"Lucia Alimentari was never supposed to exist. Okay, that’s a little dramatic, but this tiny, personal pie-slinging, natural wine-pouring spot, tucked behind Lucia Pizza’s Soho location wasn’t part of the pizzeria’s original plan. The people behind Lucia were only planning on bringing their excellent Sheepshead Bay slice shop to Manhattan. But the extra space happened to be available, so they just signed on, and decided to figure it out later. The resulting cafe-by-day, sit-down pizza place by night is the happiest accident in Lower Manhattan. It has everything you’d want from a great slice shop, but also wine, and salads, and solid small plates. Everything is made in the slice shop kitchen, then slid through a window into the candlelit alimentari. photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte The personal pizzas are the main draw. They're not solo dinner freezer pizzas, nor strictly size-bound Neapolitan pizzas—they’re classic New York pies, just mini. The options include all of Lucia’s most beloved varieties, like vodka or creamed spinach, and range from $18 to $25. Each pie can feed two, but you should still get one per person. Dining at Lucia Alimentari feels like eating in a coffee shop after hours, but in a cool way, not a trespassing way. Of course, if you come during the day, it is in fact a coffee shop, and you should plan to get there around 12:30pm so you can also get a focaccia sandwich layered with prosciutto cotto. But prioritize an evening visit—after the coffee cups are stored, and bottles of wine are opened and placed in ice-filled tomato tins, this accidental restaurant transforms into an impromptu pizza party. Food Rundown photo credit: Salvatore Carlino Focaccia Sandwich They make 25 of these sandwiches a day, and start selling them at 12:30pm. By 2pm they’re likely sold out. Plan accordingly. The cheese changes, but you’d better hope you come on stracciatella day. Stracciatella day rocks. Picture crunchy, salt-studded focaccia, with layers of prosciutto, and cold stracciatella that tastes more like whipped cream than cheese. photo credit: Kate Previte Wine The menu at Lucia Alimentari is four small pages long, and only one of them is dedicated to food. The other three are for wine. (As they should be.) Bottles start at $45, and they're all from Italy. (Again, as they should be.) Your server will be happy to recommend something, like an orange wine from Sicily that is the color of vodka sauce and shimmers in the early evening sun. photo credit: Kate Previte Cicchetti Of the rotating small plates, the caesar is a must—it's lighter and brighter than your classic pizza shop variety, but still accessorized with a formidable shower of grated parm. But also try some buttery white anchovies, or some cold ricotta with orange blossom honey. photo credit: Kate Previte Creamed Spinach If you're a fan of Lucia Pizza, you already know about this slice. It's showed up in every pizza-world conversation since it made its Soho debut, and we're happy to report that it still lives up to the hype in personal pie form. Balance this green-and-white pie out with something more acidic, but definitely make sure it’s on your table. photo credit: Kate Previte Caramelle Picantti A version of this pepperoni and hot cherry pepper pizza with a hot honey drizzle is served at the slice shop, but the alimentari pie packs more of a punch. It's a flavor bomb, and if you’re not prepared for that, opt for a regular pepperoni pie instead. photo credit: Kate Previte Papa Leone You have to get the vodka pie, named for the owner's family's original restaurant in Sheepshead Bay. It's got a vodka sauce creaminess but still an edge of tomato-based acidity, and because it's a personal pie, your body will be able to ingest even more slices of it. That's science. Dessert They change often, but we've had a dainty tiramisu, and a real lemon, hollowed out, then filled with tart lemon sorbet. Whatever they’ve got, just say yes." - Willa Moore
