Traze has turned its pop-up into a restaurant in Long Island City, and its following shows no sign of slowing down. The shop specializes in Grandma pies, 10-inch squares with crisp edges and a soft, slow-fermented crumb. Baked in small batches throughout the day, they come out caramelized, tender and way too easy to demolish.
The vibe: Part café and part neighborhood hangout, the space keeps a steady flow of neighborhood folks and those on pizza crawls. There are fewer than seats in the whole place, so plan to take your pie to go if you come during the lunch or dinner rush.
The food: The falafel pie is Traze’s signature: sesame-crusted dough layered with cheddar, gouda, crumbled Egyptian falafel and a drizzle of transcendent Halal-cart white sauce. Traze flexes their technique on the more classic pies, too, although they can’t help but add brown butter basil pesto and Queen Majesty’s Sicilian Scorpion Hot Sauce to their inventive lineup.
The drinks: Grab an espresso, a cold brew or a dirty chai—they’re an unexpected but totally natural fit with Traze’s surprisingly delicious breakfast pies.
Time Out tip: Each Grandma pie is reasonably sized, so bring a few friends and order across the menu. That way, you can try a new-to-you pie, plus get a taste of the classics.