Neighborhood pizzerias are ubiquitous in Queens, which means that distinguishing the outstanding from the mediocre can prove challenging to anyone craving a slice of pizza or a dish of pasta.
For a neighborhood pizza that is truly in the neighborhood, try Matese Pizzeria & Restaurant in Bayside. In operation for over 30 years, the pizza pros at Matese provide old world eats in a traditional setting.
“Our experience is what keeps us popular,” said owner Tony. “We have been open for so long that people just know that they can expect the best from us.”
Matese offers the classic list of appetizers including fried calamari, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers and buffalo wings. The wings are available in 12, 18 and 24 pieces and can also be ordered in barbecue sauce that is sweeter than the fiery buffalo style.
If you are looking for comfort in a bowl, then try one of Matese’s three soups: pasta fagioli, pasta lentil and chicken noodle. Tony recommends the pasta fagioli, a customer favorite that easily warms over any jangled nerves.
For a cool and crisp respite from the coming summer heat, try any of Matese’s super salads. Available in house, antipasto, garden, Caesar or Greek, Matese has the answer for any vegetable eating connoisseur. Plus, you can add either grilled or fried chicken cutlet to any of their salads.
Matese’s classic cheese pizza is exactly what should come to mind when you think of New York-style Neapolitan pizza. This round pie is loaded with just enough cheese and a sauce that is the perfect balance of sweet and salty.
Their list of specialty pizzas is long and rich with originality and flavor. Offerings like the spinach alfredo and chicken parmigiana pizzas stand out as unexpected contenders for the best slices in Bayside. Their most popular pizza, the Sicilian, is a thick and hearty rectangular revelation with a homemade sauce that will send you back to the days of grandma’s house.
Matese also prepares exceptional pasta and entree dishes as well. Available in both individual and family sizes, chose from penne chicken with broccoli to gnocchi to shrimp Fra Diavolo. If you prefer to eat with your hands, try the many calzone and hero options.
With their fresh ingredients, reasonable prices and personable staff, Matese should have little difficulty sticking around for another 30 years and beyond.
Matese Pizzeria & Restaurant
26-15 Francis Lewis Boulevard
Bayside, NY 11358
Tel: 718-352-0298, 718-352-7716
Fax: 718-352-6132
Hours: Open seven days a week, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Catering: Yes
Delivery: Yes
All Major Credit Cards Accepted
