FOOD: Paulie Gee's [NYC]

[caption id="attachment_81084" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Hometown Brisket[/caption]

Pizza in Brooklyn is not hard to talk about. There are institutions in the borough that have been around for ages, and cannot be duplicated. Brooklyn pizza is hard to beat, but one place in Greenpoint is finding their own way into Brooklyn history, one pie at a time.

Paulie Gee’s, an Italian pizza restaurant has pizza made in their brick oven, fresh salads and soups, and wine and beer to fill you until content. The restaurant is packed on most nights, and for good reason. When there’s over an hour wait, people wait. The pizza is that good.

The wood burning oven sits in the back, and with pizza made to order, the line outside can get long. The rustic interior gives an intimate atmosphere, with dim lighting and candles on the tables. There’s an old time Coke machine in the middle of the dining room which adds a vintage flair to the space.

Although they do not have a full bar, they serve craft beer on tap and have a hefty wine list to complement the many pizzas they have on the menu. Their pizzas range in the simplest form of Italian Tomatoes and Parmigianio Reggiano, to something they call “Feel Like Bacon Love.” This includes Italian tomatoes, butter sauce flavored with smoky bacon and onion, and topped with fresh Mozzarella and Pecorino Romano. Their pizza’s incorporate toppings like kale, Mike’s Hot Honey Sauce to give spice, Berkshire sausage, Anisette cream drizzle, and even cherries to set their delicious pies far and beyond the rest. Their cutely named Ricky Ricotta is made with fresh tomatoes, fennel sausage and Pecorino Romano, and then topped with fresh ricotta and arugula once it comes out of the oven. They even include vegan pizzas on the menu and offer options to include vegan fennel sausage and cashew "ricotta" to substitute for the regular menu items.

[caption id="attachment_81083" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Ricky Ricotta[/caption]

The menu also includes pies that give homage to their Brooklyn neighbors, Roberta’s and Hometown BBQ, by including pies inspired by these restaurants. The Spectacle 621, made in the likeness of Roberta’s Speckenwolf, includes speck, cremini mushrooms, and red onions, and of course mozzarella cheese. The Hometown Brisket is made with beef brisket from Hometown BBQ in Red Hook, and topped with pickled onions and Hometown’s own BBQ sauce. The pie brought together everything that's great about bar-be-que and pizza- melted cheese, tender brisket, and a delicious bar-be-que sauce that gave just enough tang to counteract the creamy cheese.

Paulie Gee’s not only brings the delicious food of Italy to Greenpoint, but is also a place that makes you feel like you're family. The owner walks around the restaurant making sure everyone is happy with their dishes, and makes you feel like you've been there a million times even if it's your first visit. With quality food and an inviting atmosphere, Paulie Gee's continues to make a name for itself in a borough that knows its pizza, and only want the best. 

Paulie Gee’s
60 Greenpoint Avenue
Greenpoint, Brooklyn