Mikey's Original New York Pizza at Telawi, Bangsar

As Ol’ Blue Eyes once crooned, start spreading the news: A slice of The Big Apple has surfaced in Bangsar, a safe harbour for huddled, hungry masses yearning to breathe free and binge on hot, hearty pizzas.

For weeks, we’ve plagued Mikey’s Original New York Pizza with phone calls and text messages on when it would finally open, following postponements because of missing pieces in its customised pizza oven. Mikey’s marks a collaboration between native New Yorker Michael Helfman and Andrew Bellucci, a former New Jerseyan who began making pizzas in the 1990s. Helfman lured Bellucci to Kuala Lumpur with a mission to serve the sort of pies that Helfman has missed throughout his five years in Malaysia.

Mikey’s plans to launch delivery services soon, starting with Bangsar before expanding between KL Sentral & Damansara Heights, so residents can conveniently pick up the phone and order.

Walls lined with memorabilia seek to put patrons in a New York state of mind without needing to hop on the Hudson River Line, hamstrung though by a soundtrack that swings from the Chairman of the Board to Cypress Hill. Be warned: These photos make Mikey’s look empty, but they were taken before the outlet officially opened for business. This place could be crowded at night.

Satisfy your Pizza Cravings

Mikey’s pizzas will likely satisfy cravings, straddling the fine line between thin and thick for its excellent crust, crisp but simultaneously tender and easy to fold, light but luscious. First-timers can start with the classic, topped with mozzarella cheese, fresh tomato sauce, olive oil & grated Grana Padano cheese (RM8.88 by the slice).

Mikey’s Favorite, topped with kitchen-made meatballs, roasted peppers, caramelised onions and garlic. Customers can order this and other pizzas here by both the slice (RM10.88 for this one) and the entire 18-inch pie (RM69.88).

On a diet? Fuhgeddaboudit! Andrew’s Favorite (RM10.88) is a four-cheese pleasure that’s worth the calories, crowned with cheddar, mozzarella, ricotta & goat’s cheese, plus black pepper, olive oil and garlic.

Tthe Pizza Rustico (RM12.88 by the slice), featuring goat’s cheese & roasted garlic partnered with mortar-&-pestle-made pesto.

Game for a challenge? Masochists can try the 9-1-1, call-the-fire-department pizza; it’s ferociously fiery, so folks who can finish the whole pizza (RM88.88) will have their photos placed on Mikey’s Hall Of Fame Wall. We surrendered after barely two bites.

Here’s our favourite: The Tony Soprano, a meaty creation of meatballs, pepperoni, sliced steak, roasted peppers and roasted garlic with mozzarella. RM15.88 by the fairly filling slice; two will certainly suffice for some customers.

Not into pizza? Not a problem

Mikey’s also offers breaded, boneless buffalo chicken wings, coated in a seasoned butter hot sauce and served with house-made blue cheese dressing, carrots and celery. As much of a notch above mass-market chicken nuggets as the pizzas here are compared to what the massive pizza chains sell.

Waffle fries here are assigned in name by borough _ The Bronx, Staten Island, Queens & Manhattan. We placed our bet on Brooklyn (RM12.88), smothered in cheddar cheese and paired with beef gravy.