Wayne T. Mulei
09-23-2011
Eng. 98r
Restaurant Review
The Best Friggin’ Slice in Town
As soon as you step into the door of Nu Yalk Pizza you get the feeling that you have stepped into another dimension, into another time and place, Little Italy in New York City circa 1980 perhaps. This pizza joint come recommended by locals and viewed with suspicion by out- of –towners. From the old Broadway sign to the gruff looking staff, you know that you are in for a treat. Nu Yalk Pizza is truly unique to Reno.
Where did Nu Yalk Pizza come from? The first thing that you will notice when you drive into the driveway, located on the corner of Moana and Kietzke, is the large sign on the front of the building. In block lettering the sign reads Nu Yalk Pizza. You laugh a little because of the obvious gimmick of the owner trying to spell out New York Pizza in a New York accent. You learn later, after questioning the cook, that this pizza parlor was originally called New York Pizza but after an apparent epiphany, by the owner Rick Crocitto, realized that there are hundreds of pizza parlors nation-wide with the same name New York Pizza. Rick wanted his pizza parlor to be unique so Nu Yalk Pizza was born.
Ordering and paying your food is an experience all in itself. As you walk into the door you are greeted with a “How you doin?” (voice infection dependent on the gender of the customer) by one of the cooks. Your order is taken by a longhaired fellow named Matt, he tells you that he has been working here since the late 90’s, you can’t help but notice the two pizza tattoos that he has on his elbows, and think to yourself, “what the heck?” He goes on to tell you that 85% of the customers who come in here are from New York or had lived there. Matt, like the rest of the staff has a rugged look about him and one wonders about that sanitariness of the establishment.“Whadalya have?” he asks you. You look to the menu and notice the moderate prices, one slice of cheese cost $2.16 with an additional $0.58 for a topping. “Two slices of pepperoni” you reply, Matt instantly scribbles “2P” on a receipt and slaps it into your hand as he simultaneously yells over his shoulder, “Two pep!” to the other cook . The cook takes a large cheese pie from the cooling rack, he cuts out two slices and carelessly throws some pepperoni on them, he then grabs a well-used pizza peel, black with soot, and scoops up the slices and slips them into the large oven behind him. As you walk over to the cash-register, you look up at the drink menu. They offer half a dozen of different draft beers, wine (straight from the box), and a self-serve soda station. Some of the sodas that they offer here you do not find vary often in other pizza parlors around town, such as, Hire’s Root-Beer, RC Cola and Sunkist to name a few. As you reach for your wallet to pay you notice the cashier eyeing the large tip jar in front of the register, you wonder if he is trying to use some Jedi mind trick to get you to put money into the jar, well it works, you put in a dollar to the instant joy of the cashier.
It’s not just about the food, it’s about the place. You take a seat, at a table with a stainless steel top, and you look around. The ceiling has an industrial theme to it with pipes running though. “What the hell are ya doin!” someone yells at the large T.V. at the front of the restaurant that has the ball game on with a slice in his hand. On the brick wall at the back of the restaurant hangs an old subway map with graffiti on it. “Two slices of pepperoni at the bar.” is called over the loud speaker, you go and retrieve you food from the bar. On a dented metal plate with wax paper sits your two slices so large that they barely fit on the plate. You think of getting a fork but remember the ridicule that comedian Jon Stewart gave Donald Trump when Trump was pictured eating a slice with a fork “ la forcella di satana!” (Italian meaning “the fork of Satan) and think better of it. You pick up your large thin slice and fold it in half, as is the custom when eating New York style pizza, you are instantly hit with an over powering strong flavor of oregano and garlic. “Food of the Gods” you think to yourself as you eagerly devour your slices.
There is no pizza joint quite like Nu Yalk pizza here in Reno. If you are looking for a slice and a little taste of New York, “with Big-Apple style dinning in the Biggest Little city of the World” head over to NuYalk pizza.
