As you may know, Joe & Pat's, the 57-year-old pizzeria on Staten Island, is opening an outpost in the East Village.
The Joe and Pat's signage has just arrived at the former Lanza's space on First Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street... as these photos via Steven show...
Casey Pappalardo, one of the pizzeria's owners, told the Staten Island Advance in January that they'd be open within six months, but he didn't sound so convincing. "That's if all goes well — there's always some setbacks."
But the sign is a good sign anyway.
Grub Street recently named Joe and Pat's Staten Island's best pizza:
Joe & Pat’s is the king of Staten Island pizza. Its pies are the ultimate version of one of the borough’s dominant styles: thin-crust, vodka-sauced bar pie. Open since 1960, it doesn’t look like much, but the pizza is magnificent. The dough is pounded so it doesn’t get airy, resulting in a crust that’s disappearingly thin and extra crunchy. The vodka sauce is sweet and smooth; pepperoni, curled up in crisp cups, makes the perfect foil.
Lanza's closed for good back in July 2016 after the state seized the restaurant. But! Lanza's has come back to life as a to-go spot on 23rd Street.