"When the moon hits you eye like a big (Sicilian) pizza pie…that’s amore!"

On Saturday, Dave and I trekked, not unlike many adventurers before us, to lands unknown, in order to find the crème de la crème of ethnic foods.  Bridges crossed, GPS cursed at (for sending us to the wrong location!) and over an hour in the car later, we finally made it to our destination.

L&B Spumoni Gardens

L&B Spumoni Gardens is an institution in Brooklyn. It’s over 70 years old, and has been owned by the original family since their humble beginnings with a pushcart and horse!  (And Spumoni Gardens was featured on Man vs Food! I heart Adam Richman.) Located in Bensonhurst, people FLOCK from all over to grab a slice of their famous Sicilian pizza. (Don’t dare order a regular slice! Sicilian is the way to go.)  There is usually a wait for tables and pizza, and since we were late to meet everyone, I was freaking out that the line would be insane.  Lucky for us, the place wasn’t too crowded, and my BFF Allison did us a solid by grabbing some tables AND ordering a pie ahead of time, so it would be ready when we arrived.

I chose my first slice with care, and went directly for a corner piece. (Dave swears by the middle slices, I’m a corner girl. I think we’re the same with brownies too.)  From first glance, it looks like a normal, average Sicilian.

Yummm

But then, upon first bite… my view on Sicilian pizza changed. 

Cheesy, doughy, Sicilian goodness

I will state that I was never a fan of Sicilian pizza. I was (and still am) a thin crust loyalist.  But this pizza… it was good.  Most Sicilian slices, at least that I’ve had, are very dense, and thick, and almost too much dough.  But this was a perfect ratio of crust, dough, cheese and sauce. Not too saucy, just enough cheese, the spices were spot on.  How good was it??  I had 3 slices.  THREE.  If you know me, I barely finish anything.  Except bags of microwave popcorn. 

Allison enjoying her slice.  Yes, I posted this picture.

Even though it was dripping gross cold rain outside, and we were stuffed to the gills with pizza, we ducked into the restaurant side of Spumoni Gardens next door for…. spumoni!!!  If you aren’t aware of what spumoni is, Wikipedia defines it as “Italian ice cream made with layers of different colors and flavors, usually containing candied fruits and nuts. The ice cream layers are often mixed with whipped cream. Chocolate and pistachio are the typical flavors of the ice cream layers.” Yes please!!!  I got pistachio, while Dave got chocolate.

Mmmmm pistachio

I’ve never had spumoni before, and it was kind of a blend between ices and ice cream, but very sweet!! Not going to lie, the pistachio was only OK. Wah wahhh. Dave’s chocolate was really good though. And I wish they would have had the cherry flavor, but no luck. Maybe next time!!

In the works are plans to go to Di Fara’s, another Brooklyn pizza legend.  We’ve gotta see how the two compare!!

L&B Spumoni Gardens
2725 86th Street
New York, NY 11223
(718) 449-1230
http://www.spumonigardens.com/