{{Short description|Pizzeria in Brooklyn, New York}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}} {{Infobox restaurant | name = Di Fara Pizza | logo = | logo_width = | logo_alt = | image = DiFara1.JPG | image_width = | image_alt = | image_caption = The facade of Di Fara Pizza | pushpin_map = USA New York City | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = Location in New York City | slogan = | established = {{start date|1965}} | closed = | current_owner = Kavya Iyer | chef = Domenico De Marco<ref name="google1">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/foodloversguidet0000eise |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/foodloversguidet0000eise/page/232 232] |quote=Di Fara Pizza. |title=Food Lovers' Guide to Brooklyn: Best Local Specialties, Markets, Recipes, Restaurants, and Events |first=Sherri |last=Eisenberg |publisher=Globe Pequot |year=2010 |isbn=9780762759439 |access-date=January 18, 2019}}</ref> | head_chef = | food_type = | dress_code = | rating = | street_address = 1424 Avenue J | city = New York City | county = Kings County (Brooklyn) | state = New York | postcode = 11230 | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|40.62505|-73.9615|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | seating_capacity = 15 | reservations = | other_locations = Williamsburg | other_information = | website = {{URL|www.difarapizzany.com|DiFaraPizzaNY.com}} }} '''Di Fara Pizza''' is a pizzeria located at 1424 Avenue J in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, New York City. Situated on the corner of East 15th Street and Avenue J, the restaurant was owned and operated by Domenico DeMarco (1936–2022) from 1965.<ref name="google1" /><ref>{{citation |url=http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/difara_pizza/ |title=Di Fara Pizza |magazine=New York Magazine |access-date=June 2, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="DeMarco">{{citation |author2=As told to Jeff VanDam |author=DeMarco, Domenico |date=July 18, 2004 |title=Charred bubbles, and other secrets of the slice |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/18/nyregion/neighborhood-report-midwood-voice-charred-bubbles-other-secrets-slice.html |access-date=June 2, 2009 }}</ref>
Food critics and bloggers have regularly cited it as one of the best pizzerias in New York City. Di Fara has been labeled the "Best pizza in New York" several times by many publications, including ''New York'' and the online publication Serious Eats. ''The New York Times'' called the restaurant "one of the most acclaimed and sought-after pizza shops in New York City". In 2011, ''Zagat'' gave the restaurant the top pizza restaurant food rating in New York City, and in 2013, ''Frommer's'' called its pizza "the Best Hand-Made Pizza in New York City". Chef Anthony Bourdain also praised the restaurant's pizza.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCreary |first1=David |title=Restaurant Profile: Di Fara Pizza Tavern |url=https://www.carymagazine.com/food-and-dining/restaurant-profile-di-fara-pizza-tavern/ |website=Cary Magazine |access-date=22 December 2021}}</ref>
==History== Domenico DeMarco emigrated from the Province of Caserta, Italy, in 1959 and opened Di Fara Pizza in 1965. He said in a 2004 interview:
{{blockquote|I'm 69 years old. I've been in Brooklyn since 1959. I'm from Provincia di Caserta in Italy, near Napoli. When I got here, I spent three months in Long Island, in Huntington, working on a farm... then somebody put a bug in my head and said there's a good spot on Avenue J. I didn't even know Avenue J existed. So I come over here with my accountant on a Saturday night, and this corner was for rent. It was so crowded, the street. So I take the phone number, I call the landlord, and he says to come see me Sunday, make sure you bring a deposit.
When I opened the store, my partner's name was Farina. My name is DeMarco. So when the lawyer made the paper, he put the two names together. Di Fara. Di for me, and Fara for him. I bought my partner out in 1978, I think. I kept the same name; I didn't bother changing it.|DeMarco for ''The New York Times'', July 18, 2004<ref name="DeMarco" />}}
Dom DeMarco died on March 17, 2022, at the age of 85.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/17/dining/dom-demarco-dead-di-fara-pizza.html | title=One Pizza at a Time, He Defined the New York Slice | newspaper=The New York Times | date=March 17, 2022 | last=Wells | first=Pete}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/domenico-de-marco-di-fara-pizza/ | title=Domenico de Marco, owner of di Fara Pizza in Brooklyn, dies at age 85 | website=CBS News}}</ref>
==Description== ===Pizza=== Prior to DeMarco's death, each pizza pie was handmade by him, and the pizzeria was closed whenever he was unavailable.<ref name="DeMarco"/> Three of his seven children worked in the back area of the restaurant.<ref name="DeMarco"/>
He made 100 to 150 pies a day.<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/nyregion/31pizza.html |work=The New York Times |first=Manny |last=Fernandez |title=Straight Out of Brooklyn, the $5 Slice |date=July 31, 2009}}</ref><ref name="nytimes2">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/nyregion/16pizza.html |work=The New York Times |first=Manny |last=Fernandez |title=Where a Meal Can Cost a Fortune, 99¢ Pizza Catches On |date=March 15, 2010}}</ref><ref name="southcoasttoday1">{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Goldman |url=http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080507/LIFE/805070320/-1/ENTERTAIN |title=A giant among pizza makers |publisher=SouthCoastToday.com |date=May 7, 2008 |access-date=January 18, 2013 |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213162006/http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080507/LIFE/805070320/-1/ENTERTAIN |url-status=dead}}</ref> DeMarco used imported ingredients – flour, extra-virgin olive oil, San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella cheese from Casapulla, freshly grated grana padano (a slightly salty hard cow's milk cheese), three types of mozzarella cheese, and hand-grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, all from Italy, and basil and oregano from Israel.<ref name="nytimes1" /><ref name="nytimes2" /><ref name="southcoasttoday1" /> In a windowsill flower box, he grew thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary, and hot peppers. He cut fresh basil over each pie with a pair of kitchen scissors.<ref name="nytimes1" /><ref name="DeMarco"/> The pizzas baked for a few minutes at about {{Convert|800|F|C}}.<ref name="southcoasttoday1" /><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TgIIefE4DGIC&dq=%22difara%22+pizza+-%22Di+Fara+Pizza%22&pg=PT162 |title=AARP New York City 2012 |publisher=Frommer's |date=May 30, 2012 |isbn=9781118268650 |access-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref> In July 2009, Di Fara raised its price for a plain slice of pizza from $4 to $5, becoming the first $5-a-slice pizza place in New York City.<ref name="nytimes2" /><ref>{{cite news |author=Fernandez, Manny |title=Straight Out of Brooklyn, the $5 Slice |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/nyregion/31pizza.html?_r=2&ref=nyregion |work=The New York Times |date=July 30, 2009}}</ref>
When Di Fara's opened 1965, a slice was 15 cents, {{Inflation|US|.15|1965|2022|fmt=eq|r=2}}. After the NY World's Fair, the price rose to 25 cents. As of 2023, Di Fara's still sells what is likely New York City's most expensive slice at $5. However, a large 8 slice pie is $30 which comes out to $3.75 a slice.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
===Restaurant=== The nondescript restaurant is located on Avenue J next to a 99 cent store.<ref name="nytimes1" /><ref name="google3">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fIAuxa6ic9EC&dq=%22difara%22+pizza+-%22Di+Fara+Pizza%22&pg=PT344 |title=Frommer's New York City 2013 |first=Brian |last=Silverman, Kelsy Chauvin |year=2012 |isbn=9781118331446 |access-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref> The restaurant only has 15 seats,<ref name="nytimes1" /><ref name="southcoasttoday1" /> but the pizzeria is so popular that crowds sometimes form on the sidewalk outside, as the wait can be as long as one to two hours.<ref name="nytimes1" /><ref name="southcoasttoday1" /><ref name="google2">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VulURH322jEC&dq=%22Di+Fara+Pizza%22&pg=PA229 |title=Food Lovers' Guide to Brooklyn, 2nd: The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings |first=Sherri |last=Eisenberg |publisher=Globe Pequot |year=2012 |isbn=9780762788903 |access-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref>
Di Fara's has been closed a number of times by the NYC health department due to unsanitary conditions.<ref name="Chung">{{cite news |first=Jen |last=Chung |url=http://gothamist.com/2007/06/07/closed_by_doh_a.php |title=Closed by DOH Again, Di Fara's Faces Uncertain Future |publisher=Gothamist |date=June 7, 2007 |access-date=January 19, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312185711/http://gothamist.com/2007/06/07/closed_by_doh_a.php |archive-date=March 12, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="Walker">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/07/nyregion/07pizza.html?ex=1338955200&en=6fb84f08280a78ec&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink |work=The New York Times |first=Dalton |last=Walker |title=A Beloved Brooklyn Pizzeria Is Closed, Again, by the Health Dept |date=June 7, 2007}}</ref><ref name="nbcnewyork.com">[https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/beloved-brooklyn-pizza-shop-temporarily-closed-over-health-code-violations/476251/ Beloved Brooklyn Pizza Shop Di Fara Temporarily Closed Over Health Code Violations]</ref> It was also closed briefly in 2019 over unpaid state taxes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tuder |first1=Stefanie |title=Legendary Di Fara Reopens After Giving NYC Pizza Fans a Minor Panic Attack |url=https://ny.eater.com/2019/8/22/20828358/di-fara-taxes-reopen-midwood-nyc |website=Eater NYC |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref>
==Reviews== thumb|Dom DeMarco cutting a Sicilian pie at DiFara's In his 1998 book ''The Eclectic Gourmet Guide to Greater New York City'', Jim Leff called the sauce used by the restaurant: <blockquote>a restrained, low profile masterpiece of optimal acidity and spicing (bolstered by a goodly shake of black pepper). Like everything here it's delicious in a magically old-fashioned way.<ref name="southcoasttoday1" /></blockquote>
Since ''The Village Voice'', a New York City newspaper in Lower Manhattan, put DeMarco on its cover and proclaimed it as one of the "Best Italian restaurants",<ref name="DeMarco"/> Di Fara has been regarded as a top pizzeria by publications like the ''Daily News''.<ref name="DeMarco"/><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2008/10/06/2008-10-06_zagat_says_best_burger_pizza_bbq_found_i.html |title=Zagat says best burger, pizza, BBQ found in Brooklyn |author=Monahan, Rachel |date=October 6, 2008 |newspaper=Daily News }}</ref> Di Fara has received many awards, and has been labeled the "Best... pizza in New York" several times by many publications, including ''New York'' and the online publication ''Serious Eats''.<ref>{{citation |url=http://nymag.com/bestofny/food/2009/cheap-eats/ |author=Platt, Adam |author2=Raisfeld, Robin |author3=Patronite, Rob |title=Best bargains: our critics' favorite cheap food |date=March 9, 2009 |magazine=New York Magazine |access-date=June 2, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2004/01/di_fara.html |title=Di Fara Pizza: everything you need to know |author=Kuban, Adam |date=January 1, 2004 |magazine=Slice |access-date=June 2, 2009 }}</ref> In 2001, ''The New York Times'' critic Eric Asimov called it "surely the best by-the-slice pizza in New York",<ref>{{cite news |first=Eric |last=Asimov |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/29/politics/campaign/29ASIM.html |title=NEW YORK 2004: DINING OUT; Beyond the Garden, Culinary Delights |work=The New York Times|date=August 29, 2004 |access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref> and in 2006, ''The New York Sun'' called it "the city's finest pizza".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nysun.com/arts/glories-of-midwood/44882/ |title=The Glories of Midwood |newspaper=The New York Sun |date=December 8, 2006 |access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref>
In 2007, chef Anthony Bourdain called the restaurant's pizza "the best of the best" in the book ''Kitchen Confidential Updated Ed: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly''.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bxLbZ2kGddIC&dq=%22difara%22+pizza+-%22Di+Fara+Pizza%22&pg=RA1-PA18 |title=Kitchen Confidential Updated Ed: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly |first=Anthony |last=Bourdain |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2007 |isbn=9780060899226 |access-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref> In 2008, ''The Village Voice'' wrote that "the best pizza in all New York is at Di Fara's", and Zagats gave it a food rating of 27, placing it among the top 15 restaurants of any type in New York City.<ref>{{cite news |first=Francine |last=Russo |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2002-11-19/nyc-life/close-up-on-midwood/ |title=Close-Up on Midwood – NYC Life |newspaper=Village Voice |date=November 19, 2002 |access-date=January 19, 2013 |archive-date=December 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214163033/http://www.villagevoice.com/2002-11-19/nyc-life/close-up-on-midwood/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/eats/midwood-pizza-slice-heaven-zagat-article-1.226746 |title=Midwood pizza slice of heaven – Zagat |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=October 10, 2007 |access-date=January 19, 2013 |location=New York}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' wrote in 2009 that Di Fara is "one of the most acclaimed and sought-after pizza shops in New York City".<ref name="nytimes1" />
In 2011, Zagats again gave the restaurant a food rating of 27, the top pizza restaurant food rating in New York City.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CjyzF1RSWoQC&dq=%22Di+Fara+Pizza%22&pg=PA199 |title=2011 America's Top Restaurants – Zagat Survey |date=November 2, 2010 |publisher=Zagat |isbn=9781604783087 |access-date=January 18, 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> That year, the ''New York Daily News'' readers rated it the #1 pizza in the city.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/best-new-york-cheese-pizza-slice-difara-artichoke-famed-patsy-article-1.151446 |title=Best of New York's cheese pizza slice: DiFara's comes out ahead of Artichoke and famed Patsy's |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=January 16, 2011 |access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref> In 2013, Zagats yet again gave the restaurant a food rating of 27, with a decor rating of 6.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KqfxBz3fKzUC&dq=%22Di+Fara+Pizza%22&pg=PT585 |title=2013 New York City Restaurants – Zagat Survey |isbn=9781604786637 |access-date=January 18, 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Also in 2013, ''Frommer's'' called its pizza the Best Hand-Made Pizza in New York City.<ref name="google3" />
During the 2013 New York mayoral campaign, Democratic nominee (and later, Mayor) Bill de Blasio declared Di Fara to be the best pizza in the city.<ref>{{cite web |last=Del Signore |first=John |title=Best Pizza In NYC Is Di Fara, De Blasio Declares In Reddit AMA |url=http://gothamist.com/2013/10/08/di_fara_best_pizza_in_nyc_de_blasio.php |publisher=Gothamist |access-date=October 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008213213/http://gothamist.com/2013/10/08/di_fara_best_pizza_in_nyc_de_blasio.php |archive-date=October 8, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
==Gallery== <div align=center><gallery caption="" widths="225px" heights="225px"> Di Fara Pizza's Pizza.jpg|DeMarco adding fresh basil to a Di Fara Pizza DiFaraInterior.JPG|The interior of Di Fara Pizza, with DeMarco in the doorway </gallery></div>
==See also== * List of restaurants in New York City * Pizza by the slice
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==Further reading== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090412045922/http://www.observer.com/2007/pizzeria-one-everything-except-health-department The New York Observer on June 12, 2007]: Pizzeria One With Everything—Except the Health Department * [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/18/nyregion/neighborhood-report-midwood-voice-charred-bubbles-other-secrets-slice.html New York Times on July 18, 2004]: Domenico DeMarco told reporter Jeff Vandam secrets of the slice
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.difarapizzany.com/}} * [http://vimeo.com/304481 What is DiFara's?] A short video about Di Fara Pizza
{{Restaurants in Brooklyn, New York}}
Category:Italian-American culture in New York City Category:Midwood, Brooklyn Category:Pizzerias in New York City Category:Restaurants established in 1965 Category:European restaurants in Brooklyn Category:1965 establishments in New York City