Mariella Pizza

When I lived in NYC near Columbus Circle, Mariella was the shop of choice for delivery.  The pies were huge and tasty and were affordable for 4 poor college students.  They also seemed to deliver 24 hours a day but I may have been drunk.  The thing about Mariella is that the pizza would put you in a coma, almost immediately.  It was a seriously debilitating coma that would prevent you from doing anything for a few hours.  I’m pretty sure I missed a class or two due to this.  We began to lovingly refer to the pizza as “Roofie Pizza.”  

Fast forward several years to September 2008. Matt and I were in NYC the night before for a going away party for a friend.  His wife also just happens to work around the corner from Mariella.  That’s a perfect recipe for a pizza lunch.

We began to lovingly refer to the pizza as “Roofie Pizza.”

In all the years I ordered pizza from there, I hardly ever went there to eat so my only memories are really of just the pizza. It’s a small place in the middle of big office buildings and close to that fancy Columbus Circle mall.  The place was packed with the lunch crowd and the guys behind the counter ran the place with a fire brigade like efficiency. The head dude is constantly yelling out “One stay” or “Two Go” to the guy working the oven.

The pizza was just as good as I remembered it.  It’s a New York City slice of pizza in the best sense.  It’s crunchy, it’s greasy, it’s cheesy and it’s delicious.
 
And, just like I remember, the coma started to set in right around when I finished my first slice.  I found it hard to focus and went into a trance like state.  I did manage to finish my second slice but it was tough (delicious but tough).  Fortunately, it wasn’t as bad a coma as I remember.  We were able to get up and walk around the neighborhood before Wifey went back to work and we went to a pub.  

$6.50 for 2 slices and a drink might seem steep, but in the grand scheme of things and considering it’s in NYC, I guess it isn’t too bad.  $5 would be better but whatever.

Also, there is a sign on the wall that says Oprah and her buddy Gayle think this is the best pizza in the country.  Maybe that had something to do with the crowd.  Personally I don’t think this is the best pizza in the country but it’s still pretty good.

Rating:

Mariella Pizza
960 8th Ave
New York, NY 10107
(212) 757-3016‎