Layla Jones
Beatsme already supplied us with at atmospheric night-time shot of Layla Jones and a favorable review of the new Cobble Hill restaurant's pizza. After two pies there over the weekend, we're going to have to agree to politely disagree with his assessment. It's not that the pizza is tasteless or the ingredients are of low-quality, because neither off those things are true. It's that the pizza tastes like something my mom would make from Pillsbury Ready Crust Pizza dough (and maybe that's OK for this obviously kid-friendly joint).
The crust was moderately thin, although it didn't come near the thinness of other famed neighborhood joints, and, unfortunately, it was a soggy mess. We decided the problem was the pan. It appears that they cook the pizza in a baking pan, instead of directly on the hot oven surface (in home cook's parlance, on a pizza stone). We did really like the sweet sausage topping (skip the red peppers as they increase the sogginess), but left feeling like we'd paid $16 bucks (plus tip) for something that was less tasty than a homemade Boboli.
I feel bad disliking a place with a cutesy little story (they named the joint after their kids). And kudos to our waiter who was pretty much the nicest person to ever walk a pizza to a table. Sorry, Layla, but I'd rather have a $3 slice from Vinny's.
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I disagree with your disagreement. The pizza is indeed tasteless. Too bad...
We, too, went to LJ over the weekend and had the Italian Fajita pizza. It was good -- but I agree with you about the crust.
Here's the question - did you you have the "brooklyn style" crust from the top of the menu, or the thin crust at the bottom?
we had the Brooklyn style from the top of the menu, and I'd like to hear if the other pizza style is any good.
the chopped salad was good. ample. and yes, that waiter was hands down the nicest waiter we've had in the neighborhood since the Waterfront Ale House.
I have to disagree with your [dis?]agreeing disagreement. I really enjoyed Layla Jones pizza because it's so different from everything else in the neighborhood. Maybe it did remind me of chef boy-ar-dee, but the sauce was delicious -- more delicious than most other sauces I've tasted in the hood -- and the toppings were delightful for my albeit midwest sensibilities.
Yeah, it did arrive a bit soggy, but I can forgive them for that. Most other pizza crust tastes like cardboard and this had some really distinctive flavor.
Perfect comfort food.
Hey bigcajig, I think you meant you agree with my disagreement? Or, maybe I should just apologize for setting up such a ridiculous set of agreements and disagreements!
I found the sauce to be way too salty. Given that it's only very slightly cheaper than Lucali's (which is infinitely better), I doubt I'll be eating there again.
Sorry for the confusion. I stopped by and had a couple slices yesterday, pepperoni and mushroom. I thought the sauce was sweet, but not tasty enough to compensate for the canned mushrooms and surprisingly bland pepperoni, which was extra-surprisingly bland for the fist-sized chunks they threw on the top. The crust was crispy and thinnish, but was more a cracker than a crust.
Opening a pizza joint in Brooklyn is a risky undertaking. Layla Jones is decent pie, certainly better than the overpriced cardboard that was sold in the same location by the previous occupant. I would rank it under Zaytoon's pitzas and, of course, Lucali's, where I will be on Saturday night.
I've often wondered what would happen if there were to be a place that served really good - say chicago style or california style pizza - in our neighborhood. The pizza they make here sure is amazing and it may be the closest to original or whatever, but I've lived in far to many cities and even a few countries to think it's the *only* kind that's any good or that a food type can't diversify and still be good. People here might kill me for saying so, but sometimes I have a craving for BBQ or thai chicken pizza or something. This doesn't really sound like it, but still I often wonder what would happen to a place like that if it did open? I kind of feel like everyone would hate it?
I don't know if it's "original", but the pizza is really good there. If you want "original", go to Sam's, but be prepared to be treated like doo doo.
Hehe, I did say it would be a love-it-or-hate-it kind of pie. I've had good slices there, seems to get a bit crisper when they throw it back in the oven. As for the crust, it does have a yeasty, bready taste that purists will probably hate--close to California style. Toppings do seem to be a problem though...canned mushrooms?
I'm shocked that LJ is even getting this much play at all...I was thoroughly unimpressed and have a hard time bringing myself to even discuss it in the context of Loucallies or Sams...
Sams is MEAN MEAN MEAN - especially if you come in with kids. Their pizza is definitely the best, but often not worth the vitriol they spew at you just for being alive.