Last slice of pizza at Campo de Fiori
At some point in your life, the cabbage patch was the dance craze. If you were born after that craze, I don't know you. You probably dabbled in it at some point. Maybe it was a party where you didn't know anyone or a time at home when you busted out limes and tequila all by yourself. Note: that wasn't me because I was like 9-years-old back then. Right now the "How to Dougie" instructional video is on my desktop. Time has changed, although the desire to dabble in what's hot hasn't. I haven't even started to learn the dance, and am already anchored by self-doubt. Move on my toes? Slide my knees this way or that? Impossible. That's how it goes when I dabble in a new thing. All of a sudden I look around to make sure that no one saw it. No evidence? The awkwardness didn't happen! With food it's often the same story; try something new hoping to understand what the buzz is, but maybe the wrong item is ordered or it's an off day. I stopped by Campo de Fiori when they were about to wrap up lunch service, and snagged up the last Margherita slice.
Pizza in NYC is big business. Campo de Fiori is one of the newer kids on the scene. There are always new Neapolitan places to compete with the classic New York slice or even the dollar slice. What sets every genre apart is the pizza dough. At Campo de Fiori, the pizza dough is Roman-style and a whole pie is rectangular. So how does the Roman-style pizza taste after it's been sitting around for a while? Let's dig into it, shall we?
Grabbing the last slice in the middle of the afternoon may not have been the way Campo de Fiori wanted to impress a first time customer. Both the NYTimes and Village Voice both expressed positive notes on this place. Although they both said the food might be more impressionable than the pizza, the truth is that the square pizza 'slice' is more accessible since it's only $3.25.
The tomato sauce didn't register too prominently on my palate. It's definitely milder than most and could use a tad bit more salt. The crust was the most distinguished feature since it was crispy on the bottom, although not charred. You could easily eat the slice of pizza with one hand without folding it. Overall impression was that it was a tasty piece of bread. As a snack it's interesting, although it's definitely not a destination slice of pizza.
Campo de Fiori
187 5th Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11217
347-763-0933
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I was there a few weeks ago for dinner. They serve above average pizza and pastas...the staff was very sweet and accommodating. I would go back since I live in the 'hood.
luvsocks
March 17, 2011 10:30 am
@luvsocks,
Good service is often good enough of a reason to go back when the food is above average. I probably would try Campo de Fiori more if I still lived in the area.
Danny
March 18, 2011 2:27 pm
This entry was the death of me. One night I got a slice of the margherita & matriciana. Result? I was happy with the price & pizza overall, particularly the crust.
The same weekend I got me & my company two pies of each. Result? Content food coma before pulling all-nighters for midterms...
Kimberly
April 17, 2011 12:19 am