I went to Bitondo's Pizzeria on a fluke and had my first panzarotti[1]. I'd seen signs for panzarotti at various pizza places in town but I wasn't sure what they were. (Pizza joints in NYC don't have them.) But, dang, it's pretty delish at Bitondo's.
THE FOOD
Their panzarotti ($5.99 including tax) kind of look like deflated calzones with softer crusts, rich with olive oil. My first couple of bites were all fried dough but when I got to the filling, it was like striking gold; a stream of molten mozzarella mingling with tomato sauce was unearthed. My one complaint: While it was still warm from the heat box, I wish it were made fresh so that the crust would be crisper and less greasy and the cheese more fluid.
Their pizza ($2.75 a slice), however, was a let down---yet still leagues above the nastiness of Pizza Pizza/Domino's/[insert pizza chain here]. I asked for "a slice" and got one loaded with pepperoni[2]. It had been sitting under a heating lamp and the counter guy didn't crisp it up in the oven so the crust was a soggy bleh. But the pepperoni was the real deal; intensely porky, spicy and flavorful.
If you're a bitter-flavors junkie like me, get a can of Brio ($1.25). It's an Italian soda that tastes like Coke flavored with Campari. For the rest of you, they have a vintage Coca-Cola cooler filled with cans of the usual stuff.
They also have sandwiches and pizza by the pie available.
THE VIBE
It feels like the quintessential neighborhood take-out spot in Little Italy. The space is small with a few tables and chairs. Eat in and you can check out the Italian soccer photos and posters on the walls, or play a few games of Ms. Pacman (Yes, I said Ms. Pacman!) on the table arcade for 25 cents a pop.
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[1] Is it overly correct to use "panzarotto" for the singular?
[2] Isn't the standard slice just cheese?