There are some places that are effortlessly and unapologetically themselves. That is certainly the case with Keepers, the new West Village pizza and Negroni tavern. After all, when you serve your food on paper plates and kitsch is the theme of your decor, you have to have a certain confidence. In New York City, you also need to back that up with what’s in the kitchen if you have a shot at making the sky-high rents in the West Village hood. So, the question is whether the team behind Dandelion, Zero Bond and White Horse Tavern has a “keeper.” This is the first look review at Keepers NYC, the pizza that every twenty-something is talking about now.

Atmosphere

Sometimes something is so low-brow, it hits the “brilliant” mark — which only scratches the surface of Keepers. It takes a lot of skills to take what would have been a random West Village storefront into a vibe-y 70s-inspired space. There are about 40 seats, spread out among burnt orange banquettes and retro chairs, and all framed by exposed brick. The vintage speakers aren’t just for show, but for spinning actual vinyl. They didn’t do anything halfway on the design theme, which is why it works.

The other aspect of the atmosphere is of course the crowd, which is in a word, attractive. This is the next gen Sex & The City crowd. It wouldn’t surprise me if there was a graduation to Zero Bond at some point by the upwardly mobile twenty-somethings. I brought my own twenty-somethings to Keepers and it may have just cemented my status as the ultimate cool Auntie. For those older folks, it’s important to know that the space is tight, the volume is loud, and it fills up the second the doors open. That’s the whole beauty of it, though, as sometimes, it’s nice to be young and fun again.

Food + Beverage

I’ll cut to the chase; the food and beverage at Keepers is crushing it in its category. Keepers’ pies are Jersey-style bar pizza, which may be one of the best attributes of New Jersey cuisine. Pizzas are that perfect thin and blistered style, with the toppings that go to the very ends. Working my way through the four pies we ordered gave me a bit of nostalgia to my elementary school pizza days, in the best way.

The menu itself is simple, yet comprehensive at the same time in the pizza and Negroni verticals. There are about ten pies with clever names like Buffalo Soldier and Vodka Chicky Parm. We opted for the Bargherita, which had a stracciatella along with the traditional red sauce and basil (which was probably my favorite). I also liked the Spartichoke, a white pie with creamy spinach and artichoke and a dash of lemon. They encouraged us to top to our hearts content on the classic NY pie, so in a split decision, I added black olives to one. We also did the vodka pie, which was a little duplicative, but nonetheless, still delicious.

We also ordered up the French onion dip and homemade chips, as well as the Italian chopped and black garlic caesar salads. It was fun, basic fare, all of which was delicious enough that you don’t really notice you’re eating off paper plates. The only note I have is that the pies (as well as a few of the dips) were a bit salty — but the whole experience was so fun that I didn’t mind as much.

Drinks + Desserts

For a pizza tavern, they have a comprehensive bar with solid cocktails. Negronis are the major theme — there are about a dozen or so iterations of the classic drink. Besides the classic, as well as a very pretty white Negroni with notes of chamomile, there was also a strawberry rendition. I personally don’t do gin, so I opted for a watermelon daiquiri. It was served up similar in style to the traditional Cuban daiquiri, and perfect for one cocktail. My only regret is that we ordered heavy on the apps and pies, we couldn’t do the dessert. They have a dessert pie we were told not to miss, but alas, there will be a next time.

Service

Similar to Dandelion, whoever is training the team at this portfolio of restaurants is doing something right. Service is friendly right from the start, and they do their best to accommodate all the walk-ins. The official policy is walk-in only, but in reality, if you have an in, there’s a way to make a reservation. There’s really only two tables that fit larger parties, so come early if you’re more than four people. If they doubled the space, there would still be a line out the door. However, the servers, bartenders, and host all handle the crowds like professionals. Even though there is a line of people waiting for your coveted table, you don’t feel rushed. For a place that just opened, the service is working like clockwork. It’s doubtful that any of the team (who is young) are career servers, but they operate like they are.

Overall: 7.9/10

For what Keepers NYC is, on the casual pizza scene, the rating is much higher. I loved it and can’t wait to take my twenty-somethings back again for a fun night out.

FAQs

Q: Where is Keepers NYC located?

A: Keepers is located at 34 8th Avenue in the West Village.

Q: What are the hours of operation of Keepers NYC?

A: The hours of operation of Keepers NYC are as follows:

Q: Does Keepers NYC take reservations?

A: The official policy of Keepers NYC is that they are walk-ins only. However VIPs have the inside line on how to make reservations.

Q: What is the atmosphere of Keepers NYC?

A: The vibe of Keepers NYC is a ’70s-inspired neighborhood tavern. In all the best ways, it’s loud, warm, design-forward, with vinyl on the speakers.