TLDR
Authentic Neapolitan pizza in the West Village, known for its casual date-night atmosphere and thin-crust pies. A taste of Naples in NYC [1].
Reddit Sentiment for L'ANTICA PIZZERIA DA MICHELE(based on 33 Reddit opinions)
Will Hartman reviews L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele, a West Village spot praised for its casual date night vibe and authentic Neapolitan pizzas, highlighting their thin crust and flavorful Margherita.
Details
This West Village pizzeria, an outpost of a Naples establishment dating back to 1870, offered a casual date-night vibe with upbeat Italian chatter and house music. Their 15-inch Neapolitan pizzas were cooked in an imported brick oven, with the Margherita praised for its fresh ingredients, though the thin crust could be floppy with heavier toppings. Other offerings included a decent Fritto Misto appetizer and a Polenta Cake for dessert [1].
Food Overview
The restaurant specialized in traditional Neapolitan-style pizzas, with a standout Margherita praised for its fresh ingredients and balance of flavors [1]. They also offered a Fritto Misto appetizer and a Polenta Cake for dessert [1]. Some found truffle pizza amazing [2], while others noted the thin crust could be problematic with heavier toppings and that the pizzas were significantly more expensive than in Naples [1]. There were also suggestions that the pasta might have been better than the pizza [3].
Highlights / Recommended
"The Margherita pizza was praised for its balance of tomato acidity, fresh basil, and milky fior di latte [1]. Some users also mentioned enjoying truffle pizza [2] and suggested that the pasta might have been better than the pizza [3]."
Customer Sentiment
While some found the pizza amazing and a safe bet for a date night [1], others felt it was overpriced compared to Naples and that the NYC location lacked the original's charm.
Caveats
Multiple comments suggest that the restaurant, while offering good pizza, was significantly more expensive than its counterparts in Naples. Some users also felt it lacked the authentic rustic charm of the original Naples location and that its success in LA did not translate to NYC, possibly due to not finding its niche in a pizza-centric city. The closure of the restaurant has also been noted by several users [1], [2], [3].
Reddit Opinions & Reviews
Top Reddit Posts About L'ANTICA PIZZERIA DA MICHELE
Recent Reddit Mentions
From post: Best Neapolitan Pizza Places Apart From Una Pizza
"This user stated that da michaele in the village closed a few months back."
NegativeFrom post: Best Neapolitan Pizza Places Apart From Una Pizza
"This user liked da michaele in the village."
PositiveFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter inquired if the location was previously Bennys Burritos."
NeutralFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter praised the pizza as excellent but criticized the service as lacking and unfriendly, particularly their reluctance to seat customers outdoors."
PositiveFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter felt the NYC location lacked the rustic charm and family vibe of the original in Naples, instead feeling like an upscale lounge, and that the pizzas were five times the Italian price."
Negative