via napoli .. disappointed

[smidgy]

stick with the pizza here. a few years back we paid OOP and got the pizza. and the arancini appetizer. even though we weren't a big fan of that type of pizza, it was ok, and I could see how some people would love it.

we wanted to try it with the DDP and order entrees. hubby loves Veal paremsan. he ordered that and I got the Candele. I think maybe they both sat under the heat lamps too long. my chandele was VERY dry. and his veal was hard at the edges, and the entire cut was tough. when we mentioned is nothing was said. I asked for some extra marinara.

I don't recommend this restaurant, unless you get pizza.

 

[lawboysam]

We went last year and didn't see what all the fuss was about either. Even the pizza we were mostly, that's it? But to each their own!

 

[Nancyg56]

We like it. I think the calimari is delicious, and I thought my veal was good. It is not as good as my favorite Italian restaurant at home, but we enjoy it a lot.

 

[tony67]

Well between the DDP and it "being a theme park" I think many people have lower expectations unfortunately.

I live near a major city with a big Italian area...and it's just hard to find good pizza even here..

Add on top of that that many people like or only have access too Papa Johns, Little Caesars and Dominoes.

With all these factors I can see why people are satisfied with Via Napoli - it is a solid pizza, but no it is not the best ever IMO.

As for the veal...Im guessing it is way better than the chicken at Tonys

 

[Mousemommy1]

Hmm...when we went last year with our cousin-in-law who is very Italian (parents immigrated here from Italy), he thought the food was pretty good.
We have always loved Via Napoli and were actually afraid to bring him there because of his background, but he enjoyed his meal.

 

[jon18uk]

I have seen many reviews stating that if you don't want Pizza then go to the other Italian restaurants at Epcot or Boardwalk. Generally the non-pizza entrées seem to get poor feedback at Via Napoli.

 

[BabiesDaddy]

We always make it a point to each lunch here each time we visit disney. We always get the pizza also. We enjoy it.

 

[crabbygal902]

Thanks for the honest review, OP. Sorry to hear that your experience wasn't better.

 

[gmboy95]

I have eaten here twice and found it to be an "OK" experience....it is nothing that sticks out when thinking about places to eat in Epcot

 

[Wood Nymph]

There are two things that we usually never get at Disney because they are better at home, pizza and steak. We have really good pizza and steak in the Chicago area. We've been to Via Napoli a few times and the food isn't spectacular. DH won't go there again because it is loud and service is spotty.

 

[smidgy]

ita woodnymph. we chicagoans love our pizza. the pizza at via napoli is very thin. by brother tells me there is a place on harlem near belmont now that has napolian style pizza. I love my pan pizza.

I'll have to try the other Italian restaurnat at epcot or the one at boardwalk.. tonyss was so-so.

 

[2hapykdz]

stick with the pizza here. a few years back we paid OOP and got the pizza. and the arancini appetizer. even though we weren't a big fan of that type of pizza, it was ok, and I could see how some people would love it.

we wanted to try it with the DDP and order entrees. hubby loves Veal paremsan. he ordered that and I got the Candele. I think maybe they both sat under the heat lamps too long. my chandele was VERY dry. and his veal was hard at the edges, and the entire cut was tough. when we mentioned is nothing was said. I asked for some extra marinara.

I don't recommend this restaurant, unless you get pizza.

You had a rare bad experience! It's our go-to place....and the veal is awesome. You should have complained...but never the less....give it another try!

 

[DisBuckMan]

It's very hit-or-miss in our experiences, but we've never been blown away by the pizza there. The pizza there is pretty good (far from the best I've had) when they're "on", but can be pretty below average when they're not. Very inconsistent overall, though.

 

[senadler]

I think their pizza is very good, and their calamari is some of the best I have ever had. My DD enjoyed her pasta dish, but most of our group did have pizza.

 

[smidgy]

You had a rare bad experience! It's our go-to place....and the veal is awesome. You should have complained...but never the less....give it another try!

sorry but there are too many other restuarants we love to give this another try. the first time we thought the pizza was just ok. paid OOP. we wanted to try the other entrees since we were on the "free dining" plan.
I would have mentioned it to the servers, but they were not easy to find. service was not so great.


another issue. I requested a table with a lot of light, since hubby has macular degeneration. very low vision. they tried to seat us as a table in the middle of the dining room with very little light.. I aske about that "patio" area with all the windows. they made a big deal about a "meeting" going on in there. not available yet.
"we'll talk to a manager" they reluctantly brought us out to a table by a window (so myhusband could actually see what he is eating)/ and mad a point of saying this section isn't really open yet.
within 5 minutes there was another table sat. there were a few employees (maybe 4? ) discussing something by a side bar. within 10 minutes they were sittiing people all over the section.
we would have been more than willing to wait 10 minutes for a well lit table, by a window, due to a disability. but they made us feel like we were putting them out. and the service was not friendly AT ALL.

there are too many wonderful restaurants at WDW to waste my money or dining credits here again. (unless I pay out of pocket for the pizza, but I do prefer Chicago [pizza anyway!

 

[bwang123]

only tried the pizza and all of us thought it was just okay. there are many better examples of this style of pizza outside of disney. i'd rather overpay for almost any other food at disney than a pizza so we will not be returning.

 

[goofyintoronto]

stick with the pizza here. a few years back we paid OOP and got the pizza. and the arancini appetizer. even though we weren't a big fan of that type of pizza, it was ok, and I could see how some people would love it.

we wanted to try it with the DDP and order entrees. hubby loves Veal paremsan. he ordered that and I got the Candele. I think maybe they both sat under the heat lamps too long. my chandele was VERY dry. and his veal was hard at the edges, and the entire cut was tough. when we mentioned is nothing was said. I asked for some extra marinara.

I don't recommend this restaurant, unless you get pizza.

Thats a shame. Perhaps you went on a bad night where they did in fact leave the food under a heat lamp too long. I eat there every year...and every year i have candele and its my absolute fave dish. Its consistently delicious every time. im sorry that your experience wasn't as good.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think their pizza is very good, and their calamari is some of the best I have ever had. My DD enjoyed her pasta dish, but most of our group did have pizza.

We love the calimari!

 

[TeresaWen]

My issue with the pizza Is via Napoli uses fresh mozzarella and I just do not care for the consistency.

 

[DisBuckMan]

You had a rare bad experience!

A bad experience at VN is not THAT rare. As I said previously, it's a very inconsistent restaurant.