Italian food guide
Neapolitan vs. Roman pizza
"Italian pizza" is not one thing. Neapolitan and Roman pizza are two distinct styles with different doughs, ovens and textures. Here's how to tell them apart.
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Neapolitan pizza
Neapolitan pizza comes from Naples. The crust is soft and chewy with a puffy outer rim, called the cornicione, and a thin center that can stay tender and a little wet under the toppings. It cooks in a very hot wood-fired oven in about a minute or two, which is what gives it its blistered, charred spots.
The toppings are classically simple. The Margherita, with tomato, mozzarella and basil, is the best known; by popular account it was named for Queen Margherita of Savoy in 1889. The art of the Neapolitan pizzaiuolo, the pizza maker, was added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2017.
Roman pizza
Roman pizza comes in two main forms.
- Pizza tonda romana: round, thin and crisp, closer to a cracker than a Neapolitan pie. It's rolled out thin rather than stretched by hand.
- Pizza al taglio: pizza "by the cut," baked in large rectangular pans and sold by the slice or by weight. The dough is airy, and the toppings range from simple to elaborate.
Side by side
| Neapolitan | Roman (tonda) | |
|---|---|---|
| Crust | Soft, chewy, puffy rim | Thin and crisp |
| Shape | Round, hand-stretched | Round, rolled thin |
| Cooking | Very hot wood-fired oven, about a minute or two | Hot oven, longer bake for crispness |
| Typical toppings | Margherita, marinara | Wider range |
Why fermentation matters
Whatever the style, how long the dough rests makes a big difference to flavor and texture. Longer fermentation gives a more flavorful crust with a lighter, more open crumb. At Seneca Trattoria, the pizza dough is fermented for three days.
What we look for
When we score pizza we look at dough, char and balance, alongside what real diners say. Counter spots that let you build your own pie are a different thing again; Pastalini is one example, where you choose the sauce, toppings and crust.
See where each San Diego restaurant lands on our best pizza in San Diego list.