There are very, very few downsides to being a restaurant critic. One of those few is having to endure your customary two-month wait before visiting a new spot when everyone else is already dining there and buzzing about it.
Such is the case at Pastaria (7734 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton; 314-862-6603). The latest venture from Gerard Craft has been open for only one month, but already its pizza is, apparently, "life-changing".
See Also: - "First Look: Pastaria"
Esquire magazine ("Once Again: We're ESQUIRE. Not GQ. ESQUIRE.") has included Pastaria as one of fifteen finalists in its current poll to find "the most life-changing pizza" in America.
Pastaria is up against such well-known spots as Di Fara Pizza in Brooklyn, Gino's East in Chicago and Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix.
Can the rookie shock the established veterans? If you believe it can, go vote. The poll went live on Thursday of last week, but I can't find any closing date, so vote sooner rather than later.
By the way, for those who voted in last month's Esquire poll about the best ribs in the country: our own Pappy's Smokehouse (3106 Olive Street; 314-535-4340) finished second to Home Town BBQ of Charleston, South Carolina.
