Today the family and I went to Atlanta for a day out. We decided to get lunch first, and went to a place my sister read about called Antico Nepoletana.
Like Sublime Donuts, it doesn't stand out,
but it doesn't have to.
The place is owned and operated by two brothers who immigrated from Naples, and who brought their business and pizza skills to Atlanta.
We arrived at 11:15, fifteen minutes before it opened. It was a good thing, too, because there was a crowd at 11:30. At opening time, one of the brothers came and congratulated the mother and daughter in front of us for getting the first Antico pizza of the new year. We ended up sitting at the same table as them, and the brother (after a quick change he began making the pizzas) brought the pizza out himself on a sheet pan. "I had to make sure this one was perfect," he said, "or else it's bad luck." Then he crossed the pizza, muttered a blessing, and left.
This is the kitchen:
It used to be an old bakery, and for a while they only did take-out and wholesaling (they import
everything from Italy), but added seating in the open kitchen a couple months (I believe) ago.
And this pizza is
fantastic.
The ovens (also from Naples) are wood-fired to 1000ยบ, and the pizzas are fired for sixty seconds in the true Nepoletana way. Everything is made to order, which you can watch, but even then you get your pizza in about three minutes. Very fast. And the crowd standing in the doorway would like you to eat fast, too. Seating is limited to about 45 at a time, but even the six-car parking lot in front can't keep away the crowds. Ten minutes into service left already a dozen standing.
Hours: 11:30 until they run out of dough
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