Nolita Pizza debuted over the weekend at 128 Second Ave. here between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.
EVG regular Lola Sáenz shared these photos from Saturday...
We're told that Tony Salihaj (far left), one of the owners here, was also an owner of the well-regarded Bleecker Street Pizza. (He made headlines in September 2015 for creating a papal pizza ahead of the Pope's visit to NYC.)
In an email, Salihaj said that Bleecker Street Pizza was sold, and that he was very happy now to be in the East Village.
Aside from pizza, they offer dishes such as baked ziti and chicken parm and a variety of salads. You can find their website here with more menu items. (The website lists a Kenmare Street location as well.)
Kati Roll Company closed here in April after two-plus years selling Indian street food.
The longtime previous tenant at the address, The Stage, the 35-year-old lunch counter, closed in March 2015. Stage owner Roman Diakun had been involved in an ongoing legal/eviction battle with Icon Realty, who took over as the landlord. (You can read that background here.)
Updated 7/26
The signage has arrived...
[Photo by Steven]
Another generic mediocre pizza slice place. If you're high on alcohol, you've love it.
ReplyDeleteAnd still we mourn the Stage, which served real community needs of food and community.
Good Luck to Them !
ReplyDeleteHard business now with so many shops around.
The Stage - why did they have to go !
I cannot believe Stage could not/did not want to/ find another storefront to move to, Roman would have had a built-in audience...
ReplyDeleteto the first anonymous: have you ever had bleecker street pizza? if not, maybe you should try it before dismissing this as "yet another mediocre pizza joint" only appealing to people who are "high on alcohol". if this is at all similar, i'll be grateful for it as we don't have a decent slice anywhere in the east village after south brooklyn closed. (and for the record, i liked stage and kati roll.)
ReplyDeleteThe building is new but the pizza is exactly as it once was at Bleecker Street. So many of us have been patiently waiting to get this type of pizza back. You really owe it to yourself to spend a few dollars to try a slice or two, you will instantly be hooked.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of whether or not 11:22am and 11:29am are owners of this new pizza joint, I still agree with both comments. Don't knock it until you try it. To much negativity here sometimes.
ReplyDeleteHOORAY! A real pizza shop, not that $1 junk or those thin crust things that pose as pizza. Can't wait to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI’ve had Bleecker St. Pizza many times and have enjoyed eating a slice while sitting outside of their 7th Avenue location while enjoying the sunset. It’s good pizza, and that spot was always busy (although not as busy as Joes Pizza on Carmine, which is usually ridiculously busy). This is an upgrade from the Kati Roll place, and while still miss Stage, this will be a nice alternative.
ReplyDeleteJust tried a slice! Definitely beats any slice pizza currently in EV, including Joe’s.
ReplyDeleteSoloPizza on B bet 2and 3 has good pizza and their grandma slice is spectacular
ReplyDeleteTried an extra hot plain slice today. Cheese and sauce are good, crust is more bread-like than chewy, but also good. Above-average slice for $3. I'm tempted to try their eggplant parmigiana for dinner...
ReplyDeleteAny old timers remember Orchidia ? Now that was pizza.
ReplyDelete@Anon 9:54 - Agreed. Orchidia is still the best damn pizza this neighborhood ever offered, bar none.
ReplyDeleteI love pizza but will never step foot into any business that chooses to rent from Icon. Icon continues to destroy the lives of tenants and retail business owners all over the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if these guys even did a google search of Icon Realty Management. I feel bad for them because they will probably be gone and in a lawsuit with Icon next year at this time.
BAKER'S PIZZA FTW
ReplyDeleteBakers is good. Village Square has been rocking my world. Funny how the by-the-slice landscape can improve so much compared to like three years ago.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty obvious that the owners/friends are posting the raves in this thread.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, anyone who says there are no good slice joints in the EV must be high on alcohol.
Sauce's slices are some of the best in the city
Joe's on 14th and 3rd is very solid
Artichokes is a damn chain at this point and the EV location was the first in the city
Village Square is a STRONG newcomer addition
Barker's is great, reliable and fun/funky (my pick for best staff)
And this is just between 9th and 14th Street -- it's a golden age of slices in this neighborhood. REJOICE!!
Nolita definitely has an above average slice and I welcome them to the neighborhood. I agree Joe's on 14th also has a very good slice. But the best pizza in the city can also be found in the EV. Luzzo's on 1st and 13th is the best authentic Italian pizza you will find outside of Naples. Although they do not serve by the slice I highly recommend a pie. And that's Naples, Italy not Naples, FL.
Delete