Ruwan J.
Google
((4.5 stars))
Andrea's Pizza is another bright spot on the pizza map of NYC as the collective quality of pizza in Manhattan has been on the upswing for the past 10 years 1) bc people are more picky about their discretionary eating 2) bc fierce competition has bred pizza shops serving ever-improving quality pied and slices. accordingly, better pizzerias are dotting neighborhoods throughout boroughs. Andrea's Pizza is very much a modern neighborhood pizzeria with nods to the past. the clean, neat interior is straightforward: a couple of tables and the bench-style booths, a flatscreen playing music, Tiffany-esque hanging lamps, and a simple unpretentious ambiance. the focus is the pizza counter and kitchen and most importantly, the pizza. been here several times. i believe this place is owner-operated bc I haven't seen an other workers here while i was there. have had the plain cheese pizza a few times. it's a very good NYC-style slice. the crust is thin, but firm...crispy but still has good chew (meaning it is not dry), so it make for a soft crunch, the sauce is not sweet, but has touches of tomato and herb flavors without being "wet" or overdone; the cheese is melty, soft, fatty, creamy, and a touch of saltiness which makes for satisfying first bites to last ones when combined with the textures and flavors of the crust and sauce. the magic is really in the consistency of the their classic plain NYC-style slice which is at the heart of any great pizza place. it takes time and hard work to do this and it is in full display at Andrea's. last time, here (yesterday) tried a specialty square / Sicilian slice: "4 Cheese Grandma with Sausage & Pesto pizza slice." the square slice crust was thicker than a round slice, but still airy and light with the right amount of crispness. it is not mushy or superthick, but the crust remains firm with some give and that satisfying flavor and mouth feeling of olive oil baked onto the outside of the crust. the cheese is somewhat absorbed into the top layer of the crust but also makes it's on layer where you can taste the mozzarella, pecorino, reggiano (or grand padano), and maybe taleggio (idk the fourth). the pesto sauce is pesto-y without being too much so. and the sausage is meaty small chunks of seasoned savoriness. this is very much the slice you want when you want something that isn't classic but a bit different with a full personality of more filling ingredients. it's worth a spin if you're a fan of the Grandma slice and want a bigger style slice. however for me, the classic NYC cheese slice is my go-to here and pretty much anywhere else that serves good pizza. service is quick and waits are short as word about this place is still in its nascency. i imagine it will be different story when the weather thaws out and foot traffic on this block of 2nd Avenue picks up.
