Mattozzi Restaurant & Pizzeria — Restaurant in Naples

Warning! The most bizarre meal and experience. We are not picky eaters nor demanding diners. Lovely setting visually (hence the 1 star). We were there for pizza, looked at menu and made our choices. Ordered a bottle of proseccoand announced that we were there for Naples' famous pizza. They quickly suggested we should start with a few appetizers and made suggestions. We agreed - a rash of food appeared. I am not going to go into the critique of the appetizers as its not the point of this review. (but the mozarella was old) We were then rather full and agreed that now a pizza between us would be enough - we ordered a gorgonzola pizza, which arrived as a mozarella and tomato - sent it back as we asked for gorgonzola - the same mozarella and tomato pizza returned. We skipped the pizza and ask for the bill we felt uneasy about what was going on. Here is the warning the appetizers were atrociously priced, a bottle of prosecco (normally 25Euros in other restaurants was 40 Euros) and at the bottom of the bill they slipped in a 40 euro price under 'service' I guess they hoped we wouldn't notice. Our bill for two plates of appetizers and a 3 inch circumference pizza (tiny) was 177 euros!! We argued the bill, gave them 100 cash and 10Euros palmed to one waiter who I got the impression knew we were being sabotaged. By the way, the restaurant was completely empty accept one table of young girls who came in later (all ordering and receiving pizza - one a gorgonzola!) Also by the way, they sat us upon arrival in an empty patio, next to some kind of heat vent (during the heat wave in August). I am pretty sure they decided we were 2 Brits and a Canadian so they won't know any...

We stumbled onto this restaurant while unable to find the restaurant we were looking for, due to Google maps incorrect directions. First, let me address prior reviews regarding service. We believe many of the prior reviews harshly criticizing the service as either fake or outdated. Or, made by someone who has never traveled to Italy. Immediately upon arrival we were seated. Water was quickly brought as was a bread basket with great bread. There was no language barrier that could not be overcome. Our waiter even asked whether we wanted our seafood secondi brought out with our pasta primi or did we want it served after we finished the pasta! Again our waiter was friendly, pleasant and prompt. Second we must discuss the prior reviews concerning the food. Any review complaining of hair in food, yet no mention of alerting the staff and receiving a replacement is clearly FAKE. We ordered the pasta aglio olio con pepper and the pasta with mussels in a tomato sauce. Both were quite good and we finished our plates completely. The next course was the mixed fries seafood that included two very large prawns. The prawns were outstanding and the mixed seafood fritte was cooked perfectly. Third, we must address the value. Other than a certain restaurant across the square that has an hour or longer wait for a table, this restaurant is the best value in Napoli. A bottle of the delicious house wine is a mere 9€. The total for everything, including the wine was only 57€. Three dishes, two bottles waters and a bottle of the house wine for 57€????? This is a great value!!! We have no complaints and will...

Like eating pizza, trying to cross the Piazza della Repubblica... but in a fantastically hectic Italian way.

Upon waiting for around 30 mins for a table for 2, we were rushed to our table where we were met with a noisy, busy atmosphere with almost-sprinting waiters, shouting at one another, dodging inbetween tables of chatting Italians.

We sat down and ordered two beers, a classic margarita and zucchini pasta. Waiting for our order, watching in awe at the saluter order the wait staff and direct restaurant goers to tables using language only an auctioneer could understand. Its as if Martin Scorsese cried action upon entering the restaurant.

Nonetheless, the food, which likely hasn't changed since opening, made up for the chaos and the absent drinks. The pizza was unrivaled for Napoli. The bite was perfect, from the slightly chewy mozzarella to the fresh sweet bite of the tomato. This was also backed up by wonderful pasta, a speciality of the restaurant.

You need to leave your expectations of normal dining at the door meaning you need to be firm with the waiters to request what you want as you'll be competing with other tables for their attention. Maybe they could do with hiring more staff, but why bother? You don't come to Italy, and certainly Napoli for a waiter to sit down and ask how your day was. You come here for the food, and authentic Italian atmosphere, which can be nicely summed up...