Have gone here many times but went this last Valentine's Day. Part of the Martha Hoover food empire and the original location of both Napolese and Cafe Patachou in the SoBro / Meridian Kessler neighborhoods of Indy. Great food and service in a warm, bustling but intimate environment! The pizza is fired, so thin crispy crust and toppings are fresh & vibrant. Other foods are from scratch as well and the wood-fired oven brings a smell of authenticity and crispness to everything! Service is always good -- efficient and effective but friendly and comfortable. Beer selection is good and both local and micro. Wine selection is small but tasty and the bar is not extensive but top shelf. Highly recommend the gelato. And the desserts are made from scratch and vary by season. Can be pricey for Indy, but a really good value that we probably take for granted! read more

We had a wonderful family lunch at Napolese yesterday--perfect weather to enjoy their spacious patio with cocktails and pizza. I built my own pizza with roasted vegetables and pepperoni, and it was cooked perfectly with fresh, flavorful ingredients. I also tried the Medici (recommended by our server Donna), and it absolutely lived up to the hype--similar to a French 75 with a subtle lavender twist. So good I had three! While the kitchen was a bit slow, the service more than made up for it. Donna was fantastic--patient, attentive, and great with our large group. Overall, it was a beautiful afternoon and a great experience. read more

It had been a while since I've been to Napolese, but it was a beautiful evening to enjoy dinner on their patio! It was a quiet evening, so it was easy to find parking and there wasn't any wait to be seated. I wish we would have came a bit hungrier because there were multiple things on the menu that sounded incredible. We settled on splitting the Pesto margherita pizza and took the seasonal tiramisu to go. I must say, i assumed it was a traditional tiramisu and I was a little disappointed when I came home and it was a limoncello tiramisu. But that was just miscommunication. The pizza was incredible (both fresh and as leftovers). I will definitely revisit and try other items. read more

Napolese Pizzeria - Pesto Margherita Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Oh yes I have found my home for pizza and belive it or not salads. There are a lot of options around for custom pizza with creative options, but Napolese has mastered it. Located in the fashion mall, it is of course chic and quiet. Lovely patio section outside, but I like to sit inside where I can watch the fire. The staff is all outstanding, they work so well as a machine there has never been any issues on our countless visits. I beg you to try one of their amazing salads, big enough to share and every bite is amazing. They serve a bowl of fantastic olives with your meal and they are so good my teenage sons will eat them. read more

See all

Tables are close together and there is indoor and outdoor seating. There is a wine bar section. The salad was great - plenty big to split between 2. The margarita pizza crust was completely soaked in olive oil. Service oscillated between super attentive and nowhere to be found. read more

See all

Napolese is my go to for a unique pizza experience! They rotate their menu seasonally so there's always something new to try! We were fortunate to stop in when they had just updated their menu! Our server was very helpful and funny. I can't have cheese or gluten so pizza sounds like a funny option, but the GF "sweet cheeks pizza" was delicious! I got goat cheese instead of the provolone blend and it paired well with the sweet potato shavings, Jowl bacon and balsamic! My husband had the normal "sweet cheeks pizza" and loved it! Make sure you stop in before this seasons menu is gone. read more

Napolese Pizzeria - GF Sweet cheeks pizza, goat cheese instead of provolone blend - Pizza Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

10/10 date night spot!! Very cozy, low lights, and a smaller sized establishment. I've been to the one inside of the fashion mall many times, but this was my first time coming to this location. I think this is my favorite! We had a reservation but decided to sit at the bar-top. Sometimes when you sit at the bar-top you have a completely different experience. I can't remember the bartenders names but they were such chill guys, asked to snap a picture for me and my fiancé and ended up purposely taking one of themselves first lol. Drinks: I ordered a glass of Chianti and then tried the Sangiovese recommended by one of the bartenders. My fiancé ordered the godfather cocktail which was bourbon based. We enjoyed both! Food: We always split a pepperoni and jowl bacon pizza. Soooo good. However, I suggest ordering your own pizza and taking home leftovers! read more

Napolese Pizzeria - Pizza Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

They have a really nice patio and I love that you get olives at your table. Don't skip out on the Caeser salad- it's amazing! Their pizza is thin and floppy so be prepared for that style. read more

Napolese Pizzeria - Pizza Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Napolese is an underrated spot for me. The food is simple and consistently good. I love to sit in the cozy bar and it's a great place to go for a quick meal before a Butler game or show at Clowes. On my last visit, my aunt and I split the chopped salad and Meridian Kessler pizza. The perfect amount of food for 2! I love the olives they bring out before the meal and they make a great Negroni. read more

We went to dinner on Saturday night. We did make a reservation but it looked like there was plenty of open tables without a reservation. We wanted to sit outside, so we figured it was better safe than sorry! We were seated right away. Service was quick and friendly! Our waiter did a great job making recommendations and answering questions about the menu. Drinks were great! They had a lot of refreshing choices for the spring/summer menu. One of the great things about Napolese is there are always new things to try since their menu changes seasonally. Our food came up quickly and was very tasty. We ordered the baked goal cheese which was amazing. The bread they served with it was wonderful! We ordered the Cacio de Pepe pizza to share. Can't wait to see what the summer menu brings. The hostess said the spring menu ends in a week or two. read more

See all

We had such a great time on a Thursday night. We sat in one of the corner tables and it was perfectly quiet! Our service was impeccable. We weren't bothered but were checked in on a great amount. We were able to try some wine before committing - it was fantastic. I cannot say enough great things about napolese pizza, their crust is insanely good. The sizes of the pizzas are great... but this smoked salmon pizza totally blew me away. There were big chunks of salmon on it and it tasted great... I'll probably order it every time i come! read more

Napolese Pizzeria - Smoked Salmon Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

Delicious food. Good price point. Walkable from home. Neighborhood spot. Service was good.

When people come to your restaurant to eat, don't make them wait 40 minutes for a pizza because you overvalue your carry out customers.

We ordered the classic and even asked for extra pepperoni. Imagine asking for extra pepperoni and each slice having an average of 1.5 slices per...After we engaged in some disappointment math, the pizza had to be reheated in our oven since it was so cold. CLASSICally disappointed! As is the case with Napolese, I will spend my money from here on out at a classic pizza institution such as Diavola. read more

Napolese Pizzeria - Classic pizza from Napolese - Pizza Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

We came here on a Sunday night and were seated right away. The hostess was nice and our server, Jonathan, was fantastic - great customer service! We both eat gluten free and were pleased to see how many gluten free options they had on the menu. Our server recommended a fantastic wine to go with the meal as well- the wine was so good we had to get a picture of the bottle & find it for ourselves! It was a "Monteverro Verruzzo" - a nice red blend for the meal! For our appetizer, we got the gluten free cheese bread. Fantastic flavor and went well with the marinara dipping sauce. We split the brussels sprout salad as well which was a huge portion and plenty to share. Lastly we had the fennel and fowl pizza. All items were delicious and personally, one of the better gluten free foods I have had! Great wine, pizza, and customer service- we will definitely be back! read more

See all

We went to Italy in June... visiting here we agreed a bit of Italy came to us. We started with Aperil Spritzers... something we had with family in Marcollo before most meals. Then we chatted over a salam-meat and cheese board with aged prosciutto and salami. Both good and coupled with olives and aged Parmesan chunks. We got a Buratto and Arugula salad as an appetizer to share and I think it was freshly made Buratto cheese with little oil and pepper it was delightful. We came for the Wood Fired Pizza... we saw pictures from Yelpers and we were so happy with results. Margherita, Cacio è Pepe and a freestyle with white sauce, provolone and prosciutto was ordered and coupled with Chianti (Tuscany) and Barberra (Peidmont). Pizza... it's all about the crust. It needed little on top. "If the dough is good, you don't hide it..." chef in Appian way told us. The dough and execution was spot on. Dough is strong but light. The surface has a bit of cracker break when you bite into it and the balance melts into your palate. My Cacio e Pepe was similar to the pasta dish with Guanciale pork salty simple goat cheese and bonus roasted artichoke hearts to complete the pie. The Margherita red sauce was tart and bold with mozzarella and basil. Simple and flavorful. We sat outside as music was a bit loud inside, but the staff was very accommodating and the evening was so nice. Molto bene! read more

See all

The pizza was excellent and the service was good. Kind of odd that when you ask for a straw they supply you with a reusable metal straw. I wonder if they are really sanitary. read more

We frequently come to Napolese, whether in Meridian Kessler or at the Fashion Mall. This visit was unlike anything we'd experienced. We had a party of 12 to celebrate my daughter's birthday, as we have celebrated many birthdays here before - it's her favorite restaurant. TL;DR version: we were shunned for bringing in a small cake. Waitstaff (not ours) informed us, "beautiful cake, but that needs to be taken home with you" as we literally walked in, with no other explanation. Then, AFTER we sang happy birthday to her, our waiter refused to bring us additional forks (we brought our own birthday plates). We've celebrated birthdays at Napolese many times before, but I'm not sure if we will in the future, which is disappointing. ETA: Thank you for the response. I will say that I've never encountered anything like this at restaurants in the Indianapolis area, including establishments that are $50++ per person. No other restaurants seem to take issue with someone bringing in a birthday cake for a child. read more

Great food. You really cannot mess up pizza but when the waiter doesn't know what beers are on tap and forgets to bring things after HE SAID he would be right back and you have to remind him three times... pot head?? ...definitely ruins the celebration we were having. We have always loved Naplolese. Probably going to stay away a while. read more

The hostess was very dismissive, and short when we walked in the door. At 6 PM she said there was no chance of sitting down AT ALL tonight and we could order carry out, I asked if we could join the wait and she said sure but no promises she would give me a call. VERY rude read more

I'm going to start this review by saying for a waiter to comment and I quote "I'm just going to give yall water since you're on your phone anyways......." is NOT the way to start a transaction. Especially when it is a pandemic and you have to access the menu via your phone .......help me make it make sense and why the comment was even necessary. I'd like to say things got better but they progressively got worse including them setting down a hot cheese pizza in front of my 4 yr old ( and even said "watch out the plate is hot") and rolled his eyes when I asked for a 2nd plate so I could set her pizza slices on it. Unfortunately this is not my first time in here so I know the service is ten times better than this, but I can say they're not going above and beyond to make you want to come back. In fact the gave me the impression they don't want me here anymore and I'm more than happy to oblige. And to put the icing on the cake! The waiter stood over our shoulder after giving us the bill waiting for us to pay. I have NEVER had to hold my tongue as much as I did tonight. The service was as so disrespectful and unreal if it wasn't for me having been before; it would've been a TERRIBLE first impression. I usually tip a minimum 20% but I was so irritated I lowered my tip. It's shameful and terrible but that waiter's service was TRASH. But the food is decent, so maybe you should get it to go. read more

See all

I was in Keystone Crossing, Indiana for a work trip. The Fashion Mall was 5 mins walk from where I stayed. I decided to try this artisanal pizza spot, and I was not disappointed. Service was great, pizza was yummy. They have outdoor seating which I enjoyed as the weather was perfect. This was first time eating pizza with a heavy portion of arugula, and I loved it. read more

Napolese Pizzeria - Secret Garden pie - Pizza Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

All I can say is YUM! We have driven by here many times but have never stopped in. This will definitely be a place we will be back to. Our service was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. We started with the Caesar salad and it was good but could have used a bit more dressing. The prosciutto sandwich was also good but their pizza is the item to get! The Margherita pizza was SO fresh. Our favorite was the cacio e Pepe pizza. We were a bit skeptical as it had corn on it but i promise it is AMAZING! Nothing but a great experience at Napolese. read more

See all

Service and ambiance here are top notch. Such a cute spot for girls night! We got the chopped salad which was savory and tangy with crunch pancetta, creamy Gorgonzola and roasted peppers. It was $16 which I did think was steep for the portion. We also got the cacio e pepe pizza and while the crust was amazing, we thought it lacked some flavor and a punch. read more

Napolese Pizzeria - empty tables and chairs - Pizza Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

The pizza could not be better, the crust is delicious, the toppings change with seasons and are all fantastic!! The service is top notch, very few places have the level of service that you receive. The place can be packed and every table could be needing something but it feels like you are never waiting and someone is always attending to your every need. Always offering great wine pairings!! It is tight but not awful, and it feels almost cozy as you get in a spot with friends. I honestly would eat here every day if I could, if my wallet would allow Can't recommend this place enough!! read more

I found myself here a few years later feeling the same joy this place brought me the first time. Also for devour again, on valentines day they made the pizza into a heart - isn't it just adorable! Still awesome. Still great service. Loved the Meridian Kessler pizza this go around! read more

See all

I called about a missing gift card I had purchased. I called a few days before Christmas. While the staff I spoke to were great and expedient in getting me the manager. I was unimpressed with the solutions the manager offered were unimpressive and ultimately not helpful. Ultimately I did not receive the giftcard in time for Christmas and my family was extremely disappointed. We will probably think twice before patronizing the company the future. read more

So many pizza places in the hood, I've gotta admit that we are spoiled here on the north side! I'm a self-proclaimed pizza lover, from the locally-owned joint to the more refined artisanal pizzeria. Napolese is one of Martha Hoover's creations which fits the latter description. My friend and I had a reservation at 5pm prior to attending a show on a weekend. We arrived and were seated promptly on the bar side. Our waiter noted that the menu was available via a QR code. We perused, ordered a bottle of Mary Taylor Sicilia white wine, the roasted beet salad and the burrata Margherita pizza to share. We received our wine and beet salad timely. The salad was advertised as being dressed with a lemon vinaigrette, but my friend and I both felt the arugula was dry and could have used a touch more dressing. Our wine was very good, but I'd love to have seen some similarly priced red bottles. We prefer red wine with Italian food, but there wasn't one choice which was affordably priced IMO. Our pizza arrived (as advertised, uncut) and we dove in, tearing off slices as our waiter suggested. It was quite lovely, with the burrata oozing out as we cut into it. This was reminiscent of a true Italian pizza. My friend enjoyed it, as well. Service was good and we were able to pay our bill timely. read more

See all

Crowds were sparse on a hot yet breezy evening in downtown Indy, and Napolese made me feel like the only one in town. The outdoor seating was lovely in the shade, and it paired nicely with the local Weizengoot and a little people-watching from my table tucked nicely away from the sidewalk. Meatballs looked hearty to start, and I've been down that road to being full 20 mins in, so not tonight. A House Caesar would do nicely, and their are several other choices, four featuring Arugula. The main course will be a pizza--that part is already determined, so now it's just down to the details. One distinction is the number of egg pizza choices (well two but that's more than most places can claim): cage-free chicken and quail (assuming also cage-free?) I was in search of the other protein variety tonight though: something reddish. This meant choosing between one meat and mushroom or two meats and mushroom. When in doubt go bigger. The Hamaker won out. Provolone added to the charm plus made me feel like an trust-funder high-society type. It was excellent, huge, and amazingly I didn't need to cash in my imaginary trust fund for this reasonably-priced pie. Of course it also paired nicely with my Hefeweizen "Wize Goat". I closed the place down apparently on a Thursday as they geared up for the weekend rush. Great service even though I was sitting outdoors--I was never forgotten. Oh and good olives to start things out--you thought I'd make it through a whole review without mentioning olives. About as much chance of that as me not mentioning truffles! read more

Finally made it here after driving/biking/walking past it many times. It's very dark inside and was not terribly busy on a Saturday night. That's more of an observation than a criticism. My husband & I each had cocktail and a glass of wine. Cocktails had too much ice but the wine was decent. The brussels sprouts salad was the highlight of our meal, narrowly beating out the chocolate olive oil cake we ate for dessert. We ordered 2 pizzas that were OK. The Cacio e Pepe needed more pepper. The mushrooms on the Meridian Kessler were whole, not sliced. Finally, we ordered a couple espressos with dessert, but they came out cold. Service was fine and prices seemed reasonable. We give Napolese 3 1/2 stars but will round up to 4. Will we be back? Probably not, because there are other, better options nearby. read more

Part of Patachou, Inc., I knew my experience at Napolese would be one to talk about. As a charming Italian spot with multiple locations around Indy, the restaurant offers pizzas, seasonal salads and sides all in a warm and welcoming environment. During the warmer months, Napolese's Meridian-Kessler location offers outdoor seating that creates the perfect summer evening out for dinner. The last time I went to Napolese was the end of July when the weather was just warm enough to enjoy the outdoors during dinner. Napolese's menu offers traditional Italian done exceptionally well. They have artisanal, oven-baked pizzas with a variety of toppings. Along with this, their salads are always fresh and shift as the seasons change to bring in delicious flavors. Currently, their menu offers "Winter Greens" and "Brussel Sprout" salads that pair well with the fall to winter transition. I would give Napolese five out of five stars when it comes to reviews - for both its menu and atmosphere. read more

Napolese Pizzeria - Pizza Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

couldn't say better things about napolese, especially this location, and especially about Miguel!! amazing service and good food. the patio makes it so lively in the spring and summer. Miguel A. has been my server a few times now, not only did he remember my name but took the time to really talk to us and made sure we were taken care of. lovely experience read more

So good we forgot to take pictures! I haven't been here in too long- but it was like experiencing the restaurant for the first time. I love the location- and lots of seating inside and out. The service was wonderful. The cocktails are beautiful and some are an experience! We saw someone at the table next to us get their drink in a Smokey glass (turned upside down). And at the table they flipped it and added the drink- it was a great presentation. The food is wonderful- they know bread! We got the focaccia and oil to start and then got the Cacio E Pepe! It was amazing. The crust was chewy and the perfect thickness. The black pepper cream sauce was light but packed a ton of flavor. Then the combo of the goat cheese and jowl bacon *chefs kiss* Really - don't forget about this place! Not only did we get great food- but the price made us feel like we were stealing something. We could've gotten a second pizza and had leftovers- but the food we got hit the spot! read more

Napolese is always a staple in my book but Jason went above and beyond for me and my aunt tonight. He was friendly, caring, and so knowledgeable about everything Napolese related. He catered to our gluten allergy so perfectly, which is SO important. He showed genuine kindness and just made the experience that much better. Props to Jason for AMAZING customer service and just overall presence. The food was AMAZING as always, Napolese never misses there. There's a reason Napolese will always be a staple in my fam read more

It had been entirely too long since I'd walked through the doors of Napolese. My tastebuds were so thankful to my friend who suggested it! We went for a late lunch on a Sunday and got sat right away on the outside patio. We both ordered ice tea with flavors added (raspberry for her, peach something for me). For an appetizer we had the Baked Goat cheese with marinara and focaccia bread (so yummy!) then we decided to try two different pizzas (we had enough for leftovers). We got the Hamaker (a classic) and one with pulled pork and goat cheese. The latter was good, but the Hamaker was both of our favorites. (I'm looking forward to my leftovers for dinner tonight!) I also requested salt (you get to choose from three different kinds!! and olive oil-that olive oil was delicious-I loved dipping my crust into it!) Looking forward to going back VERY soon! read more

Napolese Pizzeria - Hamaker - Pizza Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

I miss this place having location in downtown mile Square. Was first joint that got me into neopolitan style pizza. Would say this is a bit higher scale of pizza joint, but still can wear casual clothing. Solid wine list to accompany pizza. Do feel that this is in line with quality of king Dough on city's near east side but falls short of diavola which is similar concept in sobro. Service good, nice neighborhood location, pizza can feed two adults or could be ordered by individual if very hungry. Some people probably would love how they start ppl off with olives complementary but unfortunately olives one of the foods I have not yet evolved a taste for so do not perceive that as a positive (but do applaud them for being innovative in what has historically been a stale unimaginative market). Certainly recommend visit. read more

Love love love their chopped salad! I always go with a girlfriend and we normally get the same thing every time because it's just so good. Service was great and it was a nice chill lunch on our day off! read more

We are regulars here because all the reviews are correct: the service is warm, the ingredients are excellent and creatively chosen, it's a fantastic restaurant from an amazing organization. This review focuses solely on the pizza crust and they way they are cooked. This is billed as a Pizzeria, and any good pizzeria should be judged by its crust. Naploese falls short in this area. Wood fired pizzas are typically cooked for 90 seconds, have some charring, blistering and at least some color on the underside. The pizzas at Napolese consistently have a pale doughy color, no charring, blistering or any color on the underside. The crusts (sometimes called 'pizza bones') are leathery, doughy and not tasty. I suspect that most people don't eat them. It appears that the pizzas are not kept long enough in the oven. This is either because it shaves off cook time or because it ensures that a few pizzas don't get burnt due to inattention. That's well and good, but undercooking the pizza leads to a very poor product. We have asked for our pizzas to be cooked longer or to be 'well done'. This has only sometimes helped. Often even with the request, the pizzas are undercooked. Relatedly, it's clear to me that the pizza dough is not fermented long enough. Longer fermentation time or a second fermentation would make the pizza crust taste much better. This is a great restaurant, run be good people and beloved by the neighborhood. I just wish the pizza crust got more love and more attention! read more

We love this place, came here for our second date and went back 3 years later for Valentine's Day. We always get the beet salad and a pizza. We got the one with black pepper sauce and goat cheese and it was fantastic. Got the Negroni and the port wine spritzer which were tasty. Love the plate of olives provided at the beginning. Also really love the goat cheese appetizer. Will always be coming back! read more

Napolese Pizzeria - CACIO E PEPE pizza - Pizza Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Napolese was the perfect spot for a girls night with a friend! We sat at the bar for drinks & dinner. We ordered the Aperol spritz and the St. Germain spritz- both excellent! For dinner, we shared the veggie house chopped salad and burrata margherita pizza. It was plenty of food for both of us and I'd recommend everything we ordered! read more