The Pizza Block: A Kosher Staple in the Heart of the Riverdale, New York Community
Kosher Pizza in Riverdale, Bronx, New York ✈
During a recent visit to The Pizza Block in the Riverdale section of the Bronx in New York City, I had the opportunity to revisit a part of my past while enjoying one of the neighborhood's most beloved kosher pizza joints. The Pizza Block, founded by Elisha Block, is a mainstay in the Riverdale community. The store's name is a clever pun, referencing Elisha's last name. Besides owning The Pizza Block, Elisha is a multi-talented entrepreneur who also established the Riverdale Kosher Market, just a short walk away. Recently, he expanded his pizza empire to Brooklyn, opening a new location in Flatbush.
The Pizza Block brings back memories of the 1980s, when kosher pizza in Riverdale was synonymous with FLASH. As a kid, I would head there for pizza and arcade games like Pac-Man and Asteroids. FLASH eventually gave way to The Main Event, a pizza place where I spent a summer working at age fourteen. While I wasn’t supposed to be working due to my age, I spent that summer serving customers and frying falafel balls for the pita sandwiches. The manager at the time had a secret pizza ingredient, a white powder I never identified, but I suspect it was something mundane like flour or baking soda. That said, my coworkers and I used to joke that it was a more infamous white powder popular in the 1980’s. Of course, we were just silly kids influenced by the movie Wall Street and the local news.
The Main Event eventually rebranded itself as The New Main Event before closing. In more recent years, Judean Hills opened as the local kosher pizza spot in North Riverdale. Today, The Pizza Block operates where Judean Hills once stood, continuing the tradition of serving kosher pizza in the neighborhood.
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“Visiting The Pizza Block brings back memories of my teenage years working in a kosher pizza store, where I learned the ins and outs of the pizza business.”
The Pizza Block offers a variety of pizza options, starting with their signature Plain Cheese Pie, made with their special sauce and a blend of cheeses. For those who like to customize, the Pie with Topping allows customers to add their favorite toppings. If you're looking for a mix, the Half and Half Pie lets you choose toppings for half the pie, while the other half can remain plain or have a different topping.
They also offer a Specialty Pie, which includes more elaborate combinations of flavors, and a Gluten-Free Personal Pie for those with dietary restrictions. If you're not in the mood for a full pie, The Pizza Block has individual slices, starting with the Plain Slice.
For something different, they offer a Grandma Square Slice, a thin-crust pizza with fresh mozzarella, basil, and a specially seasoned tomato sauce. There are also more unique options like the Vodka Slice, made with savory vodka sauce, and the indulgent French Fry Slice, topped with crispy fries. Other choices include the Vegetable Slice, White Slice, Mushroom Slice, Tomato Mozzarella Slice, and a Chicago Deep Dish slice.
The Pizza Block’s sushi menu offers a range of both vegetable and fish rolls. For vegetable lovers, there are simple options like the Cucumber Roll, Avocado Roll, and the Vegetable Roll, which combines cucumber, avocado, and carrot.
For a crunchier texture, the menu includes rolls like the NY Crunch Roll, featuring imitation crab, cucumber, avocado, and a kick from spicy sriracha mayo. The California Crunch Roll and the Veggie Crunch Roll are also topped with crispy fried onions and sweet sushi sauce, adding a flavorful twist to the classics. More unique offerings like the Vegetable Dragon Roll, topped with fried onion and avocado, provide a bit of variety.
For something different, The Pizza Block offers Poke Bowls, allowing you to customize your sushi salad with a base of rice or lettuce, a choice of fish, and three vegetables. For a low-carb option, they also have Cucumber Wrapped Rolls that replace rice with thinly sliced cucumber for a lighter, refreshing version of traditional sushi rolls.
There is also a selection of falafel and wraps. Their Whole Falafel is served in a warm pita, packed with Israeli salad, tahini, harif (spicy sauce), pickles, sauerkraut, and four falafel balls. For a more filling option, the Falafel Platter comes with six falafel balls, the same salad and toppings, and a pita served on the side.
For wrap lovers, they offer several options. The Falafel Wrap features warm falafel balls and salad wrapped in a fresh flour tortilla, with tahini on the side. For something lighter, the Cranberry Apple Tuna Wrap combines their popular cranberry apple tuna salad in a tortilla, while the Egg Salad Wrap offers a simple and classic choice. There are also vegetarian options like the Greek Salad Wrap and the Muenster Avocado and Tomato Wrap, perfect for those who want a fresh, healthy bite.
The menu also has a small selection of hot food entrees for those craving comfort food. Their Macaroni and Cheese is a classic, made with macaroni, butter, and their signature macaroni sauce. Another popular dish is the Baked Ziti, a hearty pasta option baked to perfection. For those looking for a richer pasta dish, the Cheese Tortellini is filled with a blend of Parmesan and Ricotta, served in their famous sauce.
In addition to the hot entrees, they have a Salad Bar where customers can make their own salad. With a variety of fresh ingredients available, it’s a great option for those looking for something lighter and customizable.
The Pizza Block’s sides and appetizers menu offers a variety of tasty options to complement any meal. For a classic side, their French Fries come batter-coated for extra crispiness, with a spicier version available as Spicy French Fries. If you prefer something cheesy, their Mozzarella Sticks come with a dipping sauce, while the Cheesy Bread and Dip features freshly made dough topped with house-blended cheese and served with marinara sauce.
Other sides include Garlic Knots, baked twists mixed with fresh garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan, and Roasted Mixed Vegetables for a healthier option. They also offer Falafel Bites, a unique blend of falafel and mozzarella cheese in doughy bites, served with tahina dip. For an indulgent treat, try the Cheese Fries or the spicier Spicy Cheese Fries.
On the appetizer side, the Cheese Calzone is a popular choice, made with a blend of three cheeses and available plain or with vegetable filling. For a fun twist, the Cheese Pretzel features a homemade pretzel stuffed with shredded cheese, perfect for a quick snack.
It’s clear that Elisha Block’s vision for this staple pizzeria continues to thrive, serving the community with dedication and quality. Elisha's expansion into Flatbush shows his commitment to growing the brand, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see more Pizza Block locations pop up in the future.
Visiting The Pizza Block brings back memories of my teenage years working in a kosher pizza store, where I learned the ins and outs of the pizza business. The Pizza Block stands out as a modern take on the classic neighborhood kosher pizzeria, offering a wide variety of pizzas, sushi, falafel, and more. Whether you're dining in, grabbing takeout, opting for the convenience of online delivery, or need an event catered to perfection, The Pizza Block is a great choice for satisfying, flavorful meals.
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