RéNapoli

RéNapoli is widely known as a Sound Beach staple and as the classic goto pizzeria for people in Old Greenwich. Nestled amongst the cute shops of Old Greenwich, RéNapoli’s interior is comfortable like the shops around it. A look deeper shows a slightly different picture: RéNapoli is a pizzeria with something to prove. The massive pizza oven and notably ambitious pizza offerings detail RéNapoli’s pursuit of pizza perfection. The crown in the restaurant’s logo is close to making a statement as it subtly asserts a reigning status over the Greenwich pizza scene. I’ll be the judge of that. A look through their menu and a poster by the cash register reveals RéNapoli’s pizza philosophy where it places full emphasis on the quality of ingredients. The establishment’s menu describes their cheese options which include their 60 day aged mozzarella base, burrata, and Fior Di Latte Mozzarella. They even specifically explain that their margherita pizza uses “San Marzano Tomatoes DOP” (DOP being Denominazione d’Origine Protetta which certifies its origin). The about page of RéNapoli’s website describes the founder’s “quest” around Italy for the perfect ingredients. I set out over a series of visits to see if RéNapoli could meet its high standards and to sample its variety of pizza offerings.

During my several visits to RéNapoli, I tried their cheese pizza in its prominent varieties (Margherita, Sicilian, and classic New York style). All three varieties were delicious. The Margherita pizza had creamy cheese and managed to avoid common floppy crust issues with its thin yet sturdy crust. In my notes, I described a slight citrus note which caught me off guard (haven’t heard about that taste from others so maybe it was a one-off) and a flavor from olive oil. The margherita was unfortunately victim to cheese freefalls where its circular pieces would fall off the slice but with a hand-assisted “airlift” back to the slice, the dough to cheese to sauce ratio could be restored. This same ratio was the source of the minor flaws of an otherwise awesome Sicilian slice. I really enjoyed the Sicilian pizza I got from RéNapoli and while it's part of the style, I think just a little more cheese/sauce atop the puffy dough that’s the distinctive trait of Sicilian style pizza would correct the ingredient ratio. The New York style pizza was distinctly savory with a clear salt note from the cheese and I loved it. When I pulled the slice from the larger pie, I was greeted with a cheese pull that can’t be matched by any other pizzeria in Greenwich. RéNapoli’s remarkable consistency across its wildly different styles of pies definitely allows them to keep their crown (despite earning the number two spot in the Rankings at the time of this review). I wholeheartedly recommend RéNapoli to anyone who places importance on the ingredients in their pizza or is seeking a traditional Italian pie.

Grigg Street Pizza

Past a sea of storefronts that line Greenwich Avenue lies a treasure that sits on an off street called “Grigg.” When entering the doors of Grigg Street Pizza, you’re immersed in a relaxed environment that looks unlikely for a pizzeria. Records and music posters sit on the wall and a tv hangs over the counter. What makes this place special is not its environment or its shockingly young staff; it’s the pizza. After retrieving a fresh pie, the first thing that jumps out is its visual appeal. A gorgeous medley of cheeses covers the inner circle with clear indications of mozzarella cheese and a sprinkling of grated parmesan (what I’ve now learned is their finishing step). Picking up the slice allows the robust crust to become the star of the show. It prevents the cheese and sauce from escaping and has a satisfying crunch. Each bite of Grigg Street Pizza is immensely satisfying because they’ve mastered the crust-cheese-sauce balance. The sauce isn’t a viscous liquid and is more like a flavoring agent that is in-sync with the cheese. While the varied cheeses cause a different makeup of cheeses in every bite, luckily each bite of Grigg Street Pizza is amazing. This pizza is made to impress and it does its job magnificently.

Grigg Street Pizza has some annoying issues but none of them have to do with the pizza itself. As a frequenter of “GSP,” I’ve come to know their frustrating and obscure open hours. They’re closed on Sundays and Mondays, only open until 3pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and close at just 8pm on other days. I can’t count the number of times I or someone I’ve spoken about the place with has tried to pickup food from them only to discover they’re closed. Additionally, their wait times have sometimes been painfully long and ordering can be a challenging process. Still, I always manage to find my way back into Grigg Street’s doors because the alluring pizza has a way of reeling me back in.

Notes:

1. Try the Hot Honey pizza. It’s amazing.

2. This review was updated in Fall 2021 but publication references original version and visit from July 22

Arcuri's Pizza and Salad

Arcuri’s Pizza and Salad is in the heart of Cos Cob Post Road and is instantly recognizable with its large neon sign. Inside, there are many Italian dishes that are offered in addition to their pizza. I’ve been to Arcuri’s many times and have come to realize one essential thing: the pizza is mediocre at best without the fresh mozzarella addition. The regular cheese pizza (which is what I’m judging to determine the best slice in Greenwich) has the proper cheese to sauce ratio but the cheese is so boring. The pizza’s not special and pretty lousy in its normal form. The far superior option is to spend two more dollars to get fresh mozzarella cheese (which is added to the regular mozzarella cheese, not as a substitute) which makes the pizza awesome. One major issue with all of Arcuri’s pizzas is the crust thickness. The crust is thick which is okay but not to the extent of a deep dish pizza or a pizza from Domino’s so it’s in this awkward middle ground where there’s too much crust in each bite that lacks copious amounts of cheese and sauce to counteract it. This ruins all the pizza’s balance. The garlic knots and mozzarella sticks from Arcuri’s are very good. The reasons why I can’t praise Arcuri’s very much are the overly thick crust and the lack of balance in the regular cheese pizza. These two issues both build on each other and create a wacky and poorly balanced pizza. For the normal $10.50 price tag, an Arcuri’s cheese pizza isn’t worth it given the better alternatives.

Two Pizza Slices from Arcuri’s

Pizza Post (pre-redesign)*

Pizza Post has recently been my go-to pizzeria and that’s not an accident. The pizza is tasty. REALLY tasty. The crust isn’t very thin but isn’t so thick that it encounters the balance issues Arcuri’s faces. This okay crust is elevated by the masterpiece it upholds or rather holds up. The sauce is flavorful and isn’t chunky which keeps the pizza’s texture normal. The perfect amount of cheese is added every single time and is breaks apart beautifully when grabbing for a slice. Each part of the pizza properly does its job and elevates the other parts around it. While the Pizza Post’s pizzas are unparalleled, its other dishes are terrible. I ordered the prosciutto once and it was completely terrible and my friends who have ordered their salads have nothing but negative things to say about them. In fairness, Pizza Post is only really trying to make great pizza, evident in its name. The service I have very mixed feelings about. As Freshmen Class President this year, I’ve had two fundraiser with Pizza Post who were super easy to work with and happy to help out GHS. My issues with the service arise with some of the employees who have good intentions but come off as controlling. Some people who work there want to dictate how the meal works and I’ve personally had a few insignificant issues with the staff. One visit, I wanted to pay for the food as soon as I could and they forced me to wait until I finished eating to pay. I also have been rebuked a few times for placing an order for pickup and then deciding to eat at the restaurant. Regardless, the pizza, which can be purchased (small size) for eight dollars normally and five dollars at lunchtime on certain days, is fantastic and Pizza Post is a must try for anyone who appreciates a good slice of pizza.

EDIT: Pizza Post has closed an re-opened after a tragic fire. A new review is incoming to reflect the new pizza.

Pizza Post

Glenville Pizza

Glenville Pizza always makes great pizza and has been a favorite pizzeria of mine for years. Glenville Pizza has perfected the crust to sauce to cheese ratio. Their thin crust pizzas are perfectly balanced and taste phenomenal. I always order a few slice of cheese pizza but their Sicilian slices (pizza with thick crust) and pizza rolls are great. The staff are very nice but also a bit cold to some diners. The pizza also takes a bit longer than many other pizzerias to be freshly made or reheated. One issue with Glenville Pizza, which I’ve noticed as a customer who’s been coming for years, is its inconsistency. Most of the time Glenville Pizza is great but sometimes (~20%) the pizza is tastes totally off. It’s also important to note Glenville Pizza’s odd menu choices. They offer an incomplete selection of pizza toppings which is very relevant for me but is important to strong supporters of vegetables on pizza. The parking at Glenville Pizza is a nightmare for anyone who hasn’t been before because the only spots that are clearly visible are right up against the curb where the pizzeria sits which is right next to a crowded road. For anyone who’s going that hasn’t been before, there’s a parking lot to the left of the pizzeria and across the street near the Civic Center. I love Glenville Pizza and plan to keeping enjoying their two dollar and fifty cent slices.

Glenville Pizza Outside

Domino's Pizza (Cos Cob)

Domino’s Pizza (Cos Cob) is a well established pizza chain, famous for their cheap pizza. When beginning this pizza reviewing project, I felt it was necessary to review Domino’s and find out whether it’s great or terrible. At Greenwich High School and other schools in the GPS district, Domino’s is sometimes sold during lunch. The Domino’s Pizza at school is notoriously bad but has a group of supporters that are large enough to sustain its presence. I was very surprised with what I discovered after my visits to Domino’s Pizza. There’s a HUGE difference between cold and hot pizza from Domino’s. During one of my visits to Domino’s I ordered my pizza for takeout and got it right as it came out of the oven. I quickly walked outside into the car and opened the box only for it to cause the entire car to smell like garlic. This wasn’t favorable but shows the impact of hot Domino’s Pizza. Domino’s Pizza always makes their pies have very thick crust with and cheese and tomato sauce in amounts that match each other but not the crust. Domino’s is very clear about its thick crust and this characteristic is loved by many. Personally, I don’t love thick crust but don’t hate it. The hot pizza from Domino’s was flavorful and actually pretty good but didn’t taste like authentic regular pizza that was made with fresh ingredients. Domino’s Pizza managed to impress me but still lived up to its reputation as the pizzeria that serves cheap eight dollar small cheese pizzas that taste processed.

Domino’s Pizza Inside

Greenwich Pizzeria

Greenwich Pizzeria has become a Riverside staple and seems to be ever increasing in popularity. Before my first visit, I had never heard of Greenwich Pizzeria (in part because I live in central Greenwich which is ~15 min. away) until my friend recommended it to me when I asked about his favorite pizza places in the area. Greenwich Pizzeria is a well kept secret considering how little it’s talked about but it appears the restaurant has a cult-like following. After hearing rave reviews about their pizza, I decided to go and I wasn’t disappointed. Greenwich Pizzeria boasts a menu with a variety of options and I personally have ordered a cheese pizza, meatball sub, and pasta with marinara sauce. The pizza was quite good but had its flaws. The crust was crispy and thin (New York-style pizza) while the pizza had just the right amount of cheese. The cheese was of high quality and the pizza tasted fresh. The issues I have with the pizza are the dough and amount of tomato sauce. The dough has an odd aftertaste that lingers regardless of how much Orange Fanta one drinks to futilely try and wash it away. Additionally, there’s WAY too little tomato sauce which causes the pizza to taste a bit bland. Where Greenwich Pizzeria really excelled was with its non-pizza dishes which far exceed any of its competitors. The meatball sub I ordered was exquisite. The sauce beautifully complemented the well seasoned meatballs with the perfect cheese to synthesize the flavors. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente which is hard to do but enhances the dish. The pizza was good but the other dishes were incredible. There weren’t many people during my visits but I ate at the Pizzeria during my visits and I noted that the man who was making the pizza brought the plates, utensils, and the food to me which wasn’t necessary but was nice. Greenwich Pizzeria seems to be a great place for a quick slice of pizza with some good Italian food to go with it. The pricing was okay because the small pizza was eleven dollars. I look forward to going back to Greenwich Pizzeria and reordering the fantastic meatball sub.

Greenwich Pizzeria