Italian Fiesta Pizzeria has an impressive history, serving pies for over 75 years. The Obamas are vocal about their fandom, mentioning Italian Fiesta in their memoirs and television interviews.
For travelers looking to enjoy their gnocchi or lasagne at a more under-the-radar spot, consider skipping Manhattan entirely and going to Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or even Staten Island. I lived in New York for over a decade, from 2012 to 2025. While I enjoyed the hustle and bustle of Little Italy, especially when grabbing a gelato and wandering the streets in the summer months, my most memorable Italian meals were at quieter spots in Brooklyn, like the old-school, cash-only Noodle Pudding in Brooklyn Heights.
Historically speaking, an osteria was a spartan, no-frills establishment where people would go to have a drink. The original osterias date all the way back to the Roman Empire. If you go to Ostia Antica or Pompeii, you find the osterias of the era. They were like bed-and-breakfasts, with rooms for rent above the dining room where people could listen to music.
Neapolitan pizza is a masterclass in textural perfection. It strikes the perfect balance between fluffy and crisp, making us yearn for more with each bite. As the toppings are traditionally minimal, usually sticking only to tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil, the quality of the dough is very much at the forefront and definitely requires some finesse. There are many steps to making the perfect Neapolitan pie at home, but the process surprisingly starts with a very specific choice of flour.
If you're unfamiliar with the unabashed pageantry that is Italian cassata, let me enlighten you. The Sicilian showstopper consists of a booze-soaked sponge cake layered with sweetened ricotta that's cloaked in a bright green marzipan cape and adorned with all kinds of candied fruit with decorative piping. It's a cake that demands attention, and one that rejects the notion that simple is best. With cassata, more is more.
Enter Di Fara Pizza, a legendary Brooklyn pizzeria now bringing its iconic, handcrafted Brooklyn-style pies straight from the supermarket freezer to your home oven. As someone born and raised in northern New Jersey/New York City, I've tried most, if not all, of the iconic and delicious slices around. So when I caught wind of the famous Brooklyn pizzeria's entry into the world of frozen food last year, I knew I had to check it out for myself.
