Punch Pizza Grand Avenue

Ordered 2 pizzas to go, they were ready a few minutes early. We got one red and one white. Both were good artisan pizzas. I feel like 1 pizza is good for 1+ person, splitting for 2 might not work in someone is really hungry. I appreciate they have a large parking lot.

Super affordable and AMAZING pizza! There can be a wait but if you order ahead you’ll get your pizza right away!

BRING BACK THE HOMEMADE GLUTEN FREE CRUST!!!! The new replacement taste like flavorless foam. You were the only good gf pizza place in Saint Paul, and now we need to all the way to Minneapolis, to Rosalia. I’m guessing this new flavorless sponge bread is probably cheaper to buy in bulk, so therefore easier - yet you still have a really high $4.50 up charge. It’s so unfortunate and I will no longer be ordering from you. Italians are all about quality, and unfortunately, you as a company do not believe in quality. I’m sure you’ll always be in stock now since it’s foam garbage! I would think that if you have something selling out, you make more of it!!!!

We have tried the Grand Ave, Northeast MPLS, Roseville, and Eden prairie locations, and all are fantastic. They are consistent, fairly priced, and delicious. I chose to review the Grand Ave location because of the area - we stopped by Grand Ole Creamery afterwards, and had a great time there as well. Plenty of other places to visit on that street Each location features plentiful parking, even the high-traffic locations of NE and Grand Ave. They are efficient with the ordering/cooking, and we choose to go here over Black Sheep & Pizza Luce every single time I enjoy both styles they offer, but usually build my own. The focaccia is good too, but we normally just get pizzas. They freshly shave their parmesan cheese and offer bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar to take to your table, which we love

I have probably ate here 50 times over the past ten years and it’s the best pizza and salads period. It always tastes fresh and consistent. The reason I keep coming back is because the price has stayed (around) the same for the past 7+ years! There is literally no where else you can get a whole fresh pizza and a small salad for around $16. I really appreciate that they keep it semi affordable. These days McDonald’s costs that much! The food is much better than pizza Luce or toppers, any of the surrounding area competitors, which are just ok to me. This tastes like you took a mini vacation to Italy EVERY TIME ! Pizza usually comes out within 5-8 minutes as long as it’s not insanely busy.

My favorite pizza place!! Honestly anytime someone mentions pizza at all I always bring Punch up because it’s so good! They have a screen that shows expected wait time depending on the number of pizzas you are ordering, which I appreciate. The pizza is always perfectly salty with a ton of delicious olive oil and since it’s made to order, it’s always piping hot! They actually have pretty fantastic salads as well. This location has a big long dining table in the middle so if it’s busy, you might end up sitting next to strangers.

If you're willing to wait 50 minutes when you're told 35, ya get a bit Hangry! The salad came in 35, but Everyone that arrived after us received their pizza, not until I went and asked about our order did we get it 5 to 10 minutes later. We love the food but not an extended wait.

I really hate to give such low stars but I come here often with my kids and this time it want even busy and we got the pizzas to go and when we got home they were very burnt and black char on the bottom. This has never happened before. The large salad also has wilted lettuce and usually the normal is fresh crisp salad! Very disappointed in this visit. Hoping the next will be great as before?

My husband and I were in St. Paul and were in the mood for pizza. I chose this place based on all the good reviews. We weren't disappointed. We weren't super hungry so we split a Maximus pizza. We both loved it. It had such a good flavor and was cooked perfectly. I liked that the pizza was wood fired and that the crust had a nice chew to it. They serve Neapolitan-style pizzas, so they use crushed tomatoes instead of the traditional pizza sauce that most other pizzas have on it. I loved everything about it. It tasted so light and fresh. I think it's because they used a specific kind of flour and yeast. It also had simple ingredients with fresh mozzarella. It tasted way better than the typical pizzas you get from a fast food chain. I love this place so much. I wish there was a place like it where I live. They have a parking lot so you don't have to pay for parking on the street. I can't recommend this place enough.

Love punch pizza- happy they have a lot of locations My go to order without fail is the margherita pizza with spiced salami!! Service is fast and casual- if eating in make sure to grab the olive oil with balsamic vinegar to dip the pizza crust in at the end!

I love getting Italian style pizza at Punch. The Maximus is great along with a punch salad. It would be great if they had some beers on tap but at least you can get a can.

Best pizza ever, and I live in nyc so that says something Service is wicked fast. Staff is super friendly. We've been coming here for over a decade and it's probably the most consistent relationship I've ever had in my life.

Let me tell you....this mouth of mine has tasted many combinations in my 42 years. But none more delicious than Punch's margarita pizza with thier oil and a side of gorgonzola sauce. Talk about an explosion of flavors - woa. Service is prompt and the vibe is decent. But the pizza is excellent

#7 is my favorite. Punch. Consistently fantastic -all around. Easy parking. Friendly service. Affordable. High quality.

I have no words to say. This meal was nothing short than incredible. I got a Margherita pizza that was cooked to absolute perfection. The service was excellent and professional. Would have liked some good music play but it's alright I guess.

We stopped by for lunch and had a great time! I ordered the Dino Z and was pleasantly surprised to find I had a pizza with a salad on top! It was very tasty, with a great blend of fresh and savory. Also, the pizzas are a little larger than your average personal-size, but I ate it all. The option to eat indoors or outdoors is great on a beautiful day. The staff bring the pizza to you (and in a reasonable amount of time), so I'll be back.

I do like they have non tomato sauce options! I got the mimi pizza and it was a little weird that none of the ingredients on the top were put in the oven (which was described on their menu). I think I'd ask for the mozzarella to be cooked on top of the crust! Pizza was good overall though Pizza took a little bit to come out but we would come here again!

My favorite pizza place!! Honestly anytime someone mentions pizza at all I always bring Punch up because it's so good! They have a screen that shows expected wait time depending on the number of pizzas you are ordering, which I appreciate. The pizza is always perfectly salty with a ton of delicious olive oil and since it's made to order, it's always piping hot! They actually have pretty fantastic salads as well. This location has a big long dining table in the middle so if it's busy, you might end up sitting next to strangers.

Came in to pick up two pepperoni pizzas to go, atmosphere is nice and wait staff were all friendly. The place gets pretty busy during the week and I can see why. I've had Punch in the past when I used to live in MN and I remember it being better. The pizzas were just okay, nothing to write home about, they also didn't travel very well. I think this pizza is definitely much better fresh/on-site.

Immaculate pizza. The place is so chill too. We got our food super fast and the staff was incredibly friendly. The menu is quite large so maybe look it up before you go! But honesty, you probably won't get a bad za. It's all good and I'd order anything!!

Pizza was super flavorful and delish...salad was fresh and outstanding. Will crave it all the time. I got number 6 pizza and a small punch salad...

Salad came out of left field and knocked us out of the park. I don't know how baseball works but I know this salad slapped. Greco salad, by the way. Pizza was good. We will be eating the leftovers for breakfast tomorrow. We tried the Maximus and the Margherita with buffalo moz, both delicious. Overall, would recommend. We did takeout so cannot speak to the service or ambiance, but my cousin said it smelled delectable when she picked up our order.

Love love love Punch Pizza! Consistently some of the best pizza, if not the best, I've had. They have a bunch of red and white sauce options, gluten free crust available, apps, salads, dessert, and wine. I advise looking at the menu ahead of time since you order as soon as you walk in. The pizza is made right in front of you in a wood-burning oven. The staff is friendly, patient, and helpful. This location has indoor seating and an outside patio. Can't wait to come back, my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Overall great experience! Delicious pizza came out quickly. The half Caesar salad was quite a large size. Nice beer and wine selection. All for a great price too!

Never disappoints. Food is fantastic- huge fan of the chop salad and rosemary bread. Love the pizza- our friends/family from out of town love it too.

I ordered take out and even though the location I went to was VERY busy, my food was perfectly on time (like on the dot!). The staff were very polite despite their rush, and worked beautifully together to get orders in. One chef, a red haired man with dark framed glasses was working INSANELY quickly and carefully while maintaining a cheerful demeanor and making conversation with waiting customers. thought he deserved a shoutout. As always, it was the best pizza I've ever had. 5 stars

I had heard people rave about this place through coworkers so we decided to give it a shot! The food was amazing, so tasty and flavorful without being overwhelming. The food came out in a timely manner and we were given a side of Parmesan. Parking is on the street and free.

Many visits but first review. I keep coming back because, obviously, awesome pizza! In fact, I might venture so far as to say my favorite Twin Cities pizza. I've never had a bad one, and there have been over 25. Delicious crust, yummy toppings with melted mozz, and so perfectly wood fired. The counter service is generally pretty fast, the minimal beer selection is still decent, and pro tip, their wine pours are very generous! Personal favorites are the Margherita Extra, Borgata, and Cortina. For a vegetarian, options are a little limited but I've never struggled. For meat eaters, salami, prosciutto, pepperoni, and sausage and options abound. Crafting your own is always a good option, too! And don't forget the delicious Nutella dessert pizza to leave you with a sweet treat and powdered sugar on your lips at the end of the meal.

The pizza from Punch is quite possibly my favorite food. Period. It is so delicious that I am physically unable to stop myself from stuffing my face with it for long enough to get a picture for this review. Sorry about that. This is Neapolitan-style pizza, which means it is very thin and non-crispy. You may need a fork and knife for at least some of it. The sauce is thin and tomato-y, and is the dominant flavor. If you're familiar with Pizza Express, the British franchise, you'll find this is a very similar type of pizza. There is a menu of recommended pizza varieties, some of which include no tomato sauce. Or you can order a custom pizza. Do whatever sounds good; it totally will be good. At this location, you will order at the counter. There's usually a bit of a wait at the counter during the more popular hours. Then you'll find a seat and they'll bring the pizza out to you. You won't wait long for that, since they flash-bake every pizza in their impressive brick oven. This cooking style also accounts for the light char on the crust. Again, this is by design. You wouldn't want it any other way. The salads are popular here as well. But make sure not to get JUST a salad. They have their own parking lot, but it can fill up easily. Street parking in the area can be frustrating, but I recommend finding a spot on Summit Avenue, directly behind Punch. That might seem far away, but it's very easy to find a spot, and you can easily cut through from Summit to Punch. Holy smokes, I can't wait for my next visit to Punch Pizza.

The worst service I have ever had at any restaurant, They serve things out of order meaning people who order after u get the food first. hate this place

Delicious, fresh pizza in a covid-safe environment. I love the modified dining option- take out or patio only. The patio at this location is quite large! Try the classic margarita extra with a bottle of wine (due to modified dining rules, you can only order bottles but the prices are incredibly reasonable)!

This is hands down my favorite pizza place! I'm gonna be honest I have a ton of food allergies so that I know effects my choosing on where I love. But at the same time if other people can't eat the things I can't then this is the place to go! So I can't have gluten, dairy, eggs, corn, cashews, or peanuts. Crazy lol some of them I can have small traces of it but not completely dive in. Dairy is not one of those for me. That's why this place is AWESOME. Not only do they have goat cheese (which I actually don't like) they have buffalo mozzarella. IT IS life changing for someone that is lactose intolerant! If you are you know that daia cheese just doesn't cut it. Buffalo mozzarella is like a super light mozzarella kinda like burrata but even lighter. This might not sound appealing but the texture of it is perfect. Okay then the gluten free crust is stupid good. It's fluffy and chewy in all the greatest ways. The first time my boyfriend tried it he was convinced it was normal crust and didn't want me to eat it because he didn't think they were telling the truth. Anyway they do use egg in this but it doesn't bother me thank god! My favorite pizza is the Maximus. It has pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, and oregano. I love this pizza. The Tuscano (I think that's the name) is also really good! It's sausage, roasted peppers, and basil. I ordered it in the picture I attached with mushrooms added. Anyway the pizza is made like the real authentic pizza from Italy! Or as close to it as I've seen! And I love that style! It's fresh and light and has perfect balance. The one complaint I have is sometimes the gluten free pizza with the buffalo mozzarella on it gets super wet and a little soggy when you eat it... that is not an accurate description. I don't know how to explain it. It doesn't taste soggy it just sometimes is really wet I think from the cheese and is flimsy when you eat it I usually get a load of napkins and fold each piece in half. I will say though today's pizza I could eat without folding best pizza I've had yet here! I like this location much better than the others in the twin cities. I feel like they give you enough cheese, which I've had issues with in the past. Also they cook it to perfection! Anyway I love this place so if you can't eat dairy or are gluten free this is the place to come for your pizza fix! Even if you can just eat regular pizza, you gotta come here. You will not leave disappointed! Ps. I've never had it but the desert flat bread thing with Nutella ish stuff I hear is to die for. Also, I love their salads. 5 star for me!!!

Overall this pizza was good but some of it was very salty in a concentrated area and really soggy and oily in the middle. We had the buffalina pizza. We also had a salad which was good. Overall it was fine but I wasn't in love with anything here. Also we were there at lunch time and the place was packed. It's very small and the tables are very close together.

I love that this place makes their pizzas fresh! I always have an appreciation for that. It's very good and neapolitan pizza has to be one of my favorite kinds. I LOVE their house salad as well! 10/10 recommend!

While I have not been to Italy, my lovely significant other has, and she touts this pizza to be the most authentically Italian style pizza in the cities. Any review of a Neapolitan pizza establishment should begin with the simplest pie: a Margherita. And Punch's is top notch. This location is extra great with patio seating along Grand Ave to do some people watching and finish the night with some of the best ice cream across the street at Grand Ole Creamery. Pro tip: get a side of olive oil to dip your crust in.

We met up with some friends here for dinner while visiting the Twin Cities. I had the Toto pizza, which had prosciutto, arugula, garlic and red pepper flakes. The pizza really blew me away. It was so flavorful and the crust was really good too. I would definitely order it again. It was also the perfect size - not too big but not too small. Other than that, I also had a local beer which turned out to be quite good. As good as the food was, the dining experience could have been better. The restaurant was crowded, and because of this, I was told I could not save a table; this is unfortunate because we did not all arrive at the same time. Also, once we did get a table, after I'd sat there for a while, I started getting uncomfortable sitting there because I really felt squeezed in. So it's a great place, I just wish they had a larger dining area; maybe get your pizza to go.

We love Punch Pizza. I just returned from Italy about a month ago and Punch is as good as any of the wood fired pizzas I had there. My only issue with Punch's pizza is that the middle is always soggy so that it doesn't really hold the toppings well. The other parts of the crust are amazing!!! And the toppings are of great quality. I used to always get the Salame e funghi but I realized that I could build my own and now am complete! Today I got the Margherita and added spicy sausage, mushrooms and had them throw the arugula on after it was baked. Perfect!!! The blend of the toppings including the arugula was perfect. My son had a Napoli, which never disappoints him. I also asked for a half order of the chopped Italian salad and by mistake they made me a full size. Always a pleasure. The wait staff were helpful and pleasant. The dining room is cozy but we went around 4:30p so it was not full yet. This is a family favorite eatery for us.

Delicious pizza if eaten right there on the spot! This pizza doesn't transfer well in the car because all the juices come out and make the crust soggy. So if you eat punch pizza, eat it right there in the restaurant. I always get the margherita DOC style where they add mozzarella di buffalo, a much creamier cheese. Trust me! You won't regret it! Also, Greek salad or the pine salad is always a must.

The pizza is so good, I'll come back, but I don't want to. This time I was smart! Ordered my pizza online. To save time. So I wouldn't have to wait 20 minutes for it at the store... I was given a time it would be ready: 11:15. It's only a half mile from me, so I rolled in at 11:07, 8 minutes earlier than the time given, thinking "hey, might be a slow day - maybe it'll be ready early". No, it wasn't. I gave my name to the counter guy, he told me it was in their queue, and it would be ready soon. All good - I can stare at the interweb for 6 minutes or so. I sat down to wait. And wait. And wait. Someone was calling names and people would go up and claim their pizzas. Finally, at 11:24, I walked up and asked if my pizza was ready, as I had noticed several boxed pizzas sitting on the counter, doing nothing, minding their own business. He asked for my name, again. And then he said, brightly; helpfully: "Yes, it's ready, here it is." Yeah, it was one of the bored pizzas on the counter, just hanging out. And yeah, I know, 1st world problems. In the grand scheme of things, not something to take much note of... and yeah, I know, the time you're given is an estimate, but... I really do have better things to do than sit in a pizza store, waiting for a pizza that was ready and waiting for who knows how long. And I don't think I'll bother with the online ordering in the future. But I'll be back. Because, man, that pizza is SO good.

The pizza here is amazing and the bread is especially our favorite. The customer service is really good, especially Elliot. We were only picking up food but they made our time there very pleasant.

General conclusion: pizza tastes good if you eat the part with sauce and toppings. However, half of your "pizza" will come as is, as in pizza dough with nothing on it. I am still thinking that they are trying to cut cost without increasing the price and compromising on the input. I'd prefer if they increased their price and kept its quality instead of decreasing quality while keeping the price at the same level and selling inferior product than they used to provide. It was our 5th time eating here. It was quite crowded when we arrived. There was no empty table. For the first time ever I've seen Someone from the staff actually organizing and telling people where to sit. It was Thursday around 6 pm. Service: it was slower than usual, but it's understandable considering how crowded it was. Salad: I like all their salads. I still prefer chopped Italian though. Was good as usual. The focaccia was same size but less flavored than usual. Pizza: parts that it had sauce and everything was indeed good. I always liked their pizza. However, their pizza size and actual toppings including the sauce had significantly decreased. Half of the pizza has absolutely nothing on it. You're literally buying pizza dough where half of it is flavored. Hazelnut panini: I think this was the only item that hadn't changed dramatically in quality and taste. I like this place a lot and I want to give 5 stars but their quality is decreasing way too fast within the last year or two.

I agree with Bob A.--the "pizza from Punch is quite possibly my favorite food." I say this after enjoying other Neopolitan pizza joints, including that of James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Bianco. Yet, unlike the other Neopolitan pizza joints I've enjoyed, Punch consistently provides quick and exceptional service--and great drinks, too! Personally, I most enjoy the Toto (Neo Style, meaning with extra crushed tomatoes and olive oil, i.e. "wet") and a Punch salad (Pulcinella Style, meaning within warm focaccia), which I look forward to ordering again when I am back next Spring.

Quite possibly one of my favorite fast-casual places to eat in or get take out. The ordering process is different depending on which location you go to, but at the Grand Ave location, your order is placed and paid for at the counter and then you receive a pager to pick up your food at the counter when it's ready. There's plenty of seating at this location as well, including booths, tables, a long community table, and outdoor seating on the patio. The food is outstanding. I've never had a pizza or a salad that I didn't like. If you don't mind a little spice on your pizza, definitely get the Toto pizza. I've tried all of the salads and would have to say that the Punch Salad is by far the best (and it even comes with a side of focaccia). Prices are also very fair--about $6-12 depending on what Pizza you order and a large salad is around $8. The take out process is also very quick. Last time I checked, you're unable to call in your order ahead at this location, but you're able to get your order placed and food boxed up in less than 10 min.

One of my favorite spots on Grand. However, both quality and service have suffered during AND after the pandemic. Busy hours resulted in rushed undercooked pizzas . They eliminated the small salad which was one of my favorite lunches forcing customers to buy a large salad and an entire focaccia pie for $15 for a salad and coke. Finally, in these post restriction days the lack of indoor dining, no wait service, no fountain service, and having to keep going in and out to check on your order because they won't even bring it out to their own patio makes Punch the worst choice on Grand for good food, service, and value. Charging more for less not a winning business strategy.

4.5 stars. Delicious pizza. We had the Toto and Margherita Extra. They were both great. We also tried the dessert panini which featured Nutella. It was petty good, if you like that sort of thing.

So glad I got to visit this place. Yes their pizza is expensive but so worth it. I had goat cheese and ham on mine and it was delicious. The crust was so good i ate it. Usually I throw the crust away. But these pizzas are made in a brick oven. I love how they used a light tomato sauce that was made there and not just canned. I hate canned ones. I would love to go again if I visit and I highly recommend it. The staff was so great. There was some miss understanding about the order but the fixed it so fast. I wanna give a shoutout to Mimi, the girl taking our long unusual orders. She was so friendly and nice. The guy who served us was great as well and took nice pictures of us when we asked. I just loved this place.

Do NOT order as a walk up as I did today at 5:27. Only the online orders could just walk in and pick up. I won't be back with no warning about walk ups low to no priority

Called in an order. They said 45 minutes for delivery. After 45 minutes, called and they said another 30 minutes. Called after another 30 minutes and they it would be soon. After 3 hours and no delivery, we cancelled the order. Call Bdubs and they got food to me in 40 minutes. Very very poor customer service!!

It's rare to find a truly authentic pizza place like this in a country that is ruled by corporate chains slinging pre-made pies all over the place. Cut to Naples -- the home of the perfect pizza. After subpar Neapolitan pizza joints started surfacing, an organization (Vera Pizza Napoletana or VPN) was made to certify the few that keep it true to its roots. Two main things must be maintained in order to get the stamp of approval; the crust must be rolled by hand and they all must be cooked in a 900 degree wood-burning and bell shaped oven. Cut back to the bustling Grand Avenue in Saint Paul, just steps from some of the most beautiful homes in the state. The orange sign hangs over the sidewalk and they have a big outdoor patio next to a rare private parking lot for customers. Punch Pizza requires you to order at the counter before sitting down which at most pizza joints would mean an eternally long wait until your food is ready. Thanks to the insanely hot oven, each pizza is cooked within seconds (literally). We ordered four different pizzas to go and only waited around 6 or 7 minutes from putting in the order. How amazing is that! The menu has a big selection of masterful pizzas guaranteed to have something for everyone. They even have a straight marinara pizza (just garlic and oregano and no cheese for those vegans out there!) or as the guy at the counter called it, "A dead pizza." After stepping aside and letting several people go ahead of us while I decided on which to order, I finally landed on the borgata (sun-dried tomato, goat cheese, eggplant, saracene olives, and basil). And, after just a few minutes, we were back in the car and being tortured by the intoxicating smell coming from the four fresh pizzas in the back seat. Even after a 20 minute drive to our hotel (we went way out of our way specifically to eat here) each pizza was still equally amazing! Crust is always the most crucial part, and nothing pains me more than leaving bland and boring crust on the side of a plate. Punch's crust is perfect with small bits of char lining the edges. It can easily be compared to Pizzeria Mozza at home in Los Angeles so it's no wonder it's often listed alongside the famous spot on "Best Pizza in the Country" lists (http://bit.ly/1PVN9r5)!

I've been to multiple Punch Pizza locations but this is probably my favorite one. It's located on Grand Ave which is a really cute area. It also has a free parking lot (bonus!) and patio on the side of the restaurant. My boyfriend and I came here on a Friday for a casual date night. It was very busy and the line was out the door. It was a long wait but our food came out quick when we finally put in our order. Their pizzas are made in a brick oven and are ready in 90 seconds. I'm picky when it comes to pizzas but I've found that brick-oven pizzas always come out perfectly. However, you have to eat it right away. It's doesn't taste as great when it's cooled down or saved as leftovers. My favorite way to enjoy the pizza is eating the bottom half of the slice first and then dipping the crust in extra virgin olive oil. I like my pizzas simple so I usually get the margherita with mushrooms and it's fairly inexpensive. However, it can add up if you enjoy more toppings. I've noticed that the prices have increased since I first started coming here. It is now $6.75 for a Margherita or Napoli pizza and $0.75-$3 for each extra topping. Otherwise, they have specialty pizzas for approximately $9-12.

I came to place a take-out order and I was told it would take an hour+ for 2 pizzas..! Knowing the fact that they're only doing take out orders right now was even more frustrating that the time I was given was so long. This is the third or fourth time I have faced this challenge - not to mention countless others posting similar issues in other reviews/platforms. I understand that COVID precautions, etc. are challenging to navigate, but Punch needs to figure out how to cater to their patrons on peak days rather than turn away sales/unhappy customers due to long wait times. This deters me from going back again, which is a shame because I'm a big fan of the food.

Indoor dining is dead, and the internet has killed it. 6pm Friday night, empty dining area, yet 80 minute wait due to online orders. I remember when this place was over-filled with people, wine, and chatter. Now it's fancy Domino's. So sad.

Multiple times I have come to this location as it is the closest to my home and have had nothing but terrible service. The staff is unfriendly and unhelpful. The food is great so props to the chefs, but poor customer service.

I'm a big fan of punch pizza. I recommend the Vesuvio. The neighborhoods the best in Saint Paul, and they have a parking lot. I think you have to order online, but that's no problem-cuz you're a genius!

The parking lot, while nice (because street parking blows wieners behind Wal*Mart and everyone knows it), requires a tad bit of fancy maneuvering. It's tighter than a camel's asshole in a sandstorm, people. After having been here a few times, I can honestly say that I believe a lot of people get their pizza to go. There's simply no room for the interior to sustain the amount of pizza seekers that end up pouring in. It gets nothing short of maddening in here around dinner time, so if you're lucky enough to secure a booth, make sure you savor every moment of your triumph. I've had many different pizzas here so I'm just going to break it down in a list. - Bruni (sausage, spiced salami, onion and oregano): I love this one. It's rich, meaty and satisfying. I like ordering it D.O.C. style because the extra cheese does something magical to it. I'm obsessed with their salami; you can taste how fresh it is. The oregano gives this particular pizza that touch of herby goodness but I actually prefer the fresh torn basil instead. - Salame E Funghi (salami, mushroom, garlic, fontina and oregano): Another solid offering. The garlic packs a pronounced punch and complements the spice coating on the salami very well. The mushrooms don't come out all watery and disgusting and instead develop a deeper, roasted profile. The oregano works better on this pizza than on the Bruni, in my opinion. - Palermo (spiced salami, sun dried tomato, saracene olive, oregano): This one has been the least outstanding flavor combination I've tried. I had high hopes as I love olives on pizza but something about them seemed awry here. The sun dried tomatoes are very much in the forefront but they compete with the equally strong taste of the olives and it ends up tasting like a food fight in your mouth. I wouldn't order this one again. - Vesuvio (spiced salami, saracene olive, cracked red pepper, piparras pepper and basil): This is the most visually satisfying pizza I've had thus far. The whole piparras peppers add a nice pop of color and heat. I have a relatively high spice tolerance and was not, at all, put off by the heat levels but my two dining companions were. If you're into spice, this one comes highly recommended. Again... I gots me some love for that salami. The olives aren't clamoring for attention here and end up becoming a pleasant background saltiness. - Mushroom and Pepperoni (just a specially ordered pizza): My mom ordered this because she tends to puss out when it comes to interesting flavors. I figured it was going to be pretty dull but the quality of the ingredients really made it delicious. The pepperoni--a surprisingly not greasy variety--had a great texture. She went with the D.O.C style and, as a cheese hound, was very happy with the dairy level. The dough they use here has a great chew to it but I will admit that the pizzas themselves are incredibly thin (and, thus, can become a little 'soggy' as others have stated). Nonetheless, they're delivered to your table hot and fresh straight from their eight hundred degree cremated fate. The have large bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping as well as small spice grinders that you can bring to your table. Put them back when you're done. Don't be a bastard. In addition to their pizzas, I've also had their Caesar salad and was very underwhelmed. The dressing just seemed oily to me and didn't have that rich flavor I crave when looking for a Caesar salad that probably isn't authentic at all. But the rosemary bread they serve it with (or independently, too) is fucking amazing. It's... stupid amazing. How the hell is it so damn good? It's some dough with fresh rosemary and sea salt with only one single downside: sometimes the rosemary stabs you in the gums. I like a little pain with my love, though, so I'll keep coming back. Hit me again, Rosemary. Do it. If you're tired of spray on cheese, horse meat pepperoni and 'butter flavored a little' aerosol spray on your crusts, come to Punch. You may be surprised.

I would have to classify this one as a "why not, let's try it" and so we did. I'm not entirely sure where the raving comes from, but to each their own. I actually thought it was more of a sit down pizzeria. Instead more like the chipotle of pizza. A quaint little place that Napervillians might like. Quick and pleasant service, I will say that. I tried the Bruni ( Sausage, salami, onion and oregano). It was all right. The crust got mushy very quick and I'm not a fan of soggy crust. J tried the Toscano. He had to have another one made; the crust was soggy when it came out. He seemed to enjoy the second one they made and it was brought out very quick. Service was good. Pizza was ok. Glad I tried it. Nice little patio with shade and sun.

We spent the majority of our meal dissecting just how they managed to make the pizza so mediocre. I mean, the wood fired oven alone should have put them at above average. But in a special kind of achievement, Punch Pizza managed to make Neapolitan pizza that was bland, with soggy crust and meh toppings. The sauce was flavorless to boot. The chopped salad was tasty, although not particularly chopped, as one would expect to find. Instead it was like a normal garden salad with some chopped salami thrown in. Good dressing, though. I will say the service was notably fast and friendly.