The best view of the Brooklyn Bridge is from behind an L&B slice - Review - New York - The Infatuation
"Nothing will ever measure up to sitting on the patio at the 1939-original L&B Spumoni Gardens and eating a thick, gooey square pie. At the second location in Dumbo, there’s no parking lot, no patio, and no metal picnic tables that leave imprints on the backs of your thighs as you eat a drip-down-your-hands spumoni cone on a hot summer day. Still, the pizza is just as incredible. A slice here achieves the magic of L&B’s famed “upside-down” pie—with sweet sauce on top and cheese underneath. photo credit: Willa Moore photo credit: Noah Devereaux photo credit: Willa Moore There’s a long takeout counter to the right where you can get a slice to-go, and a sit-down area to the left where long tables of L&B enthusiasts drink beer at lunch. There is a full Italian menu offered at those tables, but you should always prioritize the pizza. Bring a visitor who’s set on taking that photo under the Brooklyn Bridge, and remind them that the best view in New York isn’t the underside of a bridge—it’s an upside down slice of pizza, followed by a tricolor spumoni cone. Food Rundown photo credit: Emily Schindler World Famous L&B Sicilian Pie A pie that lives up to its name. The mozzarella melds with the dough in such a way that the center almost seems raw. But it’s not raw—it’s L&B, and it's balanced out by a singed, dark brown crust that shines with oil. You can get it by the slice or pie, but just know that you can’t do toppings on a slice. (And you won’t need them.) photo credit: Willa Moore Vodka Pie You can't get the vodka pie by the slice, but don't let that deter you. Get a whole pie, even if you're alone and getting takeout. The lucious vodka sauce and golden brown bottom are a match made in pizza heaven. Round Pie The L&B square slice is required eating, but if you’ve got the stomach space, try a slice of the round pie, too. It's everything you could want out of a classic pizzeria plain slice, with a sheen of orange oil on top, and an impeccably blistered bottom. photo credit: Willa Moore Baked Clams 90% buttery breadcrumb, 10% tender clam. A fantastic ratio. If you’re sitting in the dining room, start here. Pasta with Vodka Sauce Exactly what you’d expect from a bowl of vodka pasta at a pizzeria. Smooth sauce and soft pasta—fit for a teething baby, or as part of a wine-soaked birthday party spread. Pasta with Bolognese The pasta with vodka sauce is predictable, but the bolognese is not. It’s thick, incredibly rich, and finished with a scoop of smooth, cold ricotta, and if you put a quarter of the portion in a tiny bowl, you could sell it at some fancy small plate Italian restaurant for double the price. photo credit: Emily Schindler Vodka Chicken Parm Hero A squishy, simple sandwich that’s easy to eat, either with a beer at a long table in the dining room, or on the comfort of your own couch. The vodka sauce is mild and creamy, and the chicken retains a pleasant crunch under its cheese blanket. Dessert Platter If you come here for a birthday party, they’ll probably offer you a dessert platter. It’s not on the menu, but it’s exactly what it sounds like: a platter laden with chocolate cake, spumoni cones, and a drizzle of chocolate syrup worthy of a child’s art project. Since it’s not really on the menu, the price seems slightly arbitrary—it cost us $62.50. But for your friend’s birthday, you’ve got to pull out all the stops." - Willa Moore
