Sicilian Pizza on Staten Island: How a Thick Square Pie Is Made

Sicilian, square, grandma: what is the difference?

The words get used loosely around New York, so here is the working version we use in the kitchen. A Sicilian is a thick, airy pie baked in an oiled pan, so the bottom and the rim fry crisp while the middle stays soft and bread-like. Square is the shape most of those pans produce, so on Staten Island the two words mostly mean the same thing. A grandma slice is usually a thinner, no-nonsense rectangle — less rise, more sauce and cheese, cut into squares. If you want the fluffy, corner-heavy pie, ask for Sicilian.

How we make our Sicilian pies

The dough rises in the pan before it goes into the deck oven, which is what gives a Sicilian its open crumb and its golden, fried edge. Sauce and cheese go on top, and the pan comes out with four corners that most of our regulars fight over. Two of the pies on our pizza menu are built for exactly that:

• Old Fashioned Sicilian — the classic thick square, tomato sauce and mozzarella.
• Staten Island Sicilian — the same thick crust covered with vodka sauce instead of plain tomato.

If you want something a little more loaded, our pan pies come in the same family: Chicken Vodka, Spinach & Artichokes, Leonardo Pie with basil pesto and tomato sauce, BBQ Pan Pie and Buffalo Calamari. Each one is a full pan, so two of them will cover a table of eight alongside a couple of salads.

Getting the corners right

Corners are the reason people order Sicilian, and the reason a Sicilian travels better than a thin round pie: the thick crust holds its heat and its texture on the drive home. A few things that help:

• Pick it up hot if you can — the pan is at its best in the first ten minutes out of the oven.
• Reheat a slice in a dry skillet or a toaster oven rather than a microwave; the pan crust comes back.
• For a party, order one pan pie per four to five people and add a platter or a tray of rolls.

Delivery on the South Shore

We deliver to the 10309 through 10312 ZIP codes — Annadale, Huguenot and Eltingville up through Charleston, Pleasant Plains, Prince's Bay, Richmond Valley and Rossville. Full coverage and the details are on our areas we serve page. For a game night, a birthday or a wake, our catering menu lists the trays and platters we pre-order for groups.

Ready to order? Order online for delivery or pickup, or call 718-967-1000 and we will tell you what is coming out of the oven.