New York Best | Burger masters do pizza
Over the last two years New York Best has proved that they really are burger masters, serving the best in fresh burgers with a variety of toppings, including their infamous bacon jam, from their outlet in Msida close to the university.
Rachel Zammit Cutajar
A few weeks ago, they opened their second outlet in Qui-si-sana in Sliema. No longer a student haunt, New York Best now offers a more spacious meal with a view.
After a barrage of photos on Facebook showing the new site in various stages of construction, we headed down there to check out the star of their new site - the pizza.
The pizza is huge - it actually feeds two people so unless you have a death-by-cheese wish, share it with a friend. When you get to pick it up from the counter the trip from counter to chair seems almost unbearable as the aromas tease you.
Picking up a slice of pizza is challenging as the hot cheesy centre tends to fall apart unless you get the fold and hold technique right.
What I love so much about this pizza is the various stages that go with each slice. The first few bites are full of cheesy goodness, with simple yet fresh and delicious toppings, as you get close to the crust, there is a bite of pizza base with tomato sauce - no cheese, no toppings - that gives you the chance to savour the wonderful flavours of the sauce without distraction.
And lastly the crust. I usually eat the crust of the first slice of pizza and then have to leave the rest as I would rather leave a plate of crusts than a full slice of pizza, but this is so delicious, crunchy, yet not dry and it cleans your palate for the next slice of cheesy goodness to come.
So what is their secret? How do they make simple fast-food so deliciously moreish? The answer lies within the question. It is not fast food at all. The dough is made fresh daily, using flour, water, yeast, salt and sour dough only, but it left to rise slowly for 24 hours. No short cuts.
The tomato sauce is homemade - using Nanna Rita's recipe that has been perfected through generations - none of the canned tomatoes slapped on in a hurry. And the toppings are simple, fresh and where possible, locally sourced.
But New York Best isn't only about the pizza. The burgers are just as delicious, made fresh daily using only the best of ingredients. Stop by for a breakfast bagel and a shot of espresso to start the day. Or try one of their delicious New York style cookies or cupcakes, or soft icecream in a sports cone or a waffle cup.
New on the menu is a red velvet milkshake. All I can say is it like drinking cake. There are no words. Get down there and try it.
Having a look at their Facebook page to make sure I had the right contact details, I was amused by some of the comments/complaints. One person complained they found a chicken bone in the chicken wrap - God forbid anyone ever used real chicken in a wrap rather than processed meat so many other fast food restaurants serve. One other woman complained because her burger was pink, her fries were thin and salty - sounds like my kind of place!
All in all, good food, good music, good value for money and hits the all the right spots.
New York Best is open daily from 9am to 11pm.
New York Best
Esperanto Street,
Msida
Qui-si-Sana
Sliema
Tel: 2728 2899
Find them on Facebook
