Discovering North of Little Italy (NoLiTa)

My first official (non-personal) blog post is about food. Huh. Not surprising, actually.

Last night, despite the unbelievable traffic in Makati, my boyfriend, Borgy (Hi, love! :")) and I spent (an awful long) time flagging down a taxi to get to Bonifacio High Street just to satisfy my curiosity and craving for Nolita's Pizza.

Tucked between the fancier restaurants and shops of Bonifacio High Street, stands an unassuming pizza place called Nolita or North of Little Italy which boasts of an Authentic New York Style pizza.

Nolita's interior creating a spotlight feel.

We arrived at around 7:00pm and the place was alive and packed with yuppies (young professionals), foreigners, and casual businessmen alike. 

The place was--how do I describe it--minimalist? Lamps hung overhead, mirrors on walls, park-bench-styled wooden chairs and tables, a pizza counter, and a cashier. The style was laid-back; no wonder people chose this place to stay over the fancier restaurants surrounding it.

Cashier's small counter with their beverage and brews.

We found a table near the pizza counter and started going through the menu overhead. 

Honestly, the menu was a bit overwhelming. With all the words and prices crammed on that chalkboard, it was a bit hard to read. So we decided to just choose from the different pizzas displayed on their counter. Good thing the pizza guy (really, they call them the pizza guy) was nice enough willing to answer my "Kuya, ano to?" questions regarding the pizzas. I ended up ordering the Chicken Parmesan (P250) an my boyfriend ordered the Cheeseburger Pizza (P210).

Nolita's chalkboard menu

When they served the pizza, I realized they didn't give us any fork or knives for eating. I saw the small nook where you get the utensils and I had to chuckle at what was displayed on the wall behind it (apologies for the crappy picture, bad lighting):

"Put That Fork Down and Eat With Your Hands"

Even so, I just had to use a fork and knife because I cannot for the life of me have people turn away from seeing me eat with my hands. Borgy, did just fine, though. Not surprised at all since he's always lecturing me on how you eat a pizza 'New Yorker style'. 

Appearance-wise, they look good--not too oily, mouth-watering, and overall pizza-ish. As you can see, their slices are HUGE!

Truthfully, I'm not much of a pizza girl and I haven't eaten any real "pizza from New York" so I couldn't say much about their tagline (sorry!) but I'm guessing it's a close one, or else their place wouldn't have been so packed, right? Anyway, the Chicken Parmesan is a good blend of cheese and chicken. Not so salty; the chicken was crunchy. Tip: don't use any hot sauce on it. ;)

Chicken Paremsan (P250)

 I've tasted Borgy's Cheeseburger Pizza as well and yes, it went true to its flavor. 

Cheeseburger Pizza (P210)

We both ordered takeout after eating. I went for a Buffalo Chicken without Blue Cheese (P250) since I don't know if my parents will like blue cheese or not. I've also ordered a Fried Peanut Butter & Grape Jelly Sandwich (P230) for take out. Borgy, on the other hand ordered Chicken Parmesan, Cheeseburger Pizza, and Steak & Eggs (P250) to bring home. If you buy at least 2 slices of pizza 'to-go' they will come in a cute vintage box. Otherwise, if you get only one pizza like I did, you'll get a pizza in a measly paper bag. 

Nolita's take-out box

According to my mom, the Buffalo Chicken Pizza was spicy, my type of food. ;) I wasn't able to taste it since I bought that for my parents so I'll save it for next time.

Their Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich was heavenly!

Fried Peanut Butter & Grape Jelly Sandwich (P230)

You can taste both flavors perfectly: the creamy peanut butter and that blend of sweet and tangy taste of grape jelly. Put it on this deliciously fried bread and voila! You get a nolita heaven! ;)

I think what did the trick was their fried bread. It added more interest to the flavor, a little smoky to the taste which complimented the creamy and sweet flavors of the filling. Their butter, which I think is their own recipe, was delicious as well. Not too creamy, but perfect for the bread.

Aside from pizza and that amazing PB&J sandwich, they also have other grubs which I'll taste next time I visit. They also have chocolate chip cookies and they even have imported beers and sodas for sale. If you're a fan of Hot Lips Soda, you'll find them here.  Steep price, though: P220 per bottle. No matter how curious I am of the taste, I cannot see myself spending that much for a soda.

Hot Lips Soda (P220)

Overall, eating at Nolita was a good experience. Though the prices don't come cheap, the pizzas are huge; unique when it comes to available flavors; and their Fried PB&J is fantastic. If you're looking for a casual place to eat this Friday night, I'd recommend Nolita. ;) Just don't go on peak hours to avoid a crowded place.

Nolita (North of Little Italy)
7th Ave. corner 29th St. South
Bonifacio High Street Central,
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Mon: 11:00am - 12:00am
Tue - Thu: 11:00am - 02:00am
Fri - Sat: 11:00am - 05:00am
Sun: 11:00am - 12:00am