Walk into the 9^th Avenue Pizzeria, located at 791 9^th Avenue, between 52^nd & 53^rd streets in Manhattan (212-541-5012), and you’re bound to hear Gloria Gaynor, The Who or some other classic rock band come from the big speaker on the wall; but that’s not why you’re here.

It’s the food; a warm inviting crunchy crust calzone, filled with ricotta and mozzarella cheese, a plate of spaghetti, freshly cooked al dente style with meat balls that come close to melting in your mouth, a sausage roll filled with chopped tomato and basil, the mozzarella cheese soft and gooey.

You come to the 9^th Avenue Pizzeria because John the owner, a proud looking man strives for perfection by serving his customers food of quality, and knowledge that comes from years of experience. His sausage with rigatoni is prepared with thin slices of sausage and thinner slices of fresh garlic. I tasted fennel in the sauce. The rigatoni prepared as always, freshly cooked al dente style. Warm freshly baked bread comes with your meal; a little fresh butter and a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese and you can leave the sauce for the spoon. A Caesar salad with sliced chicken cutlet and a creamy Caesar dressing tastes refreshing because the salad is fresh romaine lettuce. Baked ziti is pure comfort food with the texture of the ziti noodles and cheese blending perfectly with the sauce; not too much and not too little.

John’s pizza is good; the classic round pie slice is thin crusted and carries the right quantity of cheese and sauce so its taste is always good; never over powering or wanting. A Sicilian slice with thinly sliced eggplant has a light crunchy crust with a nicely flavored tomato sauce.

Come to the 9^TH Avenue Pizzeria, John will treat you good and you’ll enjoy his food.

I’m Robert Greene