I don't know about you, but i love a really good pizza. Thin crust, medium crust, Chicago style--it's all good. So I was very happy, when months after I began working at Dermot Company, I discovered one of our West Village commercial tenants is Two Boots Pizza.
Two Boots is one of my favorite pizza purveyors. Famous Ray's (no matter which one you consider real or original) has got nothing on The Boots! The decor is pretty sweet--funky, eclectic, cozy, retro, fun. The West Village staff plays some of the best music one could ask for. The place is appealing to hipsters, anti-hipsters and the smart/lucky tourist/out-of-towner who stumbles on it.
Brilliantly crafted pies with fresh ingredients in awesome combinations. Something to satisfy every taste and every taste bud. Sure, you can order yourself a typical pie with typical toppings if you like; mushroom, spinach, sausage, anchovies (ick), but really, why bother when you've got a pizza place with offerings called, Cleopatra Jones (roasted peppers, Italian sausage, onions), Larry Tate (spinach, plum tomatoes, fresh garlic on a white pie), Tony Clifton (wild mushrooms, sweet red pepper pesto, vidalia onions), The Bird (as in Charlie Parker--spicy buffalo wings, blue cheese dressing, jalepenos, scallions on a white pie), and The Newman? (hellooo, Newman...) I like a place that names food after television characters and musicians. And, come on--sweet red pepper pesto!? I've got three letters for that: OMG.
Toppings are just part of the pie. A brilliant crust is the foundation of the pizza love and for me, the "some love it" "some hate it" element is the cornmeal dusting on the underside of that perfect crust. Oh baby--come to poppa!
Yup, they've got the calzone and the eggplant parm hero--Two Boots offers the stuff you expect at a good pizzeria, but they go one step beyond. They rock a Roasted Portabello Hero with goat cheese (yes!) and a Blackened Catfish Po' Boy. I haven't tried the latter, but by the looks and smell of it, i would have loved it in my non-vegetarian days!
The West Village is jam packed with great things to eat, but when it comes to one of America's favorite comfort foods, these guys kick proverbial butt. I've been a Two Boots fan for years, and they have locations strategically placed all over NYC. It just gives me a little bit of pleasure knowing one of our buildings is home to the one I frequent.
Hmmm...I wonder if I can get a free Tony Clifton to go in exchange for the unsolicited kudos...
~b
