I used to live in Northern Italy, and can say with some confidence that Via Tribunali gets it right in so many ways. Via Tribunali is one of the only pizzerias outside of Italy to have the “Vera Pizza Napoletana” certification.
The Vera Pizza Napoletana Guidelines are:
1. A Wood-Burning Oven:
Pizza Napoletana must be cooked in a wood-fired dome oven. Gas, coal or electric ovens, while capable of produce wonderful pizza, do not conform to the Pizza Napoletana tradition.
2. Proper Ingredients:
Tipo 00 flour, San Marzano (plum) tomatoes, all natural fior-di-latte or bufala mozzarella, fresh basil, salt and yeast. Only fresh, all-natural, non-processed ingredients are acceptable.
3. Proper Technique:
Pizza dough kneaded either by hand, or with a low speed mixer. No mechanical dough shaping, such as a dough press or rolling pin, and proper pizza preparation. Pizza baking time should not exceed 90 seconds.
4. Proper Equipment:
A proper work surface (usually a marble slab) and a wood-fired oven operating at roughly 800F.
5. The Final Product, Pizza Napoletana:
Pizza Napoletana is not larger than 14 with a raised edge crust and thin (.11 inch) center. The pizza should be soft and elastic, and easily foldable, not hard or brittle.
The thin crust, menu listed in Italian, brick walls, poor light, yellow glassed wood light fixtures, and close quarters help me to forget that I am in the States. Now if everyone would stop speaking English it would be perfect….
To speak to some other’s complaints: You do have to wait and it is a little pricey.
As far as the waiting goes it is like when you were a kid at the amusement park and had to wait in that long line. But when you finally got your turn on the log ride you wanted it to last for forever. Be patient, accept the wait and be easy about it; it is worth it. Have a drink at the bar; if you can squeeze in, the martinis are fabulous. Or leave your cell number and see if they will call you when your table is ready. Waltzing into the place and getting seated with only a nod to the host really makes you feel like a rock star.
Via Tribunali is a little pricy, but worth every dime. The house wines are affordable and decent (not great, but drinkable). The salads are delicious, and don’t be afraid to have arugula on a pizza; the leafy bitterness balances the sweetness of the tomato and creamy weight of the cheese.