I did it. I finally had my dream meal.
For over 4 years I have been pining, experimenting, tasting (sometimes wanting to spit said taste out), tinkering, hemming and hawing, all over pizza.
Last week I went to Risotteria restaurant.
You need to look past the late 90s geo-cities themed website. You must prepare yourself for dining in a sardine can. It helps to have friends who know how awesome a gluten-free restaurant is and who offer up their order to you, so you get to try more things. You should walk around and work up an appetite... because you will need it.
Gluten free bread sticks arrive at the table and the glutenmouths eat them up and go for seconds. A very solid sign and the first time in 5 years I HAD a bread stick! (They had a little bit of gummy-ness in the middle, the only real tell that they aren't the real thing.)
Gluten free beers - check
Surprising wine list - check
Knowledgable servers - check
Solid vegetarian options - check
Menu full of things you can eat - check
I ignored most of the options because I had come for the pizza. The generous friends, noted above, allowed me to sample several types - we got two that were thin crust, one Scicilian. Honestly, skip the thick crust it really didn't work and tasted like a gf knock-off. The thin crust however - actually tasted better than the gluten option one fellow dinner ordered. Everyone noted that the gluten pizza (which is made off site, and shipped in) wasn't nearly as crisp or flavorful.
At the end of the meal my face actually hurt from smiling. I never thought I would get to have New York-style pizza again. Not only did I, it was truly the best pizza I have ever tasted!
I cannot wait for another reason to visit New York!!!!!
(The desserts were nothing to write home about. They weren't bad, they just weren't great. Save room for another slice of pizza.)
For over 4 years I have been pining, experimenting, tasting (sometimes wanting to spit said taste out), tinkering, hemming and hawing, all over pizza.
Last week I went to Risotteria restaurant.
You need to look past the late 90s geo-cities themed website. You must prepare yourself for dining in a sardine can. It helps to have friends who know how awesome a gluten-free restaurant is and who offer up their order to you, so you get to try more things. You should walk around and work up an appetite... because you will need it.
Gluten free bread sticks arrive at the table and the glutenmouths eat them up and go for seconds. A very solid sign and the first time in 5 years I HAD a bread stick! (They had a little bit of gummy-ness in the middle, the only real tell that they aren't the real thing.)
Gluten free beers - check
Surprising wine list - check
Knowledgable servers - check
Solid vegetarian options - check
Menu full of things you can eat - check
I ignored most of the options because I had come for the pizza. The generous friends, noted above, allowed me to sample several types - we got two that were thin crust, one Scicilian. Honestly, skip the thick crust it really didn't work and tasted like a gf knock-off. The thin crust however - actually tasted better than the gluten option one fellow dinner ordered. Everyone noted that the gluten pizza (which is made off site, and shipped in) wasn't nearly as crisp or flavorful.
At the end of the meal my face actually hurt from smiling. I never thought I would get to have New York-style pizza again. Not only did I, it was truly the best pizza I have ever tasted!
I cannot wait for another reason to visit New York!!!!!
(The desserts were nothing to write home about. They weren't bad, they just weren't great. Save room for another slice of pizza.)
Thanks for this review. I went there a few years ago, and while I dug the breadsticks, I was underwhelmed by the pizza. Maybe they've stepped it up since I went! I'm really glad you had your pizza dreams come true!
ReplyDeleteYou need to visit us here in Ireland....40yrs ago I was diagnosed and there was hardly even bread available! Now I can go to most restaurants and enjoy a variety of options...sure 'tis grand :)
ReplyDeleteI was in Ireland in 2008!
ReplyDeletehttp://noglutenrequired.blogspot.com/2009/01/adventures-in-london-ireland.html
I agree it was a total game changer. I never saw so many gf options! The US is getting better, its just slower. Hopefully the FDA will finally rule on what the definition of "gluten free" is and that will help.