Went back to NYC for a week back in June and promised myself and my wife that while we were there, we would take the time to go to a nice, reasonably priced restaurant - not just a pizzeria - to enjoy some authentic New York style pizza. A friend recommended Bella Via and she couldn't have made a better choice. It's a small, intimate restaurant located on a busy street corner with big windows, spacious table seating, a friendly casual atmosphere, good service, simple ambiance and neat decor throughout, a small bar upfront, clean restrooms and a pretty extensive menu to boot. However, we were there for the pizza and so we ordered the tomato, cheese and sausage large pie. Carmine, the owner, is an affable and attentive host and we chatted with him throughout our stay and meal. They make their pizzas in a coal fired brick oven and the end result was a delicious, thin crust pie with soft, fresh, stretchy mozzarella, fresh basil, superb Italian sausage meat and just the right amounts of tomato sauce and oregano. Not oily, not drippy, not over-crisped but not mushy or doughy either. And were all that not enough, the price for our lunch, including soft drinks, regular coffee, tax and gratuity was just a smidgeon under $30! That's tough to come by in NYC these days.
Pros: Superb pizza, nice ambiance
Cons: Tough to find meter parking on the street
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