Locust Grove: I Love NY Pizza
WINTER 2025
By: Jerry Belcastro
My first journey for this edition took me to a hidden delight for pizza lovers….. “I ♥ New York Pizza”, which is located at 2678 Hwy 155, Locust Grove. I had to get the background on this real deal New York style pizza place, as I can say, I know a little something about pizza. The owners, Giovani Balzano, his sister Caterina Gravina, and her husband Vito Gravina, come from a rich Italian heritage of pizza makers from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, dating back three generations. And the authenticity will be very evident when you take that first bite!
Although I have eaten here a few times, I didn’t realize that they have such an extensive menu. They prepare a full range of Italian dishes, including Lasagna, Chicken Parmesan, and the Baked Ziti Anna Maria, which are some of their most popular dishes. They also offer great appetizers including wings, fries, and garlic knots to name a few. They offer a variety of salads, sub sandwiches, calzones, Stromboli….and Specialty Pizzas! I was lucky with my timing, as Giovani was preparing some specialty pizzas that they sell by the slice.
Selling “pizza by the slice” is very common in New York, and the size of the slices at I ♥ New York Pizza are HUGE! What also struck me was how fresh all the ingredients were, as I had a slice of the Primavera Pizza, which consisted of all fresh vegetables; here, they prep ingredients many times throughout the day, which makes a very big difference.
Another essential component is the pizza dough. With my background in pizza competitions, I have probably eaten at over a thousand pizza places, and their pizza dough is very high on my list for New York style pizza. The crust is easy to bite through, has great flavor, and is chewy. The sauce is flavorful with spices but not overpowering, and the mozzarella cheese was perfectly cooked. I know many people from the South usually get toppings on their pizza, but if you want to experience ‘a slice of New York.’ just order a cheese slice- I guarantee you will not be disappointed!
One of my favorite pizzas on their menu is the Sicilian style pizza. For those of you that know Sicilian pizza, you appreciate it, because it can be difficult to find. The process of making this dough is very labor intensive, requiring several proofing stages that take four to five hours to complete. The crust is placed into a rectangular pan and par-baked, resulting in a very light and airy crust. Trust me, you’ll be hooked. The Sicilian pizza is as authentic as it gets!
Here, patrons can end their meal on a sweet note and indulge in their zeppoles, tiramisu or cheesecake. If you’re in or around Locust Grove don’t miss this amazing Italian gem! Their hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 8:30pm, and 12pm to 7:30 pm on Sundays. I ♥ New York Pizza, the real deal my friends!!
