Lucali

Lucali at 575 Henry Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, is a brick-oven pizzeria set in a candlelit storefront on a quiet residential corner. The menu is deliberately short, offering pizza pies and calzones only, so the cuisine is best described as New York brick-oven pizza with a thin, blistered crust, simple tomato sauce and fresh basil. The plain pie with basil is the emblematic order, and diners can add toppings such as pepperoni, while the calzone is the other main item. Pies are made to order in the wood-fired oven and are usually sized to be shared. The dining room is intimate and rustic, with wooden tables, warm candlelight, dark walls and a small open kitchen, and the mood is relaxed and romantic rather than raucous. Noise is moderate and dress is casual. Lucali is known for its BYOB approach, so guests are typically able to bring their own wine or beer, and nearby shops sell both, though visitors should confirm the current policy. Getting a table is the main challenge. The restaurant uses a walk-in waitlist rather than advance reservations, and diners are advised to arrive before opening to add a name to the list, then return at the time given. On busy weekend nights the wait can be long. It is typically open Wednesday to Monday evenings, and current hours should be confirmed by phone. Prices are moderate to upper-moderate for pizza, with a full pie costing a few dozen dollars, but the experience is closer to a small-restaurant dinner than a slice counter. Carroll Gardens is a leafy Brooklyn neighbourhood of brownstones and Italian-American history, and the restaurant pairs well with an evening stroll along Court Street and Smith Street within New York City.