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Neapolitan Pizza

April 27, 2022 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

V Pizza in Cary – For Wood Oven Fired Neapolitan-Style Pizza

V Pizza in Cary - nctriangledining.com
V Pizza in Cary – nctriangledining.com

As a self-confessed pizzaholic, I’ve been impressed with the NC Triangle’s pizza scene of late. 10+ years ago it was hard to find decent NYC pizza but now we have a ton of choices and pizza types including V Pizza out in Cary. A smaller chain based out of Jacksonville, FL, V Pizza sits in the busy Kildaire Shoppes plaza near the Trader Joes end of the space. This location has had some challenges over the year in terms of keeping a restaurant tenant. But it looks like V Pizza is here to stay after 2 years, here’s what to expect when you visit!

Entry area at V Pizza in Cary - nctriangledining.com
Entry area at V Pizza in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Step into V Pizza and the first thing you’ll probably pick up is at the end of your nose! The warm odors of baked bread and smoky wood aromas fill your nostrils as you walk through the space. Wood-planked floors, wood siding, and exposed beams overhead follow the olfactory theme in V Pizza’s interior. It’s a big dining room with booths and 4-tops next to the open kitchen. A large U-shaped bar to the side leads out to the lovely patio overlooking the busy plaza. I’ve never sat outside on V Pizza’s patio but it seems like a nice spot with big umbrellas and light strings overhead.

Bar area at V Pizza in Cary - nctriangledining.com
Bar area at V Pizza in Cary – nctriangledining.com

But it’s all about the food, amirite? As you can guess, V Pizza is pretty focused on its Italian-American menu: Neapolitan-style pies, wings, calzones, stromboli, salads, sandwiches and soon to come, pastas! First up are V Pizza’s wings which has won awards down in Florida and I’d have to agree that they are excellent wings! Plump and charred after a spin in the wood-fired ovens, the Signature V Pizza wings (olive oil, lemon, rosemary, garlic, pepper) have a hit of sweet and spicy, along with being served up with some caramelized onions. Finger-licking good from my experience and some of the best in the area, for sure.

Signature wood-fired wings at V Pizza in Cary - nctriangledining.com
Signature wood-fired wings at V Pizza in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Over the course of several visits, I’ve had a chance to sample several pizzas that I would describe as Neapolitan-style, for sure. While V Pizza uses the typical, quality ingredients required for a true Neapolitan, it spins off a bit with different cheeses, toppings, and sauces for variety. While the more traditional flavor options are quite good, I recommend their specialty white clam and garlic pizza which is a nod to the classic Pepe’s pizza in New Haven, CT. This pie is made of fresh baby clams, on a white pizza base with garlic, oregano, parsley, and Romano cheese. It’s a delicious slice and unusual to find in this area. V Pizza does an above-average crust which is key to all of their pies.

White garlic and clam pizza at V Pizza in Cary - nctriangledining.com
White garlic and clam pizza at V Pizza in Cary – nctriangledining.com
Meat pizza at V Pizza in Cary - nctriangledining.com
Meat pizza at V Pizza in Cary – nctriangledining.com

I’m looking forward to trying more off the V Pizza menu over time but it will take some more visits. But based on what I’ve tried, I’m guessing there is more deliciousness to be found here. Service at V Pizza is pretty solid and efficient, it has a NY feel to things so don’t expect Southern hospitality, just good food! And that type of service fits perfectly in this Cary neighborhood. So a thumbs-up to V Pizza. While it doesn’t serve up a traditional Neapolitan pie, what comes out of its oven is quite good along with those wonderful chicken wings. Don’t sleep on this tasty pizza joint at Kildaire Shoppes in Cary!

Bar area at V Pizza in Cary - nctriangledining.com
Bar area at V Pizza in Cary – nctriangledining.com
Outdoor patio at V Pizza in Cary - nctriangledining.com
Outdoor patio at V Pizza in Cary – nctriangledining.com

 

V Pizza

1389 Kildaire Farm Road

Cary, NC 27511

919.650.1821

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Cary, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Neapolitan Pizza

February 22, 2022 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Cugino Forno Neapolitan Pizza, Durham – Dishing Out Delicious Wood-Fired Pies

Cugino Forno in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Cugino Forno in Durham – nctriangledining.com

If you’ve been following my food blog for any length of time, you probably know that I’m a bit of a pizza fanatic! I’ll travel to great lengths for good pizza so I was super curious when I heard the news about an upcoming Neapolitan pizza joint in Durham, Cugino Forno (Italian for: cousin oven). Part of a small, local, pizza chain based out of Greensboro, the Durham location was going to sit smack-dab in the Golden Belt complex right next to Hi-Wire Brewing. I’ve had a couple of chances to visit Cugino Forno now and I can say it’s really hard to go wrong with beer and pizza!

Interior of Cugino Forno in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Interior of Cugino Forno in Durham – nctriangledining.com

If you haven’t been to the Golden Belt complex, you might be surprised! It’s a large, refurbished textile mill which includes corporate space, residential living, and retail space. The large retail area has four businesses (Hi-Wire Brewing, J. Lights Market, Two Roosters ice cream, Cugino Forno pizza) wrapping around a courtyard area and a huge brick smokestack towering over the space. It’s a family-friendly space, often teaming with parents and children, parking can get tight. Cugino Forno sits in a fairly industrial space: concrete floors, high ceilings with fluorescent lighting along with long, communal tables. Stacks of pizza boxes and Caputo flour line the walls giving it all a utilitarian feel. The space reminds me a lot of the popular Antico Pizza in Atlanta. A pizzeria that’s built for high volume production and quick service!

Food menu at Cugino Forno in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Food menu at Cugino Forno in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Order at the counter, you’ll have your choice of 12 or so house pies, salads, sweets, beer, and wine. It’s all pretty basic here at Cugino Forno with items between $9 and $20! Note that there are no custom pies, substitutions, or half-topping options. Given the size of their 16″ pie, you should be able to feed two people with average appetites. The open kitchen, prep area, and ovens are fun to look at. There are tons of stacked wood and pizza dough proofing on large, aluminum trays! Neapolitan pizzas have to be cooked up in wood-fired ovens to be official Neapolitan! And it usually takes only 90 seconds or so in the blazing hot ovens at Cugino Forno. There are a slew of soccer (futbol) flags lining the space and the dining room TVs will usually be playing the current soccer match.

Kitchen and prep area at Cugino Forno in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Kitchen and prep area at Cugino Forno in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Napoletana pizza at Cugino Forno in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Napoletana pizza at Cugino Forno in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Calabrese pizza at Cugino Forno in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Calabrese pizza at Cugino Forno in Durham – nctriangledining.com

So how are the pizzas at Cugino Forno? Well, I’ve had several by now and they are quite good. Super soft and supple crust that’s nicely baked in their fiery wood ovens. Toppings are nicely distributed and generous, Cugino Forno puts out a good-looking pie. Try the Napoletana with Italian sausage, sweet red pepper, onions, and Bufala mozzarella. It’s a classic taste combination which I definitely recommend. If you’re feeling more adventurous, the Calabrese with spicy Italian salami, calabrian peppers, and Bufala mozzarella will certainly get your attention. The peppers are pretty durn hot and the deep red color of the pie should be a forewarning! Note that Cugino Forno has a table on the side with add-on parmesan cheese, peppers, oregano, and more along with a heated pot of marinara sauce to dip your pizza bones into. A thoughtful touch for Cugino Forno diners.

Pizza crust peek at Cugino Forno in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Pizza crust peek at Cugino Forno in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Add-ons and marinara station at Cugino Forno in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Add-ons and marinara station at Cugino Forno in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Pastry case at Cugino Forno in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Pastry case at Cugino Forno in Durham – nctriangledining.com

If you can’t finish your pie, grab a pre-made box at the wall which is perfect for leftovers. For dessert, I’ve been told that the cannoli here are quite good and made in-house. Overall I do like what Cugino Forno is doing even though its 16″ pies are a bit atypical for Neapolitan pizza. Given the round form of a pie, the bigger the pizza is, the more actual pizza you get versus crust! I’m not happy when I do a single-serve Neapolitan pie with a thick crust which leaves very little actual, real pizza on the plate. The pizzas here at Cugino Forno will feed two people unless you want leftovers. So rock on, Cugino Forno! You may be a local chain but you are slinging out some pretty damn good, Neapolitan-style pizzas.

Napoletana slices at Cugino Forno in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Napoletana slices at Cugino Forno in Durham – nctriangledining.com

 

Cugino Forno Durham

800 Taylor Street

Durham, NC 27701

919.908.0122

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Durham, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Neapolitan Pizza

September 11, 2020 by Ron Wen

The Best Neapolitan Pizza in Durham, Raleigh, Cary, Carrboro and Chapel Hill

Sneaking a peek at the speckled underside of pizza
Sneaking a peek at the speckled underside of Neapolitan pizza

Pizza comes in many forms and styles: NY thin-crust, Chicago deep-dish, Detroit-style pizza, thick Sicilian and more. But when it comes to REAL pizza in my mind, you have to go back to the motherland, Neapolitan pizza from Italy. Now there are strict rules for true Neapolitan pizza: 00 flour, San Marzano tomatoes, and mozzarella di bufala. Quality ingredients that result in tender delicious, thin crust, soft melty cheese, and fresh tomato flavor, perfection.

Neapolitan pizza is usually served as a single-serving pie and cooked in wood-fired ovens. But the reality is that when you find Neapolitan pizza in the US, it’s often more like Neapolitan-style and takes some liberties on the official guidelines. But in my opinion for pizza, Neapolitan is the only way to go to truly understand what great pizza is about. And thankfully, the NC Triangle is starting to sprout up more Neapolitan-style pizza places over the past five years! Here’s a quick tour of some of your best options for Neapolitan pizza!

 

Margherita pizza at Capp’s Pizzeria in Chapel Hill

Capp’s Pizzeria, Chapel Hill – A bit off the beaten path in southwestern Chapel Hill near Pittsboro, I am really impressed with the pizza coming out of this joint! Great crust, crushed tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese, Capp’s spins things up a bit with its combinations. Don’t miss the Mama Mia with meatball, red onion and jalapenos. They also do a traditional (for Connecticut) clam pie on the Friday and Saturday!

Napoli Pizzeria, Chapel Hill and Durham – This food truck has gone bricks and mortar at the Durham Food Hall! Overall they are doing a solid Neapolitan pie and the pancetta garlic pizza I tried was excellent!

 

Potato pizza

Pizzeria Toro, Durham – One of the first Neapolitan pizza spots in the area, Toro does some really good pies in a hipster setting. Expect to get a little fancier with their pies and the prices rise accordingly ($14 to $18). While they still do a good pie, I’ve also got some burnt ones here which is not cool if you’re paying a premium. But a good spot if you’re hanging out in downtown Durham and want some Neapolitan pizza.

 

Interior of Pizzeria Faulisi
Assortment of pies at Pizzeria Faulisi
Soparresata pie

Pizzeria Faulisi, Cary – A great option for the Triangle Neapolitan pizza craze, Faulisi does a very solid pie and crust (mix of 00 and Boulted Bread flour). Decor-wise it sits neatly between casual and hipster with a bright, light and white interior along with some counter service. Love their pies, it’s got a snappy crust and keeps things simple the way Neapolitan pies should be. And it sits conveniently right next to Bond Brothers beer so who can complain about great pizza and beer?

 

Cugino Forno, Durham – This NC chain focused on Neapolitan pizza has opened their newest spot in Durham! Located right next to Hi-Wire Brewery at Golden Belt, this spartan pizzeria is offering up classic pies in a 16″ form. The pizzas are solid and will probably feed two people…

 

Amatriciana pie

Pizzeria Mercato, Carrboro – A cool little pizzeria run by Gabe Barker in a funky little corner of Carrboro. They are doing more Neapolitan style with a snappier (stiffer) crust but it still holds mostly true. They also offer some great appetizers and entrees, do NOT miss their arancini (serious noms). Pizzeria Mercato is more of an Italian restaurant to me, doing really good za. I just wish it was a bit closer to me!

Interior at Pompieri
Pompieri pizza
Pork belly pizza

Pompieri Pizza, Durham – Pompieri was one of the earlier entries into the Neapolitan pizza race in the Triangle and it’s still chugging along. The concept and space is quite different, located in an old firehouse, lined with aquariums and family-friendly. The pies are very thin crust and are served uncut with a pair of shears. While they definitely use quality ingredients here, it’s not quite traditional Neapolitan pizza here which is fine for most people.

Pooleside Pies in Raleigh

Poole’side Pies, Raleigh – The newest entry in this category, Poole’side Pies offers up solid Neapolitan-style pies in a stunning setting reminiscent of a classic swimming pool theme.  Along with a handful of fun, fried appetizers and interesting salads, Poole’side stretches the Neapolitan concept a bit with some Southern style.

 

V Pizza, Cary – A smallish chain based out of Jacksonville, FL has a couple of locations in the Triangle now. Offering up a more sophisticated take on Neapolitan pizzas and oven-baked wings, V Pizza offers up a lovely patio and craft beers along with its pies.

 

Flirting with Fire food truck
Pepperoni pizza
Cool, wood-fired oven

 

Flirting with Fire food truck, Various Locations – This very cool food truck hauls around a SERIOUS wood-fired oven all around the Triangle! And the one time I was able to try them out at a street fair, I was pretty impressed. Solid crust and they stick to the basic topping options. If you find them in the neighborhood, Flirting with Fire is definitely worth the visit!

 

Blaze Fast-Fired BYOP counter
Sausage pizza at Blaze Fast-Fired
Margherita

Blaze Fast-Fired Pizza, Morrisville – Ok, feel free to laugh at me but I do think that this chain is doing an excellent job serving up Neapolitan style pizza! Given their unlimited toppings model, it’s definitely not traditional but the crust is pretty close! And for $8 you really can’t beat the price. I love my pizza but try not to be a pizza snob, and Blaze hits all the right notes. The casual but cool interior along with Chipotle style ordering makes Blaze super family-friendly, too.

Grandma pie at Hutchins Garage, Durham - nctriangledining.com
Grandma pie at Hutchins Garage, Durham – nctriangledining.com

And there’s more great pizza in the area with more traditional pies such as Hutchins Garage, Trophy Brewing and Pizza along with Di Fara Pizza Tavern and Oakwood Pizza Box! Which is great news for us all because, not everyone has a friend with a wood-fired pizza oven. As a huge Neapolitan pizza fan it just makes me happy to see these options popping up. I’ve made the pilgrimage to great pizza places around the country like DiFara, Totonno’s, Motorino, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, Apizza Scholls, Razza and more. It’s just wonderful to have some good local options here near home! So if you’re a budding pizza fan, give one of these spots a try and I’m sure you’ll be loving that thin-crust za, too.

Filed Under: Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Morrisville, Overviews Tagged With: Neapolitan Pizza

December 11, 2012 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Pizzeria Toro in Durham for Artisan Za!

Back bar at Pizzeria Toro in Durham, NC Triangle Dining
Back bar at Pizzeria Toro in Durham, NC Triangle Dining

The pizza craze continues in the Triangle with the addition of hipster pizza destination, Pizzeria Toro!  Located in the Five Points area of Durham next to the Cupcake Bar, Pizzeria Toro has quite the urban feel.  Large open dining space with a showcase pizza oven.  Communal tables made of reclaimed wood and urban-industrial lighting piped in over the tables with large filaments glowing like fireflies.  This place gets busy and as expected a bit noisy and boisterous but that’s the whole urban dealio.  In back Pizzeria Toro has got a medium sized bar, a couple of additional tables and a small TV as a concession to the masses.  My friends and I were seated on the communal table which gave me a front and center view to all the cooking action!

Wood-fired oven at Pizzeria Toro in Durham, NC Triangle Dining
Wood-fired oven at Pizzeria Toro in Durham, NC Triangle Dining
Kale salad at Pizzeria Toro in Durham, NC Triangle Dining
Kale salad at Pizzeria Toro in Durham, NC Triangle Dining

Service at Pizzeria Toro is very professional, the crew was working its tail off and it’s running smoothly given how new the place is which is impressive.  We order up a kale salad, pumpkin appetizer along with a couple of personal pies.  Pizzeria Toro has a smallish beer list both draft and bottled, prices are higher than what I expect across the board but hey, you gotta have a brewski with your pizza!  Our apps come out first,  a rich dark kale salad with pignoli which we share.  My oven-roasted pumpkin with chestnuts and guanciale (Italian bacon) is decent.  Lightly charred, soft sweet texture with a bit of salty counterpoint, I liked it but wasn’t blown away.  The texture was a bit too soft for me and the flavors not quite distinct enough.  I’m watching pizzas come out of the oven at a furious pace and its cool to see all the variations and flavors.

Roasted pumpkin app at Pizzeria Toro in Durham, NC Triangle Dining
Roasted pumpkin app at Pizzeria Toro in Durham, NC Triangle Dining
Margherita pizza at Pizzeria Toro in Durham, NC Triangle Dining
Margherita pizza at Pizzeria Toro in Durham, NC Triangle Dining

Twenty minutes after we order, I get my basic Margherita: San Marzano tomato sauce with fresh mozzarella and basil.  It’s a good-looking pie made with great ingredients.  Maybe a 14″ personal pie that’s good for one hungry person or shared between two for a light bite.  And its a decent pie.  It’s got a thickish cornicione with a bit of char, they’ve got it cooked about right.  The crust itself is stiff with some bite, maybe some corn meal on the bottom.  The sauce on top is light and flavorful with the soft melted cheese and the basil pops out.  What I wasn’t a fan of was the flaked salt sprinkled on top, I’d prefer the crust to have a bit of salt in it instead of having hit my tongue.  The pies at Pizzeria Toro are good, a bit artisan and similar in style to what I think you might get at Lilly’s or Chow.  Italianish but a bit less traditional than Bella Mia in Cary with the choice of toppings.  Overall I like Pizzeria Toro but prefer the style at Bella Mia but it’s early for Pizzeria Toro.  Overall it’s a good option for high-quality pizza in a hipster environment.  A fun noisy spot to put down some good za and wash it down with excellent beer.  With Lilly’s Durham and Pop’s down the street, Durham is starting to put down some serious pizza roots, eccelente!

 

Pizzeria Toro

105 E. Chapel Hill Street

Durham, NC 27701

919.908.6936

Menu at Pizzeria Toro

Pizzeria Toro on Facebook

Location on Google maps

Save

Save

Filed Under: Durham, Local Information, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Neapolitan Pizza

December 15, 2019 by Ron Wen

Poole’side Pies, Raleigh- A Stylish and Southern Spin on Neapolitan-style Pizza

Poole'side Pies in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Poole’side Pies in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to Neapolitan pizza, I’m a huge fan! And with all the good Neapolitan pizza in the Triangle, I was curious to see what Chef Ashley Christensen was going to do with her new restaurant, Poole’side Pies. With five restaruants in her culinary orbit, Poole’side represented a bit of a pivot away from her usual Southern-New American cuisine to a more European bent. And given its key location next door to the heart of her restaurant empire, Poole’side Pies would have some big shoes to fill. As construction moved forward on the space at 208 S. Saunders, there was a ton of build-up and hype for the opening of Poole’side Pies. Would that anticipation and those expectations be met? Yes and no in my opinion! Read on for the details, my friend!

Front dining area at Poole'side Pies in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Front dining area at Poole’side Pies in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Given all the build-up to Poole’side Pies, I can tell you for sure that getting a seat in this hot spot is not easy. Now open 7 days a week, things have gotten a bit easier so I was able to sneak in for a dinner, early on a quiet Monday. Approaching Poole’side Pies you’ll be greeted with a large, aquamarine presence that defines the main color palette of the restaurant. With large plate glass windows up front and a glass skylight above, the space is very light, bright and airy. There’s a hostess kiosk and seating area up front with a flower mural and touch of orange in the bench seating. Overall there’s a lot of white tile, offset by turquoise and chrome giving the space a 70’s feel. Like most of the AC Restaurants, your party will not be seated until everyone is there.

Bar at Poole'side Pies in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Bar at Poole’side Pies in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Beer at Poole'side Pies in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Beer at Poole’side Pies in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Poole’Side Pies has a short selection of cocktails (aperol spritzes are featured), beers along with a more substantial wine list by the glass and bottle. One note, the draft beer I ordered came in a diminutive pilsner glass at maybe 12 oz?  Don’t expect a full pint glass for your draft beer here. Behind the bar is a beautiful back-lit scene of a diver underwater, very apropos. Once you’re seated, you get your usual efficient service that you’ll find at AC Restaurants.

Appetizers at Poole'side Pies in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Appetizers at Poole’side Pies in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Main dining room at Poole'side Pies in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Main dining room at Poole’side Pies in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

If you’re visiting for the first time, I’d suggest ordering up an appetizer or two. Clocking in at $7 or so, the appetizers at Pooleside Pies are excellent and affordable. On my visit, there was the mac n cheese frittatine or shrimp and grits croquettes, fried balls similar to arancini. The mac n cheese frittatine is served with a strong tomato relish, excellent. And the shrimp and grits croquettes are wonderful, perfectly fried and served with a tomato-sherry mayonnaise.

Margherita pizza at Poole'side Pies in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Margherita pizza at Poole’side Pies in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com
Sausage with broccoli di rabe pizza at Poole'side Pies in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Sausage with broccoli di rabe pizza at Poole’side Pies in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

For pizzas, we ordered up the classic margherita and a sausage, broccoli rabe and provolone pie. With only six choices on the menu, it won’t take you long to order at Poole’side Pies but I usually always get the margherita on the first visit since it’s the standard for a Neapolitan. Given the pies are cooked in a wood-fired oven (typically 800 degrees or so), they bake really quickly and one Italian oven is used for the entire restaurant, pretty amazing. And when the pies show up, they look solid. Some charring on the edges and leopard spotting underneath, the tops are garnished with what appears to be freshly shredded parmesan. The sauce looks pretty dark so I suspect the tomatoes are cooked a bit for a deeper flavor but Neapolitan pies are supposed to use just crushed San Marzano tomatoes. Both pizzas are decent for visit #1 and I was initially concerned but a second visit (two months later) showed a much improved crust. The crust on my second visit was nicely rolled and displayed the light, airy texture of a good Neapolitan pizza dough. Glad to see the improvement because the crust is the pizza IMO.

Neon diver at Poole'side Pies in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Neon diver at Poole’side Pies in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

The meal wraps up and with an inexpensive bottle of wine, the tab runs about $100 before tip, so certainly expect to spend a bit during your Pooleside Pies visit. The challenge as an upscale pizzeria is that there’s SO much good pizza at lower price points. But Poole’side Pies certainly delivers when it comes to design and ambiance, it’s a truly beautiful space and the service is solid. And now that the pizza has improved, I can certainly recommend Poole’side pies from appetizers to pizza. Given the price points at Poole’side Pies and reputation of AC Restaurants, I wouldn’t expect any less…

 

Pooleside Pies

428 S McDowell Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.803.8660

 

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Neapolitan Pizza

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