Fried + Pizza = Best Of Both Worlds

New York, NY –

If you are a fan of thin crusted pizzas that you can fold into fourths and eat like a small Lego, then you will be sorely disappointed. But perhaps not. Because eating a pizza from La Montanara is unlike anything you’ve ever had before. Be wary of the fact that you can’t indulge like this every night unless going up a size in jeans every two weeks is your type of thing.

The menu is straight forward and small. There are basically four types of pizzas you can order with some various side dishes and appetizers. I tried the Salame Piccante and Tartufo (which is strangely not listed as a pizza on their website menu but as a pizza sandwich.) However if you go into the shop you can get this as a pie. As I’m a sucker for anything mozzarella doused in truffle oil, I bit the bullet and paid the $12 for this indulgence personal pizza. Topped with their specialty-made mozzarella and ham without any marinara sauce, it’s a very rich flavor to try and finish. But my will of an appetite drove me to complete the task and in a few minutes somehow all I was left with was a greasy plate that now only held the memory of some delicious fried bread. You may be a little put off by how much grease gets soaked into the plate, but you can perhaps rest easier knowing that it’s in the plate, not in the pizza. The pizza dough itself is not at all greasy but in fact just light and crispy especially at the crust. I could have made a perfectly satisfying meal out of just eating the crust. If you’re more of a fan for the classic marinara flavor the Piccante should do the trick, however it seemed that the whole pie was a lot floppier and flimsier than the Tartufo. Not sure if that was because of the sauce or “weight” of the salame, but the toppings tended to slide right off the dough like a water park slide. All the same, once you get to the crust, well, you remember why came to see what the fuss is about.

The dining room is a little small and you’ll almost be eating in a narrow hallway. But everything is clean and bright and has that new car smell. They’re just starting out and while I was there the inspection team came in and from what I could tell they got their A rating. Both the owner and main chef are quite nice and friendly, eager to accommodate and answer your questions.

Make sure to bring your dollar bills because it’s cash only.

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