A pizza place co-owned by a former Formula 1 boss and a supermodel doesn’t sound like a spot for a seven-year-old. Then again, most seven-year-olds have never watched someone spin a disc of dough halfway to the ceiling. Crazy Pizza with kids works for one simple reason. If you book the 5PM seating, the show happens before bedtime. The SoHo restaurant from Flavio Briatore, with Heidi Klum as a partner, has built its name on a late-night scene. Early in the evening, however, it’s a different room entirely.
Why The 5PM Seating Is The One to Book
Crazy Pizza is known for its Spinning Chefs. A few pizzaioli step out of the kitchen, the music climbs, and wide rounds of dough start twirling over the dining room. At the early seating, the show runs every 30 minutes or so. That works out to roughly one performance per course, which buys a lot of patience from a restless table. Did your kids miss it while they were in the bathroom? Ask your server, since the team will sometimes spin by request.
There’s a second ritual, too. When a table is celebrating, the whole room waves white napkins overhead. As a result, a birthday dinner here comes with its own built-in crowd.
Later at night, Crazy Pizza turns into what its regulars come for: a DJ, a packed bar, and a louder room. At 5PM, you get the same theater at a volume kids can handle. You’ll also be home in time for bath and bed.
What to Order
The crust is the house signature. It’s Roman-style and nearly paper-thin, closer to a cracker than a New York slice. That’s good news for small appetites, since one pie per person is realistic here. Picky eaters can stick with the Margherita and its bright, tangy tomato sauce. Kids who love cheese can graduate to the Formaggi.
Meanwhile, the adults can splurge. The Tartufo arrives with fresh black truffle shaved at the table. Pizzas start in the low $20s, and the Tartufo tops the menu at $65. Before you dig in, try the olive oils set out for drizzling, including spicy and rosemary versions. Finish with the tiramisu, which the staff assembles tableside. Consider it the second show of the night.
The Room
Crazy Pizza took over the former Osteria Morini space on Lafayette Street. Wood-paneled walls are lined with photos of famous guests mid-bite. It reads more European dinner party than neighborhood pizzeria. For kids, that’s part of the fun, since it turns a pizza night into an occasion.
Planning a bigger family outing? Parties of seven or more get two hours at the table, so time the grandparents’ arrival accordingly. Then, once the last napkin is down, walk off dinner with a loop through SoHo’s shops.
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FAQs
Q: Where is Crazy Pizza in New York?
A: Crazy Pizza is at 218 Lafayette Street in SoHo, in the former Osteria Morini space. It’s the brand’s first U.S. location.
Q: Is Crazy Pizza good for kids?
A: Yes, especially at the 5 p.m. seating. Bringing Crazy Pizza with kids into your plans is easiest early, when the dough-spinning show runs every 30 minutes or so and the room is calmer.
Q: When does the pizza-spinning show happen?
A: At the early seating, it runs roughly every half hour. The staff will sometimes do it by request, so ask your server if you missed it.
Q: Do you need a reservation at Crazy Pizza?
A: Yes, reservations are recommended, and you can book through the restaurant’s website here.
