In New York, like in many world-class cities, sometimes accidentally stumbling into a restaurant or bar off the beaten path can be a fortuitous experience. My accidental wandering into Lazzara’s pizza was not.
I happened to walk by the place one evening. It looked interesting enough, as it had the makings of a diamond in an otherwise desolate neighborhood on 7th avenue 38th street. The faux-rustic interior and wood-burning pizza stove caught my eye. A quick review of the menu looked promising – relatively inexpensive personal-style pizzas with mouthwatering ingredients. I decided to try what seemed like a clever pizza concoction: braised lamb with roasted lemon and oregano.
As I patiently waited for my pizza to arrive, I could not help but to imagine the deliciousness that I was about to eat. Such a unique pizza idea, I think to myself. Many minutes later, the pizza arrives. A nice sized pizza with a thin, crispy crust, topped with my lamb, oregano and lemon.
What a disappointment. Flavorless crust, sauce, cheese, lamb…was there even oregano or lemon in it? I couldn’t tell. I could see the lamb, but could not taste it. I think there was the occasional hint of lemon. I think the green specks were oregano, but I’m not sure. My excitement quickly faded, and I regret parting with my $9. I should have gotten two $1 slices nearby.