Artichoke Slice. The button on my jeans strains and my heart gives a little grease-choked shudder at the mere memory of taking that first bite. Imagine a decadently creamy alfredo sauce, spread over a sturdy browned crust of uneven thickness, but abundantly puffy around the edges, and generously topped with spinach, mozzarella and artichoke. This is not a bland, plasticky “white pie.” It is more the good bits of your favorite cheesy pasta dish heaped together on an enormous wedge of crust. I am usually a two-slice girl, but one of these, for a mere $3, knocked me on my ass.

But the wait, oh the wait! You cannot just wander up to a takeout window and procure an artichoke slice. The near-constant line at now two-month old Artichoke Basille does not move any faster since my first visit two weeks ago. Tonight, I waited anywhere between half and hour and an hour (my phone died), and everyone standing in the line wanted artichoke slices (the guy in front of me snatched up three, of course). Of the three menu items I’ve sampled, including the neapolitan and sicilian slices, the artichoke slice is the one worth waiting for, although the other two are very tasty–I actually like the rustic and crunchy sicilian a bit more than the gloppy neapolitan.

The line WILL move though–inch by maddening inch–so bring your homework, cellphone, sunscreen, reading material, flask, cuddle buddy, water bottle, ipod, sketchbook, portable folding chair, or whatever else you’ll need in the meantime… it will be worth it.

More praise for the artichoke

Artichoke Basille 328 14th st. between First and Second Avenue
noonish til sometime after midnight - try calling ahead for hours and pies
Count on half hour wait for slices, at least.