Di Fara Pizza — Restaurant in New York

Di Fara's is a pizza legend that had been on our list for a long time. Years ago, we had journeyed to their Avenue J location (the only one at that time) from NJ and had struck out. Shortly after that, we moved to Boston and Di Fara's became a distant, unattainable dream.

Fast forward to 2020. We were doing a pizza tour in Brooklyn on a summer Saturday during covid times - just two of us driving around getting take-out pizza from everywhere all day, nbd. We drove up to Di Fara's and found street parking right on the same block! And there was no line; only a handful of people clustered around the street corner! Things were looking up. But when we went up to the window, we realized this might not be as easy as we thought. The wait for a slice of regular (round) pizza: 25 mins; square slice: 45 mins. It was getting late so we put in an order for a regular slice and stepped aside to wait. Suddenly the sky just split open and it started to pour heavily. The minutes ticked by and we got drenched in the torrential downpour. We were starting to feel like real chumps. But the rain completely cleared the sidewalk; no one else was coming. Finally I walked to the window to check on our pizza and realized the people behind the counter had no idea we'd ordered anything. On an impulse, I asked for a square slice again. This time, I was handed one right away, fresh out of the oven and piping hot. And that was that. Go figure.

Now for the actual pizza. We didn't get any additional toppings; just the parmesan and fresh basil it comes with - and I think that's really all you need. The crust was perfectly crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. The olive oil on top made it slightly greasy but not at all in a gross or unpleasant way; I really enjoyed the flavor. The sauce had an umami taste that I don't usually feel in other pizza sauces, making it memorable.

Would we get it again? Eh, not sure we could get the stars to align again. Was it...

I was really excited to try this pizza after reading the rave reviews, but my experience was a lackluster one. The shop itself is rundown, with trash littering the tables and floors, and torn chair seats, lending it an unkempt appearance. Although I am appreciative of a lived-in, rustic environment, Di Fara's does not meet the acceptable standards of what a clean and welcoming place of business should look like. After ordering a pie (no toppings were being offered that day, apparently on the whim of the cook or owner, and to the disappointment of folks who said they had travelled all the way from VA), we waited 35 minutes (after putting in our order to seemingly frazzled employees) to receive an overcooked greasy pizza with a burned crust and lackluster flavor. As we sat in the cramped rear of the shop, my companion and I silently surveyed our dismal environment and knew we would not be coming back. I love pizza, and I am not above indulging in the greasy kind you get cravings for now and again from no-frill corner shops. I also don't mind paying 30 bucks for a good pie. But as a New Yorker, I know the difference between a $30 pizza and a dollar slice. The quality of Di Fara's pizza doesn't fall too far from the $1 slice category. To each her own, but if I wanted a quick, greasy bite (of which there are a surplus of offerings in NYC/outer boroughs), I would not waste 35 minutes and $30 to get it at Di Fara. I hope Di Fara can restore the quality and merit of its product to reflect the awards and praises it has been showered with in past years. I am giving it 2 stars to indicate that the pizza was edible, and to impress upon any would-be visitors that it might be worth it to try another place if you are expecting the pizza...

I've been to Di Fara in Brooklyn twice after visiting their Staten Island location. The Staten Island spot is good but supposedly the Brooklyn spot is the best. I will say that the first time I ordered a slice was during an afternoon. The slice was delicious and I really understood the hype. What really stood out to me was how amazing the sauce was.

I decided to bring my wife there the second time during lunch and really hyped it up. We ordered both slices and squares as I see some of the reviews here saying the squares were good. We waited over 20 minutes which is understandable for some quality pizza. we got 1 slice that was boxed separately from the other slices and squares we ordered. My wife ate that slice and said it was good. However, the slice I had was incredibly disappointing. The pizza itself was very thin which I tend to find very enjoyable. However, there was no sauce! THE SLICES IN THIS OTHER BOX MUST HAVE BEEN REHEATED MULTIPLE TIMES OR JUST WAY OVERCOOKED. it was very dry and had a slightly burnt taste. The square was incredibly lackluster and felt like it might have also been reheated. You can tell the difference in color of the basil in my pictures.

I was very upset that I had to wait so long for such poor quality. I ended up not finishing any of the slices or squares and just tossing it away. The fact that the quality can vary wildly and then charge a premium of $5 per slice, $6 per square is ridiculous. I don't think there will be a 3rd visit. There's many local joints that cost less per slice that were way better than what I had today. Better off going to the Staten Island location if I'm...