Pizza Nea: A Minneapolis Restaurant Review

Pizza Nea in Minneapolis, is a casual place where you can wear jeans and a t-shirt, put your elbows on the table, and kick back with a gourmet Neapolitan pizza. Cooked in a very hot oven, the crust comes out thin and crisp, with a variety of topping available. You can also order any pizza as a calzone.

The best time to come is during Happy Hour. Everyday from 3pm to 6pm, the beer is half priced and so are the appetizers. Pair a small pizzetta with your brew, and you have a mini-meal. On Mondays and Tuesdays, order two or more pizzas, and the wine is half-priced.

While you're waiting for your pizza to bake, try the crostini antipasto. Perfectly toasted bread comes with a Greek green, or kalamata olive pate.

If you prefer salad for your first course, the Caprese features sliced tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella, sea salt, basil, and olive oil. This light salad comes with your choice of foccacia or toasted bread, and you'll still have room for some pizza.

Pizza Nea makes it's own red sauce from San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. My favorite is the Napoletana . With just oregano, garlic, fresh mozzarella, and their special crushed tomatoes, I can eat more without getting bogged down from too many toppings.

Pizza Bianco, or white pizza, starts with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. If you're tired of the traditional toppings, the Con Uovo with two eggs, black pepper, and parmigiano- reggiano, is the pizza for you. Raw eggs are put on top of the crust and baked. Imagine a piece of bread with a hole in it, and then you insert an egg. It's very tasty.

If none of the menu combinations are to your liking, you can create your own pizza. Get wild, and try grilled eggplant, capers, arugula, or big steer meats.

Pizza Nea also has delicious focaccia sandwiches. The Spinaci has the color and nutrition of spinach, the melted goodness of fresh mozzarella, and the crunchiness of pine nuts. Add crushed tomatoes and a topping of parmigiano-reggiano, and you have one tasty sandwich. You can pair it with any salad on the menu for just $10.50.

Pizza Nea has a full bar. Draft beer and Amstel Light, Netherlands, are available for $4.50. Sodas, cappuccinos, ice tea, and milk are also available for the teetotalers. Try a 6oz bottle of Lemonata for just $1.75.

If you still have room for dessert, ask the server what today's selection is.

It may be hard to carry on a conversation with all the loud noise, but you can eat outside where it's quieter. The kids can run around in the fresh air after finishing their pizzettas.

Pizza Nea is located at 306 E. Hennepin, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Monday thru Saturday, the restaurant opens at 11:00 A.M, with closing time at 9:30pm, Monday thru Friday, and 10:30 pm on Saturday. Sunday hours are 12pm to 9pm.

Sources:

www.pizzanea.com
www.mndaily.com/drinkanddine/details/260/Pizza+Nea