First Look: Prince St. Pizza provides a slice of NYC in BR
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Capital Region pizza lovers no longer have to hop on a plane to the Empire State for an authentic slice, thanks to NYC-born pizza chain Prince St. Pizza’s first Louisiana location.
Whole pies and slices in varying styles are up for grabs at the new pizza joint, located at 6556 Siegen Ln. Expect thin, circular pies and the brand’s thick Sicilian “SoHo” squares loaded with toppings. The shop opens Friday, Oct. 9, with a “pizza cutting” celebration featuring former MMA fighter Jon “Bones” Jones.
“We’re known for our Sicilian ‘SoHo’ squares. It’s more of a focaccia-style dough. But we serve the traditional New York Neapolitan-style round pies as well,” Prince St. Pizza partner and national director of operations Raymond Durbin says. “We believe if you can put a sauce on pasta, you can put it on pizza. So we got some great combinations.”
Prince St. Pizza isn’t your typical pizza spot. Instead, the chain takes pride in its Empire State roots, importing New York WaterMaker machines that adjust alkalinity and pH levels to create water that mimics the water in New York. This special water is used in both the sauce and the dough to produce the same taste, no matter the location.
Once inside, customers will get that NYC feel with the restaurant’s subway-tiled floors and walk-up counter for ordering slices. That vibe is furthered by a brick wall displaying framed photos of celebs who have tried Prince St. Pizza, like Kim Kardashian, Adam Sandler, Usher and other notable faces.
“We want to deliver not only a New York pizza, but a New York experience for the guests,” Durbin says. “These things are what made our original shop in New York such a cult favorite.”
Prince St. Pizza’s pies are lined up and on display behind glass at the counter. Once a customer makes a selection, the slices are heated to order and served up no-frills on a paper plate covered in branded deli paper.
“Pizza by the slice is hard to come by, and we wanted to deliver that experience to everybody,” Durbin says.
Of course, full pies are available too, plus desserts and sides. For first-timers, Durbin recommends some of Prince St. Pizza’s best-sellers like the Spicy Spring, with Fra Diavolo sauce, pepperoni, fresh mozzarella and Pecorino Romano; or The Naughty Pie, with spicy vodka sauce, pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, whipped ricotta and Zab’s Hot Honey. For a sweet finisher, Durbin nominates the brown butter chocolate chip cookie.
“[The Spicy Spring and The Naughty Pie] pair great with our Not Ranch sauce,” Durbin suggests. “True New Yorkers know you don’t put ranch on pizza, but we wanted to have a dippable option for the people that like that. So we have our Not Ranch. It’s more like a garlic aioli, and I’ve got to tell you, my favorite is the Spicy Spring with that Not Ranch.”
Prince St. Pizza opened in 2012 in Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood. The Morano family started the brand with the mantra “If you can put it on pasta, you can put it on pizza.” Prince St. Pizza gained a following in New York and has since expanded to locations in California, Miami and Canada. This is the brand’s first Louisiana location.
Durbin says he’s excited for the brand to open a location in what he calls a “high-energy college town” and hopes people will stop in for a pre-game pie or post-game slice. And while the shop pays homage to its hometown of New York City, the new location also has nods to Baton Rouge with murals by local artist Bryson Boutte.
“It’s not just about another location for us,” Durbin says. “It’s about bringing great food to the community and getting involved with the community. One of our things is to deliver happiness, and that’s what we want to do here in Baton Rouge.”
