A Manhattan corner pizzeria has chosen Dubai for its first branch outside the US. East Village Pizza, which has served slices at 1st Avenue and 9th Street since 1997, now has a home at Meadows Village Mall, with slices from AED 23 and whole pizzas from AED 60.
It’s a rare move for a neighbourhood slice shop. Owner Frank Kabatas didn’t open a second store in New York. He licensed the name to a partner in Dubai instead. He has said the concept will flex a little here, but the pizza, the ingredients and the pizza-making system will stay 100% the same.
The dough is the point
Kabatas built the business on homemade dough that proofs for 72 hours, and on a strict “no frozen stuff” rule. It’s a long wait for a quick bite, and it’s what the slices are known for. The story behind it is a nice one too: by his own account, Kabatas started out by getting fired as a delivery guy. Expect the classic New York shape: wide, foldable slices that you can eat standing up, ideally with a napkin in your other hand.
The pizza made only for Dubai
The one to try is the Dubai Royale, a pizza created exclusively for this branch. It combines mozzarella, stracciatella, pistachio cream, crushed pistachios and hot honey. Sweet, salty, creamy and a little spicy, it reads like a love letter to a city that adores pistachio everything.
If you’d rather build a meal around the classics, the menu also has a variety of garlic knots, Caesar salads, New York cheesecakes and Tiramisu. The pizzeria is also bringing its infamous double-stacked pizza, signature oversized 20-inch pies and classic foldable NYC slices.
Plan your visit
- Location: The Meadows Village, 1st Rd, Al Thanyah Fourth
- Timings: Daily from 11am to 10pm
- For reservations, call +971 4 584 7777 or check the official page for details.
Kabatas has said he wants to take the brand to big cities worldwide, naming Dubai and possibly Istanbul. For now, the first stamp in the passport is Meadows Village, and it’s worth a visit.
