First Look: Rosco’s Brings a Decent Slice to Crown Heights From a Paulie Gee Alum

By Linnea Covington

Unlike Manhattan, there are plenty of pockets in Brooklyn where it’s hard to find a decent slice (or any slice) of pizza. When Slice of Heaven closed in March this year, a void was left on that strip of Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights. Not anymore, since Rosco’s opened at the beginning of the month, now locals once again a good place to go to indulge in this dish. To sweeten the deal, owner and chef Jonathan Greenburg doesn’t just serve the usual cheap slice. Instead, the Franny’s and Paulie Gee’s alum spruces up his pies with sopressata and ricotta from D. Coluccio and Son’s in Bensonhurst, and fresh meat from Paisano’s Meat Market on Smith Street in Brooklyn. The chicken in his chicken Parmesan hero comes from Bell and Evans, and the bread is from around the corner at Caputo’s. Plus, every pizza crust gets made with organic flour sourced from Vermont.

When Greenburg moved into the corner shop, he enhanced the spot with large French doors that give Rosco’s a welcoming vibe. Aside from pizza, heroes, and calzones, Rosco’s offers two New York wines on tap by Gotham Project, craft beers like Southern Tier IPA and Ommegang Rare Vos, and Sprecher root beer on tap. As a bonus, you can ease your pizza guilt with the knowledge that Rosco’s is a planet friendly restaurant, and the environmentally conscience Greenburg composts, recycles, and gives his used oil to Tri-State Biodiesel.


Where there have been plenty of cocktail bars, gourmet sandwich shops, and upscale cafes opening up in this neighborhood, Rosco’s gives the Crown Heights somewhere laid back and cheap to go. The vibe is calm, though, while they are still work on staffing and execution, it can feel a bit too slow. However, the wait is quickly forgotten once the gourmet pizza comes out. It’s a bit pricier due to ingredients, but, with one bite of the lightly-sauced slice of basic cheese with sopressata, it’s worth it. But be warned - bills can add up - yes, that was a $17 calzone ($12 plain, then $1 to $3 for toppings). Hit cheaper options like Greenberg’s rice balls, they’re $6 and perfect accouterment to a cold beer.

The Details: 685 Franklin Ave., Brooklyn, New York; 347-955-4881