Is Caravelli’s Pizza The Savior Of WFC Lunch Options?
The World Financial Center (and Battery Park City in general) is short on good, cheap lunch options so I’m sure many of you got excited when word got around that Caravelli’s Pizzeria was opening in the food court area. Anticipation built as word got around that one of the owners was Ed McFarland of Ed’s Lobster Bar fame who has a kiosk selling lobster rolls outside. Sure, pizza and seafood are pretty different foods, but how hard can it be to screw up bread, cheese, sauce and the occasional topping?
I do not delight in writing about a bad lunch experience but you lunchers deserve to know that this was some of the worst pizza I’ve had since moving to NYC, and also not cheap. I realize Caravelli’s had only been open for a couple of days but the problem I had with the pizza had nothing to do with long lines. The slices were already made, and just needed to be reheated. There was a separate line if you wanted anything other than pizza but it was daunting and frankly, eating a gigantic sandwich or pasta when it’s 100 degrees outside was not appealing.
Warning bells went off in my head when I ordered a regular slice with sausage and a square slice with fresh mozzarella, basil and tomato sauce on it ($3.75 each) and about a minute (or less) later they were handed to me in a box after a very quick trip into the oven.
Let’s start with the sausage slice since that was the most obvious offender. The crust had no color and was completely floppy and while I realize it was covered in sausage and cheese, it was super greasy. I realize I may have gotten a bad pizza or something, but at $3.75 this should have been way better.
The square slice was better although the crust was again the downfall of otherwise good execution with fresh basil and a little marinara and parmesan sprinkled on top. If you like fresh mozzarella you might want to try this, although make sure you point to the slice you want because some didn’t have nearly as much cheese as others.
When I saw that this pizzeria was opening I was sure they would be serving Neopolitan pies or something unique. Instead it’s a standard slice place also selling parm sandwiches, pasta, etc., that people are going to go to because it’s nearby. I only hope that they’re still tweaking the pizza.
Have you lunchers had food from Caravelli’s that you thought was good?
Caravelli’s Pizzeria, 200 Vesey St. (inside 3 World Financial Center), (212) 323-6290
Posted by Andrea H at 9:30 am, July 25th, 2011 under Battery Park City, Caravelli's Pizzeria, Italian, Pizza, World Financial Center.
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2 Comments
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I’m shocked your pizza came out after only a minute – the lunchtime waiting is insane for a place serving finance people that usually grab and eat at their desks. The whole ordering process had changed when I visited today – you have to order first, where they record your order – and then pay at a separate station where they take your money and actually submit your order. Why are these 2 separate stations?
I tried a sausage pizza that was mediocre and a bruschetta pizza with a floppy crust and should have been called red onion pizza with hint of tomatoes. Tasted okay, but is not what I picture when I hear the word “bruschetta.”
Have food that was good from Caravelli’s? Gives Italians a bad name i can tell you that much. the place should shut its doors. How the DOH allowed them to open is beyond me. Dusty, Grimy, Dirty location. Obviously wasnt cleaned before they rushed and opened. There grand opening was the most horrific thing I ahve ever seen. Their Customer service was the worst I have ever seen. Their food was a joke even more so when i had to wait 15-20 minutes for 2 slices that were just horrible. If you want caravelli’s I can come buy and show you how to really make a pizza and run the place. Do WFC a favor shut your doors and re-think your operation