I don’t usually do two guest reviews in two days, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to share these gorgeous pics from the brand new Via Napoli restaurant! My good friend Jessica Kramer-Teheran from Monocle on the Mouse was in Disney World this past weekend and shares this report full of pics and video…

Via Napoli in Epcot's Italy Pavilion

The best way to enjoy Via Napoli, from my first impression, is to turn it into a “family style” meal. Depending on the size of your party and the depths of your appetite, order a couple of appetizers, a couple of entrees, and a couple of desserts, then ‘Mangia!’ to your heart’s content. We split every dish, and even my good friend — who’s used to his Grandma’s Italian cooking — was impressed.

The Arancini appetizer seems to be emerging as an early front-runner in popularity & taste. Warm mozzarella cheese binds together fluffy rice & lightly seasoned meat inside a perfectly golden thin shell, commonly referred to as a “rice ball.”

Arancini

Pre-opening I understand that the price tag for pizza was a concern, but I can honestly say that the “individual Margherita Pizza” was worth the $16. It was on par with famous classics like Lombardi’s in NYC, and I wouldn’t make that claim lightly.

Via Napoli Margherita Pizza

We also shared the “pollo parmigiana” which is served on two separate plates; one plate holds the spaghetti torta, served as a disk and stuck together (apologies to my Italian friends if there is a more sophisticated description for this plating style), and one plate holds the actual chicken. The presentation of the pasta portion of the entree seemed to lend itself to cause the pasta to dry out, but the chicken was tender and the sauce (or ‘gravy’) didn’t saturate the breading to cause any sogginess at all. The Mozzarella cheese on top of the Pollo Parmigiana & Margherita pizza tasted fresh, had a light consistency, and wasn’t overly salted.

Polli Parmigiana

Spaghetti Torta

For dessert I absolutely loved the Coppa Amarena, or ‘ugly sundae,’ as I believe it’s referred to (Editor’s Note: This is also called the Coppa Di Brutti Ma Buoni). Although, the only ugly part of this entire experience was having to leave when it was over. Creamy refreshing amarena cherry and vanilla gelato with a taste of toasted almond, topped with fresh whipped cream and highlighted with the crunch of a softer biscotti made the Coppa Amarena a ‘must eat’ for me.

Coppa Amarena

My good friend ordered the Zeppole di Catarina, or ricotta cheese fritters, which are served with warm melted chocolate & freshly whipped cream. The chocolate sauce was surprisingly rich and didn’t taste like average quality dessert chocolate; it was refreshingly ‘high end’ chocolate. (Editor’s Note: More donuts. 😉 )

Zeppole With Whipped Cream and Chocolate

Atmosphere in the restaurant is friendly, the rooms feel open and airy, and the aesthetic is colorful and well thought out. Painted olive oil bottles, oversized light fixtures, an open counter kitchen area, and details like distinctively placed tiles in the restrooms show us that not only is the food (& eye candy) delicious at Via Napoli, but the details paint a full and satisfying picture.

Editor’s Note: She didn’t mention them in her review, but Jess also sent along pics of the bellini and the graspia drinks!

Graspia

Bellini

By the way! Here are a couple of videos from Jess as well! You’ll get a close-up look at the decor and the pizza making!

Thank you, Jess!! Those pics are stunning, as always. Click here to learn more about Via Napoli, and check out more Via Napoli pictures and the full Via Napoli menu! Stay tuned this weekend for another Via Napoli report as well!

Photo Credit: Thanks again to Tricia Keegan for use of the Via Napoli exterior pic!