Juliana's Pizzeria - Brooklyn NY

Sat next to the famous Grimaldi's is an understated building which at night has an air of magic surrounding it, like a little fairy grotto almost. Juliana's sits in the shadow of Brooklyn bridge and is highlighted by a tree covered in fairy lights, as a customer you are enticed in.

As part of my mum's 60th birthday trip to America, the final leg of the journey was revisiting New York but this time staying in the cool district of Brooklyn. Having scoured the guide books and sought numerous recommendations of places to eat, Grimaldi's came up time and time again for amazing pizza. With such a heavy recommendation, as a family, we felt we couldn't not go for a meal.

However, when we turned up the queue was already out of the door for Grimaldi's. On top of that my mum and sister had arrived earlier and had been given what turned out quite the tip off from some locals. Grimaldi's had in fact been sold 10 years previously by the owners but they had since opened Juliana's next door and was the place to go. So Juliana's it was!

Welcomed in by one of the nicest waitresses I have ever been served by we agreed on a number 5 pizza (tomato, mozzarella, arugula and prosciutto) and a margherita and pepperoni half and half. The pizzas were huge and delightful. Avoiding the usual hard edges and lack of topping. It was great and the atmosphere was friendly and intimate but yet had a feeling of bustle and vibrancy.

So full, I wasn't sure I could face a dessert however, after finding out that a 'brookie' was a combination of a brownie and cookie, I couldn't say no. I had never heard of a brookie before. And as someone who is very particular about what I like in a brownie (in that I know I like them to be a bit more squidgy and gooey than firm), I wasn't sure what to expect. They were amazing! Presented with two round little cookie-esk brookies, I tucked right in. Light and airy and crispy like a cookie but a slight softness of a brownie along with the sweetness and flavour of a brownie. There was the main brookie but there were also these little nuggets of pure chocolate within the sweet which gave you extra hits of chocolate. A 'brookie' is definitely something I would love to see in an English cake shop or baked at home. Not so sickly and overpowering after a big rich pizza yet still fully satisified my sweet side and left me wanting more.

The final touch to a great meal was that Mr Patsy Grimaldi himself was working as the host of the pizzeria and came over to check how our meal was. What a host he is! We even ended up walking away with a Juliana's key ring which has a light at the end.....I tell you it is very useful when it is dark and you can't find the key lock for your car.

Thank you Juliana's!