Motorino
January 19, 2011 by Feisty Foodie
Filed under American, Americas, Around NYC, By Name, Cuisine, Manhattan, Pizza, Restaurants
After the success of an all FBM girls’ dinner for the cookie swap, we decided we should try to meet once a month for dinner, chatter but mostly… food! This month’s pick was pizza – we’re trying to keep it moderately priced, with some of us planning weddings, or being students, or just not wanting to spend a lot of money – and Motorino was chosen, though KC had been there before because she’d really liked it.
We decided to split a bottle of ‘the perfect pizza wine’ as the menu called it. A semi-sparkling red served in juice cups, this stained my lips but I liked how it was very middle – medium body, medium sweet/fruit balance, medium sparkliness. I thought it did a good job as a pizza wine.
With four girls, we also opted to split four pizzas so we could try more things. First up was cremini and spicy sausage.
The first thing I noticed as I picked up my slice was how soft it was. The crust was pillowy, like a really good naan, with some excellent char in spots for crispness. Ah, the joys of a super hot wood oven. The creminis were lovely on top of the pizza, though the sausage wasn’t particularly spicy. Yum. We were off to an excellent start.
Next was the cherrystone clam pie. Otto last month had been my first experience ordering a clam pie, and I’d been told that it was usually served with the shells and all, so I was pleasantly surprised when this one arrived with the clams already mixed into the cheese atop the pie.
Another very juicy pie with good char; first bite was redolent with clam flavor though I didn’t see or feel any clams. I added a squeeze of lemon juice to the rest of my slice and marveled at how that one small addition brightened up the flavor – not that it needed it – and made the whole slice even better than it already was. Yum! I had to force myself not to finish the crust here.
Ahhh, the pie I’d been dying to try since I first heard of it: brussels sprouts and pancetta. Yet another very juicy pie, but no complaints here.
Excuse the blur, I was very excited to finally dig into the pie I wanted so badly, and I was rewarded handsomely with a lovely, lovely salty flavor from the pancetta, smokiness from the oven, and the juicy Brussels sprouts added a lot of flavor and a bit of crunch. Love. I LOVED this pie, though I’d be hard pressed were I required to choose among the first three for a favorite. They were all very good.
The fourth and last pie, which I somehow forgot to take an upskirt (my hands were covered in the pizzas’ juices by this point), was the stracciatella, or basil/olive oil/sea salt, and ricotta. I enjoyed the flavors of this pie, but the texture really put me off; the pizza is soft already and the ricotta was just all soft… I wanted some contrasting texture, not just all softness. Ah well.
The total, with tip, came out to $32/person. Not bad at all for a relaxed evening chatting with friends and eating pizza! Note that the place is really, really tiny though… and initially, the shuffling around to get settled in the winter (with extra layers to be peeled off, put aside, etc.) can get a be tiresome.
Yvo says: Yummy pizza for this style – puffy crust, excellent toppings, well-executed. They also have a ridiculous lunch special – $12 for a salad and a pizza, which includes the Brussels sprouts pie. Super cheap (the pizza is usually $16). I’d totally do that, so good! Definitely will be back for more pizza.
recommended
I liked it when I went with some of the FBM guys. I was disappointed that the brussel sprout pie only had a few leaves scattered about. It’s not like brussel sprouts are expensive, be a little more generous!
Didn’t you guys go in the summer? Brussels sprouts are ‘expensive’ when they’re out of season. But yeah, a few leaves would really upset me… you know how I love my ‘sprouts!
I should have put a wig on and faked it for this.
Yvo: typo, ctrl+f “flavort”
Is this the first typo you’ve ever noticed or just the first one you’re telling me about? I have lots, haha. Thanks!
PS You in a wig may be cute, but… no. Girls only! Organize your own FBM boys’ night out!
But, but…they have cooties!
I’ve noticed a few typos, but usually I tell you about them in the comments.
Until you get the operation, you’re stuck hanging with the boys, I’m afraid.
My favorites were the Cremini & Sausage and the Clam. I found the others a bit too salty for my taste.
TT- our pizza had a pretty solid about of brussel sprouts on it. You should give it another shot!
The Brooklyn location is more enjoyable, if only because it is bigger and generally less crowded.
Also, although I really enjoy Motorino’s pizza, putting cheese on a clam pie is a travesty.
I rarely find Brooklyn anything more enjoyable, exactly because of the crowd, actually
Perhaps a bit of opening-the-mind, broadening-the-horizons, try the clam pizza and then tell me it’s a travesty? It’s actually quite good, though different from, say, Otto (which has no cheese on its vongole pie).
That looks so good. I want pizza now.
Clam pie! mmmmm
My favorite was definitely the brussels with pancetta. I liked their pizza but wouldn’t go as far to say that they’re the best. I’m still very partial to a crunchy crust. This was soft and bready.
Brussels Sprout Pie sounds excellent.
Mmm delicious pizza grease! I enjoyed the Brussel Sprouts pie when I went with TT and SEAL. The pancetta probably won me over. I even liked it more than their prosciutto pie.
And I am curious to go to the Brooklyn location sometime.
DiFara’s too.
Cheese: (F)aux (B)road at (M)otorino