Falcone’s brings New York to Oklahoma City
by Greg | February 11, 2009 | 36 Comments
(votes: 26, average: 3.08) 
Loading ...Falcone’s Pizzeria & Deli has three metro locations: 208 Johnny Bench Drive in Bricktown (map), 6705 N. May in Oklahoma City (map) and 180 W. 15th Street in Edmond (map). Falcone’s is open seven days a week, though times vary by location. For hours and more information, you can visit their website.
Do you remember that band you used to like? They were totally cool until everybody else found out about them and then, suddenly, they were much less cool. And then their song was on an iTunes commercial and then the radio started playing them (and radio almost never plays the good stuff) and you started to wonder if, since everybody else liked them now, maybe they weren’t as good as you thought.
Welcome to Falcone’s. People raved for the last few years about the New York style pizza, the authentic sandwiches with meats you’ve only heard about on The Sopranos and the owner who seems like he arrived in Oklahoma via the witness protection program. But once word got around, suddenly people seemed less interested.
Let me tell you — that’s bunk. Falcone’s may have expanded from just one tiny storefront to three locations, but the pizza is just as good as ever. Better yet, there’s probably tons of stuff you never took the time to try.
The problem with pizza, especially if you’re eating alone or have a short time frame, is that you can’t wait for an entire pizza to show up, nor can you (or maybe you can, but you shouldn’t) eat one all by your lonesome. In that respect, Falcone’s has you covered. Their mammoth by-the-slice business is perfect.
Now, I like a “supreme” pizza from most places, but don’t recommend it at Falcone’s. What you want, even if you don’t know it yet, is a slice of cheese pizza. It’s all of $2.50 for a big slice. If you do want a topping, you’ll pay an extra 50 cents.
If, for some reason, pizza is not your thing, I suggest a sandwich. Some like the calzones ($5.50 for cheese, $6.50 with pepperoni or sausage) but, in my opinion, they aren’t as tasty as the pizza. The sandwiches, on the other hand, will give you something you’re not likely to find elsewhere — variety.
Try the capicola ham ($7.99), sweet or spicy, with fresh mozarella, and enjoy. Fresh mozarella really is something to experience and it will put you off the stuff they sell at the grocery store for good. Cold sandwiches run between $7 and $8, but they’re worth it. Hot sandwiches are all $8 and include chicken parmesan, meatball, sausage and pepper and a few other specialties. I prefer the cold sandwiches myself.
While you’re at it, do yourself a favor and try a rice ball ($2.50). It’s a big ball of rice mixed with cheese and seasonings, then fried and covered in marinara. I love them and it’s a struggle not to get one every time I go in.
There are some problems with Falcone’s, which you probably know if you’ve been. It’s chaotic, for one. I think the Bricktown location has the easiest set-up while my visits to the Edmond store are mostly exercises in patience. Once you’re in line, you’re probably good, but the servers can get a little short with customers. They expect you to know what you want, which can be daunting for pensive orderers.
And if you’re thinking of ordering a pizza to go, I’d defer to the wisdom of my fellow reviewers, who say the pizza deteriorates quickly. It’s like some sort of Indiana Jones plot — the pizza is perfect, unless you leave the store. On the other hand, their deli offers a variety of Italian meats, cheeses, and even some prepared foods by the pound. That may be a better option if you’re looking to take something home.
So I say choose wisely, grab a chair, and eat some of the finest New York style pizza you’re going to find in Oklahoma City. If you’ve experienced Falcone’s, let us know what you think in the comments.
(4.70 out of 5)
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So far, 36 people have responded to this article. Won't you join in?February 11th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
There’s actually a fourth location. It’s off of 29th in Midwest City by the Best Buy and in the same strip mall as Payless and Vintage Stock. I’d you work at Tinker AFB, then chances are you’ve eaten there. Also Danny, the owner, has expressed interest in opening a spot near the Warren Theater in Moore. The pizza is pretty damn good, especially the Sicilian which is their deep-dish with lots of sauce. The only thing that sucks about the Sicilian is that they don’t always make it for lunch, and if they do, it sells out quick. I highly recommend their Chicken Cutlet Parmesan sandwich and their Meatball Badabing (onions and red pepper) sandwich. Sadly, the last two times I ordered shot sandwich during lunch, it took at least 10 minutes to get to me.
If you stick to the pizza, you can’t go wrong. Just be prepared to wait for a sandwich. Also, don’t forget to get an Italian ice or a cannolli for desert. And for the other food buffs out there, you can order meats, cheeses, olives, and other vegetables by the pound. All of which are ideal for making your own sandwiches, pizza, and other cuisine at home.
Good stuff.
February 11th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
I don’t care what anyone else says, the food tastes better at the location on North May. To me, it’s everything but the pizza that makes this place. Have you tried that fried mozzerella? They just roll a chunk in breadcrumbs and fry it. It’s messy and tasty.
February 12th, 2009 at 10:17 am
I agree with Andrew, the original location is the best location. I do love their pizza, already a fan of their cheese pizza slice. For take-out pizza, minimize the wait by calling ahead. Hopefully the rumor is true about opening a location in Moore by the Warren.
February 12th, 2009 at 10:36 am
I went to the 29th Street location in Midwest City. The food is decent, but way overpriced in my opinion.
Jersey Mike’s has better sandwiches, at a MUCH better value.
February 12th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Never tried any location other than the location on N May…I had seen the location on 29th but didn’t know if it was the same place because it looked so corporate compared to the mom n’ pop aesthetic of the N May location. Anyway, it was love at first sight for me, as it reminded me of the myriad real new york style pizzerias I used to frequent as a kid in South Florida. Now all I need is a decent bagel place (at this point I’d even take an Einstein’s or a Moe’s Gourmet Bagel) and I’ll be happy.
I’d recommend the fried pizza (I think that’s what it’s called).
February 12th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Forgot to add…I agree with Ryan on the sandwiches. I’ve never had the deli meats (I wish I thought of that when I was combing the city to find prosciutto to make veal saltimbocca and was asked at two different grocery delis, “Uh…is that a cheese?”) but I did try a chicken parmigana sandwich and was underwhelmed. Decent, but expensive, a bit soggy and not all that flavorful. The pizza’s the best deal.
February 12th, 2009 at 10:50 am
I’ve been to the Bricktown location and the May location, and May has always tasted better to me. Plus, the feel of the place is less like a chain, but that’s to be expected at an original location.
I’m not a regular at Falcone’s but I do like it. I think the pizza is really good when fresh (I don’t like it to go), but it’s not the ultra-thin NY style like you find at Papa Angelo’s. The plus side of that is that Falcone’s pizza is a little thicker and more filling than the super thin variety. I think both styles have their merits.
Love Falcone’s prepared salads like Tomato Mozzarella. They are a bit on the pricey side, but they are fresh and delicious.
Never had a sandwich. The cold sandwiches you describe sound awesome but $7-$8 sounds high to me ala carte. Are they really big or something?
February 12th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I’ve only eaten at the Edmond Location. I fell in love with their Garlic Knots! Pizza was really good. My only complaint was the wait time. I ordered a pizza to go and ended up waiting an hour. Main reason was just after I ordered and sat down, a lady came in to pick up a carryout order and was at the wrong location. They called the N. May store and told them to cancel her order and put the pie in the window to sell by the slice, and then proceeded to remake her pizza on the spot. Great for her, not for me. Then a guy came in who used to work there, and they made him a custom Calzone on the spot while I just sat and watched. Meanwhile my phone is blowing up with my wife texting “where are you, we’re starving!” Like your article said, PATIENCE IS A MUST. Lesson learned. If I want a pizza from Falcones, I will always call ahead.
February 12th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I have been to the Edmond and Bricktown locations and every time I go I get a sausage and pepperoni calzone. I love calzone in general and I would say that the calzone at Falcone’s is very good, in my opinion. They give you a nice big bowl of marinara to go with it, which I like better than many places where they only give you a small cup.
As crazy as it sounds, I haven’t tried their pizza yet, but it would have to be pretty awesome to top Papa Angelo’s, in my opinion.
February 12th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I’ve only been to to the May location. Cheese pizza good, but not Papa Angelo’s. Sausage Bada Bing was OK–Kinda soggy as I got it for takeout. The Mozz and tomato salad is fab. I’m gonna have to try the fried cheese and rice ball next time. A mix of sweet and spicy capicola is kind of calling my name as well.
February 12th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Falcone’s is best used as a deli. Danny carries top notch meats and cheeses. Pizza’s is the only real NYC pizza in this market, and a few of his sandwhiches are good too. I got over falcone’s as a dining spot about two years ago, but still go for the meats when Im cooking.
February 12th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
oh… the may ave location is far superior to the others.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Well, I have never eaten at Falcone’s but have eaten many pies from the east coast being that my family is from New Jersey. My dad says it does not compare to back home pizzeria’s. However, I do suggest a place in Moore called Gourmet Pizza…I feel it’s pretty authentic and we really enjoy their pizza. Try it sometime.
February 15th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Take it from a true Italiana girl from the East coast – Falcone’s is as close to Pizza Heaven as you’re likely to get here in OKC. I agree with Stephanie’s dad – no, it’s nowhere near as good as the best pizza places “back home.” But Danny has done an impressive job at coming close to the pizza Nirvana my fellow Yankees and I long for. It’s a great stop gap measure for a quick calzone fix.
Of note, Danny uses ricotta cheese in the calzones. Halleluja. I gave up on any non-chain pizza place south of the Mason-Dixon line and west of Ohio figuring out God’s true designated purpose for ricotta.
I do wish that he’d make some decent white pizza… mmm …. You readin this, Danny? lol
February 23rd, 2009 at 2:08 pm
I have eaten there twice. The food is great, very fresh ect.. I had to wait 20 minutes for a simple sandwich. I applaud the freshly cut meat, the blue cheese and the freshly baked bread. My concern is when I am on lunch I cannot wait 20 mins for a sandwich that was mediocre at best.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I thought Falcone’s was ok. Got the calzone and it was great. I ordered the mozeralla tomato salad though and it was rotten..which was kind of ick. I prefer Old Chicago’s pizza…
February 26th, 2009 at 11:51 am
added note…i went to the Bricktown location…seems the May one is the place to go.
February 27th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Their cold cut sandwiches are great, but their pizza is no where near as good as Papa Angelo’s.
February 28th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I’m an Italian student here in Oklahoma City and I was hoping to find a decent Italian place where to eat. I wanted to try Falcone because I tought their cousine may be close to the real Italian one. However I have been VERY disappointed. I ordered pasta: spaghetti were broken and completely unsalty. The taste not great at all and just witfew sauce on the top. Pizza was so so, nothing special. The arancino– that it is supposed to be ONLY fried and little like a GOLF ball without any sauce– was huge, like a soft ball or bigger full of sauce that they call marinara(we don’t have any sauce with that name). So I think I won’t go back anymore. Unfortuantely I’m still waititng to find a good place where to eat. I’m sad that the only italian owned restaurant I found that is simply great and with authentic italian food is in Florida!
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:57 am
I got food poisoning at the Edmond location a couple of months after it opened. I can undertand, being in the foodservice business, that accidents happen and somethings go out of date or maybe fall out of proper temp status. But when you call the restaurant to let them know there may be a problem and the owner blows you off by telling you you’ve got a problem and not him, well, you lost my business.
Our office ordered in from Falcone’s on a Friday and within three hours of eating the food I was blowing chow while driving down NW Expy. I was wrecked for the rest of the weekend- from both ends. During Friday evening (right after decorating my dashboard with Falcone’s calzone) I called Danny and told him what happened and he said it couldn’t have been his food- “You got sumptin else.” No, and thanks to your lack of empathy no one in my office will eat there again and everyone that asks I tell them to stay away.
Besides, when I got back to the office on Monday after a weekend spent in the bathroom feeling near-death, I found out a coworker who ate lunch in the office on Friday was sick the entire weekend too.
Hmm, It may have been all in my head, Danny, but it ended up in my lap.
March 4th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Being a HUGE fan of thin, New York style pizza, I LOVE FALCONES. It is the closest anyone in Oklahoma has come to it. I do wish they would offer more NY toppings like fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and fresh basil- or my absolute favorite, mozzarella with a blob of ricotta cheese in the middle. The capicola ham sandwich and the meatball bada bing are also two favorites of mine, though on the capicola ham I would recommend getting it without mayonnaise. Another amazing thing they have is the stuffed peppers. I think they have more than one kind, but the best one is what looks like a banana pepper stuffed with cheese and prosciutto. Heaven.
March 5th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
I’m an Okie transplant, but originally grew up (24 years) in a northeast Italian neighborhood. I know what a good pizza looks and tastes like. I’ve had two visits to the Falcone’s in Midwest City and have been disappointed both times. The Falcone’s in Bricktown was somewhat better. I guess OK locals who haven’t experienced authentic Italian cuisine wouldn’t know any different. Being very objective, Falcone’s business wouldn’t survive in my Italian neighborhood. The pizza is over priced considering the quality and taste. The cracker crust, bland sauce, and store bought cheese remind me of a frozen pizza. My search continues for good pizza in OKC. Ray, USAF Retired
March 25th, 2009 at 11:02 am
I have never been disappointed with Falcone’s. But then again, I have only been to the original location on N May. After reading a few of the reviews here I probably won’t bother to venture out to the other locations. My favorite items are the tiramisu and the spaghetti with marinara (I think they call it the traditional “gravy”.) The sauce is wonderful. It’s always fresh and zesty, actually it’s quite spicy sometimes. The spaghetti portions are huge. I always have leftovers, and they never go to waste because it re-heats well. Thanks to all who mentioned Papa Angelo’s – I’ve never tried it but after all the good comments I will definitely put it on my list of things to do!
April 30th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Was underwhelmed with the Bricktown location about a year ago. However, had a FABULOUS Stromboli at the Edmond location last night. I
May 19th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
I predominately ate at the bricktown location and had mixed results. Im not a huge fan of the pizza but maybe its because i love chicago deep dish style pizza. The calzone is pretty good but better drain the gallon of grease after your first bite. I loved the prosciutto with home made mozzarella sandwich but my goodness charging 9 bucks and an extra 2 dollars for hot onions (Bada Bing) is a bit ridiculous. I just started going to target and can buy a pound of prosciutto for 9 dollars and make 5 sandwich’s compared to one at Falcones. Just another over-hyped pizza place.
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:07 am
This place is overrated. The pizza is greasy & mediocre at best. The wait is outragous. It took 2 hours the first time we went, we only went a second time because we were meeting a group & I figured I’d give it a second chance. Not any better & only slightly faster. The canoli’s are good but the pizza gets a D…
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:27 am
Just wanted to add that Falcone’s has yet another location opening in Bethany. They are setting up shop at the old Harbor House on 39th Street, west of MacArthur.
I can only hope it’s better than the Edmond location.
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:44 am
Eliot, if only one of your other co-workers got sick it was probably some type of virus passing between the two of you.
As someone in the medical field, I can tell you that everyone likes to blame food-poisoning as the cause of stomach viruses, especially when they eat out a lot. These viruses are often intense and short-lived (~48 hours) which is likely the reason people blame food.
Did you and this co-worker solely finish off a unique pizza type that no one else ate? If you and he were the only ones that ate anchovies, maybe it was food poisoning, but otherwise (and more than likely), I can tell you that it wasn’t.
August 19th, 2009 at 8:20 am
I have been disappointed. I have only been to the Bricktown location, as we usually pop in before or after a movie. We love NYC and are always hoping for a great “pizza by the slice” like we get there, but it just doesn’t match. The last time I went in, the entire bottom of my slice was black. It was disgusting. I won’t be going back.
September 10th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I was extremely disappointed. I recently visited the new location in Bethany with my daughter. We were seated immediately then ignored by the waitstaff for about 15 minutes. A waitress finally arrived and we found out our table wasn’t in her area, but she saw us sitting there and said she’d take care of us. She did, but the food was not at all what I expected. It was greasy, the red sauce wasn’t up to Ragu standards, and they used canned peas in my dish. Canned peas??? What are they thinking? I won’t go back.
November 4th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Visited the new Bethany location a couple of weeks ago and wasn’t impressed. The pizza didn’t hold a candle to Papa Angelo’s and the house salad at lunchtime was a joke – old lettuce with some tomatoes that were black. I’m afraid I won’t be back.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:07 am
We are Chicago transplants and to find good italian food in the south is hard. Our favorite is Italian Beef Sandwiches and here no one has them. The owners at Falcone’s said that it is not on the menu but if we ask they will make it for us. We are going to try it tonight. Since the Taste of Chicago closed in Okc good really good Italian food including Italian Beef sands is no where to be found yet.
February 17th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
First of all, the only people that “know deli” truly know deli, do not have a deli here in okc. they are in New York. There is not a Deli in OKC. period. He does make a halfway decent pie if you can get it fresh out of the oven… Check Perri’s pizza out on Britten road, just as good if not better and served screaming hot out of the oven and she’s get this! a sweetpea, a doll someone you want to hand your hard earned cash to. and her large pizza is bigger.
February 17th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Check out perri’s on Britton near penn. just as good if not better and a hell of alot nicer and fresh outta (sorry) the oven. The lady makes a great sauce too!
February 24th, 2010 at 10:40 am
I ate at the one in Midwest City, not sure if it still there, but was in a hurry and got a slice to go and it was gross. Greasy and old tasting. I would give another location a try when I had some time and could order soemthing fresh.
March 1st, 2010 at 1:10 pm
The Bethany location is closed. Falcone’s foolishly thought they could compete with Papa Angelo’s and lost.
Please tell us what you think.