At Lucali, They'll Ring Your Bell

It didn’t really matter if the brick oven pizza at Lucali lived up to the hype, the fact that you could call ahead to put your name on a list and they would supposedly CALL YOU BACK when you’re table was ready absolutely blew this skeptical Manhattanite’s mind. In fact, I didn’t buy it.

“What if they don’t really call us back?” I hyperactively protested to my uber calm date. He assured me that they would call. Yeah, sure, call you like they’ll “call you” at Death and Company, and you end up waiting the whole night at The E.U. ensconced in Euro expat posers.

We stopped by the wine shop, because Lucali is BYOB with a teeny tiny $4 corking fee and headed to nearby bar to have some drinks while we waited. I imagined drinking the wine on his couch and eating MSG-infused Chinese food when our dinner plans fell through. They call you? As if.

About 45-55 minutes later, his cell phone buzzed, and a kind woman from Lucali informed him that our table was ready. What? Srsly? They do call you! Shiver me timbers, I may love Brooklyn afterall.

I heart Lucali. Romantic, dimly lit, effortlessly soulful ambiance – check. Also appropriate to bring parents, friends, coworkers, etc. – check. Pull chord toilet flush – check. Lovely staff – check. Scrumptious – double check. In fact, it was so tasty that I, all of 5’3, 110lbs ate as much as my darling date all of 6’3 and like 210lbs. (If he didn’t realize it then, he is sure as hell realizing it now.) The waitress rattles off the daily ingredients and you create a combo to your liking. Everything was deliciously fresh and the crust was crisp yumminess, and like I said, I ate it allllllllll up. Ummmm ummmm good.

Other things to note: A) Cash only. Good thing I wasn’t paying because I have an aversion to cash. It’s dirty. B) Lucali is popular, so call ahead (brilliant!) or be prepared to wait. C) While normally I choose a seat with best view of the restaurant and it’s patrons, here I recommend sitting to face the oven because that’s where the action is. D) Maybe because of my seat  or the excellent pizza or my utterly captivating and handsome date, but I didn’t notice other patrons. But it is the BK and chuck full of owner Mark Iacono idolizers, so I’m sure they’re the perfect mesh of easy-does-it and cutting edge.

Lucali 575 Henry St, between Carroll & 1st 718-858-4086

Open Wed-Mon at 6 p.m. Tues: Take-Out only

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Posted by Emma Dinzebach at 06:00 AM
bargain news , Restaurants , STYLE/BEAUTY |