STAFF WRITER
After hearing multiple friends talk about how artichoke pizza is unlike any other slice of pizza, I decided to give it a try. Being from Brooklyn, I consider myself lucky to have been able to indulge in a vast array of different types of pizza, arguably some of the best in all of the tri-state area. That being said, I also absolutely hate artichokes, so I did not really know what to expect when I went to Artichoke Basille’s Pizza.
It was around 3:30 a.m. on the day after Halloween, and the line was probably 30 people deep and wound out the door. My stomach was aching with hunger, so I decided to sit inside and order a pie with my friends rather than wait for a slice in the long line. The waitress said the wait for an artichoke pie was about 30 minutes but the rest of the pies would be ready in five.
We ordered a margarita pie to pick on while we waited for the artichoke pie to come. It was OK, but not great. The crust was fairly crispy, the cheese was relatively fresh, the sauce had good flavor, and it was topped with oil, fresh basil, and salt. The price of a slice is $4 and a pie is $28. I probably would not order a $4 slice of mediocre pizza again, although the portion was generous. If you are the type of person that likes to fold a crispy slice of pizza in half, I would not recommend the margarita. It is not the typical New York City fold-and-go type of slice because it caves toward the center. If you are the type that likes a crunchy slice, I recommend you order a grandma pie fresh out of the oven; it is absolutely worth the wait.
Nothing could prepare me for what I was about to experience when the artichoke pie was ready. Picture fluffy crust, butter and cheese — a mass of gooey, gluttonous goodness. The pizza was unreal. I do not even like artichokes and each bite was better than the next. Fair warning: the portions are gigantic and the pizza is undeniably sloppy.
I would not recommend coming here with someone you do not feel comfortable sitting across from while cheese and butter drip all over your hands and face. The pizza is made with a butter and wine sauce and is filled with cheese, artichokes and spinach, then baked into an extra thick pie.
The New York Times called the artichoke slice “as oily as the strategic petroleum reserve” and “the size of a manhole cover on a crust so thick and sturdy it stands rigid even under a blanket of mozzarella,” and that is the truth.
One slice is enough to hold a person over for the next two meals. I do not recommend coming here weekly, as it might induce cardiac arrest; however, I think everyone should give it a try. For $5 a slice and $30 for an artichoke pie, customers are given what they pay for, a rarity in New York City.
The location I visited (there are two other NYC locations) is on 328 E. 14th St.
Delivery hours (Sunday to Saturday) are 11 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Make sure to keep in mind that Artichoke Basille’s Pizza offers limited seating and accepts only cash.
