Voice-Tribune/LHB: Pizza with a New York accent at Hero's

[Robin Garr]

<table border="0" align="right" width="310"><tr><td><img src="http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/heros_pizza.jpg" border="1" align="right"></td></tr><tr><td>Thin and foldable, NYC-style, a cheese slice and a pepperoni slice from Hero's in Jeffersontown. Photos by Robin Garr</td></tr></table>Pizza with a New York accent at Hero's
(<b><i>Voice-Tribune</i>, May 10, 2007</b>)

Pizza has become an all-American food since immigrants from Southern Italy brought it over to the United States in Ellis Island days, and particularly since its popularity exploded nationwide after World War II.

What was originally a simple way for Italian peasant families to get rid of leftovers has become a national passion, with variations that range from New York City's thin, portable pizza by the slice to Chicago's deep-dish, casserole-style pie, and on to some of Wolfgang Puck's far-out California creations. Salmon and caviar pizza with creme fraiche, anyone?

If you grew up in Louisville, chances are that you're a fan of the piled-high pie made famous here by the Impellizzeris, Wick's, Clifton's and others.

But sometimes it's good to get back to the basics. There's something almost stylish in the simple, straightforward appeal of a New York City pizza, which in its turn is not all that far removed from the Neapolitan original. Less is more with these pies, which boast a very thin crust with a thicker rim that resembles quality Italian bread, lightly painted with just a thin coat of tangy, spicy tomato sauce, topped with a thicker coat of creamy molten mozzarella, and baked at a very high temperature - sometimes in a wood-burning oven - that endows the crust with a crisp, golden goodness. Toppings, if any, are discreetly applied, more as a condiment than an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Louisville has been blessed in recent years with a few quality pizzerias that vend pies in this tasty Big Apple style: Luigi's downtown and Fat Tony's in Plainview both do it very well; and the more upscale Bim Deitrich's Primo on East Market puts together a splendid wood-oven pizza that comes closer to authentic Italian than immigrant New York.

Now welcome Hero's New York Pizza Pub, a new pizzeria with a genuine New York accent.

<B>Hero's New York Pizza Pub</B>
10509 Watterson Trail
261-9339

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Another solid independent in the burbs. Hope they make it.

Wow. Thanks for this review. I'm a huge fan of Luigi's. I grew up in Northern New Jersey in the NYC suburbs and Luigi's pizza has been the closest I've had to that region's pizza. I'm going to have to take a little trip to Jeff to try the new place out. Getting that region's food around here isn't always easy but it's getting more and more possible. I have a batch of Sabrett's hot dogs I ordered online. Great stuff.

[Robin Garr]

Wow. Thanks for this review. I'm a huge fan of Luigi's. I grew up in Northern New Jersey in the NYC suburbs and Luigi's pizza has been the closest I've had to that region's pizza. I'm going to have to take a little trip to Jeff to try the new place out. Getting that region's food around here isn't always easy but it's getting more and more possible. I have a batch of Sabrett's hot dogs I ordered online. Great stuff.

John, do understand that this is "New York style" and comes pretty close, in my opinion, to the kind of pizza you can get at a street-corner pizza joint in NYC (maybe one of the hundred or so "Original Ray's") but it's certainly not up with Gotham's best. Luigi's might be a bit closer to authentic. But the slices certainly reminded me of the Big Apple, much more than most Louisville pizza does. And the atmosphere is nice, too, more of a sit-down and hang-out setting (plus a decent bar) than quick-service pizzerias.

Also, I haven't tried a whole pie yet, and assume they're the same style, but I can't confirm that. We specifically went for the slices to replicate the NY experience.

First off....this is my first post in the forum. I've been lurking for a while but after seeing John NA's post I had to register and post a response.

As a born and bred New Yorker displaced in Louisville, I miss much of the food I grew up eating. And that includes Sabrett Hot dogs, also known on the streets of New York as "Dirt Water Dogs" (Mmmmmm, I love those Dirt Water Dogs...)

I saw in your post that you had ordered Sabrett Hot Dogs online. I had looked into doing that myself but found that the shipping was pretty damned expensive.

Fortunately, I have found a better way to get them. At the Lowes on Hurstbourne road there is a guy with a pushcart selling Sabrett Hot dogs. He will also sell them in 2 lb. packages. I think it was $4.00 a lb, which really isnt too bad. There is also a push cart at the new Lowes on Brownsboro Rd which I believe is owned by the same guy. I havent bought any dogs bulk from the guy on Brownsboro but have purchased them from the guy at the Lowes on Hurstborne.

I hope that by passing on this info I'm able to save you a few bucks.


Now, on to the pizza. After reading the review of Hero's, I'm gonna take a ride out there tomorrow and check it out. The favorite in Louisville so far is Luigi's but that's a hike since I live on the east side of town.

I'll let you all know what I think.

Later..

Steve

First off....this is my first post in the forum. I've been lurking for a while but after seeing John NA's post I had to register and post a response.

As a born and bred New Yorker displaced in Louisville, I miss much of the food I grew up eating. And that includes Sabrett Hot dogs, also known on the streets of New York as "Dirt Water Dogs" (Mmmmmm, I love those Dirt Water Dogs...)

I saw in your post that you had ordered Sabrett Hot Dogs online. I had looked into doing that myself but found that the shipping was pretty damned expensive.

Fortunately, I have found a better way to get them. At the Lowes on Hurstbourne road there is a guy with a pushcart selling Sabrett Hot dogs. He will also sell them in 2 lb. packages. I think it was $4.00 a lb, which really isnt too bad. There is also a push cart at the new Lowes on Brownsboro Rd which I believe is owned by the same guy. I havent bought any dogs bulk from the guy on Brownsboro but have purchased them from the guy at the Lowes on Hurstborne.

I hope that by passing on this info I'm able to save you a few bucks.


Now, on to the pizza. After reading the review of Hero's, I'm gonna take a ride out there tomorrow and check it out. The favorite in Louisville so far is Luigi's but that's a hike since I live on the east side of town.

I'll let you all know what I think.

Later..

Steve

Dude, that is the kewlest shit about the dawgs. I love hotdogs (God, I miss Zap's) and thank you for the awesome advice. Also, WELCOME the the VILLE mon. I will always be here for ya mon.

[Robin Garr]

After reading the review of Hero's, I'm gonna take a ride out there tomorrow and check it out. The favorite in Louisville so far is Luigi's but that's a hike since I live on the east side of town.

I'll let you all know what I think.

Welcome to the forum, Steve! We'll be eager to hear your opinion ... as I said elsewhere in the discussion, I won't guarantee that you'll find this an *exact* clone of a NYC slice, and it's possible that Luigi comes a little closer. But I think you'll find it reminds you of home more than most Louisville pizza does. With extra credit for the sketch of the 59th Street Bridge on the menu cover ...

I've had whole pies from Luigi's and they're really good. Actually they are fresher so they surpass the slices.

I'll have to look up the Lowes guy. Interesting. I did a lot of research on seeing if I could get Thumann's and they aren't available. For those who have a clue as to what it is, I've found Taylor Ham a few times at Kroger's in New Albany.

I got a chance yesterday to check out Hero's Pizza and very much enjoyed it.

And, to tell the truth, I find myself liking Hero's pizza better then I like Luigi's. The first reason is the cheese.....I like cheese on my pizza and most of the places in N.Y. I frequented for pizza were generous with the cheese. Therein lies the problem with Luigi's....they make a good pizza but are miserly with the cheese. Even when I've asked for and was subsequently charged for extra cheese I was given a small sprinkle of cheese added to the top of my slices.
And since I've mentioned the word slice, I'll explain my second reason for now choosing Hero's pizza over Luigi's: even during lunchtime (which is when I usually get an opportunity to hit Luigi's place) the slices look old. I dont know how long they may have been sitting there, but they always look old. By contrast the 4 slices I got yesterday (2 for me and 2 for my kids) from Hero's were generously covered with cheese and looked fresh. (Presentation accounts for a lot.)

While the pizza at Hero's was very close to New York style (slice size was good and the amount of cheese was excellent), it was a little too thin. But, that's a small gripe and not worth keeping anyone away from the place.

For whatever small amount it's worth, I give Hero's Pizza my recommendation. (I also recommend Luigi's, but with the considerations listed above..)

Enjoy!!

Steve

I got a chance yesterday to check out Hero's Pizza and very much enjoyed it.

And, to tell the truth, I find myself liking Hero's pizza better then I like Luigi's. The first reason is the cheese.....I like cheese on my pizza and most of the places in N.Y. I frequented for pizza were generous with the cheese. Therein lies the problem with Luigi's....they make a good pizza but are miserly with the cheese. Even when I've asked for and was subsequently charged for extra cheese I was given a small sprinkle of cheese added to the top of my slices.
And since I've mentioned the word slice, I'll explain my second reason for now choosing Hero's pizza over Luigi's: even during lunchtime (which is when I usually get an opportunity to hit Luigi's place) the slices look old. I dont know how long they may have been sitting there, but they always look old. By contrast the 4 slices I got yesterday (2 for me and 2 for my kids) from Hero's were generously covered with cheese and looked fresh. (Presentation accounts for a lot.)

While the pizza at Hero's was very close to New York style (slice size was good and the amount of cheese was excellent), it was a little too thin. But, that's a small gripe and not worth keeping anyone away from the place.

For whatever small amount it's worth, I give Hero's Pizza my recommendation. (I also recommend Luigi's, but with the considerations listed above..)

Enjoy!!

Steve