New York—Restaurant and gallery PizzArte (69 West 55th Street, 212-247-3936, (pizzarteny.com) is a showcase for Neapolitan cuisine and art in a modern bi-level townhouse space. Owned by art aficionados Dario Cipollaro de l’Ero and Bruno Cilio, PizzArte is the culmination of shared dreams for each, allowing New Yorkers to discover contemporary Italian art while enjoying authentic Neapolitan cooking.
Stepping off the street, guests are transported to Italy by the stylish décor and aromas of pizza baking. A long granite bar runs nearly the length of the room, topped by clear glass and lined with elegant white stools. Artworks by Italian artists hang on the white walls, including a sculpted metal mask of Pulcinella, the character that symbolizes Naples. Past the bar, a red tile wood-fired pizza oven, constructed by an artisan from Naples who brought authentic materials from the birthplace of pizza, reaches 900° Fahrenheit, cooking individual pizzas in under a minute. In the second floor gallery, which shows the main artist exhibiting at PizzArte, a long banquette, wood tables and white chairs provide an elegant art-filled dining area, while a long ten-seat communal table flanked by two large paintings overlooks the street.
Dedication to the traditions and history of Neapolitan pizza is paramount for the owners. Three pizza makers from Naples craft the pizzas, using authentic ingredients such as Caputo flour, buffalo mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes and Italian olive oil. Diners can choose from ten different pizzas, such as the traditional Margherita, true Neapolitan Verace made with buffalo mozzarella, the Diavola with spicy Italian salame, Tartufata with gorgonzola cheese, walnuts and black truffles, and the namesake PizzArte with zucchini blossoms, speck and creamy burrata cheese. The Montanara, a traditional and uniquely Neapolitan pie, is fried then baked, topped with mozzarella, tomato sauce, parmesan cheese and basil. PizzArte also serves two calzones: a classic combination of ricotta, mozzarella, tomato and Neapolitan salame, and the meatless Calzone con Scarola with escarole, pinenuts, anchovies and gaeta olives.
The menu also highlights authentic regional Neapolitan dishes, pastas and soups. Stuzzicherie
PizzArte (www.pizzarteny.com) is located at 69 West 55th Street between 5th & 6th Avenues. The restaurant is open daily 11:30am – 11pm and reservations can be made by calling 212-247- 3936 or online at OpenTable. com.
