In preparation for my "big reveal" tomorrow of the newest restaurant to make my famed Recommended Restaurants Page, I'm going to update a few lists, starting with my 5 Favorite Pizza Places in Forest Hills. Ready? Here ya go:
1) Tuscan Hills - I just had their margherita pizza again recently and all I can say is that it is a religious experience if there ever was one. In fact, it's the reason I thought of posting this list again. Once you have it, you just have to share the news! (That's a pretty common reaction to religious experiences I hear anyway.)
2) Nick's Pizza — Pepperoni Pizza specifically. But any of their brick oven-style pizzas are exceptional, but their pepperoni is truly a knock out, up there with the best of them anywhere.
3) A Tie! Gloria Pizza and Lillian — Curiously, the two female-named local pizzerias tie for 3rd, not sure how that happened. Anyway, both serve up exceptionally delicious traditional, New York-style pizza.
And finally, 5) Portofino — Sorry Portofino, you used to be higher on the list but have been forced down by a couple of amazing newcomers. But at least you're still fondly remembered at No. 5.
1) Tuscan Hills - I just had their margherita pizza again recently and all I can say is that it is a religious experience if there ever was one. In fact, it's the reason I thought of posting this list again. Once you have it, you just have to share the news! (That's a pretty common reaction to religious experiences I hear anyway.)
2) Nick's Pizza — Pepperoni Pizza specifically. But any of their brick oven-style pizzas are exceptional, but their pepperoni is truly a knock out, up there with the best of them anywhere.
3) A Tie! Gloria Pizza and Lillian — Curiously, the two female-named local pizzerias tie for 3rd, not sure how that happened. Anyway, both serve up exceptionally delicious traditional, New York-style pizza.
And finally, 5) Portofino — Sorry Portofino, you used to be higher on the list but have been forced down by a couple of amazing newcomers. But at least you're still fondly remembered at No. 5.
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| The winner by a mile: Tuscan Hills margherita pizza. The Best Pizza in Forest Hills! |
The problem with Nick's is, while very good, it gets cold after about 2 minutes.
ReplyDeleteIt's the staff there thats cold (and rude!)
DeleteLillian's is numero uno on my list! Thumbs down on Gloria's.
ReplyDeleteNick's is a bit pricey. I recently tried Gloria's buffalo chicken pizza - my first of that variety ever - and it was to die for. I'm in love. We had a Groupon for Tuscan Hills and the food was very, very good - though we didn't get a pizza. I'll have to try a pie from there and from Lillian.
ReplyDeleteLillian's- perfect NY pizza + nice variety. Super nice (along w/ a nice dinner menu). Meh, to Nick's...
ReplyDeleteThe staff is so rude at Lillian's. I feel like I'm bothering them by placing an order. They're so far away from anything too. Thumbs up to Gloria's. Great pizza and friendly service. They're not too nice at Nick's but the pizza is so good that I can overlook that.
ReplyDeleteNick's is a rip off. years ago my mom stopped going there because they got too cheap on toppings. like only a few pieces of sausage. and the sauce and cheese barely covered the middle with a huge piece of bland dough on the edges.
ReplyDeletei haven't been in years because i got tired of paying $40 for a pizza, salad and a drink or two. and no credit cards.
Dee's is pretty good for authentic italian pizza
lately i let my kids make their own pizza, they love it too
Absolutley couldn't disagree more on Tuscan Hills. The pizza there is not even close to being good. It's about the worst thing I've had from Tuscan Hills. The pastas and main courses are good to very good but the pizza taste like it came from a high school cafeteria. Dee's, Nicks, Gloria's are by far better.
ReplyDeleteHappy to see Lillian's on the list as i have always felt it was a secret. I've been in Gloria's three times and I have to admit, their pizza is not bad. Here's the problem with Gloria's; location! For me, twice I went into Gloria's solely because I had to pee after coming off of the subway. Not wanting to seem like an ingrate, I ordered a slice.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Drake in regards to Tuscan Hill's Margherita pie. I've been touting it since the restaurant opened as the best pie in the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, the family stopped in to Tuscan Hills a few weeks ago for appetizers and a pie, and it the crust was surprisingly a little under-cooked. I consider this an anomaly as I've never had that problem before. However, I'll be sure to ask for a well-done crust in the future.
I like the slices at both Lillian's and Gloria's (I'm talking traditional slices. I'm not really a fan at some of the latest pizza concoctions). Never have cared for the pies at Nicks. Scratch my head a bit at the popularity of that place.
How can you not have Dees on the list?
ReplyDeleteHaven't been there in a while. Since I don't have a car, I don't get down to Metropolitan Ave. very often. I remember I liked Dees though and that's why I have it on my Restaurants Page while other pizza places in the area are not. Too bad Metropolitan Ave. isn't more easily accessible to the thousands of us who live in the nabe who don't use cars to get around. So many places down there that are really good, but, as someone else recently wrote on this blog, they might as well be in Nebraska for those of us without cars, especially if they are not near a subway.
DeleteDepends on where you actually live. I'm around Ascan/Austin and walk over to HomeDepot/Trader Joe's at least once a month (weather permitting).
DeleteThat walk itself is only ~ 25 min each way at a leisurely pace.
For me, any of the restaurants on Metropolitan between Ascan and Woodhaven Blvd are open game, and I visit some of them regularly (e.g., Danny Brown's, Wafa's).
Personally, I enjoy the walk.
No A&J?
ReplyDeleteHa, no
DeleteI had the pizza from Tuscan Hills once. It was horrible, I'm pretty sure it had no sauce whatsoever. It was droopy and the cheese just smelled....weird.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of Nick's and Gloria's though. I'm surprised people here have had bad service at Nick's, they have always been friendly and quick when I went there. Also I've wondered if it has the same owners as the Nick's in Rockville Centre (in Long Island)? The pizza/menu is pretty much the same, both very great!
Tuscan Hills doesn't have the best pizza in Forest Hills. They use regular shredded mozzarella for a Margherita pizza when it clearly should be using fresh mozzarella. Hands down, Nick's Pizza is way better.
ReplyDelete