A bit disapponted with Via Napoli.

[RedBaron]

Maybe I am spoiled living in Chicago since I can get wood fire oven or just about any kind of pizza here, but I just did not think the pizza at Via Napoli was very good. The crust was all burnt, and the large pepperoni pizza we ordered had hardly any cheese or pepperoni. I know in Italy pizza is not all about cheese and toppings, but the sauce did make up in taste for my overly burnt crust. My son did not want pizza (good for him) and he had the kids spaghetti with the meatballs on the side for the table since he does not eat meat. He ate every single bit of his pasta and I will say that the meatballs and sauce were outstanding and probably the highlight of the meal and to think that we almost turned them down... We had an appetizer of calamari and it was just OK. I guess that for what we got, this was one mediocre and expensive meal at over $100. I will most likely never eat here again or will certainly not order pizza. Just wondering if anyone else feels the same or did I just have a bad meal here?

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I'm not fond of the pizza either. I just don't like Neapolitan pizza in general, but I also agree that the bottom gets more char than I care for.

 

[Sans Souci]

Maybe I am spoiled living in Chicago since I can get wood fire oven or just about any kind of pizza here, but I just did not think the pizza at Via Napoli was very good. The crust was all burnt, and the large pepperoni pizza we ordered had hardly any cheese or pepperoni. I know in Italy pizza is not all about cheese and toppings, but the sauce did make up in taste for my overly burnt crust. My son did not want pizza (good for him) and he had the kids spaghetti with the meatballs on the side for the table since he does not eat meat. He ate every single bit of his pasta and I will say that the meatballs and sauce were outstanding and probably the highlight of the meal and to think that we almost turned them down... We had an appetizer of calamari and it was just OK. I guess that for what we got, this was one mediocre and expensive meal at over $100. I will most likely never eat here again or will certainly not order pizza. Just wondering if anyone else feels the same or did I just have a bad meal here?

That's how I felt about it, too. I actually like burnt crust, but the pizza tasted bland to me. I am always reluctant to share my opinion, because people act like you're a philistine with an unsophisticated palate who can't appreciate good food. I would like to go back and try other items from the menu, but husband won't go back.

Since you are from Chicago, I am assuming you're talking about the thin crust pizza we locals eat vs. "Chicago-Style Deep Dish" that the tourists eat.

 

[RedBaron]

That's how I felt about it, too. I actually like burnt crust, but the pizza tasted bland to me. I am always reluctant to share my opinion, because people act like you're a philistine with an unsophisticated palate who can't appreciate good food. I would like to go back and try other items from the menu, but husband won't go back.

Since you are from Chicago, I am assuming you're talking about the thin crust pizza we locals eat vs. "Chicago-Style Deep Dish" that the tourists eat.

Indeed. We do not eat the tourist "Chicago Pan Pizza" and know plenty of good places to get pizza. I agree that it did not have any flavor. I admit to liking a bit of burn at the edges, but this thing was burnt on the bottom all around. I also almost did not post this fearing that I would get flamed for my review, but I figured I was jaded in terms of pizza but I have had loads of lousy pizza here in Chicago and many times elsewhere, but this is really closer to the bottom of my pizza reviews.

 

[rsoxguy]

The love expressed for this restaurant on this forum has always kept me from expressing my experience there last Christmas. I realize that a wood burning oven will create some burnt crust on pizza, but clearly one half of our pizza had black ash as a base, while the top of the crust was raw. At best, the flavor of the toppings could be described as bland. The service was awful to the point of a forgotten appetizer that we had to cancel, along with empty drink glasses throughout the meal. Absolutely inattentive. We decided to never go back.

 

[jw24]

I think someone who lives in NYC and knows the best places for pizza would probably feel the same way. Via Napoli gets rave reviews because it's simply better than most pizzas at Disney World. I mean, the individual pizzas they serve at counter service places are all the same. There's nothing really special about those CS pizzas but not so bad to a point where it's worse than school cafeteria food per say in my view. One thing is for certain, you're still eating theme park food and well, theme park food isn't going to provide the absolute best version of pizza, hamburgers, steaks, etc.

 

[englanddg]

None of the pizzas I've ever had at Disney would I call "good"...

They are all ok, at best. Sure, I'll have one as a snack, but no way would I plan a meal around it.

As @jw24 pointed out, it's simply among the best Pizza there, not the best pizza ever.

Like Hot Dogs, I avoid them at Disney now because I've found they pretty much always disappoint.

It's a shame when you think about it, as making a great pizza or a great hot dog isn't really all that difficult. I know plenty of local places that do it every day!

 

[Spikerdink]

I had the pizza there once.... but being from NY, I get phenomenal pizza any time I want. Anything else is a disappointment.... so Napoli was ok, nothing great, but for many people who don't get great pizza on a daily basis it may be pretty good for them....

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I think the pizza here is the best I've had on WDW property. But I too was a little disappointed that there wasn't more cheese. I agree wholeheartily that there is better pizza to be found in many different cities.

 

[Sans Souci]

I think someone who lives in NYC and knows the best places for pizza would probably feel the same way. Via Napoli gets rave reviews because it's simply better than most pizzas at Disney World. I mean, the individual pizzas they serve at counter service places are all the same. There's nothing really special about those CS pizzas but not so bad to a point where it's worse than school cafeteria food per say in my view. One thing is for certain, you're still eating theme park food and well, theme park food isn't going to provide the absolute best version of pizza, hamburgers, steaks, etc.

I think my problem was there was so much hype around this place when it opened and I went in with high expectations. Seriously, all of the bloggers and the WDW forums were raving about this place when it first opened. I think if I had gone in without preconceived notions that this was the sine qua non of pizza, I probably would have been accepted it for what it was--just as you said theme park food.

Now, I read the food forum here and I read what people who seem to have similar tastes and preferences have to say about WDW restaurants.

 

[Minthorne]

Just had a new brick oven wood fired pizza place open a stones throw from my house. I tried it Friday and commented that it was better than Via Napoli because it wasn't burnt.

 

[GeoDonJac34]

I ate there once a few years ago and did not care for it at all. I finished it but was not even near the best I ever had. I posted about not liking it and got jumped on a little back then. I think things have calmed a little when it comes to that place. Some people seemed to be touchy about anything negative about VN.

 

[afar28]

I went there twice, and I thought the pizza was good but not as amazing as its reviews make it out to be. As stated above, the crust is burned a bit too much as well

 

[von Slapschtick]

I'm another one who has eaten there once and won't be returning. The day I was there table service was diabolical and the food didn't quite grade at average.

 

[real mad hatter]

See this is where you lucky folk live in a land of Pizza dreams..I can count in one hand how many decent pizzas I've had here in Scotland..We all have our favourites ( bit like malt whisky's come to think of it ) Some of us like thin crust ( that's me ) where others like thick crusts or stuffed ones.Then there's the toppings.I love chillies,peppers,red onion,mushroom,pepperoni,salami.But Mrs Hatter likes,sweet corn,ham,prosciutto.And my DS prefers tomatoes,pepperoni,pineapple..So last year we ordered the Mezzo Metro..Half spicy..Half not so spicy..It was perfect..A thin crust baked just right,with the mozzarella melting like a lava flow from Vesuvius....All this talk of Pizza is making my mouth water..I wonder if Via Napoli do an Atlantic crossing delivery to Scotland......