Rating: 7.3 / 10 | Price Range: $$
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If you are looking for what is possibly the best pizza in Erie, then you may want to schedule a stop at Ippa Pizza Napoletana. The closing of Virgil’s Plate left a large gap in the market for high-quality handmade pizza in Erie, and Ippa has stepped in to fill the void. Also impressively, they make their own mozzarella cheese!
Food:
This is as close to authentic Neapolitan pizza as you’ll find, unless you travel to Napoli. The taste, ingredient freshness, and presentation earned top marks – the flavors are magnificent, but the portions and menu size a bit rank lower. We tried the Ippa Signature Base Pizza and the Rita, we also had a “little” salad, which was fresh and had a very nice variety of toppings, blending well with the house-made Italian dressing.
PRO TIP: even if you are eating there, get the pizza in a box to keep it warm. They cool off way too quickly on a metal tray, and we found that by the time we were near the last couple of pieces, the flavors just were not as robust after reaching room temperature.
Service:
Staff was friendly and attentive, and knew that an item was unavailable without having to check first. Food was served in about 15 mins from ordering at the bar.
Atmosphere:
Décor and design was average for an Erie restaurant, and the vibe was pretty chill, however it was quite loud for our liking – but it is also bar, after all.
Price:
Prices were moderate and we consider it a decent value for the money – the food really is the star here, and rightfully so.
Other Factors / Notes:
Location and accessibility rates highly, but parking availability may be limited and can vary as there is only metered on-street parking around the Erie Food Hall. The restaurant was clean and organized, but it is a little strange how the ordering process works – and if you want drink refills you have to go to the bar – there is no continuous table service after the food is delivered.
There are several vegetarian and vegan options, and Gluten-free pizza crust is available for a small upcharge. However, it is not clear how strict the kitchen prep is to keep allergy-sensitive items separated, e.g. pesto contains pine nuts.
The eating space is not very large and we would not recommend it for large groups (greater than 10), but there is generally plenty of group seating around the food hall.
There was a listing for weekly drink specials, but we did not take note of specifics.
Disclaimer: Reviews are based on a single dining experience, with selected dishes on a particular day, and may not be representative of all possible experiences. ErieFoodReviews provides independent reviews in good faith, and strives to share accurate information, but does not guarantee ingredients used in reviewed dishes will meet individual dietary restrictions such as food allergies, intolerances, or medical conditions. Photos and menus are captured on the day of the review and may differ from current offerings. Please notify us if any errors or omissions are identified. Mangia!
I loved Virgil’s pizza. This sounds great. I’ll have to check them out.