Pizzeria NEO has arrived in Naperville, but you feel like you’re eating pizza in Naples.
We have visited NEO twice and each time the food and service were outstanding.
After being welcomed and seated by owner Tony Alfonso, our PJ (pizza journey) began with the Bruschetta flight and our selections inlcuded Cannellini Beans, Portobello, Roasted Pepper with Pesto, Prosciutto and Rapini (broccoli rabi and sausage). Which one did we like best? All of them. What a way to begin.
Add an order of Polpette Carne – homemade meatballs – and Mark has been transported back to “The Little Kitchen” in Leominster, MA, over 45 years ago. They are that good – tears come to his eyes.
Pizza is what we came for and pizza is what we got. Our standards are high – and we are ready to match NEO with the best.
We watch as Pizza Masters Josh and Nick show their stuff. The wood fired Earthstone oven is heated to 1100°. The hand-tossed pizza bakes in less than 2 minutes – thin crust, toasted edges – picture perfect. These guys know what they are doing.
We order a Rosso – Margherita with mozzarella and basil, a Bianco – Salsicia with homemade sausage and carmalized onions and the Pizza Del Giorno – mozzarella, arugula, brichole, artichoke and parmesan.
Laurie has awarded the Pizza Del Giorno “possibly the most delicious pizza I have ever had.” And this includes the highly rated Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix or Pizzaiolo in Oakland. Great company – great pizza. Can it get any better? Yes.
Bring on imported Essse Caffe (a very smooth coffee) with dessert of homemade Cheesecake (three layers) and a deconstructed Cannoli . The rich filling, cannoli shells, pistachios and fresh whipped cream served in a martini glass – very cool.
In fact, everything about Pizzeria NEO is nice and cool – our servers, Sarah and Stephanie; the décor of black and tan; the charcoal drawings on the wall and the food.
In fact, it’s some of the best pizza we’ve ever had – and it’s right here in Naperville.