It’s quite the brave move to name your restaurant anything that proclaims (or implies) that the food is good. I’ve learned over the years that restaurants with names that include words like “No. 1″, “Tasty” (or any variant such as “Tastee” or “Taze-T” or even “Tays-Deee”), “Yummy” or “Delish” often serve food that is anything but. If they’ve got to tell you that the food tastes good rather than allowing you to rely on your taste buds to figure it out, then you know something is wrong. And so it was with great trepidation that I headed over to the few-months-old Nice Pizza. “Let’s see how nice it really is,” I thought. Once I got there, I quickly realized that I’d been pronouncing it incorrectly. It’s “NEESE” Pizza as in Nice, France! The owner, who is also the owner of Bistro Lafayette, is Niçoise.
The place has your basic pizzeria look, with those dreadful red and white checkered tablecloths, but it is unique in its inclusion of French posters and signs. There was a handful of pizzas to choose from, but rather than get a whole pie, we just opted for a slice.
Our server was a really cool guy named Benjamin who was originally from Nice. He said that he lived on Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene and that he had been there for nearly 12 years, so while we were waiting for our order we chatted with him about the business, the French population in Brooklyn and the changes that had taken place in Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and Bed-Stuy over the past decade.
Nice Pizza joins a growing number of Bed-Stuy eateries with Francophone owners (e.g. Le Toukouleur, La Table Exquise, Athom Café, and Le Sucre). I’m happy to see more places where I can finally start putting all those years of high school and college French to good use.
The pizza was pretty good! It’ll never take the place of my beloved Saraghina, but I live near Nice Pizza so I’ll definitely be back. Have you checked Nice Pizza out yet? How would you say it stacks up to other area pizzas?
Nice Pizza
340 Franklin Ave (between Greene & Lexington)
Brooklyn, NY 11238
(718) 230-3933
My family and I eat their pizza all the time. It is different than classic NY style pizza but it’s great! best in the neighborhood as far as we’re concerned. Delivery is also fast and tasty. Hope they stay in business.
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I was very unimpressed with Nice Pizza. While certainly different from traditional (read: what I’m used to) Italian Pizza, I don’t see how the small size and intermittently burnt crust of the pizza I ordered justified its exorbitant price. The vegetables were fresh, and, as the post states, you are by no means getting a typical greasy slice here (nor are you getting a slice at all), but even with fresh toppings, I felt underwhelmed and ripped off. If they knocked 5 bucks off the cost of each pie, I’d consider going again. Until then, I’m steering clear and telling friends to do the same.
I thought it was pretty good, but maybe that’s because I was comparing it to Gianni’s (Myrtle and Franklin) and that to that other pizzeria on Myrtle near the corner of Classon with the castle-like decorations. These, along with Saraghina, are the only other pizzerias in the neighborhood that I’ve visited mulitple times. The castle place and and Gianni’s REALLY left me unimpressed. Their prices are better than Nice’s but their pies don’t taste good.
We order delivery from Nice and absolutely love it. It’s best to think of it as Mediterranean food (rather than nyc pizza) and order some of their great salads and appetizers along with it. Not cheap, but worth the price. It’s not Neopolitan, so don’t expect a big, chewy slice for a couple of bucks. (aren’t there enough of those places around anyway?)
I think it’s pretty good albeit pricey… It’s def French style and not the usual greasy huge slice that is usually sold in NYC…
Dear Petra, cool write up. Will try it soon.
Best regards,
I absolutely love this restaurant! The food is amazing! I was in Nice and Monaco last year, and this is real authentic Nicoise food!
My boyfriend who is from the south of France loves it! Try the brie tart, la pizzaladiere, and everything in between.
You may not like it if you’re not used to traditional French/Italian pizza, and are wanting a more NY-style slice of regular. Do not confuse this place with your typical BK pizza shop. If you go in with the right expectations, you will love it!
I have never ordered delivery, but the in-person service is excellent. The staff is super nice and from Nice! =)