Postscriptum Pizza Shop – Pizza Heaven in Astoria

 By Jennifer Shanteau

Living in Astoria, I was in the neighborhood when Postscriptum Pizza Shop opened up on Broadway, one of the main thoroughfares in the area, and had been meaning to stop in, so when the opportunity to dine in this pizza heaven presented itself, I grabbed it excitedly.  If you’re knockin’ around in Astoria, you can’t miss it.  It’s in the middle of everything, and if you’re not, its close to the N/Q, so its easy to get to, something I find decision changing on a cold February day.

It was worth braving the weather to experience all that is Postscriptum Pizza Shop.  It’s the kind of place that feels cozy in the winter, but due to all the windows, still open and welcoming in the summer.  The atmosphere is casual and easy. The service is fabulous.  I even got to meet the chef who personally went out of his way to ask me how I enjoyed everything….bonus points.

New York Pizza is almost perfect… Add some Italian truffle honey from Amazon and achieve perfection!

The kitchen is open, so you can watch everything.  I brought my family, including my toddler along this time, but can just as easily see this being a great place for a date, happy hour or even brunch.  Speaking of brunch, one of my favorite institutions, I took the liberty of peeking at their brunch menu, and it’s a good one.  My top three picks…..Classic Eggs Benedict, Chicken and Waffles, and the one I most want to try, Grandma Eggs…Eggs, Marinara Sauce, and Fontina Cheese baked in a cast iron skillet.  For Happy Hour, which extends all the way until 8:00 pm, they offer $5 Sangria and Wine and $3 Beer.  Pretty good prices, if you ask me.

We started off with a few appetizers, first the Deviled Eggs with Chives and Smoked Paprika, which you don’t see every day in restaurants, but reminded me of home.  Their twist?  The addition of siracha, just a touch.  Yes, I will be copying this the next time I make them.

Next came the Crispy Risotto Balls served over Marinara Sauce and topped with fresh Asiago Cheese.  I admit, not being a big fan of fried things, I didn’t think I would like this dish, but it turned out to be one of my favorites.  The marinara sauce tasted like it was made from tomatoes lovingly grown in your mother’s garden.  It was perfectly crispy on the outside and absolutely creamy inside….great combination!

At Postscriptum Pizza Shop they create New York style pizzas from dough they make in house daily and bake them to perfection in stone deck ovens. They offer so many varieties of unique pizzas, nine to be exact.  There is definitely an option for everyone, vegetarians and carnivores alike.  We opted for the Mafioso, their most popular, made of Chihuahua Cheese, Charred Cherry Tomato, Red Onion, Hickory Smoked Bacon, Pepperoni, Sausage and Misto Olivia.  I know it sounds like it’s all too much and will never work, but somehow it does.  It’s so packed with flavor!  If you’re carnivorous or an olive lover this is your go to.

With nine pizzas to choose from, we couldn’t settle for just one, especially since the Godmother caught my eye, a combination of Fresca Mozzarella, Chihuahua and Cheddar Cheese, Savecchio Red Onion, Charred Scallion and Garlic Mollo.  This is a cheese lover’s dream, and being said lover, I was enamored!  Right this very second I am eating the sole piece that I brought home in my doggie bag just under an hour ago.  If that makes me a glutton, so be it.  After all, you are reading this review on a blog called, “Hedonist Shedonist”, and a shedonist I am.  What attracted me to this pie was the use of Cheddar Cheese.  Why have I never thought to put cheddar on a pizza?!  I love the combination of the cheese and red onion.  Then, there was the addition of the most delicious garlic mollo.  I would have purchased a jar of that, and spread it on everything I ate for at least a week, ensuring my safety had I encountered any vampires.  Well, anything can happen in New York.

Everyone likes pizza right?  Wrong, a certain toddler I know well, in fact, does not.  Not to worry, should you happen to be dining with such a companion, there are plenty of other options from salads to pasta, to several meat and seafood entrees.  Fettuccine Alfredo was ordered for said toddler, but was consumed by all.  I ordered this particular dish with no intent to eat more than a bite, but had to hold myself back, so I wouldn’t devour the whole plate.  The Alfredo Sauce was perfectly creamy, and the pasta was cooked to perfection.  It was a bit hit!  My daughter was shoving this deliciousness into her mouth so fast she almost choked, and I had to remind her chewing was necessary.

I wanted to try dessert just for the sake of saying I had, but I must have been shoveling the food into my mouth in nearly the same manner as my offspring, because I could not eat one more bite…..next time.  Perhaps, I just unconsciously wanted another excuse to return?  So, if you find yourself in Astoria and want good food in a casual, feel good atmosphere, check out Postscriptum Pizza Shop, and if you go for brunch, you just may see me there trying the Grandma Eggs!

Click here for the best hot chocolate in NYC!