BWW Preview: DENINOS Comes to Greenwich Village in NYC

Joseph Castellano has been tasked with bringing legendary Staten Island pizza institution, Denino's, to NYC. The first non-Denino family member to own/operate a location of the famed pizzeria, Castellano learned everything he knows during the 27 years he spent working at the original location. He manned every post from bartender to manager (while maintaining a career as a firefighter), and jumped at the opportunity to bring the landmark restaurant to NYC. He remains vigilant in adhering to the exact recipes and family values that has made Denino's famous.

Michael Burke is founder, Carlo Denino's stepson, and has decided to expand the Denino's empire. He started working at the original location when he was 12, and currently runs the company. Growing up he saw regulars come of age before his eyes, and first date pizza dinners that led to marriages, so naturally he wanted to bring that sense of community to more locations. A career NYC firefighter, he retired from the F.D.N.Y in 2010 to open a third Denino's in Brick, NJ-the second was opened by his stepbrother in Aberdeen, NJ in 2007-before overseeing the launch of Greenwich Village in 2016.

Carlo Denino's father, John Giovanni, immigrated to the U.S. from Sicily in 1887. In 1923, the same year that Carlo was born, Giovanni opened a confectionery in Staten Island, marking the first entry in what would eventually become a local culinary dynasty. In 1937, the family opened a tavern at 524 Port Richmond Ave., and after Giovanni's passing in 1951, Carlo took over that location and introduced pizza. The crisp, thin crust and light sauce was an immediate hit, cementing a space for Denino's in the NYC pizza canon and helping to define the Staten Island style of pizza. The menu continued to expand over the years and the restaurant's popularity exploded, but the focus was always family; even Carlo's Aunt Laura was still working there happily at 82 years old. By the 1980's, Denino's had become legendary, a regular stop for politicians, celebrities, hungry travelers and of course local families. After Carlo's passing in 2000, his stepson, Michael Burke, took the reins. Carlo had made such an impact on the community that officials later renamed the corner of the original location to Carlo Denino's Way. The pizzeria has received countless accolades over the years, and the Greenwich Village location seeks to continue the legacy of excellence.

The hallmarks of Denino's pizza are thin, perfectly crisp crust (the flavor comes from the bottom of the pie, after all), and light sauce, resulting in an exceptionally balanced slice that doesn't sag. The other key is the order of ingredient application: cheese first, followed by toppings, and then sauce last. This unique style ensures that the flavor of the sauce is not lost. And of course, every pizza and dish is made from scratch using the finest ingredients. Must-try signature pies straight from the original location include the 1951 (tomato sauce, mozzarella), M.O.R (meatball, onions, ricotta), Garbage (sausage, meatball, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions), and Clam (fresh garlic, parsley, olive oil, grated cheese, no sauce)-heralded as the best in NYC. Old-school Italian-American classics round out the food menu; appetizers include destination-worthy meatballs (a secret family recipe with fresh tomato sauce and a dollop of ricotta), rice balls (crisp outside, gooey inside with rice, grated cheese, ricotta and mozzarella), and scungili (conch in a sweet, mild, hot or cold sauce); perfectly al dente pastas include Cacio e Pepe (imported pecorino, butter, cracked pepper) and Farfalle Crema (mushroom, peas, pancetta, light cream); and entrees include Chicken Parmigiana, Veal Marsala, and Shrimp Arrabbiata.

Beer, wine and cocktails includes an all Italian wine list, rotating selection of 10 bottled beers and 4 on tap, and classic cocktails. Happy hour runs Monday all day, Tuesday-Friday 3pm-7pm and features half-price appetizers including a $2 palm pizza.

The spacious dining room features dark wood tables, bar seating and old photos of the original Denino's lining the walls. Large French doors open to the street in the warmer weather, and al fresco dining is available.

Denino's NYC is located at 93 Macdougal Street, New York, NY 10012. They are open Mon-Sun 12pm-11pm. Reservations are available. The venue is available for private parties and is fully accessible. All major credit cards are accepted. Visit http://deninosgreenwichvillage.com/ and call 646.838.6987.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Denino's NYC