Quick story... When Bandit was just getting started out of the basement apartment on South 2nd in Brooklyn, we got a knock on our door. It was our upstairs neighbor, Chef Will Unseld (the guy who led the kitchens at Misi and Lillia) asking if he could use our microscopic patio to cook pizza on with his new Oonie oven. The pizza making began and we served as hypercritical taste testers, laboring over every ingredient and minor detail (read: stuffing our face and nodding in approval). Fast forward a full calendar year and Will with his partner Sean Feeney, have opened Fini Pizza on Bedford Ave.
If you haven't been yet, Fini's pizza is like hearing The Beatles for the first time. They're doing things with recipes that are defying every law of pizza physics.
This Thursday (11/3), say 7pm, would be an ideal time to swing by. We're hosting A Night of 'Za out front with free pizza, games, giveaways, music, and pre-marathon vibes.
We grabbed a slice with Will and asked him our usual array of hard-hitting questions...
Hey Will, you can choose any five of the following 12 questions to answer.
I'm going to answer them all.
Alrighty then. And away... we... go... What are the top three qualities of a damn good slice of 'za?
1. Balance, 2. Crisp and soft dough, 3. Sweet and acidic sauce. Toppings are compliments.
Favorite pizza scene in a TV show or movie?
Home Alone limo vibes.
I low key knew you were going to say that. NEXT: Talk to me about your white pie. It's drastically different than any other I've had. Give me the formuoli.
White pies are often an afterthought, bland over cooked cheese with toppings that overpower. I wanted something that complimented the cheese, we landed on lemon fonduta.
That doesn't quite explain how I ate an entire pie in one sitting, but I'll take it. End the debate once and for all... Is pineapple an acceptable topping?
No comment.
Portnoy showed up 10 days into your soft opening and hit you with a 7.9. How we feeling?
Who's Portnoy?
What's the best pizza in Brooklyn, besides Fini of course?
Lucali forever.
Word. Will Fini be coming out with a garlic knot soon? Cha'boi likes a lil' appateezer with his 'za.
That's knot an appetizer. Also, no.
What's missing from the pizza world that Fini is looking to add?
A slice shop that pushes the boundaries on creativity, quality of ingredients and hospitality. It makes me happy when I hear guests say that they don't feel heavy or gross after eating our pizza, that they don't miss the cheese on the tomato pie, that our pepperoni tastes real.
Favorite pizza you conjured up that didn't make the menu?
Sungold tomato and pesto swirl.
Between scorching hot pizza ovens and sharp pizza cutters, how the hands looking these days?
Freddy Kruger status. How are your feet?
I'll be asking the questions here, thank you very much. A first-timer walks in, what're you recommending?
Don't sleep on the Sicilian. Tomato and parm with garlic breadcrumbs. Also, our Italian Ice is special.
Yeah, bigggg fan of the Italian Ice over here. Alright, last question. What's the worst customer review you've gotten so far?
"Fini? More like Finito!"
Whoever said that isn't invited to our Night of 'Za. Thanks Will. You the man.
