Di Fara Pizza
Di Fara Pizza | |
---|---|
Kings County (Brooklyn) | |
State | New York |
Postal/ZIP Code | 11230 |
Country | United States |
Coordinates | 40°37′30″N 73°57′41″W / 40.62505°N 73.9615°W |
Seating capacity | 15 |
Other locations | Williamsburg |
Website | DiFaraPizzaNY.com |
Di Fara Pizza is a pizzeria located at 1424
Food critics and bloggers have regularly cited it as one of the best pizzerias in New York City. Di Fara has been labeled the "Best pizza in New York" several times by many publications, including New York and the online publication Serious Eats. The New York Times called the restaurant "one of the most acclaimed and sought-after pizza shops in New York City". In 2011, Zagat gave the restaurant the top pizza restaurant food rating in New York City, and in 2013, Frommer's called its pizza "the Best Hand-Made Pizza in New York City". Chef Anthony Bourdain also praised the restaurant's pizza.[4]
History
Domenico DeMarco emigrated from the Province of Caserta, Italy, in 1959 and opened Di Fara Pizza in 1965. He said in a 2004 interview:
I'm 69 years old. I've been in Brooklyn since 1959. I'm from Provincia di Caserta in Italy, near
Avenue J. I didn't even know Avenue J existed. So I come over here with my accountant on a Saturday night, and this corner was for rent. It was so crowded, the street. So I take the phone number, I call the landlord, and he says to come see me Sunday, make sure you bring a deposit. When I opened the store, my partner's name was Farina. My name is DeMarco. So when the lawyer made the paper, he put the two names together. Di Fara. Di for me, and Fara for him. I bought my partner out in 1978, I think. I kept the same name; I didn't bother changing it.— DeMarco for The New York Times, July 18, 2004[3]
On March 17, 2022, Dom DeMarco died at the age of 85.[5][6][7][8][9]
Description
Pizza
Prior to DeMarco's death, each pizza pie was handmade by him, and the pizzeria was closed whenever he was unavailable.[3] Three of his seven children worked in the back area of the restaurant.[3]
He made 100 to 150 pies a day.
When Di Fara's opened 1965, a slice was 15 cents, equivalent to $1.39 in 2022. After the NY World's Fair, the price rose to 25 cents. As of 2023, Di Fara's still sells what is likely New York City's most expensive slice at $5. However, a large 8 slice pie is $30 which comes out to $3.75 a slice.[citation needed]
Restaurant
The nondescript restaurant is located on Avenue J next to a
Di Fara's has been closed a number of times by the NYC health department due to unsanitary conditions.[23][24][25] It was also closed briefly in 2019 over unpaid state taxes.[26]
Reviews
In his 1998 book The Eclectic Gourmet Guide to Greater New York City, Jim Leff called the sauce used by the restaurant:
a restrained, low profile masterpiece of optimal acidity and spicing (bolstered by a goodly shake of black pepper). Like everything here it's delicious in a magically old-fashioned way.[13]
Since
In 2007, chef
In 2011, Zagats again gave the restaurant a food rating of 27, the top pizza restaurant food rating in New York City.[35] That year, the New York Daily News readers rated it the #1 pizza in the city.[36] In 2013, Zagats yet again gave the restaurant a food rating of 27, with a decor rating of 6.[37] Also in 2013, Frommer's called its pizza the Best Hand-Made Pizza in New York City.[21]
During the
Gallery
-
DeMarco adding fresh basil to a Di Fara Pizza
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The exterior of Di Fara Pizza
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The interior of Di Fara Pizza, with DeMarco in the doorway
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 9780762759439. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
Di Fara Pizza.
- New York Magazine, retrieved June 2, 2009
- ^ a b c d e f g DeMarco, Domenico; As told to Jeff VanDam (July 18, 2004), "Charred bubbles, and other secrets of the slice", The New York Times, retrieved June 2, 2009
- ^ McCreary, David. "Restaurant Profile: Di Fara Pizza Tavern". Cary Magazine. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- ^ Brooklyn Magazine (March 17, 2022). "DOMENICO 'DOM' DE MARCO, FOUNDER OF LEGENDARY DI FARA PIZZA, HAS DIED". bkmag.com. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ^ Wells, Pete (March 17, 2022). "One Pizza at a Time, He Defined the New York Slice". The New York Times.
- ^ "Legendary di Fara Pizza owner Domenico 'Dom' Demarco dies at age 85". NPR.org.
- ^ "Renowned di Fara Pizza Owner Domenico 'Dom' DeMarco Dies at 85". March 17, 2022.
- ^ "Domenico de Marco, owner of di Fara Pizza in Brooklyn, dies at age 85". CBS News.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fernandez, Manny (July 31, 2009). "Straight Out of Brooklyn, the $5 Slice". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c Fernandez, Manny (March 15, 2010). "Where a Meal Can Cost a Fortune, 99¢ Pizza Catches On". The New York Times.
- ^ Kilgannon, Corey (June 7, 2009). "PIZZA THROWER – When It Comes to Tossing a Pie, He Cooks". The New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Goldman, Adam (May 7, 2008). "A giant among pizza makers". SouthCoastToday.com. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- ISBN 9780062092175. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ "Pizza 2002: The State Of the Slice". The New York Times. November 6, 2002. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ISBN 9781607740902. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- ISBN 9780061984259. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ a b Asimov, Eric (November 21, 2001). "$25 AND UNDER – At a No-Frills Pizza Spot, a Perfectionist's Pie". NYTimes.com. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ISBN 9781118268650. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- ^ Fernandez, Manny (July 30, 2009). "Straight Out of Brooklyn, the $5 Slice". The New York Times.
- ^ ISBN 9781118331446. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- ISBN 9780762788903. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- ^ Chung, Jen (June 7, 2007). "Closed by DOH Again, Di Fara's Faces Uncertain Future". Gothamist. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ Walker, Dalton (June 7, 2007). "A Beloved Brooklyn Pizzeria Is Closed, Again, by the Health Dept". The New York Times.
- ^ Beloved Brooklyn Pizza Shop Di Fara Temporarily Closed Over Health Code Violations
- ^ Tuder, Stefanie. "Legendary Di Fara Reopens After Giving NYC Pizza Fans a Minor Panic Attack". Eater NYC. Vox Media. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- Daily News
- New York Magazine, retrieved June 2, 2009
- ^ Kuban, Adam (January 1, 2004), "Di Fara Pizza: everything you need to know", Slice, retrieved June 2, 2009
- ^ Asimov, Eric (August 29, 2004). "NEW YORK 2004: DINING OUT; Beyond the Garden, Culinary Delights". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ "The Glories of Midwood". The New York Sun. December 8, 2006. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ISBN 9780060899226. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- ^ Russo, Francine (November 19, 2002). "Close-Up on Midwood – NYC Life". Village Voice. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ "Midwood pizza slice of heaven – Zagat". NY Daily News. New York. October 10, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ]
- ^ "Best of New York's cheese pizza slice: DiFara's comes out ahead of Artichoke and famed Patsy's". NY Daily News. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ]
- ^ Del Signore, John. "Best Pizza In NYC Is Di Fara, De Blasio Declares In Reddit AMA". Gothamist. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
Further reading
- The New York Observer on June 12, 2007: Pizzeria One With Everything—Except the Health Department
- New York Times on July 18, 2004: Domenico DeMarco told reporter Jeff Vandam secrets of the slice
External links
- Official website
- What is DiFara's? A short video about Di Fara Pizza