What I'm Eating: Napolese on 49th and Penn

Boy, I haven't been so excited to write a blog post since I'm turned this little thing public!  But that's exactly how I've felt since I've been stuck in orientation all day.  If I wasn't so tired by the time we got home from dinner last night, I would have already had it posted....

....Anyways....On to what I'm gushing about!! Napolese located at 49th and Penn.  (Let me preface with why I was going out to eat in the first place: Yesterday was my friend/roommate's birthday so, of course, he had dibs on choosing a place and, being the Italian he is, he chose pizza.  We looked online for places in and around downtown with nothing screaming "Pick me!" so we sent out a couple texts asking for suggestions.  Our buddy Ben came through, big time!  I believe he said: "If you haven't been to Napolese, you're missing out." I totally trust his taste in pizza; he's a bit of a connoisseur.)

So with a recommendation and growling, empty stomach, we (Me, Britt and VI) travelled less than 5 miles from downtown.  I love where it is situated: the neighborhood, the houses, the people out walking their dogs, the hip, vibe aura.  To our surprise, we discovered their connection to the Patachou, Inc restaurant group which also includes the Petit Chous and Cafe Patachou (another fave of mine).  There was still a pretty strong dinner crowd (the restaurant itself is not very big) but does have a few tables out on the patio.  Because they had gas heaters out, we chose to sit outside to enjoy the weather and people watch.  I noticed the wood-burning, brick oven immediately and you could smell all the amazing aromas throughout the whole place. 

We were quickly greeted by our server, a think her name was Keri, who took our drink orders (I had a Peroni) and helped us navigate the menu.  She was so wonderfully helpful, pointing out the portion size of the pizzas and suggesting a few items from each category.  We decided to start with her recommendation, a cheesy, spinach and artichoke dip served with warm, toasted bread (unfortunately it's not listed on the website so I can't remember what all was in it) 

Cheesy insanity! Bread was a teeny over burnt (no biggie)

We also split a salad of spinach, large slices of portabella mushrooms and peas, tossed in a very light vinaigrette.  It was nice, nothing spectacular but worth a try.

so-so salad



Added extra: selection of specialty salts (awesome!!)

 We had our eyes on several different pizzas including one with Tellagio cheese.  None of us were familiar with that kind so Keri described it in detail including the fact that it was a creamy, strong-flavored cheese with a very acquired taste.  I was grateful for that because I am very picky about certain cheese flavors and I'm almost positive we would have not liked it.  Instead, we decided to build our own with pepperoni, buffalo mozzarella, bacon and mushrooms.  It comes with 6 large slice so the three of us split one. 

Can't think of the best word to describe our pizza

What can I say? I mean, this pizza was everything I was hoping for plus so much more.  Mind-blowing! Napolese totally lives up to the "artisanal" label they've given themselves: the crust is thin, light and crispy; just the right amount of tomato sauce; fresh, craftsman meats and ooey-gooey, stretchy cheese.  It is achieved by the brick oven that truly takes their pizzas over the top.  All 3 of us ate our share of the pizza and by the end, we were still licking our chops yet completely stuffed to the brim. 

And to cap off the perfect meal, we couldn't skip over dessert.  Since they don't sing or serve birthday cake we looked to Keri for her guidance.  Her idea: cherry and rhubarb cobbler topped with vanilla bean gelato (hooray gelato!!).  This was the [literal] cherry on top of the best sundae imaginable. Perfectly ripe fruit, packed with sweetness and richness.  The crust added just enough crispy, texture.  The most vanilla-y, vanilla bean scoop of gelato deliciously infused with the bubbling hot cobbler!  If we weren't stuffed before, now we were comatose. 

1 happy birthday boy

 I know VI had a wonderful birthday meal!  Bottom line, this might be a contender for my favorite pizzeria in Indianapolis.  Such a perfect date-night spot so I can't wait to drag D there :)

Britt + VI (the bday boy) + Me = 3 super, satisfied people

The Verdict: Out of 5 stars
Location/Atmosphere: **** (nestled in one of my favorite areas of Indianapolis but get there early because it is a small space)
Service: ***** (loved our server Keri, so helpful and informative)
Food:***** (high quality meats, cheeses and produce)
Will I eat there again: I want to go there again this weekend!!!

Napolese
4901 Pennsylvania Street Indianapolis, IN 46205
317-925-2823