Get A Slice At Fat Boys
Fat Boys Pizza
61-07 Utopia Pkwy., Fresh Meadows
(718) 321-0694
Cuisine: Pizzeria
Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., weekends 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Credit Cards: Yes
Delivery: Yes
It’s impossible to live in Queens – or anywhere in the New York Metro area for that matter – and not have a favorite local pizzeria. You don’t have to descend from a Mediterranean ethnicity to enjoy a good slice of pizza; just be hungry. In Fresh Meadows, a new favorite local pizzeria is serving the traditional Italian dish with some unusual trimmings.
When one orders pizza, the most popular toppings are obvious; pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, mushrooms – but the favorites of the customers at Fat Boys, which opened on Utopia Parkway, one block south of the Horace Harding Expressway, in 2009, are not any of the above. One of their most popular slices, especially among the local students from Francis Lewis High School who frequent the establishment before and after their classes, is the Philly Cheesesteak Pizza. Imagine a pizza topped with crispy green peppers, melted cheese, onions and juicy slices of steak. The recipe for the pizza came from owner Nick Vorrais’ grandfather back in Greece, who recently passed.
Another favorite, especially among Fat Boy’s older crowd, is the Baked Ziti Pizza. This is Fat Boy’s traditional cheese pizza topped with a generous helping of baked ziti pasta cooked to perfection, or if you’re Italian, the way your grandmother used to make it, accompanied by dollops of ricotta cheese.
If you’re brave enough to tackle spicy food (and who isn’t up for such a challenge?) try the Buffalo Chicken Pizza. One bite and you’ll forget what spicy Buffalo chicken tastes like when not piled on top of a pizza.
These slices cannot be eaten the traditional New York way, folding them in half like a paper airplane and chomping down, stuffing your mouth with as much pie as possible. Instead they must be eaten like they are in Europe, with a fork and knife, savored piece by piece. For those who aren’t that adventurous and prefer traditional pepperoni or mushroom, Fat Boys has it, as well as a wide array of more American-style food like hamburgers, French fries, and Buffalo wings (not on a pizza). Fat Boy’s also does not forget its owners’ Greek heritage; the traditional Greek gyro is on the menu as well.
Fat Boy’s puts its own personal touch in their pizzas and nearly everything on their menu. All their dough and breads are homemade, baked on site.
Until about 6 p.m., Fat Boys caters to its student crowd. Downstairs from the main restaurant is a game room, with two billiards tables frequented by students during the day that doubles as a party room or catering hall. After the students go home for the evening, Fat Boys gets its regular locals, who enjoy a delicious meal.
Don’t feel like going outside? Fat Boy’s delivers, and also does curbside pickup, so you don’t have to worry about finding that parking spot on your way home from work.
- Domenick Rafter