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."
NegativeFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"In response to a comment questioning Neapolitan pizza's appeal, this user dismisses it as simple food (bread, sauce, cheese) that is not worth over-analyzing."
NeutralFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter questioned the appeal of Neapolitan pizza in NYC, given the superiority of local NY and CT style pizzas, and stated that most Italian pizzas don't compare favorably."
NegativeFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter highlighted the significant price difference between pizzas in Naples and NYC, noting that even folded pizzas in Naples are cheaper than a slice in NYC."
NegativeFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter stated the restaurant was very good and expressed disappointment that it did not succeed."
PositiveFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"This user enjoys both styles of pizza and expressed sadness that the restaurant is closing."
PositiveFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter was unaware the restaurant existed in NYC and regretted missing the opportunity to visit the original location in Naples."
NeutralFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"This user found the place was often busy and the food decent, though not comparable to Naples' authentic offerings. They also suggested the pastas might have been better than the pizza."
NeutralFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter confirmed the closure via an Instagram story and mentioned they had visited a couple of times, finding the food reliably good to decent."
PositiveFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter felt the pizza was overpriced in NYC compared to its cost in Naples and suggested NYC-style pizza is superior."
NegativeFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter noted the large, expensive space was often empty and expressed regret for never trying the pizza, which they heard was good."
NeutralFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter notes that the restaurant offered pricey traditional Neapolitan-style pizza with minimal cheese."
NeutralFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter observed the place was always quiet, speculated high rent was a factor, and noted its success in LA did not translate to NYC, suggesting it didn't find its niche in a pizza-centric city."
NegativeFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter observed people waiting outside and outdoor tables not being set up, suggesting it might have been their final night of operation."
NeutralFrom post: Looks Like Lantica Pizzeria Da Michele Closed
"The commenter confirmed the news of the restaurant's closure."
NeutralFrom post: Manhattan Pizza Tour My List And Other
"L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele is mentioned as a place to consider for traditional Italian/Neapolitan pizza."
Positive