LaRocco’s Pizzeria In Culver City – Real New York Pizza
Full disclosure: I love pizza.
More disclosure: I’m not from nor have I ever lived in New York.
So how do I know LaRocco’s Pizzeria is real New York Pizza? Because Paul and Sue LaRocco would not settle for anything less. Transplanted to LA from the Big Apple decades ago, they never lost their love for a good slice and opened their first pizzeria in the OC a few years back. Last year they got a hot tip about Culver City being a great place to be so they settled on Main Street about eight months ago and business has been very good. (It didn’t hurt that they have kids and grandkids in nearby Westchester!)
Okay, I can hear you saying, “Yeah yeah, that’s a touching story, Miss Non-New Yorker, but how would you know if it’s really authentic, really?” How about this: They import their water from New York to make their dough. Or this: When you ask about toppings Paul says, “Don’t even think about asking for pineapple or chicken, ’cause that ain’t pizza.” They refer to them as “pies.” They only have one size: 18″. They open at 11 am and “when they run out of dough, they close…That’s it!”
And the dough is heaven in a cardboard box (or paper plate). Thin, but thick enough to support the toppings with a well practiced fold. Crispy with just enough chewiness so you can taste the flavor of the dough. The toppings are classic, with different options to keep you coming back for more. And the meats they use are the best quality pepperoni, sausage and meatballs made in traditional Italian style at Marisa Foods in Long Beach.
My friend Jenny who lives in Culver City had this to say: “We took a LaRocco’s pie to the home of one of the biggest NY pizza snobs we know- and he loved it. Loved.”
Still don’t believe me? Just go to LaRocco’s and taste for yourself.
LaRocco’s Pizzeria
3819 Main Street, Culver City
310-837-8345
Yes, they deliver!
Click past the jump for more mouthwatering photos.
mmmm...Pizzza....mmmm
Please notice the middle pie in the top row — that’s the Tuesday Farmer’s Market veggie special.
Best Looking Lunch!
They also have salads as well as sandwiches and calzones and beer and wine.
Paul is Proud of his Pizza!
Fresh as can be
Where the pizza magic happens!
Right out of the oven.
This was the pie I was forced FORCED to take home with me! My husband and I gorged a bit.
Did I mention I love pizza?
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As an ex-New Yorker who never lost her taste for the pizza, I will volunteer to lead an expedition to Culver City to determine whether this stuff is the real deal.
As Michael Jackson would say, "I’ll be there."
Well researched! Nice work. Mmm. Hungry now.
I don’t know if I’d say I’m snobby about pizza so much as picky and this looks *exactly* like what I love! I can’t wait to try this place!
Great. Now I have to have pizza. Right NOW! And at this time of day, Culver City is a long way from Silver Lake.
I’m always on the lookout for good New York style pizza. Thanks for this!
This place is the real deal. The 6.50 lunch special is awesome: 2 slices any style and a drink, or 1 slice and salad. Only caveats are that they don’t seem to rotate out the pizza they use for slices very often and the salads are pre-made in a fridge.
Still, pretty good and I can’t think of a better way to spend 6.50 on lunch.
I don’t even like pizza, and this place looking freakin’ awesome.
This was totally a PSA Julia. Thank you. I vote this is where we go after we get tattoos.