Farinella

This place has closed. It was only open for a few months! I heard the landlord hiked up the rent and the owners just couldn’t do it. Oh well!

I don’t know what happened to Farinella’s — the pizza is no longer as good as it was when they first opened. I’ve ordered full palma delivery and have also gotten slices from the store — each time there is less & less cheese on it. I know that true Italian pizza isn’t heavily laden with toppings but only 3 slices of basil on a 4-​foot pizza seems on the low side. Hopefully they’ll shape up soon because there are plenty of other pizza places in the city.

If you’re not use to organic foods, you might not be a fan of this. Farinella’s uses organic ingredients giving you a simple and healthy taste which might come off as a bit bland. However, I’d still recommend trying it because of fresh ingredients and also the crust is light, crispy and is not too heavy after eating (as real Italian pizza should be). I’d definitely say try it if you’re in the area if you want something quick, healthy and delicious.
I tried the prosciutto pizza; I’m not a huge meat fan but I’d go back for a caprese slice.

Simple, Fresh, DELICIOUS. What’s the most important part of the pizza? THE DOUGH — and these guys know it. Its a bread-​minded place that makes good pizza. Some people here didn’t like the amount of sauce (or lack there of) on the pizza but that’s the point; pizza shouldn’t be smothered in messy red sauce — it should have enough fresh tomato sauce and cheese to taste.
All in all — if you can appreciate a light, fresh, tasty, expensive, square slice of pizza, then you will LOVE this place.
Grazie Farinella!

I broke my rule of never eating at a place that pays for people to hand out fliers on the street. I’ve always thought you only do that, as a business, if you can’t bring people BACK.
Farinella’s is an exception to this rule. I was presently surprised. Very authentic food options, some unique Italian dishes, and friendly owners.
For those of you who wished there pizza was hotter: 1) it appears they have fixed that problem, and 2) YOU’RE IN NEW YORK… ASK THEM TO HEAT IT AGAIN!
Finally, at least for the last few weeks, they have a special after 5pm: $ 2.00 for any loaf of bread. It’s fresh, delicious, and they have many options to choose from.
Wish they had breakfast…

Ordered the Felix salad (not bad, but unmemorable) and the prosciutto pizza on Seamless. The pizza was pretty tasty, and Farinella gets bonus points for using fresh, organic ingredients. Overall, although it was nothing particularly unique, I’d probably order again from here if I’m ever struck with a sudden thin-​crust pizza craving.
Also gotta love the huge rectangular box the pizza comes in when it’s delivered — I was certainly unprepared to see that when I picked up my order.

Everything about this place is awesome. I haven’t had lasagna this good since I went to italy and the pizza is to die for. They use all organic local ingredients and buffalo mozzarella on everything! The staff are just about the nicest people I’ve met in new York and they love where they work — you can tell just by how excited they are about what they serve.
Also, they hold an open mic about twice a month on Wednesdays so you get dinner and a show!

I stop at Farinella’s occasionally for a slice for lunch, as it is right across the street from where I work. Their food is good enough to go back to, but there is nothing really spectacular about it at all. They get credit for fresh ingredients and a wide variety of pizzas to choose from at lunchtime, but their prices are a bit higher than I can justify for a fast food type lunch.
In any case, it’s a good place to stop for a slightly-​above-​average bite to eat on a Tuesday. On Wednesday, you could do better.

Good enough to go back for, but nothing to rant and rave about. After reading other people’s reviews I have to say that I agree with most of the collective!
The prosciutto slice was yummily flavorful, but I was a bit let down on the eggplant. On first look, the cheese has this weird bubbly «ive been sitting too long» look to it, and like everybody else, my pizza was also not warm enough despite being toasted for awhile.
LOVE the business card though… what can i say, i’m a sucker for yellow and white stripes (look at my icon!). and the lady who served me had an adorable italian accent and complimented me on my bag

So I went back again, and while it wasn’t terrible, it wasn’t that good and definitely isn’t worthy of being called solid. I got an eggplant slice and a normal margerita slice, as well as a potato croquette. The croquette wasn’t even heated through all the way, and while it had the right texture inside, it was kinda bland and just mushy otherwise. The crust of the pizza didn’t have nearly as much character as last time, and while the olive oil flavor was still there, the salt wasn’t and overall it just tasted odd. On top of this the mozzarella was just okay, and the eggplant and tomatos were bland. I don’t care if its suppose to be a different style of pizza, it was pretty bland, and therefore I’ve got to downgrade this.
Also, they really need to stop claiming that Time Out named them NY’s best pizza. They listed them over a year ago in a shitty article highlighting new pizzerias that had opened. Nobody has called them the best of anything to my knowledge.

A friend of mine told me about this place, so on a lunch break, I decided to give it a try. When you walk up to the counter, you will find many varieties of thin crusted pizzas, and when I say, thin, they are almost paper thin. I chose the buffalo mozzarella, tomato sauce and basil option. At $ 4 a slice, its a bit pricey, but it was a really good slice of pizza. The crust was tasty and it wasn’t oily at all. They also advertise their pizza as organic, and «highly digestible.» My friend told me they are gluten-​free, but no where did I see that advertised. They also had mini potato croquettes ($ 1), but they weren’t good at all. Stay away from those! They also carry a few Italian grocery items (ie pasta, some cookies and also panettone). I would def come back to try a different slice ;-)

The pizza here is pretty good — I’d give them about a 7÷10… What I go for is the paninis.
They have an excellent caprese panini, the roasted eggplant is okay but very oily and messy, and the chicken cutlet is quite good as well. The bread that they’re served on is crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
I’ve also had both their minestrone and their tomato basil soup — both of which were excellent.

Farinella, located on Worth Street near Broadway, is a downtown Manhattan lunch hotspot so naturally I had to see why. I got there before the lunch rush and ordered up an entire margarita pie. Now, Farinella’s pizza is not your traditional round pie rather its a Napolitano, just like chef/​owner Alberto Polo Cretara.
To my dismay, the pizza was not brought out in its true splendor (pictured here:
g) but cut up and shoved into a pizza box. I jokingly called that the first strike. Unknown to me, there would be many more to come. The first bite left me asking, «Where the hell is the flavor?» Strike two. Their margarita pizza did not even have any basil leaves on it, what the hell?
Yes, both the sauce and cheese (including their pathetic drizzle of olive oil) left be begging for the traditional pizza condiments (Oregano, red pepper flakes, parmesan cheese). Unfortunately for me, Farinella only has one red pepper flake shaker. Yes, one. Third strike, Farinella, you’re out.
I was actually forced to sprinkle their table salt on my pizza. Unheard of I know, but sadly this was the case. The only thing that Farinella does well is their crust, flat, cripsy on the outside and yet still fluffy and bread like in the inside. In short I would have never thought that someone would actually ‘beat’ out John’s Pizzeria for dead last on my list, surprisingly Farinella did just that.

I’m a little torn about this place. I almost gave it an extra star because the neighborhood it is in is so bereft of good food.
On the other hand, there is already way too much grade inflation on Unilocal so I’m going to give it what it deserves: 3 stars (which should indicate that it is pretty good).
The crust is the highlight-​crispy and thin and perfectly done with a nice olive oily flavor.
The letdown is the toppings-​i had the potato and the roma tomato with arugula, both were bland bland bland. I appreciate the use of fresh ingredients that should not be overwhelmed by seasoning, but this place went too far — how about a pinch of pepper or salt?!
Still, some of the best food in the area.

Decent pizza, but my mushroom slice could have been a tad doughier. The crust was like a cracker. Wasn’t in love with the sauce.
Aaaaand that’s about all I have to say. I’d go back if I have a craving for pizza, but there are so many other places around here I’d try first.

More authentic Roman pizza in NYC. Opened by an Italian rock star cum baker, this spot boasts great pizza and amazing looking darkly baked calzones.
I had the pizza with potatoes, and mozzerella cheese as well as the zucchini mushroom slice. Both came to $ 6.75. Any serious pizza person should check out this pizza.
Crispy crust along the lines of Sullivan Street bakery/​Grandaisy with lots of flavor due to all imported ingredients except the flour. Not as doughy as Golosi (near Grand Central) which is more pizzalike, this is almost more of a baked good though absolutely fabulouso.

I am in love with my wife and my wife is in love with a fat man.
She works close to this pizza place and started telling me all about it — how it is the closest thing to pizza that you get in Italy.
She lovingly brings her big fat daddy pizza from here home to me (in a brown bag). This is the best pizza in the city… and I love goddamn pizza.
Farinella has reaffirmed my love for my wife and I’m thinking of renewing my vows here on our anniversary. That’s how great the pizza here is.
If you don’t like this pizza you’re probably a jerk-​off (or Irish).

So I call to place my order… and on the opposite end I get this voice, quite possibly a voice I will never forget… the Italian accent… the way this man taking my order spit sex as he spoke… it was a heavenly moment…
The pies are a great deal, 10 slices (and normally 3 bucks each) so a 24 buck pie is pretty good deal and besides it comes specially packed, almost like a design of some sort… they also put the pizza box in a pizza big, long bag so u don’t have to balance the box as you text (pretty thoughtful huh)…
so then I ask this sexy Italian immigrant on the phone what the special of the day was to which he replied — croquettes stuffed with prosciutto and love… SOLD two please, 2.50 each and good enough to use an appetizer for 3 — 4 people… MmmM they were different and worth it…
The Napoletan Calzone — enough ricotta, enough Parmesan, enough prosciutto, and the sauce was yummy (the bread is prob the key here as it is in their slice)… i didn’t quite taste the salame in the calzone however it was great and at 9 bucks a pop it should be… also big enough to share with 2 maybe even 3 skinny people…
Signore Farinelli, you were originally a rapper how do you know how to make such great pizza??? Also, i seriously hope the girl working behind the counter is related to you otherwise I am boggled by your decision to hire her; she has proved to be an idiot 3 for 3 times I have visited you…

Delicious and simple pizza that uses organic ingredients. Very different from typical NY pizza. Owners are straight up Italians and make their pizza with a very thin crust, many without tomato sauce and many without much cheese. I highly recommend the potato and onion, the siciliana (eggplant) and zucchini slices.
There’s not much seating so you are better off getting take out and sit in the open space in front of the court house or Javits Federal building when weather permits. Also, they don’t heat their slices long enough so make sure to request that they leave your slice in the toaster a bit longer if you like it hot.
It’s easy to spend more than $ 9 for two slices and a soda but overall, Farinella is a great addition to this area. I wished it was around when I worked down the block for four years.

So I finally came back to grab a slice. I got the mushroom. The bread (and crust) were delicious, very thin. Only complaint is that it could have used a bit more cheese, but I am a cheese whore, so I guess I’m biased.
All in all, very yummy. Reminded me of the pizza I used to have in olé Napoli.