Jesse explores resturatns in Kirkwood
Jesse Hofford
-Opinions Editor-
New York is full of great things. Things like Broadway, high fashion and Wall Street. But more important than all of those is the food. New York has some of the greatest food this side of the Atlantic and pizza is one of their staples. Racanelli’s New York Pizzeria does a darn good job of recreating New York style pizza in St. Louis.
New York pizzas are huge. The slices are bigger, the toppings are larger and most people have to fold the slices in half and eat them like a sandwich almost. This way of eating it is how it got labeled a “street snack”. New Yorkers would fold them up and eat them as they walked down the street. Pizza lovers will find that they will need to use the same tactic when eating at Racanelli’s. Also like most New York pizzerias, Racanelli’s bakes their pizzas in a brick oven, something not seen very much anymore.
It is also greasier than other pizzas. Folding it causes all the grease to run out the back near the crust and pools on the diners’ plates. As unhealthy as that sounds it is another way to tell that it’s New York pizza. As said before, the toppings are much bigger. Racanelli’s captures this aspect as well. Their tomato basil pizza is topped with whole slices of tomato and fresh basil. Seating is set up with tables and chairs inside as well as a few tables set up outside on a sidewalk porch right out front. Service is fast and friendly but prices could be a little high for some. Two slices and a drink will run you almost 10 bucks and their whole pies start at 12 bucks for a 14 inch pie so it is actually cheaper to just buy a whole pie. Racanelli’s has five locations including Kirkwood, Webster, St. Peters, the Central West End and coming soon to Delmar. The location being described here is the Kirkwood location.
Racanelli’s does a great job of bringing a little slice of New York to St. Louis. Diners will not have to journey to the Big Apple itself to get a taste of the pizza the natives get to enjoy everyday.
