Adelina’s

Written By: Eirian Huang

Photos by: Raissa Ji

In the corner of a dimly lit unpaved parking lot right on the cusp between downtown and Collegetown lives an unassuming truck, usually staffed with just one person. Once a neighborhood favorite in Brooklyn known for its vegetarian fare and selection of natural wines, Adelina’s moved to the Finger Lakes area in 2020 and now specializes in Roman style sourdough crusts. Only open 3 days a week from 5-9pm and boasting a small menu of 4 seasonally rotating options, it is only a bit short of being an urban legend.

Our group at Adelina’s on a pretty slow Thursday night (maybe due to it being right before Thanksgiving break), and were greeted by Darren, who we quickly learned that he is the truck’s only employee. After being kindly let into the truck, which is only wide enough to accommodate 1-2 people, we were able to see Darren at work as he claimed that Adelina’s is “the best pizza in Ithaca.” 

Food: 7.5/10 

Per Darren’s recommendations, we ordered the Fresca ($17.5), topped with stracciatella, cherry tomato, arugula, and pesto, and the Bosco ($16.5), with fresh mozzarella, cherry tomato, and shiitake mushroom. The Fresca was my personal favorite as a fan of stracciatella, however others in our group commented that it was a bit too cold. However, as with most simple pizzas, the flavor did not vary much between the two. The Bosco was also good, and the mushrooms added a nice touch of umami though I wish there were more on top so each bite could have the privilege of being graced with a little slice. The fresh cherry tomatoes on both were just the right combination of sweet and tart, and surprisingly fresh for it being late fall. From a mere bread standpoint, the crust had great crumb and was perfectly airy without being too bubbly. 

The other two menu options, a classic margherita and an arrabbiata, had few variations in toppings. It’s clear that Adelina’s leans into less being more, and is confident in the quality of their ingredients versus the star-power of their menu items. So, was it the “best pizza in Ithaca?” Maybe… Overall, the pizzas were nothing revolutionary in flavor, but nor did I expect them to be. Adelina’s pizza is much more akin to something like a flatbread as its bread is the star of the show, so if your favorite part of pizza is the crust, then you will be a fan. For me, I thought it was pretty good in the grand scheme of things. It was nothing particularly revolutionary or experimental, yet sometimes simplicity is best. 

Service Rating: 9/10 

As a casual self-service place, there is not much to say about the service. Darren was very accommodating and our food came out quickly despite the truck’s limited space and resources. I would be interested to see how Adelina’s keeps up during busier times due to their limited number of staff and how everything is made-to-order. 

Ambiance Rating: 8.5/10 

This may be a bit of a cheat because the ambiance was really coming from Argos, a cozy hotel + bar on the same lot. Inside the bar, it was warmly lit, bustling just the right amount, and lively. It was a bit awkward to carry a pizza on a wooden cutting board back and forth from the parking lot to inside the bar, yet for a food truck, it was surprising that they even offered any kind of indoor seating. 

Value Rating: 7/10

We shared 2 pizzas amongst 3 people and were all left very full. ~$17 is reasonable for a personal pizza and on par with the other artisanal pizza options in the area, especially with Adelina’s focus on locally sourced ingredients and grass-fed dairy. However, I would not say I was ecstatic to pay almost $20 dollars for a meal without much protein. 

Total Rating: (32/40) 

Overall, Adelina’s is satisfying and hits the spot for a crust-forward pizza with simple ingredients. As a humble neighborhood joint, Adelina’s stands out in its freshness and simplicity. If you’re craving a fresh and hearty personal pizza, I would say that this would fulfill your desires. However, its simplicity could also be mistaken for plainness and repetitiveness for more adventurous eaters. Nontheless, with few quick service artisan pizza options in our area, Adelina’s is worth a try.