Last Friday evening, we dined at Lombardi's Pizza the first pizzeria in America. It was established in 1905. Click on the link to learn about the history of the restaurant and to view the online menu. The restaurant is located in the Little Italy section of Manhattan offering delicious Neapolitan style pizza baked with temperatures reaching 800 degrees F. The dough is light and airy and puffs up around the outside giving a nice chewy edge to the pizza.
This is a very cozy restaurant and please note they only take cash! Here are pictures of the interior and of the menu.
It was quite busy when we arrived, but our party of 6 was able to be seated immediately. Soon after our arrival, however, the place was packed. We timed it perfectly.
Service was prompt and we placed our drink orders. I had a lemon spritzer (prosecco, Italian limoncello liqueur, sparkling water, and lemon juice) which was tart and refreshing.
One young lady ordered a raspberry Italian soda and two others ordered the vanilla Italian soda. Thumbs up from everyone!
Although not the breadsticks we're used to, their version was quite tasty and the sauce was thick and rich with a ton of tomato flavor.
We ordered two Caesar salads for the table to share. I wasn't fast enough to snap a picture before the salad was tossed at the table. However, their version ranks as my personal favorite of all the many Caesar salads I've enjoyed in my lifetime. It's definitely #1 on my list! The menu description is as follows: Traditional dressing infused with anchovies. Served with rustic toasted croutons and topped with shaved Parmesan cheese.
We ordered three different pizzas to try so everyone could determine their favorite.
Let's start with the classic: Rustic Double Pepperoni. This is a red sauced pie with tons of pepperoni and pepperoni. This one was a crowd favorite. Just look at the edge of that crust.
Next up is the Meatball and Ricotta: Red Pie, Meatballs (Beef and Pork), Ricotta. This one was absolutely delicious. I loved the flavor and texture of the meatballs. The addition of the beautiful ricotta makes this one so appealing!
Last, but not least: Spinach, Ricotta, Garlic, and Pancetta (Italian ham) with a white base. This is the perfect pizza for those diners who may want to try an alternative to a red sauced pizza. It was loaded with toppings and you could taste each individually. Amazing pizza.
Everyone in our group enjoyed our meal immensely. There's something about realizing you're dining in the oldest pizzeria in America! The dough is made fresh every day, the sauce is homemade, and they use fresh, whole milk mozzarella cheese. What's not to love about that?
We ordered one slice of cheesecake for the group to share.....it was inhaled quickly! Light and airy and everything you want a cheesecake to be. So delicious!
It all sounds and looks amazing.
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