Denino's Pizzeria Tavern
Staten Island, NY 10302-1721
Phone: (718) 442-9401
06/13/2007 Posted by si_cruller
I'm a lifelong Staten Islander, and I love food second only to my girlfrind and my parents - LOL! I developed a taste for such critters as crabs, squid and even escargot (SNAILS!) and when I was only about 7! But I never got to Denino's until recently and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Both my lady (who's from Brooklyn and also knows more than a thing or two about quality pizza and Italian food) went recently and came away with the same impression - at least this particlur visit, anyway: certainly better than many pizzas on the Island, but also very overhyped. The crust was crispy and great, but the toppings were kind of average to us. Very good sauce - but just not enough of it, and the same overly salty-tasting processed cheese typically used everywhere else unless you request a fresh mozzarella or margarita pie (Like Valducci's on AMboy Road). I'm not saying we didn't like it - it was very tasty. But, pizza this heavily-hyped should feature chunks of fresh san marzano tomatoes (like Naples 45 in the city), fresh basil and homemade mozzarella akin to what a fine restuarant would produce versus a run-of-the-mill pizza joint #1000 would make. If you want truly great and unique pizza, Joe & Pats on Vicory Blvd near Manor Road is worlds better in this regard. Joe & Pats' crust is much thinner and crispier, yet neither flops over nor is too brittle, and is smothered in truly frsh, homemade-tasting tomato sauce (sweet, chunky and rich with a palpable extra virgin oil taste) and generous but not overdone splotches of fresh mozzarella. Bottom line: Quite good, but just not the 'greatest=on-the-planet' standout everyone makes it out to be...
Pros: Good crust, tasty sauce - excellent mozzarella sticks! - very inexpensive
Cons: Not enough sauce, Salty processed cheese you get anyewhere else, bad parking
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