Chef and industry veteran Daniel Holzman’s pizzeria, Danny Boy’s Famous Original, opened its second – and first standalone – location, July 17, at 10889 Lindbrook Drive in Westwood Village. Inspired by the slice joints of Holzman’s Big Apple upbringing, the 56 seat seat eatery will feature New York-style slices and pies along with hot hero sandwiches, salads, and classic appetizers, all available for dine-in, takeout, catering and delivery. New to this location will be the addition of beer and wine, as well as an expanded appetizer and entrée menu down the line.
“When we opened Danny Boy’s, we had a simple goal: create a great place to work and make the best damn NYC-style pizza we possibly could,” said Holzman in a statement. “Over two years in, we have an incredibly committed and passionate team, we are extremely proud of what we’re producing, and customer feedback has been incredibly positive. We couldn’t be more excited to join the Westwood community, make more great pizza, and grow our family of guests and teammates.”
The menu will feature a range of pies that Holzman and his team have been perfecting over the past two years – such as Cheese, Pepperoni, and White Pie with ‘Shrooms as well as limited time specialties and cult-favorite collaborations – all made with three-day cold fermented dough. Customers can also opt to nosh on melty-hot hero sandwiches (Meatball and Chicken Parm), salads (Caesar, Greek, or Italian Combo), and classic appetizers (garlic knots, hot wings, and meatballs). Eventually, the Westwood location will have a more expansive menu than its Downtown LA counterpart, with additions like cold sandwiches, stromboli, spaghetti and meatballs, and more. Last but not least, a new beer and wine-based beverage program will be led by certified sommelier Cameron Mahlstede, an alum of Osteria Mozza and Jon & Vinny’s.
“Making great pizza is easy. Making great pizza consistently is a labor of love,” reflects Holzman of how the pies at Danny Boy’s have evolved since opening the first location. “We’ve worked incredibly hard to perfect our pies. Nothing that we started with looks the same, because we’re constantly learning and improving. And now more than ever, the quality of the pizza speaks for itself.”
A fixture within East and West Coast kitchens over the past 25 years, Holzman started his career when he was 15 years old at Michelin-starred Le Bernardin in New York City and remained there for four years until, at the suggestion of chef Eric Ripert, he attended the Culinary Institute of America. After going on to work in some of the finest restaurants around the country – including Palladin (NYC), Jardinière (SF), and Axe (LA) – he returned to his hometown to co-open The Meatball Shop in 2010. The instant sensation spawned numerous locations and catapulted him to culinary fame, and he has since become both a prodigious recipe writer and sought-after educator; authored two best-selling cookbooks, including Food IQ: 100 Questions, Answers, and Recipes to Raise Your Cooking Smarts, published in 2022; and launched On the Line, a podcast with celebrity chef Amanda Freitag, earlier this year.
“After moving to LA and doing some culinary soul searching, I realized my heart was set on the food I most constantly, and nostalgically, craved,” says Holzman of why he ventured into making pizza. “Danny Boy’s epitomizes the slice joint of my childhood dreams. ‘Danny Boy’ is what my pop called me, and ‘Famous Original’ is an homage to Ray’s Famous Original, the shop he brought me to growing up. There was nothing fancy about it, just consistently delicious pies and a welcoming ‘How you doin’?’ from behind the counter.”
That distinctly nostalgic quality will also be reflected in the 2,300 square foot pizzeria’s design, which was conceived by NCA Studio and features red, white and green tile walls and blond wood tables that serve a mix of two-top booths and large communal groups. Customers will have a view of the pizza production kitchen, and the walls will be adorned with photos of classic NYC pizza storefronts.
The second location of Danny Boy’s Famous Original is located at 10889 Lindbrook Drive in Westwood Village. To start, it will be open for lunch Monday – Friday from 10:30AM – 5:30PM, with weekend and expanded hours coming later this summer. Take-out, catering, and delivery will also be available.
