PANUOZZO!

Made a much anticipated stop into San Matteo Pizza and Espresso Bar on the upper east side for a famous Panuozzo.  Alongside we tasted a Pizza Margheritta and to drink the ever so friendly sparkling red Gragnano.  The Panuozzo sandwich was born in 1983 in the town of Gragnano, just south of Naples where they are also famous for their dried pasta. For a Panuozzo you start by cooking some pizza dough, then slice it lengthwise, and fill it with your favorite ingredients.  When you go and visit the owner Ciro at this hole in the wall restaurant you really feel like your in Campania.  Not much english spoken here, and the only way to pronounce this so called ''panuozzo'' is with your best Neopolitan accent.  Also give their espresso a try, pulled alla napoletana with the classic hand controlled pressure. 

San Matteo Pizza and Espresso Bar

1739 2nd Ave
(between 90th St & 89th St)
Manhattan, NY 10128