Sorbillo (Naples, Italy)

Impatient weirdo

OK, this pizza quest took place about a year ago, and I should have written it up loong time ago. Life got in the way meanwhile, but I am happy to finally press the publish button on the pizza quest to the restaurant known as "the best pizzeria in the world". So let's go!

Already the route to the restaurant was promising. Lined with pizzerias and tiny Italian shops in the historic centre of Naples, one could feel the atmosphere building up. I mean, at least I could - Tinka was probably looking at me as some kind of impatient weirdo. But by then, she was used to it and was nice enough to pretend being excited too :-) And let's face it, I was an impatient weirdo.

We arrived just before the first closure. The restaurant runs in two "shifts" - a lunch shift and an evening shift. The first one ends around 3:30 pm and using Google's popular times stats, we chose to aim just for this time since the place was supposed to be less busy. All the same, we waited a good hour, fortunately not being turned away despite actually coming inside around 4:30pm.

I am not really sure what we were doing the whole hour. I recall staring inside, where some sort of filming in the kitchen was going on. I also stared at the guy managing the waiting list. I stared through the window at the customers enjoying the pizzas.

OK, I remember now, I was staring the whole hour.

Finally our turn came and we were ushered inside, conveniently close to the kitchen. We were given menus and already I could feel the sense of urgency - no one stopped with "how are you doing today" and forced smiles. It's simply not the place. Here pizzas (and only pizzas) are served in a wham-bam fashion - one right after another like on a factory belt and I can easily imagine the rate being around thousand cooked pies a day.

"The best pizzeria in the world"

The guy at the entrance who had to keep hoards of hungry customers at bay. Wouldn't want his job...

Inside the kitchen there was all sorts of hustle-bustle

Customers, provocatively enjoying the pizza in the restaurant

THE menu

The cheapest one - Marinara was just at 3 euros, thus a no brainer on our order. We added a Margherita and even a third option, Rudolfo, with prosciutto crudo, mozzarella di bufala and rocket, my favorite way of topping pizza. We added a bottle of Peroni and glass of wine, yet still fit in under 25 euros. Let me repeat: three pizzas and drinks, best pizzeria in the world, 25 euro. Where is the catch?

Nowhere. The place cooks only pizzas and it does it superbly and efficiently. It is massively popular, always full and although it could capitalize greatly on the brand or the many tourists visiting daily, it just doesn't. And that counts to me very much. Plus the pizzeria stays affordable to the many regular locals and thus keeps the authentic Neapolitan ambiance instead of one of a soul sold for profit.

Us, before the feast!

The pizzas arrived just minutes later and another point was scored right away - they were so big that one just could not see plates. Now how do we eat all of this..?

Beautiful Margherita

A Marinara pizza, suspiciously resembling a smiley (-:

Rudolfo

Me, enjoying

Tinka, enjoying

Whether it was magic, our hunger, or the pizzas were simply damn good, they disappeared just as quickly!

With the first bite though, we knew this actually won't be a problem! The base was thin, crust soft and just a bit crispy, sauce sweet and juicy, cheese delicious. Tinka was folding the soft-based slices and was full of "mmm" and "uuuu" and soon proclaimed the pizza as the best she's ever had. And I have to say I was not far from such claim myself. Despite Neapolitan style pizzas not being my all time favourites, this was simply excellent, with just an occasional touch of (barely detectable) bitter taste on Marinara (might have been a tad burned garlic). Margherita was our favourite, although not a tiniest bit of any of the three pizzas survived the feast.

A couple on a small scooter carrying 6 meter long stick (...)

So is this the new king? Well, at the time of the pizza hunt, it just as well might have been, although my custom-made staff-food from Real Italian would still be unmatched. But when it comes to what you get as a customer, Sorbillo's pies at least matched the first place, all despite being of the Neapolitan style! And that, ladies and gents, is something!

Since then, however, I found Sotto Sopra in Milan and the throne remains unchallenged, even in face of what many call "the best pizzeria in the world". So is it true? Or just another hype? Definitely not a hype - but whether or not it is the best for you depends only on your preferences. One thing is sure though: one just cannot go wrong with Sorbillo.

PS: I recommend reading this article. For there is much more to Sorbillo than just good pizzas!

Dough - 8/10 (8 based on my own preference, otherwise perfect Neapolitan!)
Ingredients - 10
Sauce - 10
Atmosphere - 11 (!)
Service - 8