>114 East 49th St, Indianapolis, IN 46205 • (317) 925-0765
I waited to say anything about Napolese until I had eaten there a handful of times and so far I’ve sampled most of what they have to offer. While the rest of the menu is decent, I’ve been blown away each time by their European style pizza. What is the magic that local restaurant owner Martha Hoover wields? She’s created yet another culinary home run by bringing artisanal style pizza to the Indy masses…and we’re better for it.
Napolese is as cozy as the neighborhood surrounding it and the Roman-style pizzas are fantastic. They are flat and chewy with raised pillow-puffed edges and bits of slightly charred hot spots…exactly how they should be. Don’t get me wrong, I still love Bazbeaux, Jockamo and Some Guys pizza…but Napolese serves up pizza I can’t get anywhere else in town.
The prosecco is inexpensive and good. The prosciutto and arugula starter is weak on parmesan and dry as a brush fire. The truffle white bean purée is fantastic and the affogato di gelato makes you black out from delight. The polenta and goat cheese starter is not fine dining but the focaccia is pleasingly addicting.
Highlight pizzas for me have been the Napolese Broken Yolk, Meridian Kessler and Autumn Pie, while the classic Margherita with prosciutto (or pancetta) hits my top.
Get there early or very late otherwise expect to stand in line outside drooling at the diners.
