Pulino's Bar & Pizzeria

"Honestly, it's ridiculous," says Nate Appleman about the feverish hype (breaking news: Pulino's bathroom design!) surrounding this Bowery pizzeria, a blockbuster mash-up between the James Beard–winning chef and super-restaurateur Keith McNally.  Appleman, whose love affair with Italy began with a six-month stint in Florence in 1999, will be tossing over a dozen thin-crust, wood-fired pies—not Neapolitan per se, but pies partly inspired by "my [Midwest] childhood, going to the local pizza place or the bowling alley." His faves: housemade salami with tomato, mozza and chiles; and a crisp porchetta with fennel, tomato and red onion. Picking up on a meaty theme? Appleman, an avowed carnivore, breaks down his own livestock in-house, sourced from Missouri's Newman Farm (non-pizza entrees include a pork, beef and lamb sausage). He also plans to use Pulino's ground-meat surplus for burgers: thin-patty hunks cooked on the griddle with onions and served with white cheddar and mustard. Only 30 burgers will be offered, starting at midnight. Which is probably the only reservation time you'll be able to get.

See more: Nolita restaurants, Italian restaurants, Pizza restaurants