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Rocco’s dishes out authentic NY style pizza in Tokyo

By on March 11, 2015

What could be more enjoyable to eat as a family than a good, old, New York style pizza? In the land of all things small, Rocco’s NY size pizza is truly a refreshing find.

Typically large in size, a NY style slice is commonly eaten folded in half so that sauce and other toppings collect more manageably. Rocco’s stays true to its ethos. Its pizzas are hand tossed, cooked in a deck oven and above all, measure 46 cms (large) and its 36 cms (medium) is roughly the large size equivalent at other restaurants. Another distinct characteristic is the crust.

“Essentially, it’s about the crust. It’s a thin crust pizza (but not paper thin like what’s often found in the Neapolitan style pizzerias that abound in Tokyo),with a bit of crispiness on the outside and texture within. The sauce is a contributing factor as well, and we make our own in-house,” explains Dan Burns,  New York native owner of Rocco’s who runs the pizzeria with his Japanese wife Keiko.

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Dan (extreme right), Keiko (center), with the kids and a family friend (center)

When Dan and Keiko opened Rocco’s in 2010, they were not put off by competition. On the contrary, as Dan claims, it is the ‘total lack of decent pizza in Tokyo, at least American style pizza, and especially NY style pizza’ that inspired them to give the project a go.

“There are a few places that stick NY style pizza onto their store names but they don’t come close. We thought we could do better and, five years in, I think we’ve shown that we have.”

“Rocco’s serves truly authentic NY style pizza, which, hard as it may be to believe, isn’t really available anywhere else in Tokyo. Both our dough and sauce are made in house and our mozzarella, pepperoni and Italian sausage are all imported (no gouda cheese on our pizzas!). We also serve Stromboli and Calzoni as well as Buffalo wings, BBQ wings, and three varieties of imported NY cheese cake. NFL, NBA and MLB games are also usually playing in our restaurant, which really makes stepping into Rocco’s feel like stepping into a pizzeria in the States.”

Cheese Pizza9

Rocco’s cheese pizza

The convivial feel at Rocco’s makes for a good family hangout. When it comes to kid’s menu, Dan recommends the same pizza he himself eats: Cheese pizza. “Most children that come to our store order this.”
“Maybe the children are smarter,” he jokingly remarks.

Aside from an extensive pizza menu, you can mix and match toppings. Rocco’s offers both regular and premium toppings ranging from Italian sausage and anchovies to Squid and extra Mozzarella cheese.

Calzone

Calzone

Wings2

Buffalo wings

The next time you crave for authentic NY pizza, give this place a visit.

Seat capacity: 18 indoor, 6 outside
Parties for up to 20 people welcome
Open Wed – Fri 11 am – 2pm & 5 – 9 pm
Sat 11 am – 9pm
Sun & Hol 11 am – 8pm
Cash only
Oji
1-1-24 Oji-honcho
Kita-ku, Tokyo 114-0022
(03)3906-9710
Closest station: Oji station by JR Keihin Tohoku line (Take North exit)
Oji station by Namboku line (Take exit 3)

http://www.roccosnewyorkstylepizza.com

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