My buddy hit me up about Pizza Studio Tamaki and I couldn’t say no. It’s been on my radar for a while, this place out of Japan, considered one of the best pizza spots in the world by people who know a lot more about crust than a guy who mostly reviews steak. He had reservations. I have a stomach and a willingness to be wrong about pizza. We went.
Just the two of us, so we kept it lighter than usual. That lasted about four minutes.
A Salad That Earned Its Keep Before We Buried It Under Meatballs
We started with a salad, bacon, grana padano, that signature PST dressing, and wagyu meatballs sitting right next to it. Good start. Nothing that stopped conversation, but solid, the kind of dish that knows its job is to open the meal, not win it. You need some fiber in your life anyway, especially before what came next.
Butter Chicken on a Pizza, and Yes, I Went There
First pie was the butter chicken. Like the Indian food, whatever you want to call the lineage, curry chicken landed on a Neapolitan crust. Sounds like a fusion experiment that shouldn’t work. It worked. Out of a high heat oven that had food on our table embarrassingly fast, both pies came out with that char and chew you actually want from real Neapolitan style.
The Arrabbiata Had a Little Attitude
Second pie was the arrabbiata, red sauce, peppers, tomatoes roasted down into something with real punch. A little heat, not spicy spicy, more like a crushed red pepper reminder that it’s still awake. Both pies were very solid, and if I’m being honest the arrabbiata is the one I’d order again first.
The One Thing I’d Change
Here’s my mildly controversial take on an otherwise great meal. For a place repping 40 something flavors straight out of Japan, the menu in the states felt pretty tame on that front. I wanted more of that specific identity actually showing up on the pie, not just in the backstory. What we got was genuinely good. I just think they’re sitting on more than they’re using.
Top Three in the City Is Not a Small Claim
Is it the best Neapolitan pizza I’ve ever had? No. Is it in my personal top three in the city right now? Yeah, it is. That’s not a throwaway line, that’s real estate against some serious competition. If I can’t get a reservation at Una Pizza Napoletana for a Neapolitan fix, I’m coming back here without hesitation.
The Martini I Didn’t Get to Have
Now the part that actually hurt. Beer and wine only. No martini program at all. I had to drink sake, which is fine, sake and I have no beef, but I’m a guy who wants his vodka, olive juice, a little dirty, not too much, you know the deal. Going a full meal without a martini is basically playing an away game for me. I survived. My mood did not fully recover until the check came.
Final Verdict
Staff was great, room was great, and if that butter chicken pie is still on the menu next time, I’m ordering it again without thinking twice. There’s also apparently a pizza on the menu literally called the Roman. I have not eaten it yet. I have a name to defend now, and I fully intend to order it next visit, out of obligation to myself if nothing else.
To my buddy who made the reservation happen, thank you for dragging me somewhere I would have kept putting off. Worth the trip out of steakhouse territory.
As always, what do I know? I am just a fat guy from Brooklyn trying to survive the week, one martini at a time. Looking for more NYC restaurant reviews? Check out my Best Steakhouses in NYC, Best Burgers in NYC, and Best Restaurants in NYC lists.
Wow need asap!!!