The only thing worse than watching a bad date unfold? Being on one.
But there’s a surefire way to avoid both of those situations: It’s pizza. Fancy pizza.
So today, we’ve rounded up six places that specialize in exactly that.
Just enough ambience without coming across as a try-hard. Plenty of wine to keep the conversation properly lubricated.
And even if the date sucks, at least you’ve got pizza.
Image from Loring Place
Loring Place
In brief: At Dan Kluger’s veggie-rich Village empire, the pizza reigns supreme. This is in part down to the dough, which is comprised of a specialty blend of flours, from organic white to house-milled. The toppings are for the most part simple, but Kluger’s tendency to let natural ingredients sing comes to life alongside buttery, robust cheeses.
Order this: The Brussels Sprouts pizza with garlic, jalapeños and aged cheddar.
Come here if: You’re looking to lock in a third date.
Image from Fornino
Fornino
In brief: Casual, charming and inviting, Fornino’s expansion across the bridge and back has gone swimmingly, with each location feeling like its own neighborhood haunt. There are some 29 Naples-style pies on the roster, each doughy on the inside and wood-fired charred at the surface, then piled high with an abundance of fresh, traditional combos.
Order this: The Tartufo pies with mozzarella, fontina, ricotta, black winter truffle and truffle oil.
Come here if: Deciding on one pie is an uphill battle — their sizes are reasonable, so you can order two.
Image from Sourivone V./Yelp
Milkflower
In brief: The atmosphere is artful, as is the pie. Skewing more toward new New York fusion rather than traditional, the pies are crispy enough to be hand-held while still allowing for some epic cheese-pulls. The sauce is just left of center with a noticeable sweetness, but still hits all the savory notes a salsa di pomodoro should.
Order this: The Spicy Soppressata with tomato, mozzarella, basil and honey.
Come here if: You’re looking to get off the beaten pizza path.
Image from Pasquale Jones
Pasquale Jones
In brief: Normally we wouldn’t be keen to put our stamp on pizza for the Vogue set, but Pasquale Jones is simply a victim of its own delicious success. Sure it’s little pricier and fancier than the traditional go-tos, but — hey — this is a date, after all. From the team behind Charlie Bird, Pasquale Jones is a sister spot with two cozy wood-fired ovens serving pizza with salt-to-fat and crisp-to-cushion ratios that do NYC justice.
Order this: The Littleneck Clam pie with garlic, lemon, broccoli rabe and cream.
Come here if: The wine list is just as important as the pie.
Image from Matteo R./Yelp
Cecconi’s Dumbo
In brief: Courtesy of Soho House’s Nick Jones, Cecconi’s originally hails from Venice, but found its way to waterside Dumbo before the House even opened. The atmosphere is always bustling and lush-chic (like the member’s club itself), with a high priority placed on the diverse art collection visible throughout.
Order this: The Bresaola with a dollop of burrata, wild mushrooms and parmigiano.
Come here if: You abide that whole “Location. Location. Location.” thing. Or if it’s a brunch date.
Image from Claire X./Yelp
Dia
In brief: A newcomer on the scene (it opened last fall), Dia is a slightly upscale yet engaging and comfortable haunt. Their thin-crust, Roman-style pizzas are inventive in creation but traditional in preparation.
Order this: The Black, with black squid ink dough, ricotta, cuttlefish, cherry tomato and gremolata.
Come here if: You want to show you’re in the know.
Main image from Dia
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