Authentic Pizza

There were days when you would think of the phrases pizza and Walt Disney World that you were likely to cringe at just the thought. Today, however, we live in a Walt Disney World that is home to Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria, located in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion. While it is true that a majority of the pizza options around the parks and resorts are travesties to the name pizza, this is a bastion of hot, cheesy, delicious hope. Via Napoli’s offerings range from traditional American favorite to Italian staples, some that seem just a little left of center to our palates. One of our personal favorites, however, is the Prosciutto e Melone Pizza.

The Prosciutto e Melone Pizza is a white pizza that is topped with fontina and mozzarella cheeses, prosciutto, cantaloupe, and arugula. Not only are the ingredients a bit of heads-scratcher, but the assembly of this pizza might also seem a bit peculiar as well. The dough base and cheese come straight out of the mouth of Stromboli, Versuvio, or Etna, the three pizza ovens on display in the restaurant, and then are given liberal doses of the cantaloupe, arugula, and prosciutto.

The real question is how does it taste? The short answer, delicious! The prosciutto gives the pizza nice savory flavor, which plays well against the juicy, sweet sensations coming from the cantaloupe. The arugula not only adds some more color to the pizza, something outside of brown and orange hues, but the pepperiness of the green really shines through. The blends of cheese hold everything together nicely with their creamy texture and simple flavors. As for the dough, it truly is one of the best doughs I’ve ever had.

I’m the first to admit this pizza isn’t for everyone, but if you’re feeling a little adventurous, you can’t go wrong with the Prosciutto e Melone Pizza. Via Napoli has been a wonderful addition to World Showcase. I would have expected a bit of decline in terms of quality and inventiveness as the years have progressed. Shame on me! The restaurant is just as strong today as it was when it opened five years ago. There is something for everyone here, even your die-hard cheese pizza enthusiasts, and it continues to cement its place as the best pizza in Walt Disney World.