Tokyo's Pizza Studio Tamaki Hits East Village
Acclaimed Tokyo-based pizzeria Pizza Studio Tamaki is opening its first NYC location on St. Mark's Place. Led by chef Tsubasa Tamaki, the restaurant will take over the space formerly occupied by Moody Tongue, bringing its signature pies to the East Village.
Chef Tsubasa Tamaki trained under Susumu Kakinuma, the master behind Tokyo's legendary Seirinkan pizzeria, which is famous for its minimalist menu offering only marinara and margherita pies. Tamaki's own style is a unique evolution of this training, often noted for its saltier, crispier crust compared to traditional Neapolitan pizza. The St. Mark's Place location was previously home to Moody Tongue, a Michelin-starred restaurant from a Chicago-based brewery that focused on high-concept food and beer pairings. It closed in 2023 after a two-year run, highlighting the intense competition and high turnover rate for even acclaimed ventures in New York's dining scene. At his Tokyo restaurant, Tamaki is known for his intense, personal involvement, often manning the custom-built wood-fired oven himself to ensure every pizza meets his standards. This hands-on approach to quality control is a core part of the brand's reputation. The move into the East Village places Pizza Studio Tamaki in direct competition with established neighborhood favorites like the Neapolitan-focused Motorino and Luzzo's. This entry strategy bets on a highly specialized, premium product to capture market share in a dense and knowledgeable pizza landscape.
