A pizza with a view

ISABEL BRAVERMAN
Posted 1/11/17

NARROWSBURG, NY — Self-proclaimed “long-time food enthusiasts” Phil and Trish South saw a gap in the market in the upstate dining scene and an energy growing in Narrowsburg. …

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A pizza with a view

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NARROWSBURG, NY — Self-proclaimed “long-time food enthusiasts” Phil and Trish South saw a gap in the market in the upstate dining scene and an energy growing in Narrowsburg. Originally from England, they moved to the area four years ago by way of New York City. Phil worked in music and Trish in photography, but they focused on their culinary talents and decided to open a brick-oven pizza place in Narrowsburg.

The Laundrette opened in October and features a rotating menu of gourmet pizzas, salads and snacks. Come for the food, but stay for the scenery. The stunning view looks out onto the Delaware River with the Narrowsburg Bridge in sight. The building used to be a Laundromat, but sat in disrepair for some years. The owners knew they wanted to utilize the view, and they did a complete renovation in five months. “We put in as many windows as possible to maximize the view,” Phil said.

They kept the original structure but updated everything else. With architect Buck Moorhead, the building got a modern and fresh look, with clean structural lines. They added a patio with outdoor seating. There’s a full bar inside, and the bar and entry doors were custom-made by local cabinetmaker Larry Braverman (yeah, that’s my dad). The inside décor is an interesting mix of industrial and luxury, like the chandelier made out of metal piping. A custom neon sign reading “the laundrette” in hot pink hangs above the bar. The pièce de résistance is the wood-burning pizza oven. It’s from the Italian company Mugnaini, with custom tile work, and the Souths wanted it to be on display. The bar has specialty cocktails and some wine on tap as well as local beers on tap. And for the kids, there are fresh juices and lemonade.

Back to the food. Phil is an amateur baker—“I was keen to teach myself how to make bread”—and created the sourdough pizza dough recipe. His co-chef is Dave Cole, who owned Dave’s Big Eddy on Main Street. Together they create interesting pizzas, such as leek and potato and the quirky bacon, egg and cheese with an “everything bagel” crust. They are also influenced by Middle Eastern and ethnic cuisine, as the lamb pizza testifies. There’s also the classic margherita pie.

“The core menu stays the same,” Phil said. “It’s based on what’s in season, and we keep things as local as possible.” When asked why they wanted to open a pizza restaurant, Phil mused, “Everyone likes pizza.” Truth.

Besides pizza, there are salad options, like roasted carrots with a yogurt dressing, or fennel and celery. Oh, there are also hot dogs, organic and with kimchee. “The salads give a chance to be more creative, and to have light and healthy fare,” Phil said. Dave makes homemade desserts like cakes and ice cream. There’s also a coffee bar.

The restaurant is a family affair. The South’s young children can often be found helping out, and their older daughter is the manager. After figuring out the best hours through trial and error, they have settled on full-time hours: Tuesday through Thursday from 12 noon to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. Phil said they want it to be a place that’s open all the time; “It’s a relaxed atmosphere, you could stay and have a drink,” he said. Sit at the bar, and enjoy the view.

The Laundrette is located at 20 5th St., Narrowsburg. Visit them on Facebook or call 845/588-2004.

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