Queens Gazette

Paul Michael’s

Brick Oven Pizza & Restaurant

 

 

Paul Michael’s Brick Oven Pizza & Restaurant is a treasure waiting for you, tucked away in an unassuming shopping center in Kew Gardens with PARKING. Paul Michael’s has fabulous pizza on one side of this eatery, with customers and take out orders constantly moving in and out the door, seven days a week. The adjoining dining room offers casual dining with extraordinary food, all at affordable prices, perfect for families, friends, and co-workers.

Gracious owner Giovanni Graziuso has been at the helm for the last seven years, though the restaurant has been here since 2003. Giovanni has years of experience in the restaurant business and attended culinary school in his native Salerno, Italy. He came to New York equipped with family recipes and a dream, and you can taste all the love in every bite. His daughter Rosanna and son Antonio work here too, making this a family affair from the Graziuso Family to your family.

Cool down with a crisp, chilled Pinot Grigio or full-bodied Chianti while you review the list of appetizers that will make your mouth water. My baked clams were juicy and crisp on top with golden breadcrumbs and a delicious sauce to dunk their homemade pizza rolls into ($9.95). Mussels bianco are swimming in a heady broth of garlic, white wine, and herbs that you’ll also want to soak up. A generous platter of fried calamari and crisp mozzarella sticks are family favorites to be shared.

 

 

Loyal customer John R. has been coming to Paul Michael’s Brick Oven Pizza and Restaurant for five years now, since his sister introduced him to it. John comes regularly for great food, ambience, and warm welcome. Indeed he is considered family here and his favorite salad is the grilled shrimp, jumbo and juicy, over a healthy toss of greens, dressed with a delightful raspberry vinaigrette. This is the perfect summer salad and I had one too, as I couldn’t resist. He also loves the grilled salmon, a hefty fillet of quality fish grilled to perfection with basil-garlic dressing, served over sautéed spinach ($17.95). Filet of sole Francese is another popular dish for its lemony butter sauce. Shrimp diavolo in spicy marinara sauce rests on a mound of pasta, as does frutti di mare with shrimp, calamari, mussels, scallops, and clams over linguine. Chicken capricciosa is a great summer meal of breaded chicken cutlet topped with a colorful salad. You can also get classic chicken or veal Marsala, Francese, Picata, or Sorrentino style, layered with prosciutto, eggplant, and mozzarella, with a side of pasta or salad, as you wish. According to Antonio, everyone loves their chicken scarpariello, and I must report that it was excellent and could be framed as a photo – it was so pretty. With chunks of boneless chicken, zesty Italian sausage and herbs, I was thrilled to have some left over for lunch the next day. Dishes change seasonally for freshness so right now the grilled pork chop is perfect, served sizzling off the grill. Colder weather offers veal osso bucco and other seasonal dishes.

Paul Michael’s pasta dishes are all made to order and with nearly 20 choices, you can have a different one each night of the week! The “Chef’s Special” is penne ala vodka laced with chunks of chicken and spinach, baked with mozzarella on top, making this a hearty dish. Cavatelli are Barese style pasta topped with broccoli rabe and sausage, while gnocchi al pesto are tender dumplings with fragrant pesto sauce ($13.95)

It all starts with pizza and dainty “pizzette” which are 12” size brick oven pizzas, rendered light and crisp by the intense heat in the oven. The Barese is topped with broccoli rabe and crumbled sausage and mozzarella, while the Margherita is the classic fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomato sauce ($11). There are seven varieties of pizzette and over a dozen classic large pies. Families often start their sit-down dinner by sharing pie as a first course, and of course, hundreds of pies go out for delivery to homes and offices in the neighborhood.

Sweeten it up with a cannoli, chocolate hazelnut cake, torta della nonna with pine nuts, tiramisu, cheesecake, or tartufo ice cream treat…and a cup of espresso. Paul Michael’s Brick Oven Pizza & Restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. They will happily cater to make your event a success and this is a great place to eat before one of the concerts at the Forest Hills Concert Series, away from the crowds, and with free parking in the CVS shopping center. Check out their website and Instagram for great photos, menus, and more information. Buon appetito!

Brick Oven Pizza & Restaurant

85-19 126th Street
Kew Gardens – 718.846.4065

www.paulmichaelsbrickovencafe.com

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