Antonio's New York Pizzeria: An Authentic Taste of the City

A little slice of New York has recently taken up residence here in Burke. Antonio's New York Pizzeria opened its doors in June, and has since developed a growing customer base. When I visited the restaurant, I got to learn all about the history of this family owned restaurant, why its young owners enjoy working 18 hour days, seven days a week, and also discovered one of their best dishes.

Shershah and Maz Surmaty opened their first Antonio's New York Pizzeria location in 2007 in Ashburn. Though the two brothers had previously worked in the IT field, they abandoned the world of hundred-thousand dollar contracts for a world of struggle and kitchen grease. Why? Because, as Shershah puts it, "I'd rather be my own boss and make my own life." Though each new day brings endless new challenges, Shershah says that the pride he gets from successfully opening two original restaurants with his brother makes it all worthwhile.

But what is it about Antonio's New York Pizzeria that make it authentically New York style? The brothers import most of their ingredients from New York directly.  Though the foods are prepared on site, the bread for the sub sandwiches is imported from the Bronx, the Buffalo sauce is imported from Buffalo, and Shershah and Maz are even thinking about importing New York City tap water to use in the pizza dough. It doesn't get more authentic than that.

When I entered Antonio's for the first time, I noticed how the black street lamp style lights on the red painted walls gave the restaurant a classic ambiance. Old black and white photographs of New York City were appropriately hung on the walls. I ordered my 10 Buffalo wings ($7.49) and eight inch New York Deluxe Pizza ($8.99) from the counter and watched the TV that hung in the corner by the door until my food arrived. 

True to form, my Buffalo wings had a very traditional flavor. The sauce tasted excellent and had a pleasant amount of heat without burning my taste buds.  The meat itself had very good texture, but the skin was somewhat soft. Accompanying the wings was a cup of blue cheese dressing. It was very smooth and creamy and had a mild flavor.

Next I tried the breadsticks. Though the texture of the bread was a little chewy, the flavors were very good. Each stick was covered in a garlic, herb, and parmesan seasoning. The best part was the marinara sauce that was served on the side. It was sweet but not too sweet, full of fresh herbs, and perfectly balanced. I would have been happy to eat the sauce alone with a spoon.

Finally it was time for pizza. When I opened the box I was pleasantly surprised to find that it looked exactly like a photograph. The crust was plump and golden, the toppings were all evenly spaced, and the colors were rich. I took my first bite and enjoyed crisp peppers and onions, firm mushrooms, crumbly pieces of sausage, and thinly sliced pepperoni, and no grease. Though all the meats were Halal (meaning they did not contain pork), I could not taste the difference between them and their pork counterparts.

Before my meal drew to a close, I placed one last order for a homemade cannoli ($3.99).  It was the best decision I made that night.  The shell was light and crisp and dusted with cinnamon. The filling consisted of smooth ricotta cheese, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chips, and more cinnamon. The flavors came together to deliver one rich, sweet, crunchy, creamy bite after another. It was the best cannoli I have ever eaten. Shershah later explained to me that many customers come into the restaurant for the deserts alone.

Overall, Antonio's New York Pizzeria has good food, great authenticity, and outstanding deserts. I will be back again soon.

Antonio's New York Pizzeria
9526 Burke Road
Burke, Virginia 22015