walk my dog past it at all different kinds of hours and after the initial rush i dont think its usually more than a 10-20 minutes wait and often times no wait at all. -
Review from Rob B.
Long Island City, NY
5/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hard to get a table. Food selection is minimalist: pizza or calzone. Both are absolutely delicious. Ambiance is very dark, extremely charming.
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Review from Abigail M.
Brooklyn, NY
10/18/2011 ROTD 2/23/2012
It's all true. All of it.
The long wait. The rustic, candlelit ambiance. The delicious pizza that may or may not be overpriced. BYOB. The short hike from the subway station.
But that's kind of what I loved about it. We put our name on the list and went to a nearby bar to kill time. Only to return an hour and change later and get seated at a cozy little table. It's warm, dark, and definitely romantic. Seriously. This is a date spot, no question. It is BYOB, which is kind of nice considering the price of the pie -- you don't get jacked on the price of a bottle of wine. The staff is friendly and attentive but definitely left you to your devices so as not to spoil the mood. Sure it's a little off the beaten path but isn't it nice to be away from it all?
Am I gushing enough?
Can I just say I loved it here and had a fantastic evening? -
Review from Allie P.
Brooklyn, NY
2/25/2012
This mega-hyped local institution is not that mega-awesome. It is definitely not 30 bucks of awesome. Blah blah Neapolitan blah blah trendy pizza, if you want really good Neapolitan pizza go a little further south to the recently opened Barboncino's, it puts this place to shame. Here the crust was like a big carcinogenic cracker; way too dry, thin and over-smoked. And that's half of what the entire pizza was: crust. The toppings were fine, I did love the roasted shallots and abundance of fresh basil. However, when my date asked for fresh grated parmesan he was denied, as was my poor lonely water glass for most of the night. I had to flag down a bus girl, twice. Our server was only seen twice during our meal and honestly, I hate to be this person, but it seriously must be mentioned...if I waited tables at a restaurant frequented by Jay Z & Beyonce then I would wear something other than a HOODIE and yoga pants. Everything about this place was kind of disappointing and dissonant in that way. Do they really only have pepperoni? No prosciutto or pancetta or even salami? I was surprised that a restaurant decked in old world, rustic Italian decor would not offer real Italian charcuterie. Smoke and mirrors in good old authentic Brooklyn??? why I never.
Also the candle at the table smelled so strong that I had to blow it out just to be able to breathe and regain my appetite. Come on, no smelly candles, that's restaurateur 101! I really miss Di Fara's. -
Review from Jennifer R.
Brooklyn, NY
If you're planning a low key date, let Lucali do all the leg work for you because not only is the hostess a sweetheart that tries to fit you in (no perv) to her best ability, but she calls you when your table is ready.
The dimly lit restaurant offers a handful of tables, an open kitchen, fresh ingredients and lots of love emanating from the workers, the seasoned brick oven and the pizza. To top it off, it's BYOB but there's a 3 or 4 bottle maximum.
Unfortunately, they don't take reservations and larger groups are harder to seat so I'd suggest going when they open with a special someone or someones. There's no menu, so the waitress will tell you that they only offer 2 remarkably awesome items: 1) Pizza 2) Calzones
She will then continue to recite the different toppings you can add to your pizza which I blocked out after the first few seconds due to being distracted by shiny objects but I managed to hear garlic and basil, which are free.
We ordered 2 pies ($24 each), the 1st with garlic and basil and the 2nd with garlic, basil and hot peppers. The crust was thin and didn't really have a crunch to it but there was no need for the crunch. The crunch was the last thing on my mind. I was fully able to enjoy the toppings - namely the tomato sauce and fresh mozz cheese. If you don't want to look like a slob, grab your knife and fork and eat away, there's no shame. However, if you're a slob to begin with, toss the utensils and dig in.
I'm pretty sure my date went well and all I did was show up. Okay, it wasn't a date but Mom and Dad loved it.
***CASH ONLY***
