Di Fara Pizza

Coordinates: 40°37′30″N 73°57′41″W / 40.625057°N 73.961517°W / 40.625057; -73.961517

Front of Di Fara

Di Fara Pizza is a pizzeria located in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, New York. It serves classic New York-style pizza and Sicilian-style pies, as well as pasta, sandwiches, and other items. The restaurant has been owned and operated by Domenico DeMarco ^[1] since 1964^[2]. Di Fara has received many awards and has been labeled the "Best... pizza in New York"^[3] several times by many publications including New York (magazine) and the online publication Serious Eats.^[4]

History

DeMarco opened Di Fara after emigrating from the Province of Caserta, Italy in 1959.

"I'm 69 years old. I've been in Brooklyn since 1959. I'm from Provincia di Caserta in Italy, near Napoli. When I got here, I spent three months in Long Island, in Huntington, working on a farm... then somebody put a bug in my head and said there's a good spot on Avenue J. I didn't even know Avenue J existed. So I come over here with my accountant on a Saturday night, and this corner was for rent. It was so crowded, the street. So I take the phone number, I call the landlord, and he says to come see me Sunday, make sure you bring a deposit. When I opened the store, my partner's name was Farina. My name is DeMarco. So when the lawyer made the paper, he put the two names together. Di Fara. Di for me, and Fara for him. I bought my partner out in 1978, I think. I kept the same name; I didn't bother changing it." ~Domenico DeMarco for The New York Times. Sunday, July 18, 2004 ^[2]

Fame for Di Fara finally came in 1999 when The Village Voice, a popular New York City publication, proclaimed it as one of the "Best Italian restaurants". From that point and going forward, Di Fara has been regarded as a top pizzeria by many established publications including Zagat and Daily News^[5].

In July 2009, Di Fara raised its price for a slice of pizza from $4 to $5 becoming the first $5-a-slice pizza place in New York City.^[6]

Closures

Sign to patrons on closing

Di Fara's has been closed several times due to unsanitary conditions. On March 27, 2007 the Department of Health in New York closed Di Fara's. The violations included rodent infestation as well as preparing food without gloves.^[7] Some of the major points from the review were:

2a) 23. Food found cross-contaminated in that of 2 paper packages 95 pounds each) of raw sweet Italian observed to be contaminated by paper packaged food being stored in direct contact with dirty icy water 2a) 23. Food found cross-contaminated in that EIGHT two and a half gallon containers of Gino bran Italian ice observed uncovered and to be contaminated by dust and dirt 11a) mouse activity present in that approximately 10 fresh and stale mice excreta observed on big wine storage shelf in kitchen 11b) mouse activity present in that approximately 20–30 fresh and stale mice excreta on a bottom onion and salt and spice container storage shelf of a food preparation table in kitchen 11c) mouse activity present in that approximately 15–20 fresh and stale mice excreta observed on floor under 3-compartment sink in kitchen 11d) mouse activity present in that approximately 30–40 fresh and stale mice excreta observed on floor under wine bottle storage rack and next to reach in freezer in kitchen 11e) mouse activity present in that 10 fresh and stale mice excreta observed on food preparation table where stored spice, pepper, and pizza in kitchen.^[8]

On June 6, 2007 Di Fara's was again closed by the Department of Health.

On Monday, during another inspection, the pizzeria was cited for unsanitary conditions including flies, a mouse infestation and bare-hand contact with food, said Sara Markt, a health department spokeswoman. The operators also failed to meet some of the conditions they had agreed to in April, like proving that they had passed a food safety course.^[9]

As of April 2011, it had been re-opened.

Gallery

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  Domenico DeMarco adds fresh basil to a Di Fara pizza.

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  The exterior of Di Fara.

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  The interior of Di Fara, with DeMarco in the doorway.

References

1. ^ "Di Fara Pizza", New York Magazine, http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/difara_pizza/, retrieved June 2, 2009 
2. ^ ^{a b} DeMarco, Domenico; As told to Jeff VanDam (July 18, 2004), "Charred bubbles, and other secrets of the slice", New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/18/nyregion/neighborhood-report-midwood-voice-charred-bubbles-other-secrets-slice.html, retrieved June 2, 2009 
3. ^ Platt, Adam; Robin Raisfeld, and Rob Patronite (March 9, 2009), "Best bargains: our critics' favorite cheap food", New York Magazine, http://nymag.com/bestofny/food/2009/cheap-eats/, retrieved June 2, 2009 
4. ^ Kuban, Adam (January 1, 2004), "Di Fara Pizza: everything you need to know", Slice, http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2004/01/di_fara.html, retrieved June 2, 2009 
5. ^ Monahan, Rachel (October 6, 2008), "Zagat says best burger, pizza, BBQ found in Brooklyn", Daily News, http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2008/10/06/2008-10-06_zagat_says_best_burger_pizza_bbq_found_i.html, retrieved 2—9-06-02 
6. ^ Fernandez, Manny (July 30, 2009). "Straight Out of Brooklyn, the $5 Slice". NYTimes.com. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/nyregion/31pizza.html?_r=2&ref=nyregion. 
7. ^ http://gothamist.com/2007/06/07/closed_by_doh_a.php
8. ^ http://gawker.com/#!245575/di-fara-pizza-one-slice-free-droppings
9. ^ Walker, Dalton (June 7, 2007). "A Beloved Brooklyn Pizzeria Is Closed, Again, by the Health Dept". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/07/nyregion/07pizza.html?ex=1338955200&en=6fb84f08280a78ec&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink. 

External links

• Di Fara Pizza Official Website
• The New York Observer on June 12, 2007: Pizzeria One With Everything—Except the Health Department
• Review on Slice, America's Favorite Pizza Weblog (April 3, 2007)
• New York Times on July 18, 2004: Domenico DeMarco told reporter Jeff Vandam secrets of the slice
• What is DiFara's? A short video about Di Fara Pizza