Via Napoli - worth it if you are used to GREAT pizza?

[bicker]

Do any of you have passports, by any chance? Scan and post that you've been to Italy, and maybe then you would know that the pizza made at Via Napoli is nearer to true pizza than anything you'll find stateside.

My wife and I visited Milan 10 years ago. You're right that Via Napoli is nearer to the pizza we had in Milan. That doesn't mean that the pizza is better; quite the opposite.

I realize you can't correct someone's opinion, but all of you are stating as a fact that the best pizza just happens to be where you live.

Actually, I labeled the pizza out here in the 'burbs to be mediocre, and also labeled Brooklyn pizza as substantially better than North Jersey pizza, having visited, but never actually having had lived in either place.

 

[Micca]

If you live in an area well regarded for a particular dish and go to WDW with high expectations for that dish, prepare to be let down.

 

[Ramsfan28]

First, NY/NJ pizza > any pizza from MA.

Via Napoli is good pizza, very good by Disney standards. I would reccomend trying it once, if you DH isn't a fan, cross it off the future list.

 

[Johnny_B]

As a NY Italian, chalk me up for another person that thinks (no, make that KNOWS) NY pizza > MA pizza

Via Napoli is pretty good pizza and the best in WDW (and prob the best south of Baltimore, honestly). It's very thin and undercooked, as it should be. Some people complain bc they think "pizza" is stuff they get a Pizza Hut of Domino's (disgusting).

Via Napoli also has excellent pasta dishes. Expect very good Italian, but not GREAT. You need to be in the northeast for that!

 

[JimmyV]

It's very thin and undercooked, as it should be.

On what planet is "undercooked" pizza the way it is supposed to be? Real pizza is cooked in a 900+ degree oven for a reason. And that reason is to impart a char. Not to undercook it.

 

[Johnny_B]

"Undercooked" was the wrong word. One of the biggest complaints about Via Napoli is that the pizza is "undercooked" -- that is, the crust has a char but the pizza itself is "soggy." My point was, good pizza is usually charred on the edges and softer in the middle (imo). That was all.

On what planet is "undercooked" pizza the way it is supposed to be? Real pizza is cooked in a 900+ degree oven for a reason. And that reason is to impart a char. Not to undercook it.

 

[cbg1027]

If you go expecting a NY style slice, you will be disappointed. VN is Naples (Italian style) pizza.

I go more in depth on this in a review I just did of VN. There are photos too so it might help you decide of it's something you want to try:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=41709622#post41709622

 

[juliebug1997]

The pizza you get at Via Napoli is more like authentic Italian pizza. Very little sauce and it's thin too. Fresh mozzarella, wood fired (the ovens even have names). It is chewy yet crispy at the same time and it's very imperfect looking but, oh, so very good. Do not go here thinking that you're going to get whatever the best pizza is in your hometown. It's different and it's better. Get the aqua fresca--so delicious--and, if you like lemon and they have it, get the lemon sorbet. Out of this world!!!!

 

[JimmyV]

Do not go here thinking that you're going to get whatever the best pizza is in your hometown. It's different and it's better.

Unless, of course, your hometown is New Haven, or Brooklyn, or in North Jersey where lots of places have deep roots in Naples and use fresh mozzerella and wood (or better yet, coal) fired ovens. In which case, the pizza is fairly similar in style. And better than Via Napoli. One cannot assume that just because Via Napoli is better than your local places that it therefore has the upper hand over the pizza meccas of the country. Via Napoli has potential. But it isn't quite there yet. And maybe it will never get there since it has to aim for the middle, trying to please all corners of American tastes. But the pizza meccas, especially in the northeast, have a one hundred year advantage over Via Napoli and that is hard to make up in a year.

 

[DOOM1001]

I really don't think it makes sense to skip Via Napoli because you live somewhere that has good pizza,I think most major cities have good pizza places that people know about,they however are likely going to be different from Via Napoli and from the reviews Via Napoli gets it is obviously the best pizza in Disney.I have 2 pizza places that are owned by the same people that make excellent NY style pizzas,they've been in business forever because they really are good,however if you're somebody that likes to try different styles of pizza I can't see why you would skip Via Napoli.It's a simpler thin crust pizza closer to the Anthony's or Portofino Coal fired pizza places that are springing up all over.I've tried these places and they're alright but Via Napoli was clearly better,they claim they get the water for their crust from some well in Pennsylvania that's the same as what you get in Naples Italy,I liked the crust so I guess there's gotta be something to that.Orlando should get a Sir Pizza franchise,their pepperoni pizza is some of the best pizza around,it's not NY or Chicago but it's simply good,they're popping up all over South Florida so it probably won't be long until they hit Orlando.

 

[kpatches]

North Jersey Pizza is the best!!! Although you have to know exactly the places to find the best pizza!!!

 

[bicker]

First, NY/NJ pizza > any pizza from MA.

Phfft. I think we should compare resumes... how many years did you live in each area? I suspect I lived longer in the NY/NJ area than you've lived in the MA area.

I really don't think it makes sense to skip Via Napoli because you live somewhere that has good pizza,I think most major cities have good pizza places that people know about,they however are likely going to be different from Via Napoli and from the reviews Via Napoli gets it is obviously the best pizza in Disney.

Still, that disappointment factor won't be assuaged by the fact that something perceived as mediocre is "the best" available where you are at the time. The same situation has led me to eschew return trips to Marrakesh and Nine Dragons, among others.

 

[Jletendre]

Being a Northeast pizza snob I always get my pizza fill before going to WDW. The state of pizza in FL is just sad. I mean Domino's is likely better than the park ones I've suffered through so we are anxious for the new epcot restuarent to be good. (ADR our next trip there).

I've been to a ton of pizza places and my rankings

- Frank Pepe (New Haven, CT)
- Pizzeria Regina (Boston - Thatcher street location)
- Red Rose (Springfield, MA)
- Santarpios Pizza (Boston)
- American Flatbeard (Vermont)
- Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza (NJ)
- Di Fara (NY)
- Lombardi's Pizza (NY)
- Totonno's (Coney Island, NY)

I'm hungry now for some pizza!

 

[bicker]

I've been to a ton of pizza places and my rankings

- Frank Pepe (New Haven, CT)
- Pizzeria Regina (Boston - Thatcher street location)

Hmmm.... seems like a stop-off in New Haven is called-for, at our next opportunity. We tend to stop for lunch in Milford. Blech.

 

[moepanz]

You need to add Grimaldis's to your list. Under the Brooklyn bridge. and L&B Spumoni (for square) 86th St. Brooklyn. I think you will enjoy both of theses places.

Lombardi's Pizza is one of my faves. The clam pie is unbelievable.

Now I am hungry for pizza too! LOL

Being a Northeast pizza snob I always get my pizza fill before going to WDW. The state of pizza in FL is just sad. I mean Domino's is likely better than the park ones I've suffered through so we are anxious for the new epcot restuarent to be good. (ADR our next trip there).

I've been to a ton of pizza places and my rankings

- Frank Pepe (New Haven, CT)
- Pizzeria Regina (Boston - Thatcher street location)
- Red Rose (Springfield, MA)
- Santarpios Pizza (Boston)
- American Flatbeard (Vermont)
- Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza (NJ)
- Di Fara (NY)
- Lombardi's Pizza (NY)
- Totonno's (Coney Island, NY)

I'm hungry now for some pizza!

 

[JimmyV]

Hmmm.... seems like a stop-off in New Haven is called-for, at our next opportunity. We tend to stop for lunch in Milford. Blech.

Check out this link before you go. From Jan and Michael Stern's book "500 Things to Eat Before It's Too Late..." Pizza is discussed on pages 50-58. as you will see, these "Roadfood" authorities rightly rank New Haven very highly.
http://books.google.com/books?id=uh...&resnum=8&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[KTJAY]

Check out this link before you go. From Jan and Michael Stern's book "500 Things to Eat Before It's Too Late..." Pizza is discussed on pages 50-58. as you will see, these "Roadfood" authorities rightly rank New Haven very highly.
http://books.google.com/books?id=uh...&resnum=8&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q&f=false

Great link I've tried alot of the pizzas mentioned in this link and still nothing compares to Pepe's

 

[megan926]

Absolutely not.

I am from NJ (right outside of NYC) and we have awesome pizza here. I actually just ate a slice of pizza and it was awesome!!!!

That being said, Via Napoli was not bad. Better than most pizza on property (besides Wolfgang Puck...I think their pizza is pretty good). But it is expensive. Really expensive.

I would rate my NJ/NYC pizza better any day!!! I 2nd Grimalidis! SO YUMMY!

 

[megan926]

Do any of you have passports, by any chance? Scan and post that you've been to Italy, and maybe then you would know that the pizza made at Via Napoli is nearer to true pizza than anything you'll find stateside.

I realize you can't correct someone's opinion, but all of you are stating as a fact that the best pizza just happens to be where you live. Gee, what were the odds? Of all the places great pizza could be found, it just happens to be in your neighborhood? That's embarrassing.

I have been to Italy and the pizza was good...yes, similar to Via Napoli. BUT, we have pizza that tastes like that here in NJ! And it is MUCH less expensive!

 

[BriarRosie]

I have been to Italy and the pizza was good...yes, similar to Via Napoli. BUT, we have pizza that tastes like that here in NJ! And it is MUCH less expensive!

That's the kicker. If the Via Napoli pizza tastes like true pizza from Italy, they are living up to their claims. Will it compare to USA pizza? Probably not. As we've seen in SO many posts, people have pre-conceived ideas about pizza based on their hometown favorites.

That being said, I don't think price shouldn't be a factor in this comparison. Because it's no secret that we're paying way more at WDW than at home because we're in a "resort bubble". Disney is charging what the tourist market can bear.

Ok, I want to wrap it up by saying that my opinion of the Via Napoli pizza is MUCH higher than the "Disney" pizza typically served at Pizzafari or Toy Story Pizza Planet. I really don't like "Disney" pizza and will avoid it. But I did enjoy Via Napoli. And because four of us having pizza at Via Napoli chose different kinds, we did a "taste swap". I found that I didn't like some pizzas as much as others. While I liked the pizza I chose (the classic Margherita), my friend chose a pizza I actually liked better. I would get that one next time.