Pizza Nea

SoG Score: Food: B+ | Ambiance: B+

Type: Pizza
Address: 306 East Hennepin
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Price: $
Twin cities pizza lovers can't seem to ever agree on where to get the best pizza. While I still haven't tried enough Minneapolis pizza shops to give a definitive answer, I can at least comment on the ongoing Punch Pizza and Pizza Nea debate. Punch Pizza all the way! Nevertheless, Pizza Nea was a fun and tasty stop for us. We had the margherita pizza, my personal favorite, and a pizza bianco with porcini mushrooms (both pictured). The cheese and ingredients are fresh, generously proportioned, and absolutely delicious. The crust is crisp and perfectly cooked but a bit thicker than I typically like for Neapolitan style pizza.
The outside patio is relaxing on a sunny day and Hennepin Avenue offers a great way to spend an afternoon with an eclectic mix of shops. Surdyk's Wine and Cheese shop, the largest wine store in the midwest, is right across the street. Be sure to stop by one of my favorite stores, the neighboring Bibelot, after your pizza.
That being said, Punch Pizza is right down the street and offers a spacious beautiful patio, a hip and fun atmosphere, and authentic Neapolitan pizza. Both pizza joints are definitely worth a try.
the good: fresh ingredients, fun neighborhood
the not so good: not much to complain about
Overall: recommended: worth a try, but I still prefer Punch.

Punch Pizza!

SoG Score: Food: A | Ambiance: A
Type: Pizza
Address: 3226 W Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55416 (multiple locations)
Price: $ ($$ if you go all out)

We love Punch pizza!! This place is really reminiscent of eating pizza in Italy, wood-fired, simple, fresh ingredients. They have a crazy oven that cooks your pizza in 90 seconds at 800 degrees Fahrenheit.. wild! They also have options where you can have your pizza D.O.C. or doppio style which is buffalo mozzarella, extra tomatoes and olive oil (although to be honest, there wasn't much difference to us between our regular and D.O.C. pizzas). Punch also belongs to the Vera Pizza Napoletana the pizza poliza which certify authentic Naples style pizza. We also had the chopped Italian salad which was excellent- the finest ingredients, bursting with flavor! Definitely up there with Mozza Pizzeria as one of the best pizza places.


the good: super yummy pizza, quick, cheap, fun atmosphere
the not so good: none
Overall: definitely recommended! we'll be back often=).
Tip: if you order starters/salads, you're pizza will probably be ready before your starters, so chow down on the pizza while it's hot!