Lately, Vanderbilt Avenue has become the
home stretch for artisanal pizza. In addition to Amorina Cucina
Rustica, which opened in March, dishing out the goods, there’s
Graziella’s. It’s the perfect spot if you want to eat your pie
and enjoy it on a roof-deck (pictured), too.
To make that experience even sweeter, add a magnificent view
of the Manhattan skyline and a cold imported Italian beer. The
restaurant’s owner, Vito Randazzo (pictured in white shirt),
who also owns Little Louie’s Pizza in Fort Greene (Graziella
is his mother), offers "lunch drafts" for $3 by the
pint or $4 by the bottle.
Inside the restaurant’s casual, brick-walled dining room, you
can watch "Pizza Man" Antonio Iannelli kneading dough
in the kitchen window and order chef Milton Reboe preparing classic
Italian dishes like lasagna and, says Reboe, "very nice
steamed mussels."
The finale of the meal might be the house-made tiramisu or a
refreshing scoop of lemon-orange-mango sorbet. With your meal,
sip wine from international selections that are, not surprisingly,
heavy on Italian bottles.
If vino is all you’re interested in, pull a seat up to the bar
and sip for a while.
Ciao.
Graziella’s (232 Vanderbilt Ave. between DeKalb and Willoughby
avenues in Clinton Hill) accepts American Express, Discover,
MasterCard and Visa. Entrees: $12-$20. The restaurant is open
for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Mondays.
For more information, call (718) 789-5663.
