Varuni Napoli

"The first thing you do when you go to Varuni is ask to be seated on the outdoor patio, which feels like a secret vine-covered cove hidden in the middle of this Ansley strip mall. Then get started with an Aperol, negroni, or any of the other spritz cocktails, which will instantly differentiate this pizza night from the wine coolers and frozen pizza nights of your dimly remembered college years. The charcuterie plate, meatballs, or fried risotto balls are all good starters to share. But you should also customize your own light-as-a-feather Neapolitan pie with toppings like smoked buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto, and Nduja (a spicy pork spread). With their airy, lightly crisped dough, Varuni is a finish-your-crust kinda joint, so order another spritz and settle in." - nina reeder

"Luca Varuni has been serving Neapolitan-style pizzas in Morningside for a few years now and added a second location inside Krog Street Market. Don't miss the Chiattona Benni, made with buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, pancetta, pepperoni, salami, hot soppressata, Pecorino Romano, and basil or the simple but delicious margherita pizza." - Eater Staff

"There’s another smaller location in Krog Street Market, but their Ansley sit-down restaurant stands out. Slide into a seat on the vine-covered patio, a tranquil cove hidden in a strip mall. Get started with a spritz and a counter-sliced charcuterie plate. Then customize your own light-as-a-feather wood-fired Neapolitan pie with toppings like smoked buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto, and a spicy Nduja spread. With an airy, gently crisped dough, Varuni is a finish-your-crust kinda joint, so just order another spritz and settle in." - nina reeder, demarco williams, juli horsford

"You can’t get any better than Varuni pizza - fresh ingredients, cooked in huge authentic Italian ovens, and promptly served by incredibly friendly staff. The pizza is thin, wood-fired, and their peppers are SO DELICIOUSLY SPICY. The atmosphere is a great mix of casual and classy with a bustling yet open dining area, plenty of seating, a lovely outdoor space, and ample parking. They do an amazing job of making you feel like you're somewhere other than a shopping center. You can see everything being made in the open kitchen and the cleanliness is impressive given the number of things going on. The patio is like a little oasis of its own, with couches and tables. It's rare to find a place where you can dress and pay like a casual restaurant but you feel like you are getting high quality food and experience. In addition, the owner (Luca) is incredibly amiable and often makes time to get to know his customers." - Dear Elouise

"What’s better than brunch pizza? Bottomless mimosas. Well, almost. The mimosas at Varuni Napoli on Monroe come in 48-ounce batches serving 6 people for $40." - Beth McKibben, Sarra Sedghi