UPDATE: So, speaking of (hopefully) decent pizza in Prospect Heights… What’s the verdict on Albano Ballerini’s new place? What are your first impressions of this place? And don’t be fooled by that awning: the name of the place is Amorina.
As EXCOM notes in the Comments below, he/she just posted a mini-review of Cucina Rustica Amorina on Chowhound. Excerpts:
"Sausage and mushroom: a great, earthy slice. The sausage
(homemade?) and crimini mushroom combined beautifully. I think the same
fresh sauce as the Margherita ... nice extra virgin olive oil in
the background ... They do have wine ... The prices are more than fair for what you get. I
didn't see a pie that was more than $13, nor a slice more than $2.50."
(Actually, ALMOST everything is less than $13… we had dinner there over the weekend, and the octopus-containing pizza is $14.)
Amorina (Cucina Rustica) | 624 Vanderbilt Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11238. 718-230-3030.
Yay! I’ll be there.
WAAAAY too early for “verdicts.” If you visited Aliseo early you might have been discouraged, but it quickly improved its operations. Any newborn restaurant deserves water and abundant sunshine (plus a mixed metaphor or two).
See my comments at http://www.chowhound.com/boards/outer/messages/62052.html
Do they deliver? Anyone have a phone number?
We went last night. The room was a little too bright and open to the the street, but the pizza was really tasty!
(I’m the husband of Emily, above.) One other comment – the place is actually not named Cucina Rustica. According to a chalkboard in front and their printed menus, they intend their name to be AMORINA. Pretty name, but they should probably get some better signage and maybe reduce the size of “Cucina Rustica” on the awning.
Reiterate that the pizza is super-tasty, and – it should be said – a bit cheaper than Franny’s, which we love, but we can never get out of there for less than $70–100 for two people. Friday night’s meal at Amorina set four people back $70. Of course, it helped that we supplied our own wine, and that they don’t really have an appetizer menu to speak of. But the Franny’s people are shameless up-sellers (can you blame them? all their food’s amazing), which explains the persistently higher tabs.
My wife and I tried takeout on Saturday. It was fairly good but didn’t survive the two blocks home very well, even after reheating at home. Seems like ordering a whole pie might be a better idea. They only had the margherita and sausage & mushroom, so I got two of each.
The decor was nice; I agree with the other comment that it appears fairly bright. The feeling is definitely more downscale than a place like Franny’s, but still charming.
On my way home I stopped by Fermented Grapes across the street to pick up some cheap Rosso. The Amorina owner (can’t remember his name) has picked five very cheap Italian reds to go with the pizza and they are marked as such on the shelf. Prices ranged from under $10 to about $13. I had the “Lyricus” and it went very well with both slices.