Richard P.
Yelp
Has it really been seven years since I first reviewed Diavola? Yikes. Sometimes, I suck as a Yelp Elite.
Diavola changed ownership in 2018, though it has maintained its retro Italian vibe with a dark, intimate interior along with booths/tables that emphasize the communal experience with most settings accommodating at least four people.
The building is an older strip center that also houses Dancing Donut. It's an interesting building in that several of the shops in the strip have a step going into them, though Diavola isn't one of them. The building also has several curb cuts, though it actually offers no identified accessible parking despite having 3-4 spots that do have a small aisle next to them that would prove ideal for someone in a wheelchair. As you enter Diavola's single glass door, you arrive at a hosting area. They do accept reservations and have online reservations via OpenTable.
Diavola has the only Marra Forni Oven in Indiana, an Italian-made beast of an oven that can "char a perfect crust in 90 seconds." Diavola also utilizes Antimo Caputo flour, an additive-free option that is all natural along with Sinatra brand tomatoes. They keep their menu fairly simple - appetizers (or antipasti), salads, pizzas, and a create-your-own option that starts off at $10. The pizzas offer up several options and should have something to please just about anyone with prices in the $11-15 range.
Diavola has a strong appetizer menu, though I have yet to try any while dining in or, as in the case last night, getting a pizza delivered. Appetizers range from Polpo (charred marinated octopus) to Polpette (meatballs, etc.) and much more. They also have a beer & wine menu, though they clearly emphasize wine with only a few local craft brew options.
For dining in, it's worth noting that this is an older strip center. There's no defined accessible parking, though multiple spots work fairly well if available. There are curb cuts in several spaces along the building - some work better than others (the one down by Flying Cupcake is awful). I'd also previously noted a crack in the sidewalk that had nearly caused me to tumble. I am unaware of this has been addressed, however, given this is an older building it's worth watching out for to avoid a mishap.
I'd previously noted some concerns with service while dining in, however, given the fact that I didn't dine in this time around and ownership has changed I'll avoid that discussion. This is a warm, intimate setting in what is really a working class neighborhood. The price point varies - you can definitely spend a decent amount here, though you can also get a quality pizza at a fair price. As I browsed the menu for delivery, I definitely noted that the menu had more diversity to it than I'd previously noted.
I ordered a pepperoni pizza for delivery last night. At $14, it was fairly priced. I ordered via a delivery service and will admit I was a bit hesitant given this is a traditionally finer pizza and I was concerned something would happen with delivery to harm the experience.
It is much to the credit of Diavola that despite that "something" actually happening, the pizza was still good (but not great). It arrived not even warm (it tasted like perhaps it had been slightly maintained as warm until the driver arrived). I am grateful an effort was made to keep it warm, but hated the fact that I didn't get a pizza that was at least warm if not hot.
The fresh, authentic ingredients made the pizza come to life in a special way even when delivered in less than ideal circumstances (I ordered the pizza at 5:29. It was delivered right around 7:15 with one driver canceling and it taking a while to snag another one).
This delivery issue, of course, was no fault of Diavola and entirely on the service (GrubHub). The pizza was appropriately packaged upon arrival and even the boxes were noted as being compliant with Sustainable Forest Initiative.
Overall, despite getting a less than ideal pizza I'm still moving this rating up a star. It was good enough that it made me think "I need to get back there," though it was challenging enough that I doubt I would order delivery again.
