It's cold outside but it's hot, hot, hot inside the pizza oven at new UES Surf's Up-themed restaurant Pizza Beach, which opens tonight on Third Avenue. The place is going for "90ʼs-retro beachside cafe," according to the press release, as interpreted by hanging ferns, strings of light and blue checkered floors. For our money, there are too many surfboards and not enough Olsen Twins.
The veggie-centric pie menu comes in part from vegetarian co-owner Tom Martignetti—who runs Southside and The East Pole with brother Anthony—with an execution by chef Michael Sullivan. Think pies topped with Roasted Mushroom and Leeks ($22), Purple Kale and Butternut Squash ($22) and Japanese Eggplant with cherry tomatoes ($18). The few meat-topped pizzas include a Lamb Merguez sausage and Oaxaca Cheese ($23) and a Thai Coconut Curry and Rock Shrimp ($21) with ginger, a special offering the East Pole chef Joe Capozzi.
Besides pizzas, there's a selection of pastas like the healthful-sounding Whole What Spaghetti with Winter Greens ($16) and a salty Bucatini Puttanesca ($18) with anchovies, Kalamata olives and capers. Salads and shared dishes including Meatballs ($13) and Burrata with rosemary flat bread ($17) round out the menu. But where are the paninis?
1426 Third Avenue, 646-666-0819; website
