Via Napoli – Bringing Pizza Perfection to Epcot®
by Magic Maker® Joe DeFazio
For all the wonderful culinary treats you can experience at the Walt Disney World® Resort, the one thing that always seemed to be missing was top-notch pizza. While Disney pizza wasn’t bad, it also wasn’t on many people’s must do dining lists. That all changed with the opening of Via Napoli in Epcot’s® Italy Pavilion.
Via Napoli serves authentic Neapolitan style pizza and Italian cuisine in an expansive dining room situated in the back of the Italian pavilion. The open design of Via Napoli captures a buzz from the visible kitchen and it’s large brick ovens and the hum of conversation and dining that makes you feel like you have been transported to an busy square in Naples for your meal.
The highlight here is the food, and the pizza is the star. The pizza is made with imported flour from Naples, San Marzano tomatoes, hand-made mozzarella and water that is identical to that used in Naples. The result is a wonderful, crispy, chewy and airy crust baked to perfection with a wonderful selection of options. Via Napoli’s twist on a traditional Italian appetizer is even made into a meal with Prosciutto e Melone pizza topped with- fontina, mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula and cantelope – a perfect blend of salty, sweet, creamy and crispy.
While the pizza is the star, the supporting cast of traditional Italian favorites including pasta dishes, chicken, eggplant and veal parmigian, lasagna and a wonderful selection of antipasti and appetizers to get you started. Nia Napoli has a nice selection of Italain wines, dry and sweet, a flavorful sangria and a selection of Italian beer, including a restaurant exclusive, LaRossa – a double malt lager. Save room for desert and you will be treated with affine selection of traditional Italian sweet treats.
The wonderful atmosphere is made complete by the wait staff, all from Italy and all seemingly with a permanent smile. The language, conversation and insights into cast member’s culture along with wonderful food and drink make Via Napoli an outstanding place to share a meal at Epcot®.