Inizio Pizza Napoletana Dilworth

This was solid neapolitan pizza. They have multiple different pizza you can get. The atmosphere here is great. Wall art and music with classic lighting make the place nice. We went with the pistachio and the pepperoni pizzas and they came out fairly fast. The pizza was good. It is your standard neapolitan pizza. It wasn't as crunchy or flavorful as I would like. The pistachio was good but was hit or miss with the flavor. The pepperoni was a bit too sweet for my liking with the honey on top. Overall I enjoyed my pizza.

The food is always amazing. I come here once a week. The vodka pesto pizza is the best, and I love the seasonal pear pizza. The pumpkin vanilla is also amazing.

Inizio Pizza Napoletana: A Passion Project That Forgot the Pizza Inizio’s branding reads like a love letter to Naples—a story of passion, research, tradition, and dough perfection. “Expert craft.” “Strict standards.” “Memories around the table.” But once you're actually in the restaurant, it all falls apart. The dining room was nearly empty. And once the pizza arrived, it made sense. Despite their claims of intense training and authentic Neapolitan methods, what I got was a soft, soggy pizza with bland structure and over-salted toppings. The crust lacked that signature Neapolitan char and airiness. The flavor felt lazy, not crafted. It didn’t transport me to Naples—it barely even got out of the parking lot. They talk a lot about sourcing ingredients from Naples—San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, “00” flour—but what’s the point of importing world-class ingredients if you treat them like filler? Even worse, the menu feels bizarrely narrow. Almost every pizza is loaded with pork—salami, sausage, prosciutto, anchovy—and little else. No chicken, no vegetarian centerpiece, no seafood options. And here’s the kicker: actual Neapolitan pizzerias in Italy offer more variety than this. In Naples, it’s not unusual to see pizzas with tuna, mushrooms, zucchini, artichokes, onions, or even egg—all perfectly traditional and all noticeably absent here. So when the owner says they don’t offer certain toppings because they’re “not traditional,” it’s just not true. It’s not about tradition—it’s about a lack of creativity and an unwillingness to evolve. Inizio wants to tell a story of passion and authenticity. But from what I tasted—and saw—this is less “artisanal pizza” and more “empty room with a wood-fired oven.” A lot of talk. Not a lot of follow-through.

Awesome pizza as always!! The salad is perfectly tossed! With my dietary requests, the staff always delivered 100% This is one of the best dining experiences I have in Charlotte! And is is this way every time! Remarkable staff, food and service! The standard bearer for pizza joints in the Carolinas! Amber runs a great operation to be sure! Her team seems to be as in synch as any I’ve seen. Consistently great service, great food and a family friendly place!

Drove in from Nashville, TN, looking for a Neapolitani style pizzeria 🍕 which uses Italian “00” flour which makes fluffy crust and is safe for some people who have a sensitivity to whatever is in/on American flour. Thanks for a yummy evening ending with gelato & pumpkin cheesecake cannoli! 🎃

Sorry but this is the limpest, soggiest, gummiest Neapolitan pizza. Toppings were tasty. Crust not good. Environment and people were nice.

Awesome Neapolitan pizza! I mean, so very delicious! Great beer selection! Yummy gelato! Love the space and vibe. Amber is a charming mgr, very welcoming, making our first time at Inizio in Dilworth wonderfully delightful!

Staff friendly and welcoming. Pizza was delicious. Thin and flavorful. Reminds me of pizza in Italy. I ordered two and devoured them myself.