Must Try Pizza & Pasta In Astoria, NY

If you enjoy Italian food, there are some amazing flavors in Astoria you should not miss. For Best Pizza and Pasta flavors these are Astoria's best hotspots.

Alba's - Astoria

In this day of trendy here today and gone tomorrow specialty pizza cafes, Alba's outstanding recipe for success, great tasting pizza together with friendly customer service, has stood the test of time.

A family owned business, who are proud to be a "mom and pop" shop, Alba's has been serving the Ditmars community for more than thirty years. Their molto bene pizza and pasta dishes keep hungry Astoria couples, families and singles coming back for more.

In fact, on most days, you can catch the son of the owners on the premises, greeting his customers,supervising the staff and assisting the chef in whipping up delicious dishes that will leave a lasting impression on your palate but not your wallet.

The prices here are very affordable. Monday through Thursday are pasta nights at Alba's. For only $12.95, you get a dish of pasta, house salad and warm bread with butter. hold on a second, though; we're not finished. This deal also comes with coffee or tea and your choice of dessert.

And what delectable sweet endings they have here! Two of the best are the Bomba, which consists of a scoop of vanilla and chocolate gelato with cherries and sliced almonds. The whole concoction is covered in cinnamon! 
The other must-have dessert is the hard to pronounce but easy to digest copa stracciatella. A scoop of chocolate chip gelato is topped with chocolate syrup, cocoa powder and hazel nuts.

While we are on the subjects of toppings, let's get to the pizza. In one word, it's fabulous. The owners are old-school so they don't call their pizza "artisanal", but that is exactly what it is. Hand crafted and made with love.

The crust is thin but not overly so and the ratio of sauce and cheese is just right. You don't want to eat a soggy slice that's top heavy with olive oil and gobs of cheese. However, most pizza fans don't enjoy eating a pie that is so dry , it resembles not very well made focaccia bread.

Alba's pizza-makers turn out a great Grandma and white ( no sauce) pie as well as an anything but basic cheese pizza.

Lately, their penne vodka pizza and chicken parm pie are coming on strong when it comes to three and four star reviews.
But, you can't go wrong with the Athena, a pie that is topped with feta cheese, olives, spinach,tomatoes and onions.

The signature pizza is the Alba Special. Ingredients range from sausage, pepperoni, delectable tomato sauce and mushrooms to onions, peppers and broccoli. This one will satisfy even the most ravenous appetite.

If you're a bacon lover, then check out the Genovese Pizza which features a ton of bacon along with fresh mozzarella.

The decor is modern and very stylish. They renovated some time ago and it shows. The atmosphere is cozy and they even have a fireplace.

The restaurant is divided into two spaces. The front area has a few tables, but primarily houses the large pizza oven and accommodates take-out customers.

The larger portion of the establishment is the main dining room. The lighting is soft and they have a glass enclosed "side walk" cafe section that wraps around the length of the restaurant.

It's nice for people watching. In the Summer, the management opens up the floor to ceiling glass windows and this portion of the dining area magically turns into an outdoor patio, as it were.

Location and Hours

3620 Ditmars Blvd.
Astoria NY 11105
(718) 932-5924
www.albapizza.com

Hours

Sunday to Thursday 11 AM to 10 PM
Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 11 PM

Rosario's - Astoria

Rosario's is a family-owned Italian-style deli that just so happens to serve some of the best pizza in the neighborhood.

Ditmars has no shortage of pizzerias and Italian restaurants that feature artisanal pies and slices. So, to say that the pizza at Rosario's has little or no competition is a pretty neat compliment, indeed.
Just ask the locals who are in the know where you can grab a memorable slice of pizza and they will,without hesitation, point you in the direction of Rosario's.

Rosario DiMarco founded the store way back in 1986. Always smiling, Rosario is still behind the counter, generating old-school courtesy and warmth. The owner and his staff know their customers by name, as well as their favorite slice .

Besides fabulous pizza, Rosario's is famous for their delicious gourmet sandwiches, cheeses and imported Italian and Croatian groceries. If you are not hungry when you walk in the door, you will be just as soon as you smell the aroma of pizza baking in the oven. Or when you watch one of the counter guys making a hearty, thick sandwich like the "Famous One".
Their signature sandwich, this meal on semolina bread consists of a chicken cutlet,Prosciutto, fresh mozzarella and your choice of either roasted or cherry peppers.

All of their pizza is hand crafted with fresh crushed tomatoes,hand tossed dough and mozzarella that is made right on the premises.

Everything is fresh and wholesome here. You can go with the La Tradizionale, which is a simple but delicious cheese with red sauce pie or you can savor their Salsiccia pie which features savory sausage that is made from scratch in their kitchen.

The Polpette is topped with hand rolled meatballs from a Dimarco family recipe going back generations. If you are in the mood for something light and tasty, then try their Margherita. This pizza is topped with shaved Parmesan and a mound of delicious arugula, straight from a local farm.

They also make a very nice pizza that features the slightly spicy Italian cured meat, sopressata.

Rosario's may not have fifteen different pies on their menu, but they don't need to. Sometimes, less is more. Mr. DiMarco, who makes most of the pizza himself, believes in quality over quantity. At Rosario's they don't need to gimmick up their pizza in order to attract customers.

A big plus is that Rosario's could not be more convenient. The shop is only a few short steps from the N and W train station. Grab a slice or a pie for the family when you're on your way home from work.

Location and Hours

22-55 31st street
Astoria NY 11105
(718) 728-2920
www.rosarios.us.com

Hours

Monday to Saturday 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM
Sunday Closed

Michael Angelo's Pizza - Astoria

What could be better on a Saturday night than enjoying some alone time with the one you love, together with a delicious pizza and a bottle of wine ? Not much, that's for sure.

But, besides the pie and wine, you also want the environment to be classy and romantic. You'll get all that and more when you dine at Michael Angelo's, a cute restaurant located on 23rd avenue in the Ditmars neighborhood of Astoria.

The decor makes you feel as though you are dining at a sleek and sexy pizza cafe or enoteca in the heart of Rome or Milan. The dining room is long and majestic with arched ceilings and intimate lighting.
You can actually have a conversation here with your dining companions. The noise level is low and the ambiance is conducive to every occasion from date night and a family meal with the kids to a business luncheon.

The walls are exposed brick and the tables are set with both white and red linens. Shelves over the pizza station hold bottles of wine.

During the warmer months, you can dine al fresco in their fence enclosed back yard patio.Romance, not just plants and trees bloom here.

All pies are available thin or regular crust. It's up to you. Whatever your taste is, you can get your pizza fix at Michael Angelo's.

Slices are still only $2.50 and a large pizza costs just $15, which is a couple of dollars or so cheaper than the price most pizzerias are now charging.

Mom always said to remember to eat your veggies. Well, you will be able to enjoy a veritable harvest of market fresh vegetables when you order Michael Angelo's Masterpiece pie.

One of their most popular pizzas is the Sophia Loren, which consists of tomato sauce that is made with market fresh tomatoes, mozzarella,garlic and extra virgin olive oil.
Sauteed peppers and onions are added to slices of savory sausage and mushrooms to make up Michael Angelo's best selling pizza. There's just enough red sauce and cheese on this pie to complement the different ingredients.

When you come to Michael Angelo's you might want to check out their selection of calzones, like the meatballs with mozzarella and ricotta cheese. They also bake a broccoli and cheese roll that's out of bounds. So delicious!

The kitchen delivers big time on fine dining quality pasta dishes, as well. Menu highlights include a creamy Fettuccine Alfredo and Gnocchi Sorentino with melted mozzarella, basil and tomato sauce.

Location and Hours

29-11 23rd Avenue
Astoria NY 11105
(718) 932-2096
www.michaelangelosny.com

Hours

Monday to Saturday 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM
Sunday 12 PM to 10:30 PM