One of the Oldest Pizzerias in America
O’Scugnizzo Pizzeria opened in Utica in 1914 and is widely considered to be the second or third oldest pizzeria in America. That fact alone is incredible. I would have assumed several pizzerias in New York City existed long before one opened in Utica, but history suggests otherwise.
Some sources mention a New Jersey pizzeria opening in 1913, while others list O’Scugnizzo as second oldest outright. Either way, this place is a rare piece of American restaurant history.
What Is Upside-Down Pizza?
O’Scugnizzo is known for its upside-down pizza. The cheese goes on first, followed by toppings, with the sauce layered on last. Whether this style dates back to the beginning or evolved over time, it has become a defining part of Utica’s food identity.
I can’t say for certain what every pizzeria in Utica does in terms of the size and shape of their pizza, but here, a large pizza comes out as a rectangle. I ordered one topped with onions, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, and sauce. In hindsight, I regret not ordering sausage, which was my original instinct. For some reason, the vegetable one stood out to me on the menu as being the house favorite and that’s why I ordered it.
An Honest Take on the Pizza
After the video I posted, which I don’t think there’s anything wrong with, I don’t know if I’ll ever be allowed back in the pizzeria.
To be clear, I am not a pizza expert. I make pizza at home and talk with people who truly know their stuff, but still don’t consider myself an expert by any stretch of the imagination.
Having said that, and I am certainly not saying that O’Scugnizzo makes their pizza this way… but from what I have seen and a lot of the other upside down pizzas that I’ve had, is that the dough is made the same morning that the pizza’s coat and served. And that’s one of my biggest gripes with the upside down pizza. I find there to be very little flavor or texture in the crust. It feels like crusty white bread.
A lot of pizza shops that I admire will spend at least two or three days fermenting and developing their dough before they use it to make a pizza and that is the flavor in the structure that I prefer matter what style of pizza I’m eating.
The toppings felt sparse, and the sauce struck me as watery and lacking depth. I didn’t hate it. It just wasn’t my favorite.
Why You Should Still Go
If you haven’t been to O’Scugnizzo before that, I highly recommend doing it if nothing else, then for the history of the pizzeria. It really is a unique piece of American restaurant history, and something that should be celebrated and admired. Who knows, maybe you’ll love the pizza, it just didn’t fit my taste.
📍 614 Bleecker St, Utica, NY
