Via Napoli, should an Italian NJ pizza snob bother?

[RogueKnits]

What makes a NJ pizza better than other pizzas? I would love to know as we always make our own pizzas at home Calzone, deep pan, stuffed crust, Stromboli etc

NY/NJ pizza will not be stuffed crust or deep pan pizza. The crust should be as thin as possible and have a chewiness (i.e. not the "cracker-like" thin crust you get at some places). Ideally (for me) the tomato sauce is house-made and very fresh tasting (not overly sweet). Everyone prefers different things, though. I've had a lot of NY/NJ pizza (grew up in NJ and live in NY now) and honestly there are only a handful of places that do it "right" for me with the proper balance of sauce to cheese and a good thin crust.

I wouldn't be going to Via Napoli expecting NY/NJ pizzeria pizza, though. From the pictures I've seen, it looks more like what you would get in higher-end restaurants in NY rather than the local $2/slice pizza shop.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Glad I'm not the only one who hasn't done Via Napoli yet over this concern. I grew up in NJ and have been accused of being a pizza snob. I now live in TX and there's only one place in town that I trust for pizza...and it's owned by two guys from Queens. I have been to Italy and keep telling myself to think of the pizza at Via Napoli like that vs. being up in the Garden State. I just can't see myself spending one of my TS meals on something I'm so critical of...i.e. why set myself up for what usually turns out to be disappointment? Most of the replies on there have me feeling like I've made the right choice in skipping it.

 

[JZCubed]

I have eaten at Via Napoli 4 times in the past 3 trips. I LOVE it.. however, I have yet to try the pizza.. which I am going to do this trip. Via Napoli's pizza is polarizing.. people either love it or hate it.

Having seen the pizza, I can tell you that it's is not like American pizza.. in any of our forms. It is a very thin crust, which can turn people off. I am very much looking forward to trying it in October. Since I have enjoyed everything I have had there, I am not concerned about not liking the pizza. (And I am a born/bred NY-er.)

Via Napoli thin crust, crunchy, brick oven pizza is not like NY/NJ pizza.

But some of us enjoy both.....and I was raised in Queens & Manhattan.

For my money, and since I can get good pizza locally in NY, I would tend to lean towards the wine bar Tutto Gusto and/or the new Spice Road and/or France before wandering in for pizza or other Italian fare. Nothing wrong with the Italian fare in EPCOT, but I can get that at home.

 

[natfrac]

My 100% Italian, born and raised in PA next to the NJ border, really liked Via Napoli's pizza. The rest of us, non-Italians enjoyed it as well

 

[MillauFr]

I'm sure it is better than the other pizza at Disneyworld.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We have the best puzzle in NJ (I'm biased). I'm hearing good things about the pizza at via Napoli. I'd like to try it but wondering if I'm setting myself up. Anyone else who loves nj/ny pizza try via Napoli and liked it?

I like it and I'm a New Yorker, born & breed.

Is it the same as NY/NJ pizza no and it isn't suppose to be. Much thiner crust then our pizza at home and you get that smokey/charred flavor from the oven. If I had to compare to something at home the closest would be John's Pizza type in NYC. I would say try for yourself and you might be surprised and enjoy it.

It is not NY/NJ pizza and is not supposed to be. I am Italian, lived in NY several years, have a lot of family in NJ and have been to Italy (just in case the NC location makes you want to discount my opinion, which is ok too ). I love the NY/NJ thin, chewy pizza that you should fold to eat. But Via Napoli is authentic Italian, and the arancini is as good as any we have had in Sicily. The pizza is very much like what we have eaten in Italy, and the ingredients are good quality.

John's pizza is a good comparison, although I hadn't thought of that before.

If you want NY/NJ pizza (which is delicious), order it at home and enjoy it. Via Napoli is not the same and does not strive to be, but it is authentic and delicious as well.

 

[MillauFr]

The John's on Bleeker? I really enjoyed the pizza there.

 

[njmom76]

Agree. We are all NJ born and bred and enjoyed VN very much. It is not NY style pizza, but it was good.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[chloelovesdisney]

We enjoyed the pizza at Via Napoli and it's a definite on our to-do list for our next trip. I enjoy pizza here in NYC, NJ, New Haven and in Italy, the only pizza I don't care for has thick crust.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

What makes a NJ pizza better than other pizzas? I would love to know as we always make our own pizzas at home Calzone, deep pan, stuffed crust, Stromboli etc

Local opinion. I actually saw a survey a few months ago where they polled people throughout the country. It was determined most people considered NJ/NY pizza the third best in the country behind Boston & Chicago, but ahead of California. We all grow up thinking the food we're raised on is the best food anywhere. Some of us realize it's biased opinion that means nothing to anyone else. Others don't seem to realize that & think their opinion is the only right one, which is just silly, IMO.

OTOH, the OP is asking for opinions from fellow NJ/NY residents. That should be a good indication of what he/she would think about the food. They were all raised to like the same style pizza & probably have similar opinions on what their version of a good pizza is.

 

[bdcp]

It is not NY/NJ pizza and is not supposed to be. I am Italian, lived in NY several years, have a lot of family in NJ and have been to Italy (just in case the NC location makes you want to discount my opinion, which is ok too ). I love the NY/NJ thin, chewy pizza that you should fold to eat. But Via Napoli is authentic Italian, and the arancini is as good as any we have had in Sicily. The pizza is very much like what we have eaten in Italy, and the ingredients are good quality.

John's pizza is a good comparison, although I hadn't thought of that before.

If you want NY/NJ pizza (which is delicious), order it at home and enjoy it. Via Napoli is not the same and does not strive to be, but it is authentic and delicious as well.

Love John's pizzeria (Times Square location is where we go). We always eat there on every trip since we don't get out to the Bronx anymore.

As I said above, we love Via Napoli for what it is, not comparing it to anything else. We have a local Italian restaurant owned by an Italian whose grandmother gave him her recipes. His pizza is like Via Napoli. We also have a pizza place nearby owned by a NY family and their pizza is like what we get in NY. I love both and don't expect them to be the same.

 

[tinkerhon]

Love John's pizzeria (Times Square location is where we go). We always eat there on every trip since we don't get out to the Bronx anymore.

As I said above, we love Via Napoli for what it is, not comparing it to anything else. We have a local Italian restaurant owned by an Italian whose grandmother gave him her recipes. His pizza is like Via Napoli. We also have a pizza place nearby owned by a NY family and their pizza is like what we get in NY. I love both and don't expect them to be the same.

John's rocks, but nothing beats "Spumoni Gardens" if you are in NYC!!!

 

[snowwhite84]

Another New Yorker here. VN is very close to what you get in Italy, maybe the closest I've had in the states.

Love John's, both the midtown and Bleecker locations

 

[vcgirl925]

The John's on Bleeker? I really enjoyed the pizza there.

Johns on bleaker! Yes!

However my all time favorite has been Lombardi's in little Italy.

 

[vcgirl925]

Thanks so much for the opinions! We've been to Italy (Rome, Florence, and Venice) and loved the pizza. I remember it being very thin and crispy. As opposed to being thin and chewy like here. As long as it's thin crust and not thick! I think we will give it a shot!

 

[Art 1]

Thanks so much for the opinions! We've been to Italy (Rome, Florence, and Venice) and loved the pizza. I remember it being very thin and crispy. As opposed to being thin and chewy like here. As long as it's thin crust and not thick! I think we will give it a shot!

Very thin, and good. I'll probably go have one for lunch tomorrow.

 

[Micca]

Most of the food at WDW is dumbed down...I mean "mainstreamed" versions of authentic dishes. Anyone from a region that specializes in a particular style of cuisine will likely be disappointed in the Disney version. Not that's it's bad, it's just not what you're accustomed to.

I'll also take the opportunity to remind folks that "authentic" doesn't necessarily mean you'll think it's good.

Regarding the pizza at VN: I thought it was good, and it is by far the best pie on property. However, I like the pizza at my favorite hometown places more, and I daresay there is better pizza just outside the property if you have a car to get there.

 

[Art 1]