What to Eat Instead of Artichoke Pizza

Muzzarella Pizza

This closet-sized pizza shop makes it’s bread and butter off the Avenue A late night bar crowd so be prepared for a small line and a potential shortage of variety the later it gets. If you do happen to have your pick, the best best is a palate-cleansing plain slice ($2.50) and NYC Food Guy’s favorite the “lasagna” ($3.50, below).

It has nothing to do with pasta and everything to do with the combo of creamy ricotta, salty mozzarella and hearty meat sauce. Muzzarella’s crust is always chewy, crisp and airy, a result of being cooked on top of a pizza pan in the oven. What the crust lacks, however, is that hint of sweetness that prevents a good crust from being great.

Where to Build A Base Before Midnight

Dumpling Man

If the 12:30AM close time Friday & Saturday qualifies this hand made dumpling spot for late night status then it’s worth taking a break from the bars for a few chicken or pork dumplings.

The slighlty spicy chicken (one for $0.90, 6 for $5.95, 10 for $7.95) and scallion-filled pork ($0.80, $4.50, $6.95) dumplings easily trump the mundane shrimp & corn ($0.99, $5.50, $8.95) dumpling and the mealy green-skinned vegetable ($0.90, $5.95, $7.95) version.

Pass on straight soy sauce and opt for the vinegar infused house version. Beware the Sirracha, a little drop goes a long way.

There are also several special sauces (an employee told me the “Asian tahini” and “hot monster” are very oily, while the “green curry” and cucumber-based “cool monster” are better options) and desserts on the menu, but in the spirit of keeping things delicious and affordable, I stuck with the dumplings and saved my space for our next stop in the late night eating arena.

The Out of Bounds 24-Hour Exception

Sarge’s Deli

Sarge’s Deli landed on this East Village list solely due to its 24-hour status and the great value its $12 hot pastrami sandwich offers. The hot, fatty, machine-sliced pastrami isn’t the best in the city (Katz’s Deli anybody?) because it’s a little underspiced, but for this price, you really can’t go wrong.

Two people can comfortably share any of Sarge’s sandwiches, including the $14.50 corned beef and pastrami combo with Russian dressing and cole slaw.

One order of thick, crinkle cut fries ($4.95, make sure to ask for them well done) will also suit a party of two.

And don’t feel like you have to eat everything in front of you, ask for some extra slices of rye and watch one half of a leftover sandwich become a totally new sandwich for the next day’s lunch.

If you haven’t received your complementary pickles and sweet, crispy cole slaw at the start of your meal, credit it to the sometimes harried service and just ask.

Every meal should end with something sweet and if you’re not asleep in your booth at this point, the cinnamon-dusted vanilla rice pudding ($3.95) is always a great option.

Is Artichoke Really Worth the Wait?

Artichoke Basille’s Pizza & Brewery

I won’t wait in line for Artichoke but when things are calm in the closet-sized pizza shop, it’s hard to pass on what’s truly the East Village’s best slice. Cubed and shredded mozzarella, a ton of grated Parmesan (before and after cooking), fresh basil, and bright tomato sauce are enough to make up for an inconsistent, generally flavorless and typically burnt crust. The Sicilian slice’s size makes its $3.50 price tag hard to swallow, but its slightly airy, buttery crust makes it Artichoke’s best slice. The best value may be the massive $5.50 styrofoam container of beer, which Artichoke generously fills to the very top.

The infamous spinach and artichoke slice ($4) has helped put Artichoke on the map, but don’t forget that Artichoke initially billed itself as the Manhattan DiFara’s, the Midwood, Brooklyn home of the legendary pizziola Dom Demarco.  The salty, sloppy slice may be unique and gimmicky, but it’s definitely my third choice after the Sicilian and margherita.

The rich sauce atop the spinach and artichoke slice is the perfect recipe for instant food coma.  The margherita slice ($3.50) surprisingly strikes a balance between the soupy cheese and sauce which seems to be Artichoke’s trademark.  It’s a wonder more doesn’t end up on our shirts than in our stomach.  The margherita is the best value on any slice at Artichoke as you can see from the scale above.

If the spinach and artichoke slice wasn’t unique enough, hand it to the boys at Artichoke to offer a crab slice ($4).  A creamy crab-based sauce coats the surface of the crust and is dotted with pools of melted mozzarella and tiny shards of crab meat.  Hints of spicy black pepper cut through the mild fishy flavor of the sauce.

As much as I admittedly wanted to dislike this slice, I actually enjoyed it.  What I can’t understand is who would want to eat crab chowder on their pizza at 4AM?  It sounds like a recipe for disaster.  NYC Food Guy will be sticking with the margherita and Sicilian. …  If there’s no line.

]]> http://nycfoodguy.com/2009/05/08/eastvillagelatenighteatspart1/feed/ 26 http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/09/18/nyc-24-hour-restaurants-sarges-delicatessen/ http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/09/18/nyc-24-hour-restaurants-sarges-delicatessen/#comments Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:02:54 +0000 The NYC Food Guy http://nyceats.wordpress.com/?p=1398 NYC is the city that never sleeps, but in reality, quality 24 hour restaurant options are lacking. Forget the diner and the corner store, it’s time for you to check out Sarge’s Delicatessen on 3rd Avenue between 36th & 37th street. Since 1964, this kosher-style deli has been serving up overstuffed pastrami sandwiches, crinkle cut skin-on french fries and a long list of comfort food that would make Grandma proud. You can’t really go wrong at Sarge’s but read on for two dishes that got the job done.

Salami & Eggs on a Roll $7.95

When I was NYC Food Kid growing up in Queens, NYC Food Mom would fry up some salami and mix it with scrambled eggs. Simple and delicious. It’s been a long time since I had that meal, and Sarge’s is the perfect place to rejuvenate a childhood favorite. The salami was fried, just like the old days, but unfortunately it wasn’t mixed in with the eggs. I’ll make sure to ask for that, and a toasted roll, next time.

Matzo Brie with Apple Sauce $9.45

If we’re on the topic of meals that would make Grandma proud, matzo brie is in the top 10. Traditionally a Passover food, matzo brie is truly delicious anytime of the year. Eggs are mixed with pre-soaked, broken matzo then fried up in a buttered pan. You can eat your matzo brie with salt and pepper or cinnamon and sugar. I’m a fan of the sweet variety. Sarge’s version was spot on. It arrived piping hot and slightly sweet. Maple syrup is available upon request, but they lose points for not having extra cinnamon and sugar.

Hearty Crinkle Cut French Fries $4.95

As far as late night fries go, there’s nothing better than Ziggiz, but It’s still great to find something other than the standard diner fry, particularly hearty fries that can soak up the late night beverages more efficiently. Make sure to ask for Sarge’s fries well done because if you don’t, you’ll encounter the only drawback to hearty fries: sogginess.

Free Pickles & Cole Slaw

What would any kosher style deli be without a free appetizer of pickles and cole slaw? I like full sour pickles, and Sarge’s version was quality but a little dry (I don’t take away points considering it was 3:30AM when I was eating there). The cole slaw is better than standard diner fare; sweet and crunchy, it struck a good balance between mayonnaise and vinegar.

Deliciousness to Look Forward To

Two words: “Sarge’s Favorite.” We’re talking beef brisket over a crispy potato pancake all covered in gravy. It’s gonna run you $15.45, but I don’t see how you could go wrong, especially since Sarge’s prepares all its own meats (turkey, pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, and brisket). Several employees at Sarge’s also recommended their flame broiled burgers (though King of Ketchup disagrees), and if you’re reading this site, I think you know how I feel about burgers.

Sarge’s Delicatessen

Photo: Billyboy at Roadfood.com