What Is Brooklyn Style Pizza? - Countertop Pizza Oven

New York is one of the melting pots of culture and cuisine in the U.S.A. which includes the indisputable title of being the pizza capital of the country.

While many styles of pizza were made and introduced in the U.S., the New York-style pizza is perhaps the trademark of all those pizzas.

That is why it is not surprising that there are variations of the famous pizza, and Brooklyn-style pizza is one of the variations that everybody loves for many reasons.

The really thin and crispy crust of the Brooklyn-style pizza is what makes people love it. Brooklyn Pizza has an infinite variety of toppings, so you can put any topping on it.

It is easy to make this pizza but also easily confused with other types of pizza. That is why I wondered what makes this pizza different or distinguishes it from other pizza types.

This post talk about all the things that make the Brooklyn-style pizza unique.

What Is Brooklyn-style Pizza?

Brooklyn-style pizza is said to have evolved from New York-style pizza, which is why they are similar. The process, the way of eating, and the size are almost the same.

Brooklyn-style pizza dough cis tossed before getting topped with a thin layer of sauce. The toppings used for the pizza are similar to those used in New York-style pizzas.

The manner of eating the Brooklyn-style pizza is also the same as the New York-style pizza which we will discuss later in this post.

Like most variations of the New York-style pizza, the Brooklyn-style pizza sizes are quite large ranging from 18 inches up to 45 inches for party pizzas.

There are a lot of similarities between NYC and brooklyn style pizza but Brooklyn-style pizza also has its characteristics and let’s see what they are!

History Of Brooklyn-style Pizza

The term Brooklyn-style Pizza was first popular because of Domino’s in 2006 although the version of the same pizza originated way back in the 1900s.

Pizzaiolos from Naples, Italy migrated to New York and introduced the delicious pie to the country.

Some claim that pizza was introduced to the U.S. in 1897 while others say it was in 1905.

Regardless of the time, New York was the innovator of this amazing pie and continued to evolve throughout the 100 years it has been in the country.

Totonnos, a pizza restaurant in Coney Island, claims to have made the very first version of Brooklyn-style pizza, so Domino’s made the name popular in recent years.

Other old restaurants make Brooklyn-style pizza with some iterations. But what makes a pizza a Brooklyn-style pizza?

The Specialty Of Brooklyn-style Pizza

The most distinct feature of the Brooklyn-style pizza is the super crispy crust. The hand-tossed thin crust is cooked with cornmeal, giving it its iconic crispiness.

There is also more Provolone cheese on the Brooklyn-style pizza than the New York-style pizza, and that makes the Brooklyn-style pizza cheesy but also has a high-fat content.

Like most pizzas that are a blank slate, the list toppings that go on the Brooklyn-style pizza is almost endless.

The toppings are cut in large size, so the Brooklyn-style pizza is very appetizing. It is, however, a bit of a challenge to make such thin and crispy crusts.

How Are Brooklyn-style Pizzas Made

Dough

Brooklyn-style pizza is a very large type of pizza that is also very thin so while it is large, it does not use a lot of dough.

The smallest balls of dough are stretched to the required size (18 inches to 45 inches). The regular dough balls can make a large Brooklyn-style pizza.

Larger dough balls for 20 or more inches of pizza are stretched until super thin to make the 45-inch Brooklyn-style pizza.

The dough is then partially baked to become firm before sprinkling it with the delicious cornmeal. The partially baked crust is then cooked to create a very crispy texture.

Toppings

There are many options for the toppings of the Brooklyn-style pizza but the main difference is the cheese used as a topping.

Like most pizzas, the Brooklyn-style pizza uses mozzarella cheese but is also mixed with provolone cheese. The provolone also dominates the mozzarella cheese at roughly 55% of the ratio.

That gives the Brooklyn-style pizza its iconic cheese flavor that cannot be compared with other types of pizza.

After the cheeses have been properly balanced and placed on the pizza, they are topped with the more common toppings we like. Here are some of the toppings that are commonly used.

1. Anchovies

While not everyone loves anchovies, it goes great with Brooklyn-style pizza. The thin crust dials down the strong flavor of the anchovies and makes it even more savory.

2. Olives

Olives add a little sweetness to the mix. This is perfect for mixing with cheese and the sauce of your Brooklyn-style pizza without overpowering the rest of the flavors on the pizza.

3. Bell Peppers

Bell peppers are a classic pizza topping. You can use it on your Brooklyn-style pizza to add a bit of sweetness plus the extra crunch you get when the bell peppers cook and char slightly is perfect for the pizza.

4. Garlic

I request extra garlic on my Brooklyn-style pizza because not only does it enhance the flavors on the pizza but it also adds an aroma that you cannot get with other toppings.

5. Pepperoni

Pepperoni might not be the most common topping on a Brooklyn-style pizza but it is good on any pizza. Make sure to put just about 5 slices to prevent putting too much grease on the thin crust.

6. Extra Cheese

The cheese is what accentuates and gives the familiar flavor of a Brooklyn-style pizza. Adding a little extra to your toppings will make every slice creamier and, of course, more delicious.

7. Meat Toppings

Just like pepperoni, you can also add meat toppings such as sausages and meatballs. However, you also need to limit it so that it does not weigh down on the thin crust and adds only flavor to it.

If you get a chance to make one, these toppings are perfect for the Brooklyn-style pizza and are a few of my favorites are there. So what about ordering a Brooklyn-style pizza?

How To Order The Perfect Brooklyn Pizza Slice?

Domino’s has an app that is available for both iPhone and Android phones. You can use this app to order Brooklyn-style pizzas and call the phone number posted online.

Simply dial 1800-208-1234 in the U.S. and it can direct you to order the pizza. It is free to call and is always available so it is very convenient.

There are smaller restaurants that also make excellent Brooklyn-style pizza. There are third-party delivery drivers that can also get you that delicious pizza.

While there is no wrong way to order a Brooklyn-style pizza, specifying the toppings can make a difference and can make the pizza more familiar to your palates.

How Should You Eat A Brooklyn-style Pizza?

The traditional way of eating a Brooklyn-style pizza is to fold the slice and take a bite, and this is also the common way of eating a New York-style pizza which adds to the similarities.

This way of eating is to mix all the ingredients, nutrients, and flavors in a bite, giving the palate an explosion of flavors everyone loves.

It can also be eaten by simply holding the pizza slice over a plate and biting like how it would with other types of pizza.

Any technique will do, however, you might get some side-eyes when you eat it with a knife and fork.

The Best Way To Serve Brooklyn-style Pizza

Despite being 18 to 45 inches, Brooklyn-style pizza is best served with 6 slices. That way, the crispy and thin crust can be folded and eaten the “proper” way.

This style of eating and serving Brooklyn-style is more convenient than large pizzas usually served in 8 slices and triangular shapes.

Brooklyn-style pizza is mostly cut into square slices instead of triangular ones to make up for the thinner and crispier slices that tend to break easier.

It is also best to serve Brooklyn-style pizza right out of the oven as the thin crust can easily become soggy when it is covered with a pizza box.

That can be hardly avoided during deliveries but a good Brooklyn-style pizza restaurant can make the best pizzas even with a slightly soft crust.

Best Places To Get Pizza In Brooklyn

1. Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

Grimaldi’s named after the founder, Patsy Grimaldi, uses 100 years of pizza-making experience to make the best pizzas in town and continues to stay at the top of pizza places in Brooklyn.

It is also one of the most popular artisan pizza places in Brooklyn. The Grimaldi’s pizzeria still uses coal ovens in making their pizzas.

Along with Brooklyn-style pizza, there is also a wide variety of pizza types, ranging from Margherita pizzas, Garden pesto, and Prosciutto Arugula.

2. Macchina

While Macchina focuses on making American-influenced pizza, they also make mean pizzas of different types. They stick to mostly traditional and authentic ingredients.

Macchina makes the cheese in-house, and the dough used for the pizzas they make is fermented for 24 hours to ensure it gets a really beautiful pizza crust.

3. Juliana’s Pizza

Juliana’s Pizza is the closest competition of Grimaldi, mainly because the same person founded these two pizzerias, and the pizzerias are right next to each other.

Juliana’s has no delivery or reservations, but they ensure you get the full Brooklyn experience with pizzas.

Juliana’s is more strict with the pizzas as there are limited variations to the toppings and specialties, but they serve delicious and authentic pizzas.

4. Roberta’s Pizzeria

Roberta’s is famously known for their wood-fired pizzas or ‘za as they call it. The restaurant has put the small area of Bushwick on the map and even Beyonce ate in this pizzeria.

The pizzeria offers many options aside from Brooklyn-style pizza but there is always a long line of customers so it is best to get there early in the morning.

5. Lucali Brooklyn

Not only is Lucali Brooklyn top-rated in Brooklyn but also one of the top-rated pizzerias in all of New York. They have a very simple menu but the choices are never wrong.

The pizzas are baked in a gas and wood-fired pizza oven, giving it a unique finish of a slightly smoky flavor and an evenly crispy crust.

They do not take reservations and is a little fancier than most pizzerias. Still, it is the perfect place to enjoy a pizza on a date or a small family celebration!