Openings: Andrea's Pizza on 2nd Avenue

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Andrea's Pizza debuted at 50 Second Ave. late last week. 

Signage hasn't arrived yet here between Second Street and Third Street, though owner Andrea Kenuti hopes it will be here soon. (Ditto for delivery service.) 

As we previously reported, this is the first solo venture for Kenuti, a veteran of Scarr's Pizza on Orchard Street, where he worked for seven years, and L'Industrie in the West Village.

He is joined by Nathan Cole at the counter...

As for the pizza...

I tried a classic slice and it was great — thin crust with a hint of char, mildly sweet tomato sauce, and perfectly salty, delicious cheese. I'm no food critic, but I can tell you it hit the spot.

There are several booths inside for dining in (and a handful of tables outside).

Andrea's is open from noon to midnight Monday through Thursday, noon to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and noon to 11 p.m. on Sunday. 

There is no website yet, although an Instagram account is available.

Signage alert: The Oven's Slice on 1st Avenue

Photo by Pinch 

The NE corner of First Avenue and 13th Street (218 First Ave.) will be home to an outpost of The Oven's Slice... and right across the street from The Onion Tree Pizza Co.

This will be the second shop for the pizzeria, which offers New York-style pies with a variety of toppings, including vegan options. 

They opened on Orchard and Rivington in April 2024. (We know the spot, though we haven't tried their pizza. Have you?) 

No. 218 was last home to a Blank Street coffee shop.

New shop from Scarr’s and L’Industrie alum to bring old-school NYC slices to the East Village

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The former home of Il Gusto Pizza and Proto’s Pizza at 50 Second Ave. is getting a new tenant — and a fresh take on classic New York slices. 

Andrea's Pizza, set to open in the weeks ahead here between Second Street and Third Street, is the first solo venture from chef and owner Andrea Kenuti, a veteran of Scarr's Pizza on Orchard Street, where he worked for seven years, and L'Industrie in the West Village. 

"I'm going for a classic vibe," he said, describing the shop's interior plans — retro booths, Tiffany-style lamps, and a menu centered on traditional NY-style pizza made with organic, carefully sourced ingredients.

Daily hours will be noon to midnight, Friday and Saturday, until 2 a.m. 

Soft drinks only, no beer and wine, although Kenuti doesn't rule it out for the future. 

"I just want to get the place open as soon as possible, and I'm going to be here every day," he said. 

New signage is on the way, and Kenuti shared a preview of the logo...

A website is in the works.

Signage alert: Ops on 2nd Avenue

The awning arrived Friday for Ops, the incoming pizzeria at 176 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street. (Thanks for the tip, William Klayer!) 

As we first reported last September, the ownership behind Bushwick's Ops (and sister pizzeria Leo in Williamsburg), is opening a Neopolitan-style joint here. 

Grub Street has more on Ops here, which in 2016 became a "destination for its sourdough, Neapolitan-ish pizza. The pies are wood-fried and ornamented with broccoli rabe and ricotta salata." 

The EV Ops is expected to open in the coming week. What to expect inside? Per Grub Street: 

The dining room is mostly recessed, with a street-level section up front that has a banquette for ten and overlooks the rest of the space. There are more deep-red banquettes down the ramp, a custom-made stainless-steel bar, and wineglasses printed with a cute drawing (by Tribouilloy) of mortadella. 

No. 176 previously housed Numero 28 Pizzeria Napoletana, which went dark in late 2023 after a 2009 debut.

Pop’s Pizza prepping for soft opening on Avenue B

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

A new pizza joint is getting ready to fire up its ovens on Avenue B. 

Pop's Pizza, led by chef and owner Salvatore Falcone, is aiming for a soft opening next week — possibly as early as Monday — at 223 Avenue B, between 13th and 14th Streets, in the former Saint Pizza space. 

Falcone (pictured above with his dog, Cookie) said he hopes to become an integral part of the community.

"We'd like to serve the neighborhood and get involved," he told us.

The idea for Pop's Pizza was born when a friend who lives nearby mentioned the lack of a good pizzeria in the area. So Falcone decided to open one. 

While the space was still mid-renovation during our visit ("It's a mess," Falcone admitted), we did get a shot of the Pop's team in the kitchen testing pies.

Expect classic pies, slices, garlic knots and a selection of soft drinks to start. Down the line, Falcone also plans to introduce Scaccia, a stuffed Sicilian bread roll. 

No website or social media yet, but stay tuned.

Openings: Krave It on 2nd Avenue

The Krave It outpost debuts Thursday at 141 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. (Arrival first mentioned here.) 

This is the brand's first Manhattan location. It was founded in 2015 in Queens by husband and wife (and high school sweethearts) Vishee and Jenna Mandahar. Krave It also has several locations in the metropolitan area, including Bayside, Huntington and Astoria, with more on the way this year. 

Krave It specializes in "creative, out-of-the-box sandwich and pizza options" such as the birria pizza, ramyun pizza, Hot Cheetos pizza, Biggie Mac pizza, etc. (Find the menu here.)

Only available at the EV location: A statin-busting pastrami-topped reuben pizza with an everything bagel crust. 

The hours are Sunday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to midnight, Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. 

The space was, until last March, Planet Taco. Recent past lives include Otto's Tacos for seven years. Before that, many things came and went here, such as Good Guys, a Subway (sandwich shop), part of a Max Brenner outpost and Burritoville.

After 10 years on 1st Avenue, SenYa has closed

Photos by Steven 

A pizzeria is taking over the SenYa space at 109 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

There's now a rather generic-looking sign up on the gate of the former Japanese restaurant with the coming-soon info. 

SenYa debuted here in the spring of 2015. 

On the topic of pizza... a few blocks to the south between Third and Fourth, we have a cheap-slice switcheroo, with Basilic Pizzeria taking over for the short-lived Halal Bites Pizza...

Some Cool pizza street art

As seen along St. Mark's Place.

Revisit our Cool archives here. 

Thanks to Eden for the photo!

Openings: Pizza Pazzo on 1st Street

There's a new pizza option on First Street.

Pizza Pazzo is now open at 70 E. First St. here between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

The shop, with a few seats for dining in, offers a variety of slices, starting at $3, whole pies and pasta dishes. Find the pizzeria's website here.

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., with an 11 p.m. close on Fridays and Saturdays.

Let us know if you try it!

The small storefront was previously part of Pinky's Space. Cafe La Fe is also at the address next door. 

Noted

Photo by Steven 

Yesterday we noted the arrival of the Mr. [$1.50] Pizza signage at 186 First Ave. 

As you can see, the $1.50 is now taped over. Perhaps the price was meant to be a surprise. Or maybe they've already decided to change the price. Or maybe this is the work of some tape vandals/bandits.

Mr. Pizza ready to announce himself on 1st Avenue

We were just wondering whatever happened to Mr. Pizza... the coming-soon signage had disappeared from outside 186 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street. (H/T Steven!)

And just like that, this morning, Mr. Pizza (or maybe Mr. $1.50 Pizza) is ready to be installed on the storefront. (The interior still has a ways to go.)

Anyway, as you guessed, this will be another discount pizza shop once it opens. 

This is the first business for the retail space since Handsome Dan's Snocone & Candy Stand closed here between 11th Street and 12th Street in September 2018. 

In early October 2018, a six-alarm fire next door at 188 First Ave. caused extensive damage to the surrounding properties ... and the residential spaces at No. 186 and No. 188 remain without tenants. 

Hello Lollo: Pizzeria signage alert at 27 Avenue B

Photo by Stacie Joy

Signage went up late last week for Lollo, the incoming restaurant-pizzeria at 27 Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street. 

As we first reported in April, a group of partners originally from Northern Italy are behind the new establishment, serving a variety of pasta dishes as well as brick-oven pizzas. (BTW: Lollo is short for Lorenzo, the chef and one of the partners.) 

No word just yet on an opening date. If you're on Instagram, they have a placeholder account here.

The space was previously home to Solo Pizza, which closed following a rent hike in September 2022 after 15 years in business.

As multiple readers have pointed out, this is a pretty pizza-heavy corridor now between Third Street and down Clinton... last week, we first reported about the new venture from Luigi Iasilli, owner of the well-liked Max restaurant, who's opening Potenza Centrale at 38 Avenue B... and Luzzo's made a May 2022 debut at 15 Avenue B. 

The owner of Max restaurant is returning to Avenue B with a new pizzeria

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Luigi Iasilli, owner of the well-liked Max restaurant, which closed 10 years ago at 51 Avenue B, is back on the block with a new venture — Potenza Centrale. 

The pizza shop, coming soon to 38 Avenue B (site of the former KC Gourmet Empanadas) between Third Street and Fourth Street, is named in honor of the town in Italy where he was born and raised.

The pizzeria will feature square slices from a rectangular pie, as well as round pizzas, notably different from the Roman style due to the extra fermentation process. Iasilli said it takes up to five days to ferment the highly hydrated dough, and it's folded and worked to be airier and lighter than traditional dough. 

Iasilli, who's no longer involved with Max, which had several locations, also wants to add baked gnocchi, pastas like lasagna or rigatoni, and eggplant parm topped with housemade mozzarella. Each day will feature specials — one meat and one vegetarian, listed Italian-style on the chalkboard walls. 

In addition, Iasilli plans to sell his homemade sauce to go (he welcomes folks to bring their own jars that he can fill) and balls of fresh mozzarella. He's currently working on focaccia and other styles of bread. When I asked him about the possibility of dessert, he mentioned reprising the famed tiramisu from Max. 

As for an opening, he has yet to set a date; the space is waiting on ConEd approval and the meter installation. 

Here's Iasilli with Chef Alex Chavarria ...

As for returning to this block of Avenue B, he says: "I am coming full circle."

Pizza signage update on 9th Street

At last look, there was coming soon signage for an establishment called *******Pizza at 105 E. Ninth St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue. 

That was apparently just a pizza placeholder ... as there's now signage up for the actual business name — Nuovo York Pizza, aka "New York Style."

No word yet on an opening date.

This space has been vacant since Toasted Deli went dark at the end of 2022 after nearly 18 months in business. 

Just another *******Pizza place

An establishment called *******Pizza is next up for 105 E. Ninth St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue, per the coming-soon signage on the gate. (Thanks to MP for the photo!)

We're not sure if this is the actual name of the pizzeria... or if the seven asterisks are a mistake. Or a placeholder?

Anyway! This space has been vacant since Toasted Deli went dark at the end of 2022 after nearly 18 months in business. 

Openings: Saint Pizza on Avenue B

Saint Pizza has debuted at 223 Avenue B between 13th Street and 14th Street. (First reported here.)

EVG reader Jake Bowling shared these photos and a quick assessment: "A pretty good slice place has opened ... they also sell cannoli and 7-layer cake. Nice people!"

A regular slice starts at $3.50 ... and there are heaven-themed pies, like the Blessed, a Margherita pizza with vodka sauce, pesto and mozzarella... 

For now, their daily hours are 11 a.m. to midnight... the placeholder website is here.

Funzi's Pizzeria next for 36 St. Mark's Place

Signage is up at 36 St. Mark's Place for the next quick-serve tenant — Funzi's Pizzeria.

We need to find out who the operators are...  as well as the opening date. The signage simply states, "Funzi Hath Arrived."

This was a quick turnover at the address between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. Oh K-Dog & Egg Toast just closed here at the end of February.

Funzi's marks the seventh food concept at No. 36 — Oh K-Dog & Egg Toast, Joe's Steam Rice Roll, Cheers Cut, Friterie Belgian Fries, Fasta and the $1.50 branch of 2 Bros. Pizza — since 2015. 

Incoming 99-cent pizza shop now with 99-cent pizza signage

A variety of signage has arrived outside the incoming 99-cent pizza spot at 418 E. 14th St. just east of First Avenue.

As previously noted, this may reset the bargain pizza market... as inflation forced other local cheap-slice merchants to up the price by 51 cents to $1.50.

No word on an opening date here.  

Signage alert: Saint Pizza on Avenue B

Photo by Stacie Joy

Signage arrived last week for Saint Pizza at 223 Avenue B between 13th Street and 14th Street.

We mentioned last month that a pizzeria was taking over the former Subway (sandwich shop) here.

Hopefully, it will offer a solid slice/pie for after a visit to Mona's across the street.

Will post more details about the operators when that info becomes available.  

The return of 99-cent pizza?!

Signage is up for a 99-cent pizza spot at 418 E. 14th St. just east of First Avenue along a stretch known for street vendors selling items of dubious quality and origins. 

If this price holds, then it would mark the return of a 99-cent pizza joint. Thanks to inflationary food costs, in late 2021 and early 2022,  the neighborhood's discount slicerias uniformly raised prices by 51 cents and became $1.50 pizzerias.

The storefront was previously a spa specializing in eyebrows and waxing.