What do you get when you combine a 57-year-old family recipe, the culinary palate of a traditional Italian, and the heart of a New Yorker? Perfection. You also get one of the most underrated local Italian pizza joints in New York.
When you ask any of the locals about where to find the best New York pizza Rubirosa tops the list because of their legendary crispy thin-crust pizza, but as soon as you take your first bite you’ll want one of everything on their amazing menu. Let’s tempt your taste buds a little shall we?
Rubirosa is located in the heart of Nolita, a trendy neighborhood in New York City. The area is filled with chic bars and restaurants, high-end shopping, and sidewalk cafes.
Jeff/Flickr It’s also home to an Italian family restaurant you don’t want to miss. AJ Pappalardo grew up following in the footsteps of his father Giuseppe Pappalardo, who started a restaurant in Staten Island. As a boy AJ was bitten by the kitchen - in other words, he knew he would open his own place one day. And we are glad he did.
Let’s talk pizza. Rubirosa’s famous Tie Dye Roni Pie marries the family sauce recipe with their epic thin crust and a fun twirl of delicious pesto. The result? Magic!
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It’s not all pizza here at Rubirosa though. This simple yet elegant Caprese salad with fresh in-house mozzarella, brilliant heritage tomatoes and a balsamic vinaigrette drizzle is the perfect blend of salty, tangy, juicy, and chewy amazingness.
RubirosaNYC/Facebook
If your favorite Italian dish is chicken Parmigiano why not take that to go with a roll… You can go classic with a chicken Parmigiano or get a little more adventurous with an eggplant Parmigiano.
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Speaking of adventure, would you take a chance with a little octopus? This beautiful dish is done to perfection with roasted octopus, hearty potatoes, almonds, and Giardiniera, which are pickled vegetables like carrots and cauliflower.
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If you love the saltiness of the sea you’ll love the Chitarra alla Vongole over a bed of garlic butter noodles. This simple clam dish will transport you to a seaside cafe in Italy with white wine and laughter.
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Now that we are thinking about a romantic Italian getaway, how about some hot Italian wedding soup? And did you catch that house-made garlic butter toast hiding in the background?
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We can’t forget dessert! Can we tempt you with fresh strawberry cheesecake, chocolate bread pudding with bourbon gelato and caramel, OR the delicate light and espresso heaven of Tiramisu? Or one of each, it’s okay to say yes.
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We could go on and on about the pizza, pasta, dessert, and wine selection for days. But honestly, when the tummy rumbles it’s time to go to Rubirosa. We’ll meet you there!
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Now that you’ve seen a brief look at only a few items on the menu, would you agree this Italian restaurant in New York is one to “dine” for? (No dying necessary, but you will think you’ve gone to heaven.)
Jeff/Flickr
It’s also home to an Italian family restaurant you don’t want to miss. AJ Pappalardo grew up following in the footsteps of his father Giuseppe Pappalardo, who started a restaurant in Staten Island. As a boy AJ was bitten by the kitchen - in other words, he knew he would open his own place one day. And we are glad he did.
RubirosaNYC/Facebook
What is your favorite New York restaurant? Share with us in the comments, perhaps we’ll have to go on a New York foodie road trip.
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Address: Rubirosa, 235 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012, USA
