In 2008, cousins and best friends Francis Garcia and Sal Basille opened Artichoke Basille's, a pizza takeout joint in the East Village. Artichoke took off with it's famous artichoke pizza; a thick white slice of pie covered in creamy artichoke sauce. It's a cult classic. In 2010, the team opened up a sit down restaurant on 10th Avenue and 17th Street. I've been three times in the last month. I'm serious, it's that good.
My favorite slices are the artichoke, margarita, and vodka slice, with the latter being the absolute best.
The aforementioned artichoke slice is a thick slab of creamy goodness. It's like eating the most savory artichoke dip on top of a thick pizza slice. Very decadent and not for the faint of heart.
The margarita is a little lighter and easier on your waist line. This slice has a lovely balance of sweet marinara sauce, fresh and salty mozzarella, and aromatic basil. It's a great go-to slice.
The vodka slice is served Sicilian style and is made with a twice-baked crust, which creates a buttery crunch-like crust. The pizza is covered in a rich vodka sauce and topped with fresh mozzarella. It's divine hot and cold. You feel about ten pounds heavier after a few bites, but it's worth it.
