Mezza Luna Pizza — Restaurant in New York

I recently ventured into the Bronx’s Arthur Avenue neighborhood, often hailed as the “Real Little Italy,” and was pleasantly surprised by its authentic Italian charm and vibrant community. Unlike Manhattan’s Little Italy, this area felt genuine and was refreshingly free of tourist crowds.

With an open mind and no particular expectations, I stepped into Full Moon Pizzeria. The place was bustling with locals, which I took as a promising sign. Scanning the menu, I was intrigued by a slice featuring artichoke and spinach atop a pesto base. The combination sounded delightful, so I decided to give it a try.

The slice exceeded my expectations. The crust was light and crispy, providing a perfect foundation for the toppings. The artichokes and spinach were fresh and flavorful, harmonizing beautifully with the rich, aromatic pesto. Each bite was a testament to the pizzeria’s commitment to quality ingredients and traditional preparation methods.

The ambiance of Full Moon Pizzeria added to the experience. The casual, no-frills setting allowed the food to take center stage. The staff were efficient and courteous, ensuring that orders were taken and served promptly. It was evident that this establishment had deep roots in the community, with patrons greeting each other and the staff like old friends.

Beyond the pizzeria, the Arthur Avenue neighborhood itself was a delight to explore. Lined with family-owned shops, bakeries, and markets, it offered a rich tapestry of Italian culture and cuisine. The authenticity of the area was palpable, making it a must-visit for anyone seeking a genuine Italian-American experience in New York City.

Reflecting on my visit, the only drawback was the lengthy commute. Residing in Brooklyn, the journey to the Bronx took nearly two hours each way on the subway. However, the experience at Full Moon Pizzeria and the charm of Arthur Avenue made it worthwhile. I left with a satisfied palate and a newfound appreciation for this hidden gem...

I came here with three other friends on a weekend evening for dinner, and it was packed! My friends and I had a difficult time deciding what to get since one of them doesn't eat pork, but we decided on half margherita and half roasted veggies with grounded beef. We stood in the long line (well, there were about 6 people in front of us) and when our order was taken, we were told that we couldn't do half margherita. We reconvened and decided to do half eggplant parm with grounded beef and half roasted veggies. We stood in the long line again, and right when we got to the front of the line, the last margherita slices were taken (my friend and I wanted to split a slice). We were told that there's no more, and at first I thought it was a joke but they really didn't make anymore margherita pizzas. Anyway, we put our order in along with an order of garlic knots (which come 4 per order). The garlic knots came out first, and they were piping hot. The bread was really soft and chewy, and I greatly enjoyed them. They could've done with slightly more garlic flavor, but it was good as is. They're sadly quite small though! Our pizza took at least twenty minutes afterward, but they made it from scratch and it was piping hot when we got it. It was super delicious! I liked the eggplant parm with grounded beef much more than the veggies, because the latter had no flavor and was super bland. The eggplant parm was very soft and the grounded beef gave it some flavor. The slices were humungous and filling, and it was very delicious. The crust bottom got a bit soft though for my second slice, although it didn't get soggy. The pizza was a bit thicker than usual, but still tasty. I would definitely recommend this spot to share a pizza as portions are huge! Our pizza and garlic knots came out to be around $41 total post-tax, and we were all...

A pepperoni slice is almost $7. Ok cool expensive but whatever. When I was younger I used to love this place, used to be my favorite pizza if all time. Money is tight right now but I wanted to go back to memory lane and taste the slice I haven’t had for a while. I pay then they forget my order, takes them a long time to realize but whatever as long as I got my slice. They put my slice in the oven for what feels like not even a minute and the pepperoni isnt even cooked so when I returned home with my slice I had to deal with the inconvenience of heating up what should be crispy oven pizza in a microwave. Im not gonna say for sure that the employees where laughing at me but as I left one said have a goodnight and immediately laughed right after. Too expensive for the lack of service and quality of that slice I had that day.

Part 2 for the response-

Hey whoever this owner is that cant even correct my name from Jov to Joy. It’s obvious you cant listen to feedback I hope you listen to this. Im sayin $7 is not worth the quality of your slice anymore man, and your doubting your staff as if your there 24/7 cmon old man get it together. The fact that I had to microwave my slice because your staff cant do that simple thing right even after the benefit of the doubt that they forgot my order when there was only one customer after me is disgraceful. Get off your high horse and really listen to what im saying. Geez even said Jov my name to “Joy” twice. Oh and its “seems” not “seams” listen maybe its time you pass down the business, if you cant even write words correctly or listen to feedback, maybe thats why the quality went down. I wont lie you were my favorite pizza in the whole world and thats saying a lot but now its just wack bro, get...