Gothamist: Is Artichoke Pizzeria the Manhattan Answer to Di Fara?

Potosi

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:54:51 -0500

Artichoke was very good. And although I'm reluctantly to even pay $2 for a slice, much less $3, Artichoke has great value since the slices are the equivalent of almost 2.5 slices anywhere else. I should add though that the crust is unlike any New York slice I've ever had (and I'm a native) While it is delicious, not only is it extremely thick (I kept thinking Chicago style while eating) but it also is not like pizza crust at all. It is essentially a noticeably salty bread with cheese on it. Whereas with most NY slices, the crust, cheese, and sauce balance each other out and meld together into a "pizza" at Artichoke it's almost not even pizza. But it's still very good and well worth it.

ashikkerib

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:24:58 -0500

Had the artichoke & spinach slice tonight. I liked it a lot, but thought it less like a pizza and more like a spinach soup served in a bread bowl (with the proportions reversed). I'm going to have to try the plain slice next time.

vermilion

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:57:53 -0500

Loved the artichoke slice! Although the artichoke and spinach topping might have been a little bit too overgenerous and oozy (kind of verging into artichoke dip territory...), it was still tasty, and was saved by the crust, which was delicious and crisp. I'd like it better with less stuff on top, but still. Thanks very much for the recommendation!

GM

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:44:36 -0500

The artichoke slice is great (and massive). The crust is like fresh bread. After eating that first, the regular slice was boring, but by that time I wasn't hungry anyway. The people there are great too.

brooklynbee

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:13:14 -0500

Everyone knows that BROOKLYN has the best pizza in the entire world. Period.

JenChungsBra

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:20:00 -0500

No, if it was like DiFara's it would be filthy, overpriced, overcrowded and shut down by the Health Department two or three times. Plus, the owner's kids would try to cash in on the family reputation by opening their own place.

MFer

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:06:03 -0500

I'm not the biggest fan of Di Fara. Dom's crust is underwhelmingly limp. Artichoke's crust was overwhelmingly stiff. That said both are good pizzas--nay, excellent street pizzas. I no longer have a reason to venture out to Midwood, god-forsaken place that it is. Artichoke will more than do for a quick bite. For a sitdown, there are other, if more classic, options. You know which ones.

nivek

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:04:10 -0500

I think I'll stick with Viva Herbal, 2nd btwn 10th and 11th.

matty

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:52:42 -0500

Those slices look fantastic. I wish there was more nyc style in chicago.

natis

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:16:59 -0500

Di Fara is beyond overrated. You wait an hour for a terrible and burnt slice. I'd rather have Frank's on the corner of Flatbush and Quentin.

Kevin Walsh

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:14:32 -0500

Pfah. Why ruin pizza by dumping vegetables on it? Re DiFara: if that guy still isn't using gloves, I'm not there. www.forgotten-ny.com

JMH

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:56:27 -0500

Shills or no, it looks pretty good. I'll give it a try sometime.

zodak

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:07:26 -0500

Is Artichoke Pizzeria the Manhattan Answer to Di Fara? only if there are visible mouse feces on the kitchen floor

smokedgouda

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:00:31 -0500

Artichoke pizzeria is very good. Enjoy it now before it's overrun with herds ala Momofuku. Skip the stuffed artichoke, the only thing I had there that was mediocre.

Joey Deckle

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:53:55 -0500

famdoc: I too felt those initial Slice reports were shills, but chose not to go there. In any case, I did actually eat at Artichoke. Like I said the one complaint might be too crispy a crust. Hopefully that's a kink that can be worked out.

smitty

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:48:19 -0500

I love the fresh mozzarella slice at Luigi's in Brooklyn. Mmm...

famdoc

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:46:45 -0500

There is a sentiment on food blogs that the early reports comparing Artichoke to Di Fara were likely to be shills. Here is eater.com's take on the situation: http://eater.com/archives/2008/04/adventures_in_s_23.php#more Expect sliceny.com to respond to the accusations of shilling. Slice head honcho Adam Kuban has hired a crack team of cybersleuths to trace the IP addresses of those contributors who made comparisons to Di Fara's. In the meanwhile, can we assume that you, Joe, have visited Artichoke and give it good grades? Regardless of the verdict on the shills, if this is good pizza, particularly in a neighborhood with Vinny Vicenz and Una Pizza Napolitana, let me at it.