Goodfellas Pizzeria - Mass Ave — Restaurant in Indianapolis

I absolutely LOVED this place! The three reasons are:

1. The staff is really friendly and helpful. I've never really been to this kind of pizza joint before and I definitely didn't know the menu. I had trouble seeing what they had on the wall and the clerk promptly handed me a paper one without me even having to ask! Usually, I do so it struck me as especially helpful and attentive. We struck up conversation about where we were from and pizza in general. Very casual, very welcoming. It didn't feel like it was my first time at all, like I was a regular who hadn't been back in a little while. I really like that feeling so definitely an A+ in the customer service department. I felt bad I don't carry cash for their tip jar.

2. The food is absolutely delicious. Keep in mind this is New York style* pizza so you're going to get enormous slices and thin, crispy crust. I've included a picture to really showcase how big the food is so you're not caught off guard. Their big pizza is 22 inches or bigger than most cars can handle so they don't deliver. My caprese salad was fresh, made with quality ingredients and I loved the breadsticks. Usually, I pass on them because they're too hard and super bland and gross but the breadsticks here were soft and delicious. I could gorge myself silly on those alone.

3. The facilities are pretty well kept and clean and the decor is pretty cool. I'm personally a fan of the neat wooden tables. The wood reminds me of bourbon barrels though I couldn't tell you what it really was. My husband and I sat at the table closest to the drink machine so we had a nice view to people watch almost everybody else eating and the people on the street. The ceiling has this metallic mosaic tile thing going on that's super cool. I just really love the feeling it all gives. There are some tables outside with cute little red checked table cloths. I'm a huge fan of the way everything is decorated and that it's also very well kept.

The takeaway? This was a lovely place to just try on a whim. Delicious food, helpful and courteous staff, and chill atmosphere made for a fun date. We will definitely be back!

*New York Style =/= authentic NYC pizza. NYC pizza does a long drip of cheese when folded like in the TNMT cartoons. It's also thinner with a saltier tomato sauce and less chewy crust. New York Style just means the thinner crust with the huge slices and a burn to the end of the crust from the oven. This pizza checks off every requirement to be New York Style which is a very specific style of pizza. I saw more than one review complaining about this so I had to clarify I meant New York Style and not like authentic NYC pizza. Those are two completely different things and in no way interchangeable...

Came here for lunch after 1pm. I ordered a whole pizza. I figured I would have left overs for the weekend. I have a toaster oven that re-heats pizza very nice and crispy. I had never been here before, but saw this place last year before my knee surgery, and said to myself when I get better I am trying this place. I have been to New York and just moved to Indy from Cali 3 years ago. The staff is incredibly nice and friendly. You can tell this is the place to go especially at night and on the weekend. I would have given this place 5 stars, but my pizza dough had alot of air pockets when baked which caused it to bubble. How do I know this...I asked because I wasn't really happy about it. The pizza needed a little more sauce especially with those air pockets your sauce got sucked up and was dry in those spots. I ordered half of Taste of Naples and half crumbled sausage with artichokes. Garlic over the whole pizza. Let's just say I won't put extra garlic on the pizza again because I couldn't taste the extra cost of it. The Taste of Naples great pizza and I ordered it because it was a slice in there window for lunch. Very disappointed because my order had one slice of tomato on almost each slice of pizza...not great.I said something to the lady who was very nice, but assured me the pockets are common, garlic was on the whole pizza, and tomato are under the cheese. I left feeling like I was put into my place with my concerns. Will I return yes......because of what I ate that was decent on the other slices. I will know how to order for my next pizza which I shouldn't have to think like that, but it's not cheap and we all work hard for our money and I don't want to have someone justify it again. I like that it's thin crust and not doughy. Oooh I almost forgot you have to try the chocolate chip cannoli the best tasting one since I was in New...

With hints of a big city speakeasy, this downtown Indy late-night hang serves up their version of the NY style of pizza. Pie slices as big as your face, are hand prepared by nimble fingered, pizza stylists, who put together tasty combinations from standard cheese or pepperoni to flavorful flair like tomato-basil or chicken-broccoli.

Seeing them toss and fling the dough to a basketball centers height, reminded me of the old Noble Roman's when I lived here as a kid, and used to watch those guys create delicious pizza. But, as much as I love the NY style, I'm more of a fan of a good sauce, and topping-to-sauce combination. And while tasty, I didn't like the fact that I felt like I had to add the seasoning from the table to kick up the flavor.

The front part of the space serves as your standard pizza shop,(reminds me of MOD in that respect) but take a quick right on your way to the restroom, and you'll be treated to the sight of a cool vintage bar. Spirits neatly stacked on glass shelves behind the bar, almost to the ceiling, the bartenders, some dressed in smart-looking bow ties and vests, greet you upon entering, while mixing and shaking their concoctions. The seating area, full of lounge chairs, couches and a few high-backed chairs, is spacious enough to allow for standing or sitting as the room makes for a casual spot for groups to gather.

A welcome change from the standard bar scene further north on Mass Ave. Goodfellas has that old-school, grown-folks vibe, with the cool atmosphere of...