Meet a Lower Manhattan Business: Grotto Pizzeria & Restaurant

05/09/2012 in

A lot has changed in the Financial District since Grotto Pizzeria opened in 1986, but one thing remains constant: Mike Tempera’s commitment to a good slice of pizza.

“Slices are the most popular item,” said owner Tempera, who has expanded his menu from a page of pizza varieties to seven pages of pastas, salads, ciabattas and even burritos during his business’ long tenure.

The basement-level restaurant also added evening hours to accommodate the growing number of residents in the neighborhood, and now counts 15 different slices, including a bacon and jalapeño number that is a hit with regulars.

Most of all, customers value the small-town touch of the pizza place. “We tend to know people by name, and we remember their orders,” said Tempera. “When people find us, we keep them.”

Grotto Pizzeria & Restaurant

69 New Street

212.809.6990

www.thegrottonyc.com

Tags: Lower Manhattan, Mike Tempera, The Grotto

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