And the Best Pizza in Forest Hills Award Goes To....

.... Austin Street Pizza! 

Hands down, I have to say this is our favorite pizza in Forest Hills these days. 

Located at the corner of Austin Street and 72nd Ave., it opened a couple of years ago. If you haven't tried it, you're really missing out on something special. 

How to describe their slices? Perfect, crispy yet chewy crust, and sauce and cheese that is so fresh and amazing. 

My one gripe, I guess, is that it still is one of the only pizza places in the neighborhood, if not THE only, that doesn't deliver. But that's fine. It makes it that much more special to walk on over to grab one of their sublime slices. 

I'm also looking forward to the reopening of their outdoor seating come the warmer weather, but inside is also one of the more fun and lively places to hang out in Forest Hills. 

Pizza Wars Reignite in Forest Hills

 

The opening of Austin Street Pizza on the corner of 72nd Avenue and Austin Street several months ago has suddenly reinvigorated the pizza competition in Forest Hills. The new Austin Street Pizza is so very good that we thought it merited a little analysis regarding how the local pizza scene--so critical to every New Yorker--will end up being shaken up by the latest entry onto the scene.

First, a few quick comments about the new Austin Street Pizza. It's awesome. Just when you thought pizza couldn't get any better, along it comes. To munch on its delectable crust, to savor its sweet tangy sauce, well, it's quite the culinary experience. 

The experience actually leaves me wondering: "Why Forest Hills?" I mean, why should we be blessed with such awesomeness? What did we do to deserve this? This has happened a couple of times food-wise in the nabe. But not often. Whatever the reason its purveyors decided to pick FoHi, I'll take it. 

Austin Street's New York Style

Austin Street's Margherita Style

In fact, after trying Austin Street Pizza a few times it appears the only thing it doesn't have going for it is that it is, incredibly, a pizza place that doesn't deliver in New York City. And during the last days of a historic pandemic to boot when most sensible people avoided going out for pizzas! Go figure.

What does the arrival of Austin Street Pizza mean for the pizza scene in FoHi? Below is a list of those places I think it will pretty directly compete with, in order of magnitude: 

1) Nick's Pizza

2) Dani's (Kew Gardens)

3) Numero 28

4) Portofino

5) Gloria

There are other great pizza places in the area, but they either don't deliver to most of Forest Hills, or they are only really accessible by a car, which for the majority of people in the neighborhood means they may as well be in Nebraska.

Will all of the current pizza places survive the new shakeup? I'm not so sure. I think we may end up losing one of them and am not sure which. It could be one of the places a bit further out that is not on my list.

In any case, what do you think will be the outcome of Forest Hills' reignited pizza wars? And what do you think about Austin Street Pizza? Which of their styles is your fave? Share you opinions below...

Austin Street Pizza's Menu

 Austin Street Pizza is now open for business. I was pleasantly surprised to find their menu really innovative. Smart move for them to be distinguishing  themselves from all the other pizza places in the area with such inventive offerings.

This new place is located at the corner of Austin Street and 72nd Avenue in Forest Hills and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Their phone number is (347)809-4195.

Coming Soon!

Some good news for a change.  Two new eateries are coming to Austin Street soon.  A pizzeria and a chicken place, both on the same block as Bareburger. Mad For Chicken, a Korean fried chicken place, will occupy the space of A&J Pizza/Hinoki.  Austin Street Pizza replaces Bagriculture.   

Best Local Pizza - My 2019 Top 5 !

Dani's delectable pie. Simply superb.

It's Friday, let's talk pizza.
I've been meaning to do an updated favorite pizza post for quite a while, and finally am getting around to it. Here's my Top 5 Forest Hills - and nearby - pizza faves.
My Top 5 have evolved over the years as I've tried and repeatedly eaten quite a bit of the local offerings. So, the following is based on almost two decades of  Edge of the City pizza eating:

1) Dani's House of Pizza in Kew Gardens - Simply delectable. If only they delivered to Forest Hills I would be in heaven, and also quite obese. I have to say their pizza is up there with the best I've ever had anywhere the world over.

2) Lillian Pizzeria in Forest Hills - The pizza gods shined on central Forest Hills in 2018 when Lillian began delivering its incredible pies. Simply awesome traditional New York pizza.

3) Numero 28 in Forest Hills - This newcomer on Restaurant Row in Forest Hills has sensational pizza offerings.

4) Tuscan Hills in Forest Hills - This local Italian restaurant also offers a fantastic array of pizza.

5) Nick's Pizza in Forest Hills - This old favorite - which only recently started delivering after years of not doing so (probably because of all the stepped up competition) - has one of the best pepperoni pizzas I've ever eaten.

Runner Up - Dee's, on Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills. Really good selection of pizza. If only they delivered!

Our winner! Dani's in Kew Gardens

Local Pizza Competition Continues to Heat Up

The absolutely superb new Italian restaurant on Restaurant Row, Numero 28, recently started delivering. And this was followed by the news that Lillian, the much-loved pizzeria in the Gardens area, is under new management and now delivers -- depending on how much you order -- to much of the central Forest Hills area. This, of course, is excellent news for the thousands of Forest Hills residents -- like myself -- that would never think of owning a car in NYC, so getting down to Lillian, or Trader Joe's, or anything south of Austin Street, for that matter, is a rare occasion.

One of Lillian's pies

Looking Forward To...

Just a couple of the places that I'm looking forward to opening...

Numero 28 - Italian and pizza coming to Restaurant Row. Their cool sign went up yesterday, I believe. This place has locations in such hip locales as Park Slope and Miami Beach, and the East and West Village in Manhatttan. Nice to know FoHi is on their list!

And Tamashii Red, opening soon on Austin Street. The owners of this ramen restaurant have locations in Astoria and Long Island City, both of which are highly regarded...

More on OvoSodo

I realized when eating recently at OvoSodo that it is basically a diner with an authentic Italian food twist, very unique, very interesting, and very delicious. And just what that part of Queens Blvd. needed to make it a lot more interesting!

OvoSodo Pizza

Was quite delish

Tuscan Hills Owners Opening New Place!

One of Tuscan Hills' luscious pies...

Awesome news this morning! A very exciting time for pizza lovers! I've rated their pizza the best in Forest Hills previously, so this place could very well be literally a slice of heaven for us!
 (Actually, the story says they are trying something quite exciting and new ... read on....)

New Italian-Style Bistro in Forest Hills Serving Up 'Pizza by the Inch'
The bistro will open at 110-60 Queens Blvd., replacing Just Like Mother’s, a Polish restaurant which closed last year.

Oh, and you know how I just tweeted yesterday how I think Queens Blvd. is the worst thing about living in Forest Hills? Well, increasingly not so much...

Best Pizza in Forest Hills

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.

The winner by a mile: Tuscan Hills margherita pizza. The Best Pizza in Forest Hills!

Patrick Stewart Eating Pizza

He tweeted it, announcing "My first ever pizza "slice". Please note: the authentic NY fold."

 Just sharing for no other reason than I just love the guy!  And it's a great picture :)

A Slice of Heaven...

.... Nick's Pizza. Especially their pepperoni.

Newest Delectable Delicacy

I love discovering delicious food, especially when I find it unexpected places.

I have been getting pizza from the recently opened Gloria Pizza (right next to the Midway Theater) every couple of weeks for a while now and have been liking it more every time I go. My most recent discovery was their Grandma pizza - delicious, tangy and saucy squares of goodness, Though plenty of crust to chew on, the lesser amount of cheese has been especially appealing as I try to fight the battle of the bulge. I find Gloria's Grandma pizza to be the best I've found in Forest Hills. The sauce is so fresh and tangy - getting hungry just thinking about it!

But the real reason for this post is my delightfully unexpected discovery at Gloria Pizza - their house salad. Who on God's earth would've imagine that a simple house salad from a pizza place could be so delicious? Their secret ingredient - their amazing house dressing. I don't know how they make it, what goes into it, but trust me - it just may be the best salad dressing I've had in New York City, or right up there with the best.

I don't say this lightly. Believe me, I am not easy to please when it comes to food. (I'll never set foot in T-Bone again, for instance, since the time they served my Dad their shrimpless shrimp salad like 10 years ago). So when I discover something this good, I just have to spread the word.

Gloria Pizza - Early Review

I just visited our newest pizza place, Gloria Pizza, next to the Midway Theater and took home a couple of regular slices. My verdict: the pizza was very good. And, I also like what they've done with the place.

My first two regular slices from the new Gloria Pizza in Forest Hills.

First, the pizza. My impression is that it is a traditional type of New York City pizza, helped by a sauce that is both sweet and a tad more spicy (garlic I think) than is typical. And the combination of that and the excellent, crunchy crust, lands a regular slice at Gloria a notch above your typical NY style pizza. I want to try their pizza again, but on first impressions I might rework my ranking of my favorite local pizza to this:

1. Tuscan Hills
2. Nick's (pepperoni pizza)
3. Gloria Pizza
4. Nick's (regular pizza)
5. Portofino

If you prefer a more traditionally cheesy NY style pizza, then I would rank them this way:

1. Tuscan Hills
2. Gloria Pizza
3. Portofino

Gloria is a very close second to Tuscan Hills, by the way. For me, it depends on whether I'm looking for a more filling couple of slices (Gloria) or a lighter pizza with amazing flavor (Tuscan Hills).

As I mentioned above, I am also impressed by what Gloria did with the inside of the new place. It's a very airy, comfortable space. They did an excellent job.

So my initial, early grades:
Pizza (regular slices only, mind you): A
Restaurant: A

Gloria Pizza Now Open

Gloria Pizza is now open for business. If you stop by for a slice today, drop us a line below about what you think of Forest Hills' newest pizza place. I'm especially interested in hearing from people who used to love the place when it was in Flushing. Does it live up to your memories of it?

While We Wait For Pizza

Just a little diddy in honor of our soon-to-be newest pizza place... I think I speak for most of the readers of this blog when I ask, "When are you guys going to freakin' open already????"



While the above is indeed an annoyingly catchy song, please listen to the following only at your own risk.

Gloria Pizza's New Sign

I really like the new sign Gloria Pizza's put up, next to the Midway Theater. To me it seems to fit the location really well. And they smartly made it very visible during the night along Queens Blvd. My (blurry) pic at the bottom was shot from across the street. I'm still not sure when they're opening. Word was possibly this month. Now that they have the sign up, they are one step closer, so soon...

Gloria Pizza's Website

The Under Construction page for Gloria Pizza, home of the future website for the new restaurant opening next to the Midway Theater: http://gloriapizza.com/ Mama mia I could really go for a slice right about now!

Top 5 Pizza Places in Forest Hills

Here are my top five. Obviously, these are my based on my own opinion. And I have not tried all of the pizza places in Forest Hills, so feel free to add your own (and I will try them soon if you do. I promise. Like it's very hard work).

1. Tuscan Hills
2. Nick's*
3. Portofino
4. Lillian
5. A J's

*I have to note one thing, though. If I was going by pepperoni pizza, I would have to put Nick's first. They have amazing pepperoni pizza, right up there with the best I have ever eaten, anywhere. But, I have not tried the pepperoni at the others on the list, so can't speak for those.

Oh, and I am eagerly awaiting the opening of Gloria's Pizza next to Midway. Such a loyal following! Can't wait to try it.

One other thing I just realized. Tuscan Hills is kind of new, having opened just a few years ago, and many of you may not yet know about it. While all of their food is simply phenomenal, I swear to you I am not exaggerating when I say I almost cry when I bite into their pizza. It is simply one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten, anywhere. I don't know how they do it. You know those books of lists of things to do before you die? If you know you are going to die (come to think of it, I do, just don't know when), you really must have a pie from Tuscan Hills before you do. Does that make sense?