V Pizza North Carolina has a stocked permanent menu, but they also have rotating weekly specials that are exciting and delicious. One of those specials that gets a lot of praise and often sells out before the week is even over is the white clam and garlic pizza. Triangle locals go nuts for it and some even drive an hour to order it when it circles back around. In addition to being high in demand for its flavor, it has a special meaning to V Pizza NC owner, Anthony.
Here’s that story, in his own words
So, (maybe) little known fact – I grew up in Queens, New York. My first job was at the famous Lennys Clam Bar on Crossbay Blvd, I started there when I was 15 in 2003. In one way or another, I was employed with Lennys until I left New York City in 2017.
A huge mentor of mine, without even realizing it, was Joe DeCandia. Joe was the owner of Lennys, and subconsciously, I learned so much from him. The way he sat and spoke to every table, the way he NDA’s never above any part of the job. He was constantly bussing tables, cooking food, you name it – he did it. More importantly, you could tell he loved it.
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When my mom passed away in 2012, Joe explained to me that when his father passed, it was important to rest his dad’s ashes in an actual location, instead of let’s say above your fireplace. His thought process was it was important to have to make an effort to see a deceased loved one.
Joe wrote me a check to St. John’s cemetery, so I wouldn’t have to worry about the cost of finding a resting place for my mother. To this day, I never cashed that check. But that gesture is one I never forget.
Joe taught me countless lessons, but maybe most importantly, he taught me the value in truly caring about your employees. I called Joe after V Pizza first opened, to thank him for everything he had done for me. Hearing his happiness on the other line was immensely gratifying.
At V Pizza Cary, this week’s special is also a tribute to Joe DeCandia, and Lennys Clam Bar. That restaurant, & Joe, were an enormous part of my adolescence. I wouldn’t be here today without the knowledge shared with me in those walls.
As far as the pizza – like always, we start with our classic Neapolitan crust, made with imported Italian 00 flour. We start with a base layer of Italian Pecorino cheese and mozzarella and then we add a generous amount of fresh chopped pan-roasted fresh garlic followed by a generous amount of whole New England baby clams. We then finish it with dried oregano, fresh chopped parsley, and extra virgin olive oil.
Hungry for more V Pizza choices?
See what locals ranked as their favorites in our Most Desired V Pizza poll.