Oak Cliff Pizza & Pasta brings a taste of NY to OC

by Rob Shearer of Cliff Dweller

OAK CLIFF — We stopped by for the soft opening, and were only able to enjoy the pizza, but by the time you’re reading this article, you’ll be able to choose from a nice selection of pizzas, pastas, sandwiches and salads. And while parking may seem like the biggest problem, actually deciding what you’re in the mood for from such a good-looking menu may actually be the difficult part of your meal.

Oak Cliff Pizza & Pasta is the work of Joel Laxson, who was born at Methodist and raised in Oak Cliff, and now is pleased to give something back to the neighborhood he loves. Having started and sold bars in Oak Lawn and Addison, Laxson knows something about judging the market opportunity.

“When I moved back to Oak Cliff, it didn’t take long to realize there were lots of opportunities for business.” explains Laxson. “Particularly with a location that was conveniently between Kessler Park and Winnetka Heights, it just seemed to make so much sense,” he concludes.

As the Bishop Arts District continues to blossom into one of the hottest restaurant districts in the city, Laxson set his sights on serving more CliffDwellers than people making the trek across the river. “The rents are certainly higher in Bishop Arts, and I was looking to start something that served the neighborhood.” says Laxson.

The menu is pretty typical for a traditional New York-style pizza joint. Lots of traditional pizza options, along with calzones, grinders and a nice selection of the usual pasta dishes. While they do have several small tables for those who choose to eat in, Laxson expects that most customers will take advantage of the convenient free delivery.

The term “grinder” may not be familiar to some of our readers. It’s the New York name for a large Italian sandwich. Laxson is offering them in two categories, hot and cold. The cold options include a traditional Italian grinder with pepperoni, ham, mozzarella, olives and more, while the hot sandwiches offer such favorites as the meatball, chicken parm, and sausage and peppers.

Our expert taste team has been to New York. We’ve had pizza up and down the East Coast, and consider ourselves aficionados in the art of fine Italian grub. And we’re giving Oak Cliff Pizza & Pasta two thumbs up. While it may not technically be true NYC pie, it’s as close as you’re going to get without making an extra long drive. They offer pizza by the slice for those who stop by for a quick bite, and are open for lunch, dinner and your late night cravings.