I will comment on the pizza. My wife and I have lived in Paulus Hook for six years and ate pizza from La Rustique on a number of occasions. I would say that the pizza there was decent, at best...fresh ingredients but fairly bland. We grabbed a couple of slices from Paulus Hook Brick Oven Pizza on Saturday and were VERY pleased. It is much better pizza. Better sauce, more flavorful. As someone who lives a hundred feet from its front doors...I will be making many visits. It is VERY good pizza...although nothing will ever touch a Sicilian slice at Spumoni Gardens in Bensonhurst.

Paulus Hook Brick Oven Pizza is the best in town.

I don't understand why people are so constipated over what happened between the landlord and Rustique. The landlord is a businessman who owns the commercial real estate at the corner of Washington and Morris. If he wants to increase the rent by virtue of the fact that Paulus Hook is developing at a rapid rate, then who's to stop him? Take an emotional laxative and get over it.

Rustique was good -- not great. Had Paulus Hook Brick Oven Pizza tasted horribly, then one could make the argument that the landlord made an error in "forcing" Rustique out of Paulus Hook. However, the landlord, in deciding to manage Paulus Hook Brick Oven Pizza, took a risk in re-opening the pizzeria in hopes of making even better pizza. Based on the comments posted thus far, for those who have tasted the pies, including myself and my wife, it is undeniable that the pizza is extremely delicious. The sauce is perfectly seasoned and sweet; the crust is light and crispy (Rustique's crust was too thick); and the cheese is fresh and not oily -- every other slice I eat in town leaves a residue of oil on my plate, a clear indication that those pizzerias use cheap, processed mozz cheese.

Let's keep this blog chain limited to the narrow issue of how the pizza tastes. The pizza is the best in town. In addition, the landlord is a kind man who makes all of his customers feel welcome when they come in to support his business. There's no reason not to enjoy the pizza at Paulus Hook Brick Oven Pizza.

Couldn't the former owner take the oven out (or threaten to do so)? If not it seems like the landlord was very realistic in seizing the investment. Certainly not nice but realistic.

Then again, none of this makes me want to patronize this store. As always, it's a trade off between ruthless but legal business practices and reputation.

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the owner of rustique paid for the oven, and then his rent was TRIPLED! he told me he expected it to go up, and he didn't have a long term lease because he figured the guy would be realistic. the owner saw the improvements, and recognized the opportunity to eff the owner of rustique. it's that simple.


it doesn't help that the prices he charges for alcohol at his corner store are also astronomical. i have no reason to go over there for liquor or pizza at this point.


and yes, rustique pizza gets cold almost the second it gets into your hands. it's very good, but the product is too heavy, and gets cold fast. ask anyone who has ever ordered a pie to an office in newport.


not a game, not a game, not a game:


http://deadspin.com/5301145/this-is-outstanding?autoplay=true

Who invested in the new oven? The owner of the property, or the renters? It is a little unclear from the posts, and will influence whether I decide to try this pizza.

same location, same great oven, same pizza, no psycho blond. win, win, win,WIN

I have no clue what this heavier/lighter comment is all about? Aside from the taste, I don't see much physical difference between the 'old' pizza and the 'new'.

But, the taste. HUGE difference. We have to stop ourselves from buying this pizza every night. It is TOO GOOD!

The website again:

http://www.paulushookbrickoven.com/

I'm thrilled that the building owner is running this place now, ensuring it will be around for years to come.

You mean we live in a free market economy? Rents go up? There's competition? People are in business to make money?? NO!! SAY IT ISN'T SO!!

But yes, I completely agree, it sucks for La Rustique. But I always hated that they would handle money, handle the phone, and then pick up the bread with their bare hands so I'm glad they are gone.

What do you mean you can't get the pizza delivered from Rustique? We get it at least once or twice a month and it arrives here in fine shape.

And, we did try the new/old place. It actually is pretty good, but I felt bad, like I was cheating on Rustique. I guess I'll get over it, because I do like picking up pasta dinners from time to time. There's not much selection in PH, so I am sure it will do well. We'll still continue to order pizza delivery from Rustique.

that is exactly the problem.


as i mentioned in another post, Mr. Lee, the man who owns the liquor store on the corner, is classless and has no ethics.


yes, the pizza is better because it's lighter. you can't even get rustique delivered because it's too heavy, and Paulus Hook pizza basically made the same product but lighter.


BUT, the landlord is a piece of shit. he tripled the rent on the Rustique owners AFTER he built an incredible oven, and then took over his space only to open a new pizza place.


he has no class, and even though the pizza is better, i will not be shopping there. #OOPS# that guy.

Seriously. What a shill.

Of course this is the landlord who let La Rustique put the oven in and then threw him out at the end of the lease just so he could take over the business. Ethics don't apply here.

I have zero faith in you or your product.

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So wait... you just returned from the place, but "we" are happy to be back. I think you messed up there champ.

I assume you are talking about Paulus Hook Brick Oven Pizza.

I had the chicken parmesan dinner and I thought it was very good. The dinner was pre-made in the morning. It came cold in a take out container and I just heat it up for two to three minutes. You can let them heat it up for you.

The chicken parmesan is a breaded chicken filet over penne pasta, topped with marinara sauce and fresh mozzarella. I thought the meat was tender and the breading was just right. The pasta was al dente. The sauce taste fresh, if that makes sense to you. There was enough for me to make two meals. You might want a side salad with it, which I did not need.

I would like to try the other dinners.

Just returned from the Paulus Hook Pizza, newly reopen and better than before. The dough is crispier and lighter. Sauce is also redesigned and more flavorful than before. The decor is clean, airy and you can BYOB !!! We are happy back and in business with delivery as well again.