Wood-Fired Pizzas and More at Pasquale Jones

Pasquale Jones calls a corner just north of Little Italy home.  Sandwiched between trendy Nolita and more traditional Italian American enclave, Pasquale Jones is a beautiful modern restaurant featuring deliciously wood-fired pizzas and other dishes worth a trek.

Ponder over the small plates for a nibble.  For example, the warm braised leeks might suit your fancy one evening.  Served with walnuts and shards of parmigiano reggiano, this was a lovely  light starter.

A bite of pasta is never a bad idea but make sure you share it though to save room for the main star of the restaurant.

The pizzas of course!  The margherita pie is a great equalizer and judge of the quality of sauce and dough at any pizza spot.  Balance is key when it comes to sauce and as for the dough, I always like to see a few blistered on the crust for that true wood-fired kiss.

As a person who prefers white pies, the better pie was the little neck.  Studded with briny bites of little neck clams, the pie was bright with a squeeze of lemon and parsley.  I will be returning here for a bite of this very soon.

It’s easy to make a dinner with simply pizzas and overlook the rest of the menu but the wood oven fired entrees are worth paying attention to.  Specifically this beautiful pork shank for two.  Unbelievably tender, the meat fell off the bones with a light pull from the fork.  A simple plate of arugula salad thoughtfully accompanied the meaty entree in case you were looking for some greens.

As for dessert, well, there really aren’t any.  It’s a bold move but I appreciate a restaurant that knows its strengths.  To end the meal, the kitchen offered just one choice, poached seasonal fruits with homemade ice cream and pistachio crumble.  A beautifully simple way to end a delicious meal.

Pasquale Jones | 187 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10012 | http://www.pasqualejones.com