Anyone making a special trip to Corning, New York for Aniello’s pizza might also consider a side visit to the town’s glass museum. Although the Corning Museum of Glass may be more famous, Aniello’s has more joie de vivre.
Many out-of-towners who visit Aniello’s probably make it to the glass museum. However, most of the glass museum patrons are probably too hoity toity to even consider Aniello’s as a lunch spot. Yet, in this precious, beautiful town, the unpretentious Aniello’s, a family-run fixture since 1972, slings slices for $2.30 – a bargain anywhere.
Those with a functioning hippocampus, which, thankfully, includes virtually all DishingPizza readers, remember that DishingPizza is about the pizza – the good, the bad, and the greasy. So let’s dive into Aniello’s pizza.
Sadly, in a State renowned for its pizza, Aniello’s doesn’t approach the top tier. At least Aniello’s serves New York-style pizza, but its execution is flawed. The crust is nice – chewy and firm as one expects from a steel deck oven. The sauce is a secret family recipe, fresh with hints of onion, garlic, and oregano. It’s a nice touch that they serve slices on pizza pans. But the mozzarella is so greasy that blotting requires several of the restaurant’s non-absorbent napkins, and it leaves an orange mess.1 Unfortunately, regardless of one’s preference for oil removal, the cheese is also too salty.
The convivial atmosphere at Aniello’s almost compensates for the pizza’s shortcomings. The employees are kind, hard-working, and enthusiastic. The friendly patrons flock to this place at lunchtime in every imaginable configuration – couples, singles, work cohorts, knitting circles. The common denominator is that everyone seems to be soaking in the atmosphere, pleased to be at Aniello’s, partaking in a good slice. The happiness quotient at Aniello’s touches even the churlish DishingPizza.
1 The mess of greasy, orange napkins keeps DishingPizza from blotting except in the most extreme cases.
Aniello’s Pizzeria
68 E Market Street, Corning, NY 14830
Type: New York-style
Pizza quality: 🍕🍕
Overall experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Slice: $2.30
Slice price per sq inch = $0.07
Slice greed factor: 🤑
Pie price: $14.50
Pie price per sq inch = $0.06
When we were in Portland ME with family (including two younguns) had a great experience at the Flatbread Company. Woodfired, organic and on the water! Shared two pies. Not much was left.
DishingPizza will take note the next time Portland, ME calls. Glad you had such a nice experience!