After all the Chicago pizza we had over the weekend, I was craving good old NY style pizza, so I decided to try out a different pizzeria on my quest for the perfect go-to place to order in from. A quick look on seamlessweb showed Amadeus Pizza on 8th Ave. between 51st and 52nd. I guess it was formerly a Ray’s pizza (whatever that means these days), but the menu had all my standard favorites, plus they were offering a 20% discount on all orders – sweet! So even though I’m on my own this week, as Josh is still in Vegas, I ordered all the things we would normally order, and figure that I can just pop any leftovers into the freezer for a quick reheat later on.
After the discount, my chicken parm hero, an order of garlic knots, and a large cheese pizza came out to just around $22 total, including tax and tip. Not too shabby. But how did it taste? It was by far the best pizza that I’ve had in a while. Please note though that we’re talking basic NY pizzeria style pizza, not the fancier kind, a la Grimaldi’s or Lombardi’s or even John’s. Those are a separate category, and are not included in my quest for the best ordering-in place.
Large plain cheese pizza
The chicken parm hero was seriously huge, though not as hot as I would have liked.
The chicken parm sub is almost as long as a bottle of wine
The chicken was meaty though, the breading wasn’t too soggy, and the sauce was well seasoned and nicely tangy. The cheese could have been melted a bit longer (I like when it turns a little brown and bubbly), but the bread was great. It’s a softer Italian roll without a crispy crust, but it was supple and chewy in a good way that complemented the sandwich. It kept everything together nicely and didn’t fall apart from the ample filling.
Chicken parm innards
The garlic knots were also a bit cold, but tasted great. Lots of real garlic, herbs, and just enough oil to keep it soft and moist, but not too much so that it drips on your hand and makes you feel gross.
Garlic knots topped with lots of fresh chopped garlic
The pizza was a bit floppy in the middle (I couldn’t get a good upskirt shot because it sagged too much), but the outer rim of the crust was super crispy and snapped audibly when I folded a slice in half. It wasn’t hard or brittle though, just crackly on the outside and chewy on the inside. The cheese was a bit salty, but otherwise, it was a pretty darn good pie.
Underside shot
I’m almost tempted to stop my quest right here but it’s not much of a quest if I quit after two places, right? So I’m moving on for now, and who knows, I might find a place that’s even better!
Amadeus Pizza
856 8th Ave. between 51st and 52nd St.
New York, NY