#InauguralReview #Gaudios Family-Owned and Operated Since 1958 by Founder the Late Great Luigi Gaudio and Since 1990 by the Equally Amazing Dominick Gaudio His Son #SouthernItalian #Pizzeria #Ristorante #Calabria 40-13 30th Ave #Astoria #Queens #NewYork
From the pizza perfection of both Peachy's vegetable selections and then the Classic Cheese to the Lobster Ravioli and "Tails Up" Shrimp Scampi, Gaudio's showcases the best of Calabrian Cuisine and is our first discovery in Astoria, Queens, New York City!
It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and now we know Dominick Gaudio, owner of Gaudio's!
We've spent 17 years finding the Best in Manhattan. Sometimes, you can find even better in Queens, namely, when you know Dominick Gaudio, master of pizza hospitality and so much more. A shining diamond in Astoria, Gaudio's hit it out of the park on our very first visit ever not only to their venue but to the entire neighborhood. If we ever consider another venue in this neighborhood, they ought to know they have a tough act to follow! Peachy nearly never leaves Manhattan and stays in New York.
Owner since 1990, Dominick Gaudio graciously greeted us with a sparkling smile of genuine professionalism the moment we walked in, and right down to the spotless bathrooms, Gaudio's is all pinkies-out with beautiful interiors from the gorgeous ceiling to the pristine tablecloths to the extensive menu of excellence. There is no weak spot we found on the menu. Clearly, Dominick was born to excel in this realm and we are only getting started. Gaudio's outperformed many places in Manhattan that can be comfortable sitting on their laurels. Sadly, we were born too late to work with founder Luigi Gaudio, Dominick's father. Luigi Gaudio came to New York in 1956 and first worked with his uncles in the Bronx at 158th and Melrose. Later, Luigi opened Gaudio's in this exact location in 1958; Dominick told us that the slices back in the day were around fifteen cents! Happily, we were born just at the right time to work with Dominick Gaudio, and they have come a long way, baby.
So yes, their pizza is truly spectacular but no, they are not merely a pizza place. Gaudio's is a Italian institution of great culinary depth and talent. The Italian salad arrives in style with tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh mozzarella, green and black olives, iceberg lettuce, pimentos and provolone, each element a beacon of freshness. House dressing came in a silver boat on the side because you know who likes to apply her own dressing, and in this case it was a house vinaigrette. Of course, the salads are made to order and the Caesar Salad was equally commanding and we decided to add shrimp. Not only can you add shrimp, but the shrimp are sizeable enough that they can and do butterfly it too, incorporated into the expert grilling.
The Baked Clams were hams and insisted on properly mugging for the camera.
Note we never edit pictures.
You excel like Dominick, or we do not publish.
You excel like Dominick, or we do not publish.
They really do look this sublime in real life.
Some people talk about the great plains of America.
We talk about the great plains of pizza. From the superlative cheese and sauce and their ratio to each other to the triumphant fluffy crust which we just adored, Gaudio's large cheese pizza is to be coveted from afar and enjoyed up close. Yes even if you live in Manhattan you ought to prioritize this pizza. And avid readers know that Peachy is a fan of vegetables on pizza, and the onions, mushrooms and broccoli here were super competitive in their ultimate freshness that just added to the pizza glory. It is so delicious you will be put under a culinary spell of pizza mesmerization. Everyone tells us they make great pizza. Gaudio's showed us.
The red sauce in particular in both the quality of the sauce itself and the application which is just right not overbearing or not under served is the most outstanding anywhere in recent memory especially for an inaugural review. If you can't bring yourself to walk across the Queensboro Bridge get in a car and pick up a takeout order at the very least: you need to make this pizza a priority in your life. Also it seems like this is not far from La Guardia so if you find yourself landing and dying for pizza, you know where to make a stop.
If she knew she could devote her life to Chicken Parm, Peachy would have started doing it sooner. However, it is well underway and we maybe are the only ones with a dedicated Chicken Parm column with Chicken Parm Peachy, featuring the very best Peachy's Picks. The rendition at Gaudio's is entirely charming and delicious, and of course although is pictured as an entree can also be a grinder/hero/sub depending on if you are from Connecticut/New York/Massachusetts. We are not going to define the other 47 states but geography is irrelevant when you discover quality Chicken Parm. In this case, the only geography you need is 30th avenue and Steinway Street. We know you can read a map, smart cookie readers!
The chicken parm itself in essence at Gaudio's is nothing short of spectacular and we were tremendously wowed.
There are places in this world where you cut into Lobster Raviolis and cannot see enough lobster.
Gaudio's is absolutely not one of them! The succulent nature of this majestic crustacean is expertly encased in ravishing ravioli that are just dying to meet you. This was a special when we visited and we are often universally enticed by lobster.
Gaudio's is absolutely not one of them! The succulent nature of this majestic crustacean is expertly encased in ravishing ravioli that are just dying to meet you. This was a special when we visited and we are often universally enticed by lobster.
If your Shrimp Scampi doesn't smile at you like that, you ought to check out Gaudio's!
From every angle, this is a winner and exhibited a competitive performance.
We believe there is a liquor license here however we did not explore that yet and can verify that the Root Beer hit the spot and Dominick understands Peachy is fueled by caffeine to close in on post 31,000....yes get a cappuccino at the end. We hear the desserts are superlative but alas Peachy's stomach was at a limit so we will tell you about them another time.
We know in many cases and especially in cases when there is such acclaimed history of a venue, that when a restaurant names a dish after themselves, it is quite often superior and indicative of what they think is best. To that end, meet Gaudio's Italian Hero, 12 inches of quality grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers and pesto sauce, delicious and invigorating and not your standard at all: a step above.
Well, as you may have guessed Peachy has not been here for 67 years, so it's incorrect to say that it took her 67 years to discover Gaudio's! But we're glad it didn't take her another day because it is a beacon of excellence across Ed's bridge and we would like to think the late great mayor was with us in spirit when we visited! In the world according to Peachy, the calories at Gaudio's do not count if you walk there across Ed's bridge from Manhattan. We can't wait to see what Dominick and Gaudio's do next.
Our address
40-13 30th Ave., Long Island City, NY 11103
Open hours
Daily 11:00 AM — 10:00 PM
