via napoli .. disappointed

[Alice Sr.]

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!

Totally agree that was our opinion also. I just chalked it up to my expectations being too high given a lot of the reviews I read.

 

[TeresaNJ]

I guess we are lucky. We've eaten there every trip for the last several years, and go at least twice a year. We love it. I have to eat gluten free, and their gluten free pasta dishes have always been wonderful, particularly the paccheri alla creme con pollo- large macaroni tubes, cream, chicken and pancetta. So yummy! My husband has loved everything he has ordered, pizza & otherwise. It is a very noisy restaurant, and that is my biggest complaint about it. The staff have always been over attentive when we've eaten there. I'm not exaggerating either. Other than the evening that a fight almost broke out between two loud mouthed men arguing over one of their very misbehaving children, where security had to be brought in, we've always had a pleasant time. Oh, and three of my four grandparents were born in Italy, & I grew up in a very Italian South Philadelphia neighborhood, so know what good Italian food is. To me, nothing is as good as homemade, but by Disney standards, Via Napoli is pretty good. Sorry you had a bad experience, OP. That always stinks! I hate putting out money for an unsatisfactory meal.

 

[BigAlsGal]

DH loves the place. I don't care for it. I found the spaghetti to be a safe bet. I've tried the pizza twice and all I get is burnt flavor on the bottom and its floppy and bleh. DH just thinks it's awesome. Everyone is different right?

 

[Alice Sr.]

I guess we are lucky. We've eaten there every trip for the last several years, and go at least twice a year. We love it. I have to eat gluten free, and their gluten free pasta dishes have always been wonderful, particularly the paccheri alla creme con pollo- large macaroni tubes, cream, chicken and pancetta. So yummy! My husband has loved everything he has ordered, pizza & otherwise. It is a very noisy restaurant, and that is my biggest complaint about it. The staff have always been over attentive when we've eaten there. I'm not exaggerating either. Other than the evening that a fight almost broke out between two loud mouthed men arguing over one of their very misbehaving children, where security had to be brought in, we've always had a pleasant time. Oh, and three of my four grandparents were born in Italy, & I grew up in a very Italian South Philadelphia neighborhood, so know what good Italian food is. To me, nothing is as good as homemade, but by Disney standards, Via Napoli is pretty good. Sorry you had a bad experience, OP. That always stinks! I hate putting out money for an unsatisfactory meal.

I guess we should give it another try since my DD has been following the GF diet. It's hard to find good GF pasta/pizza options. Thanks

 

[DrunkJam]

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

This really is not a criticism, I am just wondering what the alternative is to fresh mozzarella?

 

[DisBuckMan]

I guess we should give it another try since my DD has been following the GF diet. It's hard to find good GF pasta/pizza options. Thanks

Be aware that VN has an open kitchen, and cross-contamination is very possible there. Just in case your DD's gluten allergy is severe.

 

[TeresaWen]

This really is not a criticism, I am just wondering what the alternative is to fresh mozzarella?

I prefer the shredded. Melts evenly. The fresh is too gloppy for me. I am an Italian - born & raised in Brooklyn. Grew up with pizza topped with only shredded mozzarella.

 

[DrunkJam]

I prefer the shredded. Melts evenly. The fresh is too gloppy for me. I am an Italian - born & raised in Brooklyn. Grew up with pizza topped with only shredded mozzarella.

Ah, I see. I have never seen shredded mozzarella, if I want to buy it in the supermarket, it comes in a blob in a pack of liquid.

 

[TeresaWen]

This is what Brooklyn pizza looks like.

 

[TeresaWen]

One brand of shredded. I do not make my own pizza. The mozzarella only melts right (in my opinion) in a very very hot pizza oven.

 

[DrunkJam]

View attachment 193718

This is what Brooklyn pizza looks like.

Thanks. I lived in PA and NY for about 2 years, but never ate take out / pizza!

 

[TeresaWen]

Ah, I see. I have never seen shredded mozzarella, if I want to buy it in the supermarket, it comes in a blob in a pack of liquid.

See two pictures above

 

[TeresaWen]

View attachment 193718

This is what Brooklyn pizza looks like.

I live in PA now and dream about ny pizza

 

[Lisa F]

I live in PA now and dream about ny pizza

I'm from brooklyn too and I love plain old basic pizza. MOST pizza is made with shredded mozzarella in most places, it is much cheaper and easier than the fresh. But one of my favorite pizzas (for flavor combos, not the best pizza I ever had but pretty close to being as good as brooklyn) is a place in wappingers falls, NY called Antonella's. They have a "caprese" pizza (they pronounce it "caprice" like the car lol) and it is a sauce base with a light sprinkling of mozzarella, proscuitto, slices of fresh mozzarella (but not so many the whole pizza is covered with them), whole basil leaves and roasted red peppers. I LOVE that pizza and still dream about it. It was the perfect balance of everything. their food is quite good too. I believe the family is from the Bronx. Now i want pizza!

 

[TeresaWen]

I live near a wood fire pizza restaurant. They make a wide assortment of gourmet pizzas. I get the "Teresa" special. Shredded mozzarella only. No other cheese. Chef keeps truing to get me to branch out. No luck

 

[tony67]

Well...fresh mozzarella is pretty authentic....it would be unusual to see shredded mozzeralla on a pizza in a pizzeria in Italy

 

[goofy4prez]

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!

I'm glad it's your go-to-place (many share your experience and opinion), but I wouldn't call it a rare bad experience either. I think that Via Napoli is an average experience. I myself found the veal to be below average as is the unusual side dish of roasted potatoes served with the entree; my wife said her lasagna was ok, but nothing she would call very good... Her words, "OliveGardian". The pizza I would say is decent, but is not outstanding, excellent or awesome... Decent, even a bit above average but that is it for me. The atmosphere is a bit loud for me, almost as loud as dare I say it, Chef Mickey. Service was good, but again, not great. Will I go back to VN? Probably, but it is not on my must do ADR list when I go to Disney and if I do go back the entree's will not find their way to our table; I'll stick with the pizza.

 

[crzy4dsny]

There are many many different styles of pizza and pizza making. The style they use here is brick oven. Pizza cooked on stone, be cooked with a wood fire, and in very hot tempatures. They are very good at this technique. The dough is supposed to be very thin, and almost have a very slight burnt taste. Cooked properly these pies should be done in 2-5 minutes in tempatures around 800-900 degrees. It is a distinct taste, most likely not what your used to at home as this cooking method is very hard to find. That's why I make my own brick oven pizza at home. Go with an open mind and you should enjoy it, but it's not going to be like home. And stick to the pizza, it's their speciality!

 

[goofyintoronto]

I guess we should give it another try since my DD has been following the GF diet. It's hard to find good GF pasta/pizza options. Thanks

Be aware that VN has an open kitchen, and cross-contamination is very possible there. Just in case your DD's gluten allergy is severe.

She did say "following the GF diet", so I would think this is a diet preference and not an allergy. If it is an allergy though, I agree, you'd need to be very careful.

Well...fresh mozzarella is pretty authentic....it would be unusual to see shredded mozzeralla on a pizza in a pizzeria in Italy

Exactly. Lol.

 

[2hapykdz]

I'm glad it's your go-to-place (many share your experience and opinion), but I wouldn't call it a rare bad experience either. I think that Via Napoli is an average experience. I myself found the veal to be below average as is the unusual side dish of roasted potatoes served with the entree; my wife said her lasagna was ok, but nothing she would call very good... Her words, "OliveGardian". The pizza I would say is decent, but is not outstanding, excellent or awesome... Decent, even a bit above average but that is it for me. The atmosphere is a bit loud for me, almost as loud as dare I say it, Chef Mickey. Service was good, but again, not great. Will I go back to VN? Probably, but it is not on my must do ADR list when I go to Disney and if I do go back the entree's will not find their way to our table; I'll stick with the pizza.

It's widely acknowledged that it is the best pizza on property.