This charming little pizzeria offers a great slice of pizza and a slice of bella Italia. With authentic Neapolitan pizza, hero sandwiches, arancini, and pasta dishes, R & R Pizza Connection is the real thing, made by Italians with fine ingredients imported from Italy.
Owners John and Antonio hail from Napoli, birthplace of pizza itself. Alessandro, the friendly manager, mans this petite eatery which features hand painted tile floors, subway tiles, mirrors and Italian posters on the walls. Only the finest ingredients go into their crispy pies, including Caputo flour imported from Italy, known for its natural qualities without bromines.
R & R’s pies are topped with house made tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and fine herbs. Top your pie with pepperoni, sausage, veggies or anchovies. I tried the classic Margherita, named for the Queen of Naples, a true classic made with San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella and basil ($4/slice $27/pie). The veggie slice is full of fresh spinach, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and red onion for a colorful and tasty meal. Chicken stracciatella pizza is topped with pan-fried chicken cutlet, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil ($5.50/slice)
Neapolitan street food items are smaller bites with lots of flavor to snack on or to enjoy with your slice or before a plate of pasta. Cacio e pepe balls are made with pasta, creamy cheese and black pepper inside a golden crust. Arancini are golden rice balls made with creamy arborio rice, ground beef and seasonings. Fried mozzarella sticks are hand cut, not frozen, and zucchini flowers are stuffed with creamy ricotta. Uncle Nicky’s meatballs are the real deal, made with a blend of beef and pork for the perfect meatball that you can eat on their own, placed on top of fresh pasta, or piled onto a sandwich.
Speaking of sandwiches, R & R’s sandwiches, which they call “cones” are irresistible, made on their homemade bread fresh from the pizza oven. Mine was made on the spot with fresh, grilled Italian sausage, sauteed broccoli rabe, and smoked mozzarella for one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. The phone rang with more orders for this sandwich and a pizza, so don’t miss out! The Italian beef sandwich has thinly sliced top round slow-cooked for five hours, melted scamorza cheese, and crunchy pickles for a gustatory feast ($17). Classic sausage and peppers, meatball Parm, and chicken Parm are crowd pleasers, and it’s all available for catering.
Chef Antonio makes your favorite pasta dishes on the spot with fresh imported and local ingredients. Call for fast, free delivery. Visit their website for tantalizing photos and the catering form. Let R & R Pizza Connection cater your next house party, business lunch, or charity event.
R & R Pizza Connection is open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, and great Neapolitan street food from noon until 9pm and 10pm on weekends. Bistro tables outside allow for al fresco dining in warm weather and there’s delivery on the apps. R & R … born in Astoria, made with love, and served with great attitude. Grazie tanto!
www.randrpizzaconnection.com