Pizza can become a very intense and passionate topic in New York City. Emotionally charged discussions and lively debates from multi-generations of family members, friends, and colleagues have occurred, with individuals giving their personal viewpoints on which pizza joint serves the best pie in the Big Apple. We’re here to join the discussion and simply add our opinion to the conversation. We recommend Don Antonio, Manhattan’s popular destination for authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, which is worthy of being considered one of the best pizzas in New York. They are creating delicious Neapolitan pizza and offering a diverse collection of pies and calzones.
Giorgia Caporuscio, an acclaimed and world champion pizzaiola who has earned international recognition for her authentic Neapolitan pizza, is behind the beloved Don Antonio restaurant. Located at 309 West 50th Street in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, the casual eatery has an extensive list of pizzas. Don Antonio has over 30 types of Neapolitan pizzas, and the menu is a little bit daunting at first due to so many options, but even the pickiest eater will find something they’ll want to eat. To top that off, Caporuscio recently debuted a brand new pizza tasting menu that features a curated lineup of never-before-seen pizza napoletana, and seven varieties of pizza fritta (fried pizza). Lastly, the entire pizza menu is now available gluten-free. With vast offerings, they are ambitious, and every dish is outstanding.
The Knockturnal made a trip to Don Antonio on a recent Tuesday night, and the back dining area was filled with guests. Every table was occupied with hungry diners, and the place was buzzing. What immediately impressed us was the extremely quick turnaround of the food. Once the waiter took an order, about 10 minutes later, a piping hot and fresh pizza was served to each guest. The skillful pizza makers are quick and very efficient.
During our visit, we tasted “The Butcher,” which is an individual 12-inch Neapolitan pizza made with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, sausage, Italian roasted ham, salami, sausage, prosciutto and basil. We love protein, and this pizza was faultless. It wasn’t overly salty, and the meat was thinly sliced and seamlessly blended with the light tomato sauce and cheese. We also tried the white pizza topped with sausage and basil. The savory flavor of the sausage provided a hearty—and satisfying—contrast to the milder white sauce and cheeses.
The crust on both pizzas was also perfect. As traditional Neapolitan-style pizza is known for its soft, thin dough, puffy, charred crust, the Don Antonio version is well executed. Plus, both pizzas were baked in a wood-fired oven that resulted in a moist and slightly floppy center that had some crispness on the bottom and around the edge—making Don Antonio’s version of the Neapolitan style pizza first rate. In addition, the 12-inch size of the pizza was the perfect portion size. You’ll be full and satisfied, but not feeling like you have overeaten and not able to walk out of the restaurant.
Another tasty option at Don Antonio is La Montanara. The individual 11-inch naturally-leavened Neapolitan pizza is deep-fried and is a specialty that dates way back in time and is believed to have its roots in the mountains surrounding Naples. We highly recommend ordering one. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, a variety of calzones are available to choose from. They have the Calzone Classico made with fresh mozzarella, fresh ricotta, salami, and basil inside. And on top, tomato sauce and pecorino cheese cover the pastry. They also have a calzone with mushrooms, which contains a hefty portion of mushrooms inside the pizza dough with mozzarella and ricotta. Tomato sauce and pecorino cheese also cover the top of this calzone.
Don Antonio has a variety of antipasti with lots of delectable appetizer courses that are small and shareable, which include salads, arancini, fried potato croquettes with imported smoked buffalo mozzarella, traditional spaghetti cakes with Italian cooked ham and imported smoked buffalo mozzarella, and prosciutto with artichokes.
Last but not least is the dessert. Don Antonio has an incredible tiramisu composed of layers of ladyfingers with sponge cake soaked in coffee, alternated with a rich, creamy mixture of mascarpone. This is a must-order and the best way to end your meal.
Overall, Don Antonio is a standout for authentic Neapolitan-style pizza. With a highly extensive menu and even the option for gluten-free crust, stop by this restaurant for a tasty and unique kind of pizza experience.
