Emmett's on Grove, West Village

Where has tavern style pizza been all my life? Last night we had dinner at Emmett's on Grove, a midwest-inspired supper club that specializes in it. Native Chicagoan Emmett Burke opened his first restaurant, Emmett's, in Soho to focus on Chicago deep dish pizza. Tavern style is just the opposite.

The crispy, wafer thin crust reminded me of a slightly chewier matzoh. It was an ideal vehicle for an array of high-quality toppings, and is served cut into multiple squares rather than the traditional six or eight triangular slices (it's easier to eat that way).

We started with the massive Caesar - romaine covered in a cloud of freshly-grated parm and showered with toasted breadcrumbs. I ordered the Mona Lisa, a pizza topped with burrata, mozzarella, and prosciutto di parma. Ralph opted to build his own, with prosciutto, black olive, and arugula. In both cases, the slick of tomato sauce combined with the contrast between the crispy crust and the generous toppings was addictive.

Emmett's doesn't just do pizza. Their menu includes pastas, burgers, meat dishes, bar snacks, desserts, and more. The restaurant space itself, located in the basement of a West Village brownstone, is surprisingly large. Vibe-wise, it's more friendly pub than restaurant, with lots of tables of young friends catching up, flirting, and having a great time (the food is very shareable).

Like us, Most of the other customers left with boxes and bags of leftovers. I'm really looking forward to enjoying them for dinner at home tonight!

Emmett's on Grove, 39 Grove St., West Village. Click here for their website.