ZENELI Pizzeria e Cucina Napoletana

Sensational pizzas!, (and pastas and ricotta & honey on toast!). We had not heard of this place, till we found it online and saw they had a 4.8 rating (the highest in all of New Haven). Certainly better rated than all of the older, well known places. We had 4 pies and each was phenomenal! 2 Margherita with fresh mozzarella and basil, 1 with assorted veggies and 1 with prosciutto, mushrooms, and artichokes. The crusts are thin but have great texture! The sauce and cheese are just right. We also had a steaming bowl of pasta pomodoro, and cappuccino and Americano coffee. This place is such a find! The owners and chefs are four brothers from outside Napoli, where the best thin crust pizza and mozzarella in Italy come from. The brothers and their wives are so friendly, kind and unassuming. They trained all of the pizza chefs at Eataly in NYC, Boston and Chicago before opening up Zeneli 6 years ago. Gotta check this place out. We will be back soon.

While there were long lines and the other 2 places on this block, we decided to give this little place a try. The reviews were excellent and after spending time in Italy I am of the opinion that authentic Neapolitan pizza is the best anyway. We ordered a few starters, the prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella as well as the arugula salad. You can taste the quality in the ingredients. Then we had to go with pizza of course. A classic margherita and a Quattro formaggi. OMG!!! So delicious!!! Don’t pass by this place. The food is top notch!!

This place is a must try! Located on Wooster st., it is very convenient to visit if you are coming through New Haven on route 95. When you enter, you are greeted by the beautiful gold tile pizza oven with a beautiful wood fire burning inside. We had the Bufalina and the Truffle pizzas. We were in a hurry, otherwise we would have ordered more. They were outstanding and very true to the original Neopolitan style. The wait staff is extremely pleasant and attentive. The atmosphere is beautiful and comfortable. I highly recommend visiting this spot and I will surely return on my next visit to New Haven!

This place seems to be less noticed compared to the competitors but I believe they need more recognition. Everything was fresh and very delicious. We tried the truffle pizza but I am very sure that all other pizzas will be great too. the ricotta was also very fresh and tasty. Highly recommend!

We’ve been there multiple times!!!! In a city full of great Pizza, and a street with literally two of America’s top iconic Pizzerias - Zenelli manages to be outstanding because: a) they make excellent Neapolitan Pizza b) they make the best Cacio e Pepe in the Northeast. c) the owners are there every night and make everyone feel wanted and welcome d) everything else is also great e) atmosphere is great

I rarely left any food review but def need to leave one for zeneli! My family visited Yale and heard this pizza place is authentic so we decided to give a try. We ordered the truffle pizza and the fig sauce one. Both are very delicious! The pizza is so soft and the combination is amazing. It’s better than in NYC! I’ve tried so many pizza places in the states and this one is def the top so far

Great pizza place. They make their mozzarella cheese for making their pizzas. It is a thin crust New Haven style pizza which is delicious. I had the 3 meats pizza and it was great. My wife had the Neapolitan pizza and it was delicious too. They have outdoor areas to eat if you prefer that. There is a parking area that is free.

A comfortable detour from the typical Worcester Street fare. While, yes, they offer Pizza (which looks fantastic by the way), sometimes you're just after a nice glass of Tuscan red and a rich bowl of cacio e pepe on a cold winter day. Zeneli didn't disappoint at all! I go to Wooster Street semi-annually, and I will be sure to go back here is part of my restaurant rotations!! Can't wait to see what are the wonderful stuff they make!

This is the best pizza in the state. Their pizza oven is a piece of art. Authentic Pizza served to you fast. Amazing atmosphere

Visiting my son for parents weekend at Yale University. After a very long day of travel, we were tired and hungry with New Haven pizza on our mind. We drove through little Italy and it was already getting busy. There are many options but Zeneli's is one of my son's favorite. We walked in and were seated pretty quickly for a party of three. Most tables were filled all around us! You can see them hard at work behind the counter. (Great story of how they came to America on back of menu.) We ordered two pizzas, salad and some beer and wine. The salad came out first. Simple with arugula and shaved parmesan cheese and light oil and vinegar. Delicious! The pizzas came out piping hot! Pulling a slice from the pie, careful to hang on to your toppings. The pizzas came margherita is one of my favorites. The sauce was delicious and it complimented my salad. The room was buzzing and filled with conversation, clinking of glasses and happy customers. Everyone was so friendly. At the end, the owner took the time to take our picture. Good all the way around

Came to New Haven for a quick trip, used to live in the area. Wanted to go to either Sally's, Pepe's or Modern but friends recommended Zeneli's. We ordered 2 margarite pies. There were 4 in my group and only the ladies were asked what we'd like to drink. My son was overlooked or ignored. The pie came out pretty quickly, but def should have been cooked longer. The cheese and sauce slid right off the dough-which tasted under cooked. Not what I hoped for.

Very busy! When you first walk in the man at the register appears welcoming however the two women waiters were not. They looked like they were overwhelmed and overworked and it poured out onto their attitudes. Bottom line...If you want great pizza then go but don't expect great service!

An enjoyable introduction to apizza! The Ricotta e Miele was a great combo of sweet and savory flavors over nicely toasted bread. All pizzas had solid dough texture and taste, though we thought the crusts were slightly burnt. Tartufella pizza was our favorite: it had a nice truffle flavor without being too overpowering. Tre Carni pizza had a tasty spread of proteins. Margherita pizza unfortunately was a bit bland. We were seated at their pleasantly-heated side building. Worth the stop!

You know a place is out of this world when you can hear customers around you going mmmmmm with every bite they take. Today was totally epic. In honor of my birthday, we splurged with a number of items on the menu. From the prosciutto appetizer to the limoncello dessert and the peach Bellini's, every thing made you feel like you were in heaven.

oh my God this pizzeria has to be in the top 5 of best pizzas in New Haven. I ordered the Margarita pizza and it was absolutely amazing. The flavors were fresh and balanced. The sauce had just the right amount of flavor, the cheese was perfectly melted and the dough was full of flavor. You can tell that they use good quality ingredients. Definitely I will come back to try their other options.

First time trying Zeneli's and I was pleasantly surprised! The ambience was warm and welcoming, and the staff were super friendly and attentive. I ordered the Spaghetti al Pomodoro and Cacio e Pepe--both were absolutely delicious. The flavors were fresh and authentic. I also had the Margherita pizza with mushroom toppings, which was perfectly baked with just the right balance of cheese, sauce, and mushrooms.Would love to visit again and try more.

I drive from West Hartford just to get this pizza and it didn't disappoint! As soon as I walked in (around 5pm) I was greeted by 2 ladies and a gentleman at the counter. They were smiling and super welcoming. It was a rainy day so I asked for a short expresso and ordered a cheese pizza for the kids and a quattro formaggi pizza. They were both delicious! I want to go dine in next time because the place is cozy and smells amazing! Was worth the drive! Highly recommend!!

Came in for a dinner at the end of last week and was quickly seated on a busy (and hot) night. The oven was doing double-time work and the staff was also buzzing around the place trying to keep everyone with fresh water, great wine, and wonderful Italian food. I will say we were served a little slower than I would like, but I totally understand given the number of customers both inside and outside the restaurant at the time. But, the pizza was divine. Like: people always tell me about New Haven pizza and I haven't quite felt as connected to it as everyone who raves. But this was my favorite pizza I've had in New Haven. I liked it way more than Pepe's or Sally's, honestly. It was fast, the crust was paper thin, the sauce not acidic and not too sweet, and the toppings quite fresh and rustic. Really beautiful, and with that wonderful smokey aroma you get from a wood-fired oven. Overall, a wonderful meal and I can't wait to come back!

Holy moly! The pizza here is fire!! I've had Frank Pepe's both in Boston and in New Haven, and I feel like I've been missing out! We got the Bufalina and the Margherita pizzas, and both were amazing. The crusts had a perfect amount of blackening. The bufala mozzarella is really something you need to try if you haven't had it. Very unique and very good. The margherita is very simple, but there is truly beauty in the simplicity. Sauce, cheese, crust, all fantastic. For the Bufalina, my one complaint is that the prosciutto really comes off in one bite, leaving the rest of the bites of each slice prosciutto-less. Cherry tomatoes were so good. Service was excellent. The seating areas are also great. They have so much seating, both indoor and outdoor.

This place is packed all the time and for good reason. I'm not really a fan of neopolitan pizza (i prefer pizza that i can fold) but this place is good. I think the standout is the sauce, it's one of those things where you take a bite and think WOW... that's something special.

Almost artisanal level pizzas. A welcome change from typical New Haven style burned stuff.

This place was excellent - great service and a good to die for . Here's what we had : 1) bofalina pizza - the dough is incredible . Amazing . I have so many superlatives . The tomato sauce was to die for . And the persecute . 6 stars 2) ricotta e Miele - wife enjoyed it very much. The ricotta was incredible . 3) pizza margarita - classic and excellent . Very very good All together we had a blast and will come back for sure to try other options in the menu ! The Neapolitan pizzas were as good as they come

Excellent pizza! We started with the stella appetizer and got two pies. Between four of us, we devoured it all. The crust is excellent with a slight char. All freshly made. I would come here again.

Great little pizzeria without the super long waits you get from Sally's or Pepe's (and arguably better). The staff was so nice and quick to my constant water refills and their food was amazing. I absolutely love their margherita pizza, but decided to try something new out with anchovies in this one (a little too salty for my taste) and overall a good pizza. We also bought gnocchi, which was definitely the best I've had so far.

Always fresh and delicious with prompt service. They have plenty of seating options. I got the Stella which had fresh and vibrant tomatoes. The light focaccia allowed me to get my carb fix without feeling so heavy. I recommend!

Looking for a slice of Italy? This is the place for fresh pasta and Naples style pizza; NOT to be mistaken for New Haven's famous brick oven pizza. Service is great, history of the restaurant is beautiful and ambiance is quaint. Dessert is 10/10 as well!

We love Zeneli Pizza & have been coming from afar to enjoy it. However the last two times, the pizza was beyond disappointing: tasty still but completely soggy & limp. You could barely get it off the tray. I didnt write the review the first time thinking it was a one off. But now I see the super thin middle may have something to do with it. Everyone around me had the same soggy pizza. I urge them to go back to nice thickness pizza. The waitresses were lovely & helpful. The restaurant inside & out is pleasant.

The pizza is different than Pepe's or Sally's, but it's extremely good. The other pizza (Wooster Square) restaurants are nearby. The parking is next door and is good. The service is great! The ambiance is superb! It has a bar and European waiters and waitresses! Great experience!

Great place to get New Haven pizza but without a crazy line and with a nicer atmosphere. We did everything family style so got to try a lot of stuff. Definitely have to start with the ricotta e miele, the flavor combo of ricotta and honey is unique but so so good. The bread was perfectly grilled too. The arugula salad was good, but nothing super special. It was a nice fresh source of greens for the table, though. For the mains we got the margarita pizza, cacio e Pepe pasta, and rigatoni bolognese. The pizza was super yummy. It looks huge but is very thin. The char on the crust was really nice. The cacio e Pepe was heavenly. Super thick and cheesy sauce that perfectly coated the noodles. The rigatoni bolognese comes with a nice dollop of ricotta on top that goes so well with the meat sauce. It's a great flavor combo. Even though we were stuffed we wanted to try the Nutella pizza. You really can't go wrong with bread and Nutella but this was really good! If you have room def order it. The server was very nice and constantly refilled our water. The menu is small but his recommendations were on point.

Can't say enough good things about this place. Our second annual trip here from NC. We didn't get try Zeneli last summer. It's now my number 1! As good as what we had in Naples. Service was excellent too! Can't wait to return next summer.

What a great spot! We were lucky enough to order ahead and get a cheese pizza on a very busy Saturday night. The service was awesome. We were told 10 minutes before pick -up and the pizza was ready when we arrived. It was very busy inside the restaurant and bar area. There is a small hut-like area that is built on the sidewalk, which was full of customers. I would guess there are 5-6 tables with great lighting and plenty of room. The hut was inviting on this beautiful fall night. The vibe that the staff has created inside of Zeneli is palpable. Everyone had a smile on their face. The kitchen was rocking. Pizza was great. Cooked the way we like it....dough was fresh, sauce was tasty! This is a place that I would love to come back to. To sit down and have a full service experience would be awesome. Price was cheap ($14 for a pizza) Parking was great....parked out front Ambience was fantastic Service was 5-star

I went for the Classic Marguerite Pizza. It had lots of cheese and Pepperonis on it. I thought it was FIRE. First time eating here with a table of 6. We all enjoyed the pizza after ordering several sizes. Pizza is on point in taste. I will be coming back again.

Skipped the line at Sally's to support a highly recommended alternative! Boy was I glad I did! Staff was immediately 100x more friendly and made sure to seat us as quickly as possible! Of all the New Haven pizzas have had... this place has been the best! Relatively small location with a small parking lot and 3 separate seating areas. I wouldn't recommend a group of more than 5-6 as the seating areas are pretty tight. Perfect location for a casual date! Now to the food! The Margherita was perfect is almost every way! Perfect amount of sauce without making the crust soggy. Crust was soft, airy, and light, yet still filling, maintained structure when folded, had that light burnt taste every good crust should have. Close your eyes and take a bite and you might forget that you're having a slice in New Haven! Comparable to my fave spots in NYC! The Tre Carni was a bit soggy but the taste made up for its inability to hold structure and the soggy crust. Not shown was the Spaghetti Al Pomodoro which was delightful to share and the freshly grated parmesan on top was a nice touch! For a party of 4 the 2 pies, spaghetti, and the appetizer was plenty for a light to medium dinner with room for dessert! Looking forward to coming back to Zeneli's in the near future!

I was very excited to try this pizza place in New Haven, after reading the reviews. There were many many 5 star reviews, so I thought...the pizza should be Excellent. The food turned out to be ok. Nothing extraordinary. The staff was very polite and professional. Rushed because how busy they were, but very attentive. Our Margherita pizza lacked any "wow" factor to deserve a 5 star review...good it was...excellent....not...

Fabulous pizza- - light, thin, and crispy crust, perfect Napoli pizza. The flavor is perfect, just like I remember from Italy. The service is fast and the servers are kind- love that they speak Italian. The ambiance is casual yet romantic. Highly recommend this place. Authentic Italian food.

For four of us, we ordered two pizzas and an arugula salad which to be honest was not enough. Note that the pizzas are very thin so I don't think you're able to get full on just the pizza. Both pizzas were pretty yummy and flimsy so it is hard to pick up like normal to eat. I liked the margarita pizza, so simple and tasty. The arugula salad is very delightful, I really enjoyed the parmesan used. They have two separate dining rooms for when it gets busy which I love since the main one is super small. Service was pretty good and our food came out fairly quickly.

Amazing meal at this gem of a restaurant! I love the fact that it is family owned and the family members are always working. They are very friendly and service is fast. The pizzas, the honey toast, the arugula salad, and the gnocchi...all were phenomenal. The gnocchi was light and the sauce was delicious. The arugula salad had a very light oil and cheese that was so fresh!

The Cacio Pepe was really delicious. Service was decent. We sat outside in a covered bench that may have given a different experience to being inside. The gnocchi was ok, but I'm not a huge fan of tasting the tin of tomato sauce cans in my food, but I know some people enjoy that nostalgic taste.

A delicious decision. Very busy so sat at the bar. Great service. Ordered the meatballs, toast with cheese and honey, gnocchi, pepper pasta. Everything was very authentic, and scrumptious. Small, busy, and a great choice in New Haven's Italian village. Clean, bright, fun staff and environment

Like everyone else in Little Italy we were there for the pizza. After realizing we would have over an hour wait at a few other spots we stumbled upon Zeneli's. We were lucky to get a table (in the outside space) immediately! The salad was so fresh and tasty with a light lemon drizzle. Our two pizzas were fantastic! We highly recommend the Tres Carne! We had room for dessert (2 pizzas for 4 people) so we ordered one of each. The Nutella pizza with strawberries was so yummy but that Limoncello cake! Oh my! Best best best dessert we've ever had! We had multiple different wait staff take care of us so I can't really compliment one specially but we were well taken care of. We WILL return!

Service was okay, pizza was mediocre, but restaurant had good ambiance. The pizza lacked flavor and didn't have much on it.

Best pizza ever! We went from another pizzeria that had a two hour wait to this place recommended from another tourist. Best decision! Family owned place that takes pride in their food!

Had a delicious lunch today three different kinds of pizzas all New Haven style and I had a wonderful service from the owner and three other employees. Outstanding restaurant and great service.

We are visiting from out of town. I wanted pizza but also a fresh EVOO salad and good atmosphere, so we picked this place. We're so glad we did. Not only was the food amazing, the service from the brothers who own the restaurant was top notch and it was an experience we'll always remember. Definitely recommend!! Save room for the Nutella pizza, yum!!

The service: I went in for the first time and got recommended a personal pizza. The interaction was nice. Might have been with the owner or manager. It was a take out order and when I was told to sign, I did not tip... as it was only take out. Got my food quickly and left. The pizza: Mid. Very thin bread. Barely any cheese. The taste was good but it was not filling and left me wanting more. Definitely not worth $20. My complaint: I checked my bank statement randomly and noticed these people had the nerve to self-add a 20% tip to my payment!!! I wrote a 0 with a slash through the middle as well as the total so there was no confusion. I called to speak to the manager and the lady who I spoke to, hung up on me!!! I called back and was told the manager would only be in another day. So now I have to call up my bank and report them. First and last time I would come to this establishment. The audacity is mind-blowing. I don't see them lasting long if they continue robbing their customers. First time in my life this has happened to me. Crazy!!!

I've been here twice so far, and both times were great experiences! The first time I came for my birthday with my family and the food was delicious! We liked it so much that I came again a few months later for a date night. We tried their pizzas, their pastas, their appetizers, their wine, their beer... everything was amazing!!!! Can't go wrong here. All the staff are so friendly and welcoming. Definitely check it out if you're in New Haven.

Best pizza I have had. I cannot stop talking about it. You won't regret coming here. Service was also great. Order the margarita and anything with Prosciutto. You are welcome

5/5 Amazing food, very friendly staff. Although the restaurant was packed, wasn't too loud at all. Got 2 pies and ended with nutella pizza. Amazing!

Based on the high ratings I should have loved this place. Maybe I hit it at the wrong time? The margherita pizza looked undercooked and was very floppy. The meatball appetizer wasn't bad. Service was good though.

Neapolitan style pizzeria. No reservations or waitlist. First come first serve. We started with the arugula salad. The arugula was mild and not as bold as I expected. It had a light simple dressing and was topped with plenty reggiano parmigiana. For the main course, we shared the diavolina pie. The undercarriage is soft and flimsy in the middle as is common with a traditional Neapolitan pie. I wouldn't blame someone for eating it with a fork and knife which is the proper way to eat pizza in Naples! The cornicione is more sturdy. Not as airy as I hoped but still a nice, chewy texture. The toppings are classic with the addition of spicy salami which added some spiciness and subtle smokiness. They were very busy on a Saturday night and the staff was bustling! Pricing was reasonable at about $40 for the salad, pizza, tax, and tip. We sat in their outdoor dining patio which was very comfortable given that the temperature was perfect that night. They had two single occupancy restrooms. No beers on draft. Just a few macros in bottles.

Not your typical New Haven-style pizza, but if you're a pizza lover, this place is a must-try. We were so impressed that we visited twice in a 4-day span. Everything we ordered was delicious. On our first visit, we had the Diavolina pizza, which was outstanding. On the second day, we enjoyed the meatballs and the Dolce Salato, both of which were fabulous and hit the spot. The service was better on our second visit, but overall, we were pleased with how they managed the crowd.

Went here for my birthday and it was amazing! Usually come to New Haven for Pepe's or Sally's and I wanted to try something new. It's 100% worth going to. Those other places are classic American Italian pizza and this is real Italian pizza. Got the nutella pizza and that was really good too. 10/10

Really solid pizza. Growing up in the New Haven area, a pizza tour is a must each time I come back up from Austin. Went with the Tartufella pie, black truffle cream and mushroom cream, sweet Italian sausage, fresh white truffle cream. Delicious, great chew. The meatballs, avoid these. Otherwise, entire experience is a 5 star. These equal a meatball rubber sponge. We took one bite and passed them back to our friend. Positive you could bounce them off a wall. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Will return for all their other goodies!

Food, service, Wooster st ambiance. Hard working family making everything from scratch including their mozzarella, best Gnocchi in the state and split their own wood in their not so, spare time - to fire up their pizza oven! Best pizza and food in the iconic Little Italy section or all of New Haven!

We have been looking forward to trying this restaurant for literally over a year now. We even actually waited in line one day for an extended period of time until we had to go because we had other plans. The fact that they are always so busy, we thought it'd be fantastic pizza. We finally ordered a small pepperoni -takeout- from them and I hate to say it but, what a disappointment! It was thoroughly uncooked and the pepperoni is not typical, it tastes kind of like bacon. Biggest complaint: The pizza was very undercooked and cold when I picked it up. New Haven style pizza should be at least a little crispy. See the photos. On a nicer note, It was the first time I've been inside their dining room and I have to say, it looked very nice.

Delicious delicious food and would definitely come again! The inside is smaller but very cozy and homey -- they don't take reservations so there might be a wait if there's a busier day. Service is great and the staff are very friendly. Ricotta e miele: amazing! Ricotta on top of toasted bread with honey spread across it. The ricotta simply melts in your mouth. Wonderful combination of sweet and savory. Fresh burrata: was also a major fan of this dish! It had arugula and tomatoes but the star was the fresh burrata, which they gave a generous amount of. Salsicciotta: pizza with sweet sausage and mushrooms (also red sauce, mozzarella, and basil). We also enjoyed this -- it is thin crust, and the bottom of the pizza is on the softer end (unlike Sally's for example).

I love how authentic the food is, how great the owners are, how quickly the pizza is ready, that the cheese is homemade right there. I love everything about it! It's a small spot, but service is quick and food comes out fast so tables turnover fairly quickly as well. There's some outside seating and a bar so you can enjoy a drink or some wine with your dinner. The restaurant and restrooms are clean. All of the ingredients taste super fresh and I've enjoyed everything I've ever tried here! I went after the St. Patrick's Day parade on my last visit, which was too long ago. I need to get back here! I love the story of the brothers who own this great spot, and put all their heart and soul into the food and perfecting their craft.