I love this place. I am finally taking my plane travel time to write all my reviews for my favorite places I visit on my monthly trips. I visited this place quite some time ago and I had some amazing pizza here and the service was down right friendly and welcoming! It probably helped that the owner recognized me and was honored to have my travel companion and I at their establishment and offered to comp our meal. I said no thank you I will pay and I left them a large tip for there kindness and welcoming atmosphere. We had the Rocket and Prosciutto, Antipasto (for 2), Carne Pizza, and the Quattro Formaggi Pizza. my companion had the Nutella calzone and I had their only option for chocolate free gelato. A MUST PLACE TO VISIT AND EAT AT IF YOU ARE VISITING THE CITY!!! All pizza had an amazing crust which I haven't had since my studies at École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in France. The gelato was smooth and very silky. The salad was good quality and the antipasto had several good options although I remember it being waay too much food so we gave our leftover to some homeless people we saw later that evening. EVERY-TIME I PERFORM IN AUCKLAND, THIS IS MY GO TO PIZZA SPOT! read more

It's a quaint spot in the heart of Ponsonby Central, with a few small tables under cover outside in the pedestrian alley. The pizzas are in the napoletana style with puffed crust on the outer edge and thin underneath. Menu has limited options for salads / veg on the side. Overall thought the pizzas were really pricey for the size and quality relative to other spots in the neighborhood. read more

Dantes Pizza - Italian Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Hands down, one of the best pizzas ever ordered. We had the Truffle Fungi and Pancetta and it was fantastic. The sourdough crust with the flavorful toppings was a perfect combination. We had some friends who were in Auckland a few days before us and highly recommended Dantes. We will definitely come again when we return. read more

Dantes Pizza - Truffle Fungi and Pancetta - Italian Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Dante made us feel as if we were back in Tuscany. The pizza and pasta were the best you'll have in Auckland all others are crap compared to this edible mouth art masterpiece. Also Dante is amazingly gracious and humble and an amazing host. Cannot recommend this place enough. read more

Great pizza. We especially love the crust. We loved it so much and ordered a second. This time we asked for truffle fungi and pancetta. What a delight. read more

Without a doubt, my favourite pizza joint in town. These guys are clearly professionals - they are the only pizzeria in Auckland to have the official tick of approval from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana AND their pizzas cook in 90seconds flat. Just to be clear, if your looking for a ham and pineapple pizza or half-and-half toppings then Dantes definitely ain't your jam. What you will find here is authentic Neapolitan pizza with few but quality Italian ingredients and deliciously crispy, thin bases. My personal favourite is the 'Con Prosciutto' which has tomato, mozzarella, prosciutto, rocket and parmesan...although I would imagine you'd be hard pressed to put a foot wrong no matter what you ordered. read more

See all

Dantes is the one and only pizza joint in Ponsonby Central. Originally based in Huapai in West Auckland, it's had a modern upgrade with the possibility of sitting in, not just a takeaway option. Tbh I am not a huge fan of pizza because I think it's uninteresting to eat a lot of the same one thing, but Dantes knows pizza. Serving true Italian toppings and cooked in a wood fire oven. The menu is limited with only 5 pizzas but I think this is smart. They whip them up quickly and you aren't left waiting a long time for something so delish. The dough is nice and thin but has a great crispy crust. If you're not a huge pizza fan like myself you will like dantes and should make the exception. The only change I would like to see is a more extended wine and beer list, just because it's situated in Ponsonby Central where the atmosphere is boisterous and happening and a cider would go down nicely. Rating Food: 9/10 Service: 7/10 Value for Money: Good read more

See all

I don't even know what to say. There are 3 foods I can think of that have truly given me that transcendent experience where you mentally float away into some other state of semi-consciousness because the food is just that good. That's an art. You are literally creating an experience that takes someone out of their current perspective and state of being, if you make art-like food. My first was Sugarfish (particularly the uni on a good day), the chocolate soufflé with warm vanilla bean sauce at Bottega Louie, and now... The margherita at Dante's. I typically try and review more hole in the wall places (which Dante's is not) to help out small business owners and because I appreciate a good find, and I definitely don't spend my travel time writing reviews, as much as I love and appreciate food... And I especially don't ever have the patience to sit through dial-up speed wifi to write one, but this pizza was that life-changing. By life-changing, I mean... You've just eaten something that has forever changed your standard of excellence. I love pizza and have eaten many kinds of pizza. This margherita has just changed my standard for what Neapolitan pizza should taste like. I enjoy cheap eats, I enjoy fine dining, I simply enjoy good food. But I can pride myself on having a sensitive palate and know that those hand crushed San Marzano tomatoes, that perfectly salted dough that takes two days to prepare, the superb quality mozzarella, that light as air EVOO (I don't even know if that's a way to describe EVOO. It was just amazing)... I tasted it all!!! Juicy and slightly soggy in the middle due to the pool of tomato juices, perfect to take alternating bites with the crispy, chewy crust... Perfect combination of moist and dry. I went somewhere else in my mind, truly. Kevin, the owner, was super down to earth (despite all his accolades) and genuine and very passionate about what he does. So refreshing! Truly enjoyed chatting with him and appreciated his passion and sincere demeanor. If I lived here, I'd either want to bff-befriend him, date him (sorry wife, if he's married), or work for him to get free pizza. GO EAT HIS PIZZA!!! read more

Dantes Pizza - Life changing margherita. - Italian Near Me - Auckland, AUK

This pizza blew my mind !!! I don't eat dairy ,so having a pizza seems kinda obsolete . But they have the marinara - not the seafood kind ! Just chopped tomato , garlic and olive oil . It's like eating the freshest tomato on the most crisp perfect crackers . Washed down with two Peroni I was like a pig in mud ! The staff even eat the pizza on their break , and a insider secret is to put balsamic vinegar on the side and dip pizza into it !! I saw a staff member doing this and asked her to hook a sister up which she promptly did and hello - game changer !! Super friendly Italian staff and great spot for people watching at Ponsonby central , also good for platonic dates or family catch ups . read more

Dantes Pizza - Marinara pizza - Italian Near Me - Auckland, AUK

I got to say, I had a HUGE crush on this place before trying it... and now that I have I can say I am fully in love with Dante's Pizza! Dante's was the first (and until recently: the only one!) pizzeria in New Zealand to receive membership into the prestigious culinary institute Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN). I had never heard of the AVPN before but apparently they do not give away memberships easily so it must take quite a lot of passion and expertise to gain this international recognition. As I often come to Ponsonby Central on a weekend, Dante's was always busy so I never dared to brave the lines and wait for a pizza. But... Our love story all started on a cold Tuesday night when Dante's did not look so busy. The pizzaiolo invited me in and said I could stand near the oven to keep warm. Wow! That was just so nice. The owner of the place was just as friendly and I ended up staying with them for a couple of hours, chatting, laughing and and eating a beautiful thin-crust pizza and their most delicious off-menu item: a saltimbocca. I just love the taste of wood-fired pizza (or any food for that matter). I think it is incomparable. And well those pizzas... they are not just pizzas... they are made with love, generosity and passion, with few but quality ingredients. The wood fire cooking just tops it off. Also, I have to mention the owner and pizzaiolo were happy to answer any question I had about how they make the pizzas and why do they do this and do that... If I thought it was wise to eat pizzas every day of the week, I would certainly be there every day! Seriously though... thank you Kevin and Davide for a lovely evening and for sharing your knowledge and passion with me! read more

Dantes Pizzeria is seriously the cutest pizza bar around! This place was originally recommended to me by my parents who always rave about their Regina Margherita pizza. I have been twice now and absolutely love it. The first time I dined at Dantes, the service was friendly and very welcoming, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Before we took our seats, we were showed how they cook their pizzas and we were able to take many photos of the pizza oven...what an amazing oven! No wonder the pizza crust is delicious! We ordered Chianti wine and a San Pellegrino drink. Both were delicious and perfect drinks to accompany pizza! We were torn between what pizza to order, because my parents swear by the Regina Margherita pizza ($24) with tomato, fresh buffalo mozzarella and basil. However, we wanted some meat on our pizza too. When we asked the waiter for advice, he told us that he would add chorizo to our pizza, free of charge. He also gave us some chorizo samples to taste. Delicious! We were really looking forward to it! So, out came the pizza. It did not take long and smelt heavenly. However, no chorizo! I asked the waiter if he was adding chorizo. He replied that he forgot - which I think was probably due to the fact that we were up and down taking photos of the restaurant and he was also taking photos of us in front of the pizza oven. He then said he would make us a Chorizo Reale pizza (tomato, mozzarella and chorizo), free of charge because he got our order mixed up! Another pizza that would have cost us $24 was now going to be free. Two for the price of one! We were happy! As for the pizzas, well, the fresh buffalo mozzarella was absolutely amazing. It was stringy and tasted delicious. I would happily order both pizzas again. While there are few ingredients on the pizzas, Dantes uses good quality and fresh ingredients, which taste wonderful. They are truly cooked in Napoletana style. But, the best part about the pizza was the thin crust. Being cooked in a wood fired oven gave it a nice crisp base on the outside, but it was still chewy in the middle - perfect! Dantes Pizzeria has been one of my favourite dining experiences in Ponsonby Central so far. I recommend coming here for a quick bite to eat or on the weekend for a casual family dinner. I cannot wait to go back! read more

See all

This was my first meal in New Zealand. After getting off a 13 hour flight, I was hungry. We stumbled upon a square marketplace that consisted of over 15 shops, restaurants, bakeries, etc. whatever you felt like eating you can find here. We decided to go to Dante's Pizza. Little did I know that this was a place I had bookmarked prior to coming to NZ. We were the only ones in the place about 2pm on a Friday. Service was quick and attentive. The owner even checked on us to make sure everything was good and to our liking. Now to the food. We order the bruschetta and a margarita pizza. Bruschetta was extremely fresh. I usually don't eat tomatoes but they tasted very good. Perfect amount of olive oil, seasoning and tomatoes for every bite. Bread was crunchy so it didn't get soggy which was a huge plus. The pizza dough was light and fluffy, even better to dip it in the olive oil and sauce that fell off of your pizza. Soooo delicious! Another big plus is that they have free wifi! Score! Especially since wifi is hard to come by. read more

Dantes Pizza - Bruschetta! Fresh tomatoes were so delicious! - Italian Near Me - Auckland, AUK

See all

This pizza was totally delish! I loved how there were very few ingredients and they were all fresh. I went with my partner and between the two of us we ate two pizzas -- they're pretty light, especially if you're pretty hungry. My partner and I both agreed that this was definitely the best pizza we've had in New Zealand and possibly the best outside of Italy. Dante's Pizza was very much like the pizza we've had in Italy. The service was excellent. The chef introduced himself to us and explained the menu, ingredients, etc and brought out our pizza quickly. My partner's only comment was that it might be nice to have a wider range of toppings. But, I quite like the limited range. I feel like the chef maybe wants to focus on keeping things simple and perfect. If I could change one thing, I would have drizzled a bit more olive oil on top. read more

Did you know it only takes 90 seconds in the oven for these pizzas to be done? Too bad Nelly wasn't around to pump out a sweet hook for us just to prove the point - that wood-fired puppy is hot. And a good thing too, because I couldn't wait another second to fold over my thin, perfectly floppy slice TMNT-style and get it as close to in and around my mouth as possible. The toppings are simple and traditional, my Bella Italia was adorned with fresh tomato and rocket with buffalo mozzarella and black pepper. The only thing I might have added was a bit of chili oil, but I'm a glutton for spicy punishment. There's not much more to say other than pizza perfection. Seriously, get here. read more

A quick pizza and a chill drink with a girlfriend early Friday night. This place is not the easiest place to find even knowing its inside "ponsonby central". I would even say come from the Brown street entrance for an easier time finding this gem. It doesn't have many seats, two large picnic tables, and half a dozen bar stools at the window Ramen bar style. The wood fire heats this joint up so shed your jacket and kick back. We ordered a prosciutto and rocket to share... and it was the perfect amount for us but I think the base is a little thick for a truly "italian" pizza. The guys working the counter were friendly and efficient. Towards the end of the meal the owner came up to ask how the pizza was and he came off a bit sleazy but we laughed it off. Its a nice healthy fix if your in the mood for pizza. read more

I wasn't expecting to have good pizza while in NZ but stumbled on this cute little pizzeria in a lane way. Both pizzas were excellent with authentic crust and tasty EVOO. Had the margherita and the prosciutto and would recommend both. The only knock is that the beer selection is a little weak. Only options are Italian and they would benefit from bringing in local craft beers for the locals and tourists alike. Service is friendly and efficient. Pizzas came out of the wood oven in record time. Would definitely come back the next time I'm in Auckland. read more

Minimalist, simple and super duper fresh authentic Italian pizzas that are cooked up in a very long blink of an eye ;) (90seconds was it?) It's so hard to hide anything when you only have a handful of ingredient to present. Each ingredient has a purpose that makes the pizza so well balanced and delicious. If you don't trust me, trust their wall of awards. Justified. read more

Have high standards of authentic pizza, living near Keste in NYC, and having lived in Italy for more than a year. Dante's is right up there with some of the worlds best. Amazing dough, cooked to perfection with love and care. The ingredients on top are fresh, and delicious. Mozzarella (Fior Di Latte) sourced locally and tomatoes from the homeland. Just perfect. Lovely location and sweet staff too. Don't miss this place, no matter what you do. read more

I had heard so many good things about Dante's I decided it was definitely time I made my way there to sample some pizza. I'm always a little bit scared when something is so hyped up, but the thing I love about this place is that the hype is not for any fancy gimmicks or marketing ploys. It's just damn good pizza. And, as per some of the other reviews, the owner came up to us for a chat. He was really interested in how we'd come across the place and when I said it was through Yelp, he did a little fist pump - adorable! He also told us all about the process of making the dough - super interesting that gluten free people can eat that pizza dough because the gluten is relaxed (don't quote me on that, I may have the terminology entirely wrong). It's a great place to go for a casual bite to eat. I'm heading back to try the chorizo pizza next time, and I'm sure Dante's will definitely top my takeaway list too! I've heard it's crazy busy, but on a Tuesday at around 6.30pm, there were a couple of groups there and all seats available inside. read more

Okay, this place is waaaay tinier than I envisioned. Don't bring 10 friends with you unless you're prepared to wait. Luckily it was a beautiful Wednesday evening when we checked it out. I was dreaming of amazing wood fired pizza like we used to get at our neighborhood joint in Bushwick, and I wasn't (super) disappointed. The crust was perfect, not too thin, bubbly and charred just right. The sauce was a little bit blander than I hoped, but solid. We got the Bella Italiana with rocket and fresh tomato slices and black pepper. It was quite nice. The thing we felt was missing was some high quality chili oil to drizzle on the pizza and dip the crust in. Would have taken the experience over the top. They had Tabasco but it was too powerful for the delicate flavors of the pizza. Definitely the best pizza I've had in auckland - worth a visit. But a little on the pricey side. Would love more varied toppings (mushrooms!!) and the chili oil (or at least red pepper flakes) and it would be out of the park. Nice spot for a summer evening feed! read more

Found Dantes through Yelp and came here a couple of weeks ago. Walked in and straight away greeted by the guy behind the counter. Asked whether we've been there before or not and when I said no, he explained the menu to us. I wasn't sure whether to order one or two pizzas for the two of us and he said we could always ordered another one later as it would only take a few minutes to make. And.....a few minutes later our pizza came out (margherita). It was ridiculously yummy. The same guy told us the best way to eat it is just to fold it in half. Best pizza I've ever had! read more

Dantes Pizza - Margherita pizza - Italian Near Me - Auckland, AUK

The half a dozen awards on the wall were a tough act to follow, but certainly not in vain. Better than any pizza I had in Rome unfortunately. Highly recommended! I couldn't bear to give it a 4 star review, so it earns the coveted 5 stars. read more

Went to Dante's for a celebratory lunch on a very cold day. I prefer NY style pizza over Neapolitan style but Dante's deserves a 5 star rating. The margherita was served up to us remarkably fast, piping hot and delicious. One of the guys working behind the counter treated us to a slice of his lunch pizza and it was also excellent. Espresso and service were great. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

We used to travel from Howick to Whenuapai JUST for Dante's Pizza. That is more than an hours voyage worth every second in the delicious pizza pay off! Unlike other pizzas, Dante's doesn't get crazy with toppings, but the minimalistic approach (and not to mention perfectly doughy and thin base) doesn't leave you with that greasy, heavy feeling. Now it is so much closer, and we are so thrilled that everyone can enjoy this authentic Italian pizza! read more

Dante's Pizza was oustanding, We wondered in there by mistake and it turned out to be one of the better mistakes I've made. Kevin is extremely passionate about what he does and it comes across, so, very quickly. The passion he show's towards his pizza is enough for me to believe that everytime I turn up to this place I'll be treated as well as prior and enjoy myself as much as this first. We ordered the Con Prosciutto and La Bella Italia. The pizza bases were nice and light and the ingredients were very fresh.They weren't over burdened with toppings and nor had too little. It was a very fresh and healthy experience and I left very keen to return for more. I will definitely be telling all my friends to go visit Kevin at Dante's pizza read more

Best pizza, hands down. Seal of approval by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana- a prestigious culinary institute with strict standards for the Neapolitan pizza if you need hard evidence. Ordered the Con Prosciutto and found it was an epic choice. Big fan of prosciutto already alone and on this pizza base with tomato, mozzarella, rocket and parmigiano after baking in the wood-fuelled brick oven- it was divine! Friend who has been to Europe said it tasted like genuine Italian pizza- more winning. One pizza was a perfect share between three but for two hungry people it'd also do the trick. For high-quality, real Naples, Italian pizza- this is the place. Can't wait to go back to try other toppings. Delizioso! read more

Great people fabulous pizza! Our best pizza ever in the world ...thank you! The staff even has a sense of humor!

Dantes is incredible. Being an advocate of wholefood eating and vegan, knowing exactly what I am eating and that minimal processing is involved is really important. Dantes also think this is important. When I first inquired about the ingredients for the pizza bases as I saw from the menu that the Marinara had olive oil, tomato, garlic and oregano I could not have been more impressed with the helpful response I received. I was informed the bases contained just 4 simple ingredients; flour, water, yeast & salt. Happy I was. Since then Dantes have actually put this wonderful fact up on their website along with the story of how they make their bases, and the certification they have from VPN. They are a business that believes in people eating well, and that means eating fresh, unprocessed food. If you called up any a pizza chain pizza place and asked them they probably couldn't tell you, it comes in a bag, containing who knows what, preservatives, flavour enhancers, stabilizers and so on. When you come and eat at Dantes you know you are eating real food, food that is good for you and you know exactly what you are getting. You can see the pizza bases being made by hand out the back at the Ponsonby Central location by what looks like an Italian woman, it doesn't get more authentic than that. The only association Dantes has with fast food is that the pizza cooks in 90 seconds in a 800 degree wood fire oven, that is fast. The pizza, absolutely amazing! read more

Dantes Pizza - Pizza perfection - Italian Near Me - Auckland, AUK

We ended up here because all the other places in Ponsonby Central were absolutely groaning with people, but we managed to squeeze ourselves in here at Dante's. It was a pleasant surprise. We were greeted very well with the owner who spoke with an enviably authentic Italian accent. He guided us through the menu and even pointed out a couple of "secret" dishes (tip: not all menus were created the same!)? The service continued to be exemplary throughout the evening. The bf ordered the large 'Carne' meat pizza and I ordered the 'Alla Romano' which had prosciutto and lots of parmesan. I initially thought we'd just share one but I had clearly underestimated my partner's appetite for pizza. When they came, they were absolutely beatific to look at. Depending on how hungry you were, I would say that one pizza is fine if you're wanting to eat lightly but a pizza each is in order if you're starving - you'll have some left over but that's okay. They taste fantastic, I'm a fan of thin crust and this place find a perfect balance of both. Price wise, they're pretty steep but I suppose you pay for atmosphere too. I'd still ideally want to pay less but I didn't regret the experience. This is a great date place (grab a bench inside!) or if you're with friends, share one of the tables outside. read more

Great pizza, cheese was excellent, sauce had a nice flavor profile and crust was well done and airy. They had a proper oven, the only thing holding this from a 5 is the price. We wanted to get the Diablo but couldn't justify $32 for a medium pizza. If this rating were the pizza alone it would get a 5. read more

It was recommended by an acquaintance in Australia. Certainly worth tracking them down while I was in Auckland. They are multi award winners and it is easy to taste why. Service matched the great clean taste. I will be back. read more

Dantes Pizza - Italian Near Me - Auckland, AUK

See all

Ventured to 'Dante's Pizza' this evening, and might I say, what an absolutely magnificant turn out! Speedy, wonderful, flamboyant service, and a great product. Fantastic pizza! read more

Fresh! So good. staff was friendly and inviting pizza was cooked to perfection, extremely delicious. the prosciutto salad amazing. It's everything you would want from a small quaint pizzeria. read more

Pizza was absolutely delicious. During our stay in Auckland, we are here three times. Pizza tastes like it's from Naples or Florence, Italy. Service was also good. We had a great dining experience. read more

While in Auckland on Business I randomly did a pizza search. Dantes came up in my search and the minute I saw the Verace (Certification) I knew this was the place for me to go. Everything and I mean everything about the place and pizza is spot on. In fact I had to run out to the ATM (they only accept cash) and by the time I got back my order was already made, without me ever ordering. How did they know? Because I tested their knowledge about true Neapolitan pizza since I have a friend that issues the AVPN in the US. So to sum up this place in one word, AWESOME. I will be sure to return here anytime I am in Auckland. read more

As an Italian American from NY I know a good pizza when I taste one and I'll put up Dante's up against the best N.Y. has to offer. Need I say more when the waiter, cook and pizza maker are all speaking Italian. read more

This place gets a five star from me for a major reason. I hate Tomato. So what am I doing eating pizza? Because its some of the best pizza I have ever tasted, using natural ingredients that include raw tomato ... And yet still I left thinking it was delicious. read more

We ventured out a bit late on a Sunday evening, only to find so many restaurants closed. Happened upon Dantes Pizza and were very glad we did - the most authentic pizza we've had since we were in Italy! All three pizzas ordered were magnificent- perfect chewyness to the crust, fresh toppings... Almost wish we were staying in Auckland for another day so we could go back. read more

I went there with my wife and daughter, and while the pizza was ok, the owner was the rudest person. After enquiring about the menu he decided to pull the "don't you know who I am" line and was quite indignant. Won't be going back in a hurry. read more

Ah, pizza. To be quite fair with you, my love for pizza has slowly diminished over the years (shh, I know, I know) and what I mean by that is that I no longer crave it every day of the week nor do I call it my favourite dish in the whole world (sorry). However, when I do feel like a pizza, it has to be a GOOD one. And Dante's pizzas are just that: crispy yet chewy, with a charred and bubbly base, fresh, flavoursome tomato sauce and minimal toppings. I shared a chorizo pizza with a friend and it was great! Chorizo was plentiful and the size of the pizza itself was perfect for two people, although I will not judge you if you eat it all by yourself - I can imagine it is entirely possible because the pizza does not feel greasy or heavy at all! The service had its ups and downs: when I just arrived, the staff were all friendly and bubbly, yet something a little weird happened when me and my friend were finishing our meal. By the time we were almost done, the tiny place that Dante's is has pretty much filled up (there was no one there when we arrived). As I was finishing my last slice I could hear the owner say to the incoming customers who were looking for a table that "these two are going to leave in 5 minutes" (pointing to me and my friend). I'm not sure if he meant that, or whether it was simply an accent/miscommunication issue, but it sounded a little rude to me, like he just wanted us out. What if we were planning to order more drinks and chill for longer? Oh well. All in all, come here if you want to enjoy proper, truly great pizza in a nice setting, although I would personally recommend avoiding busy times as the place itself can only accommodate a handful of people. Oh, and there's always takeaway! :) read more