Day 26, 2026: Pizza Studio Tamaki (E. Village, NYC)

exterior

DAY 26: OCTOBER 26th, 2026 

LOCATION: Pizza Studio Tamaki (123 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009)

GUEST(S): Erik Tanouye

ORDER: 3 slices of Marinara (DOP san marzano, garlic, oregano, basil), 3 slices of Tamaki (DOP san marzano, cherry tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, pecorino romano, basil)

REVIEW: 

Superb everything!

Pizza Studio Tamaki (or PST for those in the know) completely pulls out all the stops in a surprisingly spacious East Village spot that seamlessly bridges the gap between sleek bar and world-class pizzeria. The chic, pristine vibe makes it an absolute home run for date night, but the sheer variety of seating means there’s a perfect perch for any kind of pizza outing. Whether you’re postured up at a table, cozy in a booth, people-watching from a window seat, or parked right at the bar, you really can’t go wrong. But if you're anything like me, the real prize is a seat overlooking the pizza prep table. From there, you get a front-row view of the expert dough masters and oven tenders diligently crafting and baking signature Tokyo-style pies using the meticulous techniques pioneered by master pizzaiolo Tsubasa Tamaki.

The hyper-fixation on detail here is nothing short of inspiring, and that perfectionism pays off big time in the crust. You’re left with an ideal structure that's somehow simultaneously airy, crisp on the outside, and delightfully chewy on the inside. Fired in a gas-powered dome oven roaring at nearly 900°F, these pies sport a gorgeous bit of char and a sturdy, structural integrity that holds up far better than your typical Neapolitan slice.

When you pair top-tier staff and state-of-the-art equipment with premium ingredients—think imported DOP San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, peak produce, and just the right touch of salt—every single bite lands a savory punch.

Even though PST has been open for less than a year, the word is officially out. Do yourself a favor: grab a reservation well in advance, and maybe give the menu prices a quick glance beforehand so your wallet isn't caught entirely off guard. Born in Naples, raised in Tokyo, and now taking New York City by storm, PST is the absolute real deal.

PHOTOS:

cross section

underside

slice of Tamaki

oven temperature (top and bottom)

Day 26

Tamaki pie

Marinara pie

interior

pizza menu

pizza prep station

VIDEO:

coming soon

MISCELLANEOUS:

Erik Tanouye, Sean Taylor

1. Erik Tanouye both like to look at New York City through the eyes of a tourist and we think its pretty neat.

2. After pizza, instead of eating ice cream, Erik Tanouye convinced me to walk across town and we accidentally stumbled upon a treasure trove of memories from when we first moved to the city. 

RATING:

 4.52/5

• VALUE:
   4/5


• AMBIENCE:
   3/3


• TASTE:
   9/10


• SERVICE:
   3/3

19/21 = .905 x 5 = 4.52

Day 25, 2026: Rome to Brooklyn (Greenpoint, Brooklyn)

exterior

DAY 25: OCTOBER 25th, 2026 

LOCATION: Rome to Brooklyn (587 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222)

GUEST(S): Matt Che, Tyler Behrle, Argenys Collado, Lance Kushner

ORDER: 1 slice of classic cheese, 1/2 slice of Grandma (fresh mozzarella, marinara, garlic, EVOO, basil, parmigiano reggiano), 1/2 slice of Margherita (fresh mozzarella, marinar, basil, parmigiano reggiano, EVOO), 1/2 slice of Upside Down Sicilian (mozzarella, marinara, oregano, pecorina romana, EVOO), 1/2 slice of Vodka-roni (pepperoni, vodka sauce, fresh mozzarella, parmiagiano reggiano and parsley and optional hot honey), 1/4 slice of Burrata, Pesto & Vodka Sicilian (fresh mozzarella, vodka sauce, burrata, pesto sauce, parmigiano reggiano)

REVIEW: 

All good choices.   

Don't be distracted by the name, Rome to Brooklyn is just an exceptional neighborhood pizza joint. Sure, pizza has its origin story in Italy, but these tasty gas-powered squares and wedges are quintessentially "New York" slices. Located conveniently near the train, McCarren Park, and a whole slew of lucky Greenpoint residents, Rome to Brooklyn offers a decent amount of seats, a clean restroom, superb pizza, cold beverages, and some gelato to follow! With great renditions of slices varying in thickness from the conventional thin grandma to the creatively topped Sicilians, I recommend mixing it up. Whether you opt for my favorite Vodka-roni wedge paired with a sauce-on-top-of-cheese Upside-Down Sicilian slice or my second favorite classic cheese slice with a Burrata, Pesto & Vodka Sicilian square—you're doing it right! The high-quality ingredients combined with industry knowhow result in a stellar product every time. I look forward to my next visit to Rome to Brooklyn.   

PHOTOS:

Vodka-roni slice

Burrata, Pesto & Vodka Sicilian slice

interior

underside of Sicilian slice

Grandma slice

underside wedge

Margherita slice

slice smorgasbord 

Large cheese pie

Upside down slice

Day 25

pizza menu

slice options

VIDEO:

coming soon

MISCELLANEOUS:

Matt Che, Argenys Collado, Tyler Behrle, Sean Taylor, Lance Kushner

1. Argenys "Henny" Collado and I have been on the same Williamsburg Softball League team (called the Turkeys Nest) for years. Rumor has it, Matt Che may be joining us in the spring! Henny originally from Washington Heights and grew up playing football and creative writing. #wsl

2. Matt Che, Tyler Behrle, Lance Kushner and I are all on the same fall Williamsburg Softball League team called the Legal Beagles. We had a double header today and won both games! Lance pitched one and I pitched the other. Tyler hit two homers in two straight at-bats and Matt hit a run scoring triple for the cause. 

3. Tyler Behrle and I both used to be on our junior high school's math team. Currently we both are in happy relationships with a singer-songwriter. Maybe it's a coincidence or maybe it's just the ol' math team-to-singer partner pipeline we just invented.

4. Tyler and Henny both have at least one fantasy football team. 

5. Lance Kushner sells softball bats to our entire league. Need one, call Lance - he's the "bat man."

RATING:

 4.03/5

• VALUE:
   3.5/5


• AMBIENCE:
   3/3


• TASTE:
   8/10


• SERVICE: N/A

14.5/18 = .806 x 5 = 4.03