I know some other Neapolitan style pizza has been getting a bunch of blog buzz lately so I went out of my way to make sure I visit Pizza Nea. Went out with my friend Brendan and his co-worker Matthew, both in town for business from New York.
I chose their current featured special, a Quattro Formaggi with locally farmed cheese. It includes Stickney Hill Goat Cheese and Northern Lights Bleu Cheese from Minnesota as well as Edelweiss Creamery Eiger Mountain Cheddar and FenceLine Manhattan Provolone from Wisconsin. I haven’t had a more fantastic pizza in a long time. It’s definitely many notches better than their regular Quattro Formaggi which is excellent to begin with. Chewy crust that was just crispy enough on the edges and just wet enough without it becoming sloppy. The cheese flavors were definitely strong but you could pick them all out easily. At times I’d chew it really slowly just to take in all the tastes. At a point it felt like I was eating cheese art.
Brendan and Matthew each ordered the Pizza Napoletana and they both loved it. At Pizza Nea, it’s just a tad bit more raised than many Neapolitan style pizzas I’ve seen and they pull it off well. To seal the deal my guests both commented on the great balance of garlic under the cheese. Before we left they both strongly thanked me for taking them to Pizza Nea. They repeated the gratitude the rest of the night — I’m not kidding.
We split a bottle of Piane di Maggio Montepulciano d’Abruzzo which was a great compliment to the pizza. The service was good and owner Mike Sherwood stopped by our table to ask me if the pizza was photogenic. Ha ha. He seemed to know who I was already. We had a good conversation about local pizza blog buzz. Very nice guy.
Many times when I go to Pizza Nea I leave with the feeling that the pizza is just spot on. This was no exception.
There’s a lot more on their menu and wine list so I’ll be back soon. I’ll have a hard time not ordering the Local Quattro Formaggi if it’s still a the special though.
Pizza Nea
306 E Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55414-1016
612-331-9298
Comments 8
I will seriously have to try that pizza out.
Posted 08 Feb 2008 at 11:13 ¶I like to think I could take credit for Pizza Nea being there on Hennepin.
A year or so before it opened I happened to be the St. Paul Bagelry, which Mike Sherwood also owns. He was telling me about his plans to open a Neapolitan pizza restaurant, but didn’t have a location. I think he was considering some out-there suburb.
I said: “You’ve got to put your restaurant in Nordeast! It’s going to be a happening place!”. This was before the condo craziness and retail development really got started around there.
I still haven’t decided if Punch opening one block from Pizza Nea is a good or a bad thing. Hopefully there’s enough business to go around (who doesn’t like pizza?!).
Posted 08 Feb 2008 at 13:16 ¶Well, I can tell you for sure that I wouldn’t have ever gone if it was in Wayzata or Lakeville.
As for Punch opening a block away? I’m not sure it was very tactful of them. I don’t know any of the details though. I agree, there should be enough business to go around and Punch and Pizza Nea are definitely two different places.
Posted 08 Feb 2008 at 13:23 ¶That picture and your description is making me so flippin hungry right now. I need to move back to Minnesota just to get some of that.
Posted 08 Feb 2008 at 14:16 ¶Thanks for another great pizza experience, Aaron.
That and the nice weather (I’m serious - it’s perfect this week - not too cold and a bit of snow) makes me think I need to come out here for work more often.
And your tasty pizza makes me think I should start having you fedex me some on occasion.
Posted 09 Feb 2008 at 11:28 ¶The Quattro Formaggi was phenominal. Good call, Aaron.
Posted 10 Feb 2008 at 17:22 ¶ok, that post makes me forgive you for the punch pimping
Steve and I were just there last Saturday to eat before we went to get our taxes done. I miss their Tuesday specials with the two pizzas, salad and bottle of wine — not sure if they still do it.
They also let you do takeout, which was a life saver when we lived a two blocks away.
I miss my old apartment…
Posted 11 Feb 2008 at 09:44 ¶Wow. Let me know if you’re ever down for some pre-freaky-deeky Quattro-Formaggio eating.
Posted 11 Feb 2008 at 14:26 ¶Post a Comment