Foodie Friday - Via Napoli

Via Napoli, one of two new restaurants in the World Showcase (the other being La Hacienda de San Angel) originally made our ADR schedule, but didn't happen as planned.  Instead, we walked in around 5:15 one evening, asked the hostess, and were seating within 10 minutes.  Yes, in June, walk ups at excellent restaurants are possible - just show up early!

The Hostess Table

The inside of the restaurant really is beautifully adorned and made us very excited to order to get a table.  We quickly looked over the menu and started with the arancini, which to my cajun-food loving mind sounded basically like an Italian version of the boudin balls I great to love living in Louisiana.

Arancini - served over amazing Marinara sauce

Noah, our odd eating little man, loved these, but mostly loved the Marinara.  He enjoyed it so much, in fact, that a server brought him a dish of marinara which he enjoyed with a spoon.

As for our entree, my husband and I completely differ on pizza.  I like my vegetables and he likes his meat, and neither of us really like both.  So, we split!  Half veggie, half meat.

Now, I should tell you - I don't generally enjoy pizza.  I like making my own at home on whole wheat dough, with my own toppings and ingredients, or from a restaurant like Z Pizza, but I can (and have for many years) live without take out pizza.  Via Napoli, however, changed my mind on restaurant pizza.  This pizza was fabulous.  Gooey, delicious, and loaded with great toppings.

Plus, for 2 adults and 1 kid, we still had leftovers from a medium pizza!

When we saw the dessert menu, we knew we had to indulge.  Adam ordered the pistachio gelato, a fruit bowl for Noah, the zeppoli - fried donuts for 'me'.

Gelato

Zeppoli with whipped cream and chocolate dipping sauces

The fruit plate was delicious and our little man devoured it in a matter of minutes.  Adam still drools over that gelato.  But, the zeppoli?  Not so good.  I've had great zeppoli - basically it's just fried dough.  This dough wasn't flavored.  The dipping sauces were the only flavor, and that just wasn't for me, so we didn't finish those, even sharing 3 ways.  Should have gone with the waitresses recommendation of Tiramisu!

Other than that one order-mishap, I would absolutely eat here again.  Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm wondering how we can work it in for our January trip...

Have you been to Via Napoli yet?  What is your favorite?  I'd love to hear about your experiences!