Dean’s Restaurant and Pizzeria seems like a typical Italian restaurant at first—it offers brick-oven pizza and Americanized dishes like chicken parmigiana and penne a la vodka. It is set apart, however, by its focus on family. Everything about the place, from its motto, “Pasta and Pizza Bring the Family Together,” to the communal tables, creates a warm and family-friendly atmosphere. The warm, earthy tones of the restaurant, the rustic stone walls and the jazz music playing in the background create a casual yet sophisticated ambiance. Landscape pictures adorn the walls, and a pizza-making station in the dining area invites guests to interact with the people preparing their meal.
Dean’s boasts authentic and delicious food. The pizza is the focus of the menu. “Our restaurant specializes in pizza, and we have nothing but the freshest ingredients,” employee Denny Xenos said. “Nothing comes out of a can.”
Their thin-crusted and basil-topped pies are scrumptious. Toppings like roasted peppers, sun-dried tomato and ricotta add even more flavor. “Their pizza is so good, it makes me want to get up and dance,” sophomore Micah Wood said. Usually considered a cornerstone of Italian cuisine, the Caprese salad is surprisingly flavorless and mediocre.
The prices are reasonable. A small plain pizza costs $14 and a large one costs $16. The pastas start out at $9 and go up to $13 for individual portions. The pizza toppings, however, are more on the expensive side. Sharing a larger order with friends would make the meal more affordable.
Dean’s also has an extensive pasta list, ranging from the usual dishes, like fettuccine alfredo, to lesser-known but equally delicious items like papardella toscana (ribbon pasta with wild mushroom and sun-dried tomatoes). The entrée menu includes familiar dishes like chicken marsala and veal scaloppini piccata.
Dean’s dessert menu—an area Italians take seriously—is short, offering the usual choices of cannoli, gelato and a sinfully delicious liquid-center chocolate torta. Served warm with fresh strawberries and a scoop of ice cream, the torta is heavenly. All dessert items cost 6.50 dollars.
Service can be slow at Dean’s, as employees do linger and take their time. It is not recommended for students to go there during their lunch period, because there is not enough time to enjoy a meal there and return to school within 40 minutes.
Dean’s embodies authentic Italian cuisine and ambiance. Friendly service and incredible food gives customers a truly Italian experience. Dean’s is well on its way to reinventing the American concept of Italian food, where the main ingredient is grease.
Dean’s Restaurant and Pizzeria
349 Greenwich Street