Pizzeria Napoletana in Prospect, CT

PROSPECT, CT - Pizzeria Napoletana is located at 22 Union City Road in Prospect; those of us that live on the Prospect side of the borough. The pizzeria has an authentic wood burning brick oven with “the aroma and taste of Neapolitan style pizza” and offers carry-out, dine-in as well as catering.

Appetizers on the menu include 6-piece fried mozzarella with marinara, fried calamari, buffalo, 10-piece BBQ wings, french fries or sweet potato fries, fried onion rings, garlic knots, bruschetta bread and cheese garlic bread. They made homemade soups (seasonal) that is served with fresh crusty bread.

Salads include cranberry chicken served with a fat-free raspberry dressing, Tuscany served with balsamic dressing, grilled shrimp Caesar, chef, tuna, garden, chicken Caesar, Greek, buffalo, gorgonzola and fruit, fried calamari, arugula prosciutto, chicken cobb, spinach and beans, goat cheese and beet, and antipasto with Italian dressing.

The house specialty is a flaky phyllo filled pie that can be ordered filled with ricotta, spinach or beef. Half-pound burgers, that are 100% beef, always fresh, seasoned and charcoal-grilled to perfection, are served on a bun with french fries. The menu includes a classic burger (with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions and mayo,) a cheeseburger, a bacon cheeseburger, a Greek burger (with added cucumbers, avocado, and feta cheese,) a mozzarella turkey burger, a bleu cheese burger, a veggie burger, a mushroom Swiss burger and a BBQ burger.

Dinners arrive with salad and pasta and include chicken piccata, chicken broccoli rabe, chicken parmigiana, eggplant rollatini, fettuccini alfredo with chicken or shrimp, spaghetti and meatballs and penne alla vodka which can have chicken added if you wish.

And there are paninis available that are served with chips and a pickle. These include roast beef, fresh mozzarella, campagnolo, bleu cheesesteak, turkey avocado, turkey mozzarella,eggplant and goat cheese, portobello with pesto and roasted red peppers and tuna melt. The Milano comes with grilled chicken, eggplant, roasted peppers, mozzarella and basil pesto mayo.

Wraps can be made with a plain, tomato, wheat or spinach wrap and are served with chips and a pickle. Varieties include chicken Caesar, Tuscan chicken, cranberry chicken salad, chicken caprese, buffalo chicken, horseradish roast beef, honey mustard turkey, chicken bason, fresh mozzarella, chicken cordon bleu, turkey cranberry, turkey ranch, tuna salad, roast beef club and vegetable. The House Special comes with grilled chicken, mozzarella, roasted peppers, olives, grilled mushroom, lettuce and bleu cheese.

Regular sandwiches are served on ciabatta bread; varieties include chicken, club, Italiano, Tuscany, eggplant and mozzarella, tuna salad and chicken pesto. Siciliano comes with grilled chicken, mozzarella, grilled eggplant, roasted red peppers and pesto.

Grinders come in chicken parmigiana, meatball parmigiana, sausage and peppers, Italiano, eggplant parmigiana, all American, Philly cheesesteak, and chicken cutlet.

If you go to Pizzeria Napoletana, you really need to try the pizza. I have tried both the plain cheese (with mozzarella and pecorino romano, basil and tomato sauce) and the Margherita and they are heavenly. Other specialty gourmet pizzas, in both red and white, small and large, include pepperoni, garden vegetable, classic Italian, BBQ chicken, Toscana, four seasons, primavera, Hawaiian, clam casino, Mediterranean, spinach and gorgonzola, asparagus and sweet onion, Florentine, buffalo chicken, lasagna, whole belly clams and La Molisana sausage and broccoli rabe.

Of course, you can create your own with selecting toppings from a long list. The list includes pepperoni, bacon, chicken, sausage, artichokes, asparagus, meatball, anchovies, olives, tomatoes, onions, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, eggplant, fresh basil, spinach, roasted peppers, pecorino romano, mozzarella, feta, gorgonzola, and ricotta.

Calzones and stuffed bread are both available in large and small and toppings may be added if you like. Desserts available are cheesecake, cannoli, tiramisu, gelato, chocolate cake, carrot cake, red velvet cake and toasted almond cake. Beverages are varied and include lattes, teas, a smoothie and lots of iced drinks.

Kids are not forgotten. Their menu includes a pasta with sauce, which can be ordered with a side of meatballs, a pizza slice, chicken tenders, grilled cheese and a hamburger.

A group of my colleagues gathered here for a going-away celebration and no one was disappointed. The phone number for Pizzeria Napoletana is 203 758-0873 info@pizzerianapolitana.com They are open Tuesday through Saturday 11:00am to 9:00pm and Sunday 12:00pm to 7:00pm.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.

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