I had to make a last minute in-and-out of NYC, but it did provide an opportunity to check out Keste and Motorino. I went to Keste for dinner last night (first two pics). My phone ran out of batteries, so I only got a couple shots. I did a little better at Motorino today at lunch. I only included the last picture below because seeing me in a suit is rather unusual (and some folks might want to see the oven…
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Very different pies at these places. Both crusts were good, flavorful and relatively tender. The Keste pie baked in about 70 seconds or so. The Motorino pies were 2:45 and 3:00 respectively. As you would expect, the Motorino Margherita, crust and sauce, was a little (lot) dryer than the Keste – though the cheese was a little wetter. The Keste dough appeared to be more fermented (but not to the extent I’ve seen in some pics), but I’d say the Motorino crust had a little more flavor. They are a different style, and I would not necessarily say one is better than the other, but they are enough different that I’d bet most folks who have had both have a definite favorite one way or the other.
Keste’s sauce was a little bitter for my taste. I’d have added a little sugar. Motorino’s was a little sweeter. I also preferred Motorino’s cheese (both were buffalo). The Brussels sprouts pie was very wet. Surprisingly wet. Toppings-sliding-off-the-end-of-the-pizza wet. Between the cheese and sprouts, there was a lot of water on top of the pie. Nevertheless, it was an excellent pie – one of my all-time favorites. I would never have guessed it, but pancetta is better than applewood smoked bacon (what I have been using) on this pie – a lot better - wow, did I really just write that? Better than applewood smoked bacon - words I never thought I write or say. They also use a lot more sprouts than I have, and it is better that way.
I only tried the Margherita at Keste as I was not all that hungry. I’m headed back to NY in a couple weeks and will try some of their other pies then. There are a lot of them on the menu that sound very very good.
The Motorino Margherita was better than the last UPN Margherita I ate there before Anthony moved to SF. They had a lunch special where a pie and a salad was $12. Of course, I ordered two specials. Both my Motorino pies today cost me about the same as one pie from UPN. I told them to keep the salads. I figured the Brussels sprouts counted.
The staff was great at both. Very friendly and a lot of fun to talk to. I didn’t go to either at peak time.
From the Jet Blue lounge at JFK,
CL
