Pupatella

Pupatella delivers exceptional, authentic Neapolitan pizza and easily earns its place as the best Neapolitan pizza in Richmond. This restaurant is a proud member of the VPN (Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana), which means they adhere to strict standards set in Naples, Italy—and it shows in every bite. The pizza is the real deal: super rich, creamy (buffalo) mozzarella, melt-in-your-mouth Tipo 00 dough, and cooked in a traditional oak wood-fired oven. The sauce is perfectly balanced—bold and zesty with very little sweetness. It’s important to note: this is not NYC-style pizza. If you’re looking for that, this isn’t the place. Neapolitan pizza is a completely different experience—lighter, more delicate, and deeply rooted in Italian tradition. Pupatella executes it flawlessly. On top of the incredible food, the staff is friendly, efficient, and welcoming, making the overall experience even better. Highly recommended. I’ll absolutely be back.

Good food and cool decor. Welcoming, cozy place for a date or small group of 3 to 4 people. The pizza was well made and tasted nice all around - cheese, sauce, and dough were all quality. Definitely a pie I would order again, but most likely in restaurant. The meatball appetizer, bread, and the prosciutto mozzarella sandwich were all tasty as well. Certainly worth another trip to try some more pizza and food.

I came and ate solo dinner here couple weeks ago after work and let me first say I love the parking options and inside was so nice and cozy. I was immediately greeted and was able to order magnificent options! I ordered the classic cheese, the bites of pizza bites (doughy probably messed the name up), strawberry tiramisu and a natural peach lemonade. The food was fresh, delicious and even better on the rewarm. The food wasss so good and I truly enjoyed their version of Neapolitan pizza. Pricing wasn’t too bad and I truly did enjoy the eats. Don’t knock it till you try it, yummmy!!

Went here with a work colleague by his recommendation. The pizza actually did taste the same as I had experienced earlier this year in Italy. I got the margarita and would get it again. It was light, not heavy on your stomach, just like in Italy. Thin crust, cooked to perfection. Clean restaurant and friendly staff.

Everything was delicious!! We ordered appetizers, several pizzas and Italian Cheesecake for dessert. We loved everything!! The pizza dough is wonderfully light! Definitely check this place out!!

I had the Buffalo Bianca. For the uninitiated, this place is the only one to get a true Neapolitan style. Downside is they don’t have an Espresso machine. This is a divergence from their DC offerings- or at least when I visited one out there a year ago. Could be they took them out of every store.

My husband and I loved our meal at Pupatella! We started with the burrata platter, which was a great size and super delicious. The garlic zeppoles were tasty, the eggplant arancini were amazing, and the mini charcuterie board was so good with a really nice portion. The pizzas were authentic Neapolitan style and did not disappoint. Great service too. 100% recommend! Amazing experience!

Popped in here for dinner before a show at the Altria! Super cute place serving authentic wood fired Neapolitan pizzas! Lots of different topping options and sauces to create your perfect pie! Also a nice selection of Italian wine to go with your pizza! Make sure to catch them on their $15 wine bottle special!!

This pizza is consistently incredible. Chewy crunchy crust and really great ingredients. My fav woodfire pizza in Rva.

This pizza was absolutely delicious! I stopped by for lunch and it wasn't that busy as far as seating. The place is set up nicely. You can watch them make the pizzas. I felt the spot was clean and there were nice tunes in the background. I ordered the pepperoni and my friend got the margherita pizza. The sauce is some of the best pizza sauce I've had in the RVA thus far. The personal pizzas are a good size and we couldn't finish them, but they made for some yummy left overs!

Pupatella delivers solid Neapolitan-style pies with a lighter bake, which means the crust can steam in the box on the ride home and lose some snap. It doesn't travel especially well, but it wakes up beautifully with a quick revive in a 350°F oven once you're back. Toppings are generous and well chosen, the marinara is bright and balanced, and the mozzarella reads clean and milky rather than rubbery. There are small things that could be tightened, but when refreshed the pizza really scratches the Neapolitan itch in Richmond. Pricing feels fair if you order direct; third-party apps can push it into eye-roll territory. Recommended.

Truly underrated! Perfectly burnt thin crust with a creative array of toppings that don't just taste like every other pizza place in-town. Really enjoyed the Capricciosa pizza as a unique combination of flavors I had never thought to put together on a pizza, and of course the pepperoni/mushroom was super reliable. The interior is very clean and the staff was very quick to attend to my takeout order. Ordered and ready within 15 or so minutes - quite impressive!

My coworkers and I ordered pizza through Uber eats. I decided on the meatball pizza. The pizza was flavorful, with chunks of meatballs and a good amount of cheese, and the crust was the perfect consistency. The pizzas are offered in one size only, which could be shared with another person, or eaten as leftovers. I'd probably eat there next time, to enjoy the pizza hot out of the oven.

Got three pizzas here for dinner. Personal sized pizzas.. or for two kids. Both the white sauce and the red sauce were very delicious and the dough itself is quite tasty. However, our biggest complaint would be that the bottom of the pizzas were borderline undercooked.. I feel as if I should have asked for it to be well done. And I'd like to note that it's cut into 4 slices and I would argue the slices were absurdly large. All and all super good pizza and would order again.

We stopped in on Sunday for dinner before a show at the Altria Theater. They apparently have a new POS system and it is having some issues. We waited a long time and did not get our pizza. It seems that somehow our order was lost. The staff were apologetic and "quickly" made our pizzas. One came out right away and the other one we had to pack up to take home since we had to leave to get to the show. We have eaten here before and have not had issues like we did on Sunday. I think it was just a bad night.

Pizza is outstanding like you get in a wood fired pizzeria in Europe. It's not fancy, yet the waitstaff is always kind, competent, and attentive. Love Pupatella!

Visiting family in Richmond and after big brunch needed something for the end of the day, so ordered for pickup, a Daviola and pesto cheese. Stopped for some beers to go from Tripple Crossing. Really hit the spot and highly recommend it .

We ordered a pizza for pick up. My husband picked up the pizza and said the place is really refreshing and comfy looking inside. He says it's small but has a great vibe. He loved the service, stating that weight staff were kind, professional, and helpful. The pizza was absolutely delicious. We will definitely order again and want to dine inside to try it out.

Yikes. The people there are wonderful but the food is not. We were looking for something less Pizza Hut and more authentic but this pizza tasted worse. The crust was rubbery, the sauce and topics without flavor. So unfortunate. I'm honestly confused by all the positive reviews. Does not compare to pizza places like Pizza Bones.

Ok, have to say I would "pass" on Pupatella based on our trip there. For perspective, I am a Neapolitan pizza nerd. I make it at home - make the dough from scratch, have a proper pizza oven, since Covid I constantly look for ways to hit perfection in Neapolitan pizza.... While the restaurant ambiance and staff were great, the pizza was not great and IMHO not true Neapolitan. The crust was flat-ish and bready not puffy air pocket bubbles. What I like about true Neapolitan crust is that you want to eat the crust just as much as the pizza, not leave the uneaten "crust bones" on the plate after you eat the center. We did not eat the crust here. Additionally, the center of the pizza (and the bottom) was clearly under-cooked and even a little soggy. While you rarely get a Neapolitan pizza slice that is stiff, (typically you need to support with a knife or fingers) this pizza was completely limp and not fully cooked. Looking at the bottom of the pizzas they were mostly dough colored, no "leoparding". Sorry Pupatella, maybe we hit it on a bad day, but can't recommend based on our experience.

I came for pizza and left happy. The pizza was delicious, the price was simple, and the staff was kind. What more could you ask for? The place was also clean and safe, which is always important. I'll be back whenever my pizza cravings hit again. Honestly, this spot is worth it.

A little taste of authentic Italy in Richmond! Anytime I'm craving pizza from Italy this is the spot to go. Most recently I ordered the buffala bianca. The pizzas are made with simple fresh ingredients. The basil and prosciutto on my pizza were everything. The restaurant is warm and inviting and the staff are wonderful. This is a must go place in Richmond!

Just left here and it's different. Nobody speaks English anymore, the restaurant is setup differently, and there are "Vera Pizza" signs hanging everywhere now. It's been sold, under new management, or something/m. Food didn't taste the same either.

Nico made me a very good fruity little drink at the bar. Much thanks to everyone at Pupatellas!

Julia was a really great waiter! Suggested the sausage and onion pizza and it was so good! The inside was really nice and the food came out really quick within 10 min of us being there

I became obsessed with the original pizza joint that started in Northern Virginia because they had amazing pizza, which they still have, but they had an amazing ambience also...Dimly lit, Italian vibes, small, etc. A place you wanted to do a date night... Add on a bottle of wine, etc. This location in downtown Richmond feels a little bit more like a Mod pizza than the vibe I once loved... no table service... You clean up your own plates... Almost like a glorified food court situation. Not a huge deal, but it's essentially a minimalist, modern version of the original Pupatella. Feels like private equity bought in and has arrived the company towards scale more than the local, authentic vibe. That's why it's just a 4 for me.

for a chain, this is some of the best pizza i've had. it's a thin italian style pizza, and they have a wide variety of options ranging from red to white pizzas. i personally love their pizzas with prosciutto, as i am a lover of prosciutto. you order at the front and pick somewhere to sit. they'll take your pizza to you, and are relatively quick. it's surprisingly cozy in there with lots of warm lighting. there is a lot of seating options, and most times it's pretty empty. overall, definitely recommend!

The service was amazing. They were kind enough to serve 12 people who just walked in unannounced! I had the meatball painin with mozzarella it was delicious. Thisbis a great family spot.

Great food, great experience! This is what lesser pizza dreams of becoming. I don't throw the term 'perfect' around lightly, but this pizza is pretty darn close. It was exactly what I was looking for from an authentic experience. People come for the food, but they return for the experience. Our waitress, Shelby, ensured our experience was fantastic and that we'll be back again soon! She was friendly, made great recommendations with fantastic expertise of the menu and elevated our experience to something special. This is a pizza worth seeking out and a place worth finding!

Amazing... we we're speechless at how delicious the pizza was! This is a MUST when looking for pizza in Richmond. Highly recommend the white sauce mushroom pizza and fried eggplant appetizer. Shout out to Shelby for providing us excellent service! We can't wait to return next time we are in town.

Great pizza and the staff are super friendly!! i've ordered you a bunch of times!! I usually can eat a whole pizza by myself.

They are traditional Neapolitan pizzas - a thin, lighter style. They're personal size, sliced into four. They're also made fresh. I placed an order on a Friday night and it was ready in just 10 minutes. Parking is easy to find in the area too. The perfect place to satisfy a pizza craving without that oily and heavy feeling afterwards.

Having eaten pizza many times in Naples, this pizza is excellent and matches up well. Our server, Nico, did an excellent job of explaining the menu and providing great service. The fantastic tiramisu capped off a perfect meal. Definitely will be back again.

Excellent as always. Wanted to shout out to Nico. Fabulous server and even better bartender. I had what was probably one of the best, if not the best, Limoncello Martini I have ever had - and I have had them in Italy!

Pupatella is my one of my favorite restaurants in Richmond, and my favorite pizzeria in the country! I don't know of anywhere else that makes authentic Neapolitan pizza! Shelby is a fun waitress! She's very friendly and because of her I had good company despite dining alone! If you're in Richmond you should definitely come here! If you're from Naples you'll get a taste of home

Nico was an amazing server, and our brussel sprouts and pizza were delicious! We will be back!

Great variety of pizzas and cordial service by a professional staff. Fair pricing and parking is readily available.

Best Pizza I have ever had. The building feels almost rustic in a way, but the lighting was nice and the pictures on the walls were beautiful. Their Brick Oven made by the Bricks of Mt Vesuvius, AKA the volcano that buried Pompeii, and the ingredients tasted so fresh, I was surprised they did not have a unlimited ticket to the Garden of Eden. Kid Friendly, The food was so fast that you could talk with somebody, and it would be there in a blink of an eye, the Waiters and Waitresses are a REAL highlight. The Appetizers are different sometimes, and it will change your life. Get Pepperoni and Sausage, You will NOT regret it. A gem in Richmond, certified by the Neapolitan Certified Accusation, From Naples, Italy.

I've been trying to get here for a while because I heard it was the best pizza in Richmond. I'd say it was really good, probably not the best but definitely will recommend this brick oven pizza. Came in on a Saturday afternoon. There were a few people but not busy. The pizza oven looks so cool. I wonder if it takes long to get pizzas if they are busy because it's just the one oven. Maybe not because the pizzas we got came out real chick. We came in and placed our order at the counter. We sat ourselves and the staff brought the food and drinks to us at our table. We only got one drink but if we wanted another I guess we would have had to go back to the counter to place a separate order. Not really sure though. The staff was very friendly, the food came out quick and hot, and would return if in the area.

Julia served me today and it was simply the most wonderful experience! She visited us in a timely manner, gave GREAT recommendations, and was so sweet overall!!! I am so excited to come back and try some more food! Thank you Julia!

Wow the pizza here was great! The personal size pizzas are made fresh to order. I dined in and it took about 15 min before I received my order. This is a causal restaurant, so you seat yourself and go to the front when you're ready to order. I'm not a fan of marinara so I generally opt for white pizzas. My fiancée choose the pepperoni and I was slightly jealous. The marinara was scrumptious , well seasoned and portioned perfectly. The crust is thin, but not too thin where you leave hungry. I will definitely return to try more options !

Have been going here for years before shows at the Altria. Ever since they changed to table service, the service is terrible - very slow and always have to track down server for drink refills or to get the check. We got our own napkins and water refills bc no one came to the table. I left the table twice to find our server to order dessert & ask for the check, and then again to see where dessert was after 15 minutes. Consistently get apologizes for slow service. It always seems like an employee didn't show up for shift but I think they just don't staff properly.

I take my other review back; THIS is the best pizza I've had yet in Richmond. They serve smaller, traditional Neapolitan pizzas, about 12", that cost $11-12. One is actually surprising filling and it's delicious. Real flavor and texture. I got the Traditional and the Pepperoni and both were fire.

after searching for authentic Neapolitan pizza in Richmond area we finally found what we were missing , we found Pupatella and ordered a Margharita pizza ..... OMG we will try others pizzas on the menu asap !!!

Shelby was phenomenal. So sweet and personable. She was so helpful, helped us navigate the menu, and overall great service!

The pizza was absolutely deliciou!! Our waitress Shelby was excellent, super attentive and fast. We will be back!

Their Diablo pizza is AMAZING! I drive an hour just to come here sometimes. Highly recommend.

GO SHELBYYYYYYYY! Always great food. Well worth the drive into the city. The mozzarella bites are

Delicious authentic Neapolitan pizza! They have a Vera pizza Napoletana certificate which is always a good sign. Seating and atmosphere is a bit more on the casual side. The pizza itself has a nice snappy crust. Would def stop by again for a casual meal.

I absolutely love this place my son and I consider ourselves connoisseurs of good pizza and this is absolutely our favorite . The service is also top notch we seem to frequently get Shelby and she is always on top of everything that we need

Very friendly, fast service, very good light pizza, fresh salad, nice crispy and not greasy fried bites.

Awesome pizza and service! Shelby was on top of it and made us feel cared for and welcomed. Pizza is great!

food was so yummy! and was brought out super fast. Our waiter Shelby did a great job checking in on us and making sure we were okay ! Highly recommend

We came here on Saturday night and had a great time! The servers were friendly, the food came out quickly, and the food was delicious! Plus, Vale was the best server (no offense to the others!)

Their pizza is my favorite, the Diavola specifically. Recently they have started doing true table service as opposed to ordering at the counter, and it seems to be going over well! It was busy! Our food still came quickly despite that, and our server Shelby took great care of us. Thank you Shelby!!

Fantastic pizza! We tried the white mushroom pizza. Thin crust, but not too thin. It held up nicely. Not too much truffle oil either. Sometimes that can be a lot! Anyway, good vibes in the restaurant overall. Staff seemed very friendly and helpful. Prices were fair. Nice little spot! Oh, the little eggplant arancini was great as well.

Food was good, pizza tasted great but was slightly underdone. Server was great as well.