Quickie review: Pizzeria Pubblico is the new “hot” pizza place in town, from the same group that has Posto Pubblico and Linguini Fini. It’s in Soho, just off the escalator next to Taco Loco. They claim to be serving New York Style pizza – the waitresses wear I Heart New York t-shirts. But, just like Paisano’s, it’s not really New York style pizza. It’s also quite different in taste from Paisano’s.
Paisano’s pizza slices are carved from a 24 inch pie and start at $25 for a plain slize, $30 with pepperoni. Paisano’s 24 inch whole pie sells for $200. (Note that I haven’t check prices recently.) They make their own dough and sauce. The outer crust is too large and the sauce has more herbs or spices than New York pizza. Even so, I believe it’s the best pizza in Hong Kong (bearing in mind that I’m originally from New York and grew up eating New York pizza a minimum of 5 times a week).
Pizzeria Publico’s slices come from an 18 inch pie. A plain slice is $30. A slice with pepperoni is $40. A whole pie starts at $200. They also make their own dough and sauce. They also have a chicken parm sub and a veal meatball parm sub, each of which costs $100. With your slice you’ll get a small plastic cup of slightly spicy red peppers marinated in olive oil.
I had a slice of the pepperoni last night. Good dough, good sauce – closer to NYC style I think. But the pepperoni was sliced so paper thin that I couldn’t taste it on the pie. Disappointed!
I’ll probably give them another shot or two. But given that they’re a 5 minute walk from Paisano’s new branch on Hollywood Road, well, so far Paisano still wins for me.
Hi Spike –
Have you tried the pizza at The Gallery over in Tong Fuk, Lantau? That’s my favorite pizza in the whole Hong Kong. Wonder if it’d be to your taste though as it’s not New York style — rather it’s more akin in style to the thin crust pizza to be found at Pizza Express.
Haven’t tried it, never even heard of it! I love all styles of pizza but the only things that get me to Lantau are the airport and concerts at AsiaWorld.
Curious as to what your favorite pizza joint in NYC. I am from NYC as well and I think Pizza Express and Grappa’s are much better than Paisano’s, though Pizza Express and Grappa’s are not NYC style pizza either.
I dislike Paisano’s pizza crust. They put too much sauce and ingredients on it so the crust gets soggy. I need to use two hands to eat my pizza instead of one.
I never really had a particular favorite, usually some variation on Famous Ray’s or Original Famous Ray’s or Ray’s Famous Original. I think Pizza Express is okay for chain store British style pizza, never had Grappa’s pizza.
@Kelly – You must be from the yuppie part of NYC if you think Grappa’s is better then Pubblico. Grappa’s not only serves some of the worst pizza I have ever tasted but some of the worst food as well. You are correct that Paisano’s is not good.
@Spike – You really think Paisano’s is better than Pubblico’s ? I tasted Pubblico’s slices with sauce and fresh Mozzarella and it was delicious. the sauce was excellent, The fresh Mozzarella was excellent and the curst was cooked nicely. Paisano’s is absolute garbage. The crust is not cooked well at all, cheap cheese and sauce that does not taste good. It’s obvious Paisano’s uses inferior ingredients. I have not tasted Pubblico’s regular NY style pizza but their slice with fresh mozzarella was excellent.
John, you must be almost as old as me, I didn’t think anyone used the word “yuppie” anymore.
I’ll tell you what it comes down to for me and if you want to accuse me of being an Open Ricer, feel free. First of all, I’ll have to disagree with you on the taste of Paisano’s pizza. I’m quite okay with the taste, though I’ve always found their sauce a little on the strong side. At PP I thought the taste was a bit closer to NYC, the crust a bit closer, but I was cheesed off that I paid $10 more for a smaller slice and couldn’t even begin to taste the pepperoni on the slice, what little there was of it. That being said – I’ve only had 1 slice of PP’s pizza and dozens of slices of P’s. Also, for whatever it’s worth, I live in Sai Kung and the other pizza choices up here are ghastly and I rarely get to Soho.
BTW, we are in agreement about Grappa’s. I stopped eating at any of their branches years ago. (Plus I hate Grappa’s Cellar as a live music venue.)
I didn’t say that Grappa’s is better than Pubblico’s. I just stated that Grappa’s is better than Paisano’s.
I will have to try Pubblico’s soon.
In NYC, I really liked Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn before it had that crazy hour plus line. I like my pizzas fresh and like to order the entire pie rather than the slice. Not a fan of reheated pizza.