Famed Tokyo Pizzeria Hits NYC

Chef Tsubasa Tamaki is a self-taught pizzaiolo from Okinawa who has never set foot in Italy. He honed his craft at respected Tokyo pizzerias like Savoy and Pizza Strada before developing his own unique style. Tamaki's approach is a reinterpretation of Neapolitan pizza with Japanese precision. He uses a proprietary blend of Japanese and American flours, and the dough undergoes a 30-hour fermentation process, resulting in a light, digestible crust with deep flavor. A signature technique involves adding Japanese cedar shavings to the custom-built oven, which reaches a searing 480-900°F. This imparts a subtle, smoky aroma and a slight bitterness to the perfectly charred crust. Pizza Studio Tamaki, or PST, first opened in Tokyo's Roppongi district in 2018 and quickly gained international acclaim, including a recommendation from the Michelin guide within its first year. The brand has since expanded with locations in Bangkok and Singapore. The St. Marks Place location was previously home to Moody Tongue Pizza, which also specialized in a Tokyo-Neapolitan style, making this a fitting succession for the space.