NOTE: If you have a trip to WDW planned in the next six months and might be doing a Dining Report, please make sure I have you on my list.
Via Napoli - The Pre-Review
BACKGROUND: My first time dining at Via Napoli was just three months after it opened, in November 2010. As soon as their menu appeared on the internet, I knew exactly what I was going to order when I dined there. During my trip to Italy in 2009, I tried this simple, yet wonderful combination for the very first time.
Prosciutto and Melon (Cantaloupe) - Rome 2010
(and check out the plate of tomatoes and fresh mozzarella in the background, YUM!)
Now although my Italian grandmother had introduced me to prosciutto not long after I cut my first teeth, she never once suggested that I eat it with anything other than a piece of Italian bread and a slice of Provolone cheese.
So once I discovered how well this combination of flavors worked together, I never passed up the opportunity to have it. Therefore when I spotted this pizza listed on Via Napoli's opening day menu, I knew then that it would soon be mine.
Wood Fired Authentic Prosciutto e Melone Pizza Napoletana - With Prosciutto, Cantaloupe, and Fontina, Mozzarella, and Pecorino Cheese.
Now, I first must say that this pizza did not look at all like I was expecting. I had imagined this pizza to be topped with "bite-size" pieces of prosciutto and cantelope. But as you can see, the reality was quite different. And so while the taste of this pizza was pretty good, it was such a pain to cut and eat that it was not very enjoyable. However, although this pizza was a disappointment, the other one we tried was much better...
Wood Fired Authentic Pepperoni Pizza Napoletana - With Spicy Pepperoni, Tomato Sauce, and Mozzarella Cheese.
I would have given this a solid Good "Wendy" rating. While it was definitely not the best pizza I have ever had, as I usually prefer a Chicago-style deep dish pizza, it was pretty good for a pizza of this type. The highlight of our meal though was actually not the pizza, but this dessert...
Zeppole Di Catarina - Ricotta Cheese Fritters, served with whipped cream, chocolate sauce
Wow, these were yummy, especially when covered with that rich chocolate sauce and whipped cream!
Oh, and speaking of zeppole, last Spring I happened to see these on the Dessert menu of another fine dining establishment which specializes in Italian cuisine...
Zeppoli (spelled with an i) - Soft, traditional Italian doughnuts dusted with powdered sugar, served with chocolate sauce for dipping.
These actually look and taste kind of like a beignet, although not the Café du Monde kind
which are awesome, but maybe like the kind you get at POFQ??? Not sure though, since I havent yet had the privilege of trying them, but they are definitely on my list.
Anyway, does anyone know from what Italian restaurant these zeppoli are served???
If you guessed Olive Garden, then you would be correct.
And while these are not quite as good as Via Napolis, as they are not filled with ricotta cheese, they are pretty tasty and much more readily available, since there are Olive Gardens everywhere. Which actually is totally fine with me, because I happen to really like Olive Garden. I enjoy going there for lunch and having their unlimited Soup, Salad & Breadsticks. I especially like this soup
Olive Garden's Chicken & Gnocchi Soup - A creamy soup made with roasted chicken, traditional Italian dumplings and spinach.
Ahem
but getting back to Via Napoli now.
DH and I plus our DS returned to VN last fall. On this second visit, the zeppole did not disappoint and were again very good, but that wasn't the case with our pepperoni pizza.
Via Napoli Pepperoni Pizza #2
Now I must admit that this pizza looks pretty good, but sometimes looks can be deceiving. Because unfortunately, the crust was not cooked enough on top and therefore would have been demoted to only a "Mr. Smee" rating.
DS actually wanted something other than pizza, so ordered this
Chicken Parmigiana - traditional preparation with tomato sauce, parmesan and mozzarella cheese, and served with roasted potatoes.
Unfortunately this was also a disappointment, probably because he compared it to another Chicken Parmesan dish that he had recently had
Giacomos Chicken Parmigiana
This was from a wonderful, little Italian restaurant in Bostons North End called Giacomos. And when I said little, I meant just that because it probably has maybe 8 10 small tables at most, placed very closely together (kind of like some of the WDW restaurants, and maybe even worse). Consequently this popular restaurant always has a line of people standing outside its door, like this (or sometimes longer)
But DH, DS, DD2 and I absolutely loved this place, and even ended up eating there a second time when we were back in Boston to fly home from our New England vacation. Every single dish that we tried there (both times) was either a Peter Pan or a magical Tinkerbell.
Here was DD2s favorite dish
Giacomos Pumpkin Tortellini
And here was mine
Giacomo's Lobster Ravioli
The ravioli was delicious and the creamy garlic sauce with diced tomatoes was superb. This definitely put the similar dish that is served at Coral Reef to shame. DH also got a ravioli dish here that he really enjoyed, the Butternut squash ravioli with a prosciutto, mascarpone cheese cream sauce that had diced asparagus. (sorry no pic) In fact he liked it so much, that he ordered the Autumn Squash Lasagna that was on the CA Grill menu when we there just a few months later, thinking it might be similar in taste.
California Grills Autumn Squash Lasagna Nov. 2011
Sadly, he was quite mistaken and this lasagna turned out to be rather gross. And as much as I love CA Grill, I must admit that this dish was a failure.
But my oh my, how did I get so far off track???
Youd think I was trying to stall or something, wouldnt you?
So stay tuned for
Lunch #2 at Via Napoli the Actual Review to find out the answer to these burning questions
1) Would I again order my usual of Pepperoni pizza and zeppole?
2) Would the girls enjoy their first taste of Via Napoli?
And most importantly,
3) Would we finally be served by a cute Italian waiter?
(I forgot to mention that our Tutto Gusto waiter was again an older Italian gentleman.
).
Hopefully long enough to last me until the late August people return and start their reports. Oh, and of course there is iloveeeyore and family who are at WDW right now. 
Hi livinlife25! Thanks so much for following along and taking the time to post a comment. I hope you enjoy your dinner at Artist Point. I hope to return there soon...whether with my family or not!
for keeping us updated on dining reviews and TR! I love love love it!
But on the bright side, it looks like I'm going to have lots of Dining Reports to keep me occupied. 
And what he doesn't know won't hurt him. 
But why couldn't they have at least cut up the cantaloupe into bite-size pieces??? 
Thanks smiths02 and thanks so much for joining in! 
