Di Fara Pizzeria
Brooklyn, NY 11230
Phone: (718) 258-1367
- Price:
- $
- Cross Street:
- Between 14th Street and 15th Street
- Hours:
- Daily 11am-10pm
Editorial Review for Di Fara Pizzeria – by Dana Bowen
The Scene
Dominic De Marco's takeout pizza parlor hasn't changed much in four decades. Potted herbs still grow in the sun-bathed windows; the counter conversations are loud and in Italian; and the few wood tables still wobble--though they seat more city folks. While his three children expedite orders, Mr. De Marco cooks in a world of his own, glancing up only at the recognition of regulars' voices.
The Food
No one does it like this anymore: After stretching homemade dough, Mr. De Marco swirls his sprightly sauce, meticulously hand-grates three kinds of fresh mozzarella and drizzles olive oil over the top. Once in the oven (electric, mind you), he shifts pies every few seconds to attain nicely-charred, chewy crust perfection. Both options--thin, roundish, Neopolitan-style pies with puffed edges, and thicker, cheesier rectangular ones--get a sprinkle of shaved Grana Padano and fresh basil before serving. Even slices are superb: He shaves on the mozzarella before reheating.
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Insider Tips
Look GoodIt's only a few dollars more for pies made entirely with buffalo milk mozzarella, but beware: Though more flavorful, the cheese is milkier, meaning a droopier pie that can disrupt the well-calibrated flavors and textures.
The ExtrasMr. De Marco imports cheese from his hometown of Casserta, and uses sweet, plum-shaped tomatoes from nearby Napoli in his sauce.
Know Before You GoIf you're driving out on the weekend, keep in mind that meters operate on Sunday, rather than Saturday, in observance of Midwood's largely orthodox population.
User Reviews for Di Fara Pizzeria
06/05/2008 Posted by jpw4134
Just visited Di Fara's for the first time, waited about an hour after ordering (and 2 reminders of our order) even though there was close to no one in the place on a Thursday afternoon. Everything here is very casual, which is the major charm/annoyance of the place; orders are occasionally written down, but pizzas are basically auctioned off to the most vocal customer as they come out of the oven. The food: the pizza was good (preferred the regular slice to the Sicilian-style square), maybe very good, definitely better than most NY pies, but I was a bit underwhelmed. The inevitable response to this is, if you don't want to wait in line for good pizza then go somewhere else, it's less people for everyone else to wait behind. I grew up in New Haven, CT on Pepe's pizza; I'm used to waiting 2 hours for a great pie. But the difference there is twofold-once you got inside, you didn't wait another hour for your food after ordering (and have to check back with the employees because they've started serving people who came after you), and every time I eat there I am truly wowed by the food. I definitely wanted to love Di Fara's, and it does have a charm to it-the fact that Domenico is so focused on making pies that he doesn't even pay attention to the business side, and that he does everything himself, shredding fresh cheese and clipping the basil that he himself grows with a pair of sheers fresh on every pizza, is old world and one of a kind. The ingredients are as fresh as they come and it reflects in the taste, but I'm not sure if the pizza is really all it's cracked up to be, and if it's worth the trek and subsequent wait/ordering game. I realize that the place has such a reputation that it is very hard to live up to expectations, but New Yorkers also have a tendency to go into lemmings mode when it comes to food. Hype and perceived quality-before the first bite is ever tasted-sometimes form more of their opinion than anything else.
Pros: Good pizze, charming spot
Cons: Hope they remember your order, $4 slice
04/07/2008 Posted by JimRivers2509
Reviewer 'richie2' is an idiot and a liar, and if he stays the hell out of the places I eat, all the better. It's the best pizza in the city: who really cares what you think, Richie? And who wants to hear you whining? Seriously though, this pizza is the real deal. There aren't many more like this out there nowadays. Go during a weeknight, you won't be disappointed. And despite the warnings of prissy little morons, you won't get poisoned. Not even close.
Pros: great pizza for a decent price
Cons: a little out of the way, and you have to deal with the presence of people who read about the place in Zagats
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
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