FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com JULY 7, 2016 • TIMES 23 buzz QUEENS BY MARIA GOTAY editorial@ridgewoodtimes.com @RidgewoodTimes It’s 1 p.m. on Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood, and the lunchtime crowd is fi lling the sidewalk, swarming one establishment in particular: Joe & John’s, the neighborhood’s favorite pizza parlor since 1968. Only a few clues — like a new sign and a fresh red paint job — hint that the establishment has entered a new era of ownership, benefi ting from the face-lift that goes along with it. Serving thick pies overfl owing with cheese and pepperoni, it’s no wonder Joe & John’s has been a hit for almost 50 years. Many Ridgewood old timers remember the restaurant fondly through the ’80s and ’90s, but the positive reviews stopped rolling in when new management took over and put out a less-than-satisfactory pie around 2008. After many shifts in ownership, it seems to have fi nally landed in the right hands. So things are back to good at Joe & John’s, as many Yelpers confi rm. Jeramiah M. summarizes it well: “This shop has been around since I was a kid. Back in the day it was the best pizza ever. Then they switched owners and it turned to crap. Recently some young guys have taken over and brought life back to this establishment. Not only with the food but the costumer service is A+.” New owner Sal Pinto, who greets customers by name and always wears a smile, is quick to remember the Joe & John’s of times past with respect. He grew up eating here, and his father was good friends with John, one of the original owners of the joint. Things fell into place for him and partner James to take over the lease and continue the legacy of this great pizza joint — with an update. Pinto is young and sees eye-to-eye with a new generation of Ridgewood residents, hence the slick new paint job and hip, light-bulb-fi lled namesake sign, and renovations will continue through September. He also wants to update the menu to appeal to a new wave of customers, “to keep up with the times but still keep it oldschool,” he says. Classics on the menu remain solidly rooted in Italian tradition, and are mouth-watering and delicious, like the grandma pie ($3), made with an old-fashioned marinara recipe, and the Arancini (Sicilian rice balls), fi lled with beef and peas ($3). Fun new additions include the chicken Caesar slice ($4), which is basically a whole salad stacked on top of a cheese slice, and the upsidedown Sicilian slice ($4), which features mozzarella on the bottom. The restaurant also features a menu of salads and pastas, and is bringing a wave of healthy new options including whole wheat and gluten-free pies as well as zucchini noodles. So, if it’s lunchtime or otherwise, and you’re craving some old-school Italian deliciousness, grab a slice at the new and improved Joe & John’s! Joe & John’s is open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is located at 59-10 Myrtle Ave., Ridgewood, Queens. Joe & John’s Under new ownership, old timer Ridgewood pizza joint is keeping up with times QNS/Photos by Maria Gotay
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