The Pizza Block West Hempstead: A Riverdale Kosher Classic Comes to Nassau County
- Mark Vogel
- Dec 3, 2025
- 6 min read
Kosher Pizza Store in West Hempstead, New York ✈
Walking into The Pizza Block in West Hempstead, Long Island, feels immediately familiar if you’ve ever spent time at the original kosher location in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. That sense of continuity matters. The Riverdale shop, which first opened its doors a decade ago, built a loyal following by focusing on consistency, comfort, and food that people actually return for week after week. Bringing that same identity east to Nassau County was clearly intentional, and the West Hempstead location carries that history with confidence rather than trying to reinvent it.
The restaurant is located at 197 Hempstead Avenue. The exterior sets the tone before you even step inside. Clean white brick, bold black signage, and large windows give the space a modern but approachable look that fits naturally into the neighborhood. There’s no attempt to feel flashy or overdesigned. Instead, the storefront communicates exactly what this place is about: good kosher food, done well, in a space that welcomes families, regulars, and first-time visitors alike. The presence of ample free parking right outside removes one of the biggest friction points of dining on Long Island, instantly making the experience more relaxed before the meal even begins.
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“As someone who has followed The Pizza Block since its Riverdale days, it’s satisfying to see that growth hasn’t diluted its identity. The food still feels grounded. The menu still prioritizes familiarity done right.”
Inside, the room feels open and functional, designed around movement and visibility. The service counter stretches across the space, with clear sightlines to the pizza display, prep areas, and ovens behind the scenes. Seating is simple and comfortable, with light wood tones and neutral finishes that keep the focus where it belongs—on the food. There’s an energy in the room that comes from steady foot traffic rather than noise or clutter. Customers move efficiently from ordering to seating, and staff members work with a rhythm that suggests this location found its footing quickly after opening.
The pizza display immediately draws attention, not because it’s overwhelming, but because it’s carefully curated. Full pies are presented clearly, each one showing its personality through toppings, cheese coverage, and crust structure. The crusts themselves deserve mention. They are well-baked with a light golden color, thick enough to support generous toppings without feeling heavy, and thin enough to maintain balance.
Vegetable-forward pizzas play a central role here, which aligns well with kosher dining preferences and keeps the menu accessible to a wide range of customers. Broccoli, mushrooms, peppers, olives, and onions are used thoughtfully rather than piled on carelessly. Cheese coverage is even, with visible melt and light browning that suggests attention to oven timing. The variety allows repeat visitors to rotate choices without feeling like they’re ordering the same meal each time.
Beyond pizza, the menu expands naturally into other familiar categories without losing focus. Pasta dishes are available for those looking for something warm and filling without ordering a slice. These dishes feel like comfort food rather than showpieces, designed to satisfy rather than surprise. The presence of a salad bar adds another layer of flexibility, particularly for diners who want something lighter or prefer to customize their meal. Fresh vegetables, chopped toppings, and simple dressings allow guests to build plates that fit their appetite and preferences.
During my visit, I ordered a falafel platter, which turned out to be a smart choice. The falafel arrived crisp on the outside with a tender interior, suggesting proper frying temperature and fresh preparation. The platter was generous, built on a base of chopped salad with tomatoes and onions, accompanied by hummus, pickles, and cabbage salad. A soft pita on the side tied everything together, making the dish both filling and balanced. It’s the kind of meal that works equally well for lunch or dinner, and it holds its own alongside the pizza rather than feeling like an afterthought.
The hummus was smooth and well-seasoned, with a texture that spread easily without becoming runny. Pickles added acidity and crunch, cutting through the richness of the falafel and tahini. The cabbage salad brought brightness and contrast, giving the plate dimension instead of monotony. This attention to balance suggests the kitchen understands that non-pizza items still represent the brand just as much as the pies do.
Behind the counter, the kitchen setup reinforces that impression. Large deck ovens dominate the back wall. Pizza peels rest nearby, stacked trays line the prep area, and the workflow appears efficient rather than chaotic. Seeing pizzas go in and out of the ovens adds a sense of transparency and trust, reminding diners that this is a working pizzeria, not a reheating station.
A neatly arranged condiment station offers the usual pizza essentials, from crushed red pepper flakes and dried herbs to grated cheese and sauces, making it easy to customize each slice. This detail might seem minor, but it matters. It shows respect for the customer’s experience and an understanding of how people actually eat pizza. These touches make it easy to tailor each slice or plate without disrupting the flow of service.
The atmosphere throughout the space feels casual but intentional. Families come in comfortably, solo diners settle in without feeling rushed, and groups can share pizzas without struggling for room. The layout supports all of these scenarios without favoring one over another. Lighting is bright enough to keep the room lively but soft enough to feel welcoming rather than clinical. Clean surfaces and uncluttered tables reinforce the sense that this is a place meant for repeat visits, not just one-time stops.
What’s especially notable is how well the West Hempstead location mirrors the spirit of Riverdale without copying it exactly. This isn’t a replica dropped into a new ZIP code. It’s a continuation. The familiarity is there, but so is a sense of adaptation to the surrounding community. Long Island diners often value space, convenience, and consistency, and this location delivers on all three without sacrificing quality.
From a broader perspective, opening in Nassau County makes strategic sense. West Hempstead sits within reach of several Jewish communities, as well as commuters and families who appreciate reliable kosher dining options. The ability to drive up, park easily, and enjoy a full meal without navigating crowded streets is a real advantage. It’s the kind of place that becomes part of a weekly routine rather than a special-occasion destination.
Dining at The Pizza Block also works well as part of a broader stop on the South Shore of Long Island. The location is just a short drive from Bingo Wholesale, making it easy to pair a meal with shopping, especially for those already familiar with the Bingo location in Monsey. A visit here can also fit naturally before or after a walk at Hempstead Lake State Park, adding an outdoor break to the day. The area lends itself to casual plans rather than rigid itineraries, which suits The Pizza Block’s relaxed, dependable style.
As someone who has followed The Pizza Block since its Riverdale days, it’s satisfying to see that growth hasn’t diluted its identity. The food still feels grounded. The menu still prioritizes familiarity done right. The space still encourages people to sit, eat, and come back. Expansion often brings pressure to scale too fast or change too much, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here.
By the time the meal wraps up and you step back outside, the experience feels complete rather than rushed. Good food, a comfortable environment, and the simple convenience of free parking combine into something that fits seamlessly into daily life. That combination is harder to achieve than it sounds, and it explains why The Pizza Block continues to attract loyal customers more than a decade after its original opening.
The West Hempstead location doesn’t try to announce itself as something new and different. Instead, it quietly delivers what people already loved, in a place where it makes sense to do so. For longtime fans of the Riverdale shop and newcomers discovering it for the first time, that approach feels just right.
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