Business & Tech
Northeast Queens Gets a Taste of Brooklyn
Famous Pizzeria Stretches its Foothold to Douglaston Plaza and Beyond
Right under the Brooklyn Bridge is some of the most acclaimed thin crust pizza in the city.
The name Grimaldi's is synonymous with old–school style pizzerias, where you can come in to get a pie, a salad or a calzone. The Gimaldi's tradition has branched out to Douglaston Plaza, where it has been gaining fanfare for the past two years.
"We do something really good and we stick to it," Manager Dan Tourmina said.
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Grimaldi's was founded in Brooklyn 20 years ago by Patsi Grimaldi. Since then the business has been sold to Frank Ciolli and opened pizzerias in Douglaston, Garden City and in places as far flung as Texas, Arizona and Nevada. A new chain store recently opened in Florida.
Grimaldi's has a no single slice policy. But the pizzeria's pies are all moderately priced.
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"We use a coal fire brick oven, which makes it hard to reheat single slices," Tourmina said.
The eatery's menu offers fresh toppings and ingredients galore–pepperoni, sausage, onions, tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and even anchovies.
"We're one of a kind," Tourmina said. "We get in deliveries of fresh ingredients every day and since you can't order a single slice, every single pie you order is right out of the oven."
Ralph Edel, Nick Colalella, John Hargaden, and Felix Herrera all work at the Archdiocese of Brooklyn Seminary in Douglaston. After a long day of working at the Queen of Peace nursing home in Queens Village, the four friends always stop by Grimaldi's for a quick bite.
"A couple of priests would tell us about the one in Brooklyn, and we figured we'd try it out," Herrera said.
"And we come here so much, they know us now," Edel said.
Grimaldi's is open noon to 10 p.m. every Sunday through Thursday as well as noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The pizzeria does not take credit cards, reservations, or deliver. No single topping costs more than $4 and all pizzas are less than $16. The chopped salad, which includes romaine lettuce with red onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, and mozzarella, is among the eatery's most popular items.