(Photo by Ray Johnson)

I was walking down Sheepshead Bay Road near Voorhies Avenue sometime close to 11 a.m. and a wonderful, garlicky smell permeating the air reminded me that I hadn't had any breakfast. It was as if my feet had a nose of their own, because they immediately brought me to Del Mar Pizzeria at 1668 Sheepshead Bay Rd. Sure enough, there was a hot, cheesy pepperoni pie just coming out of the standard, stainless steel pizza oven. Naturally, I decided against the plain one that had just come out a minute, before.

The pizza-professional swiftly rolled his knife into the pie and asked me if I wanted my slice to stay or to go. I could have just grabbed the whole pie right off the pan, but it was blocked by the glass display. I looked at the normally-busy dining area and noticed there was no one there. The thought of having the place all to myself somehow made me feel like Will Smith must have felt in I Am, Legend.

Here I was, the last person left in Sheepshead Bay (oh, the pizza chef was just a robot - oops, sorry, this is I Am Legend, not I, Robot), about to indulge in my steaming hot breakfast. Figuring there was no one around to call the ambulance should the liquid lava-cheese scorch the roof of my mouth, I blew on it for a second to cool it down.

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(Photo by Ray Johnson)

Without any fanfare and just a skip away from the beaten path, Benny's Gourmet Pizza has opened up at the corner of Jerome Ave and East 18th Street. In Sheepshead's central drag, where DelMar's, La Sorrentina II, and Bay Pizzeria reign supreme, why should we need another dough, sauce, and cheese trio? Well, it's because this is the only one that is kosher. On the fifth day after it opened, a hot-off-the-press menu provided a sufficient number of healthy choices for your tossed-to-order salads. The dining area was clean and airy, with sidewalk seating in front of a bright, busy, outside wall mural.

Benny is the owner of Benny's Brick-Oven Pizza of Avenue M (also, on E. 18 St) in Midwood and now brings his tasty recipe to the bay arena (although, New York Magazine seems to think Ave M is in the bay). Anyone looking to get a Sheepshead Bite of this delicious crust and fresh veggies, would do well to check for the introductory discount, since a mushroom (not canned!) slice will cost you a meat-eater's price. If you happen to bring your own cup of iced coffee or some other decoction not available for purchase there, do not even think of imbibing it on premises, as you will be told that outside food is not allowed. You might be able to go unnoticed on the sidewalk with your brought-in beverage and their purchased meal, until the neighbors realize that there is a cafe right where there used to be just a simple sidewalk.

Welcome to Sheepshead Bay, Benny's Gourmet. Just some words of advice for our kosher slice--keep it clean and try not to scare us.