Cucina Elena | Houtoven pizzeria | Vleuten — Restaurant in Utrecht

2025: The restaurant has expanded to more than double the size as they have taken over the shop next door and have also added an outdoor terace for warmer weather. At my last visit (January 2025) the place was not heated adequately. My feet were frozen, and the pizzas turned cold very quickly, which was a shame. The young lady serving us was so busy chatting with her colleague that she did not pay much attention to the clients there. I had to wait forever for my cappuccino, eventhough I could see ready at the coffee machine. By the time the waitress remembered to get the coffee for me, it was cold. The toppings on the pizzas are generous and taste really good. Unfortunately the base of the pizza is quite flavourless, which is a shame. I would expect an Italian joint that makes pizza in a professional oven to also make their pizza bases special, but here the base is clearly lacking some flavor . I will probably not be back for a few years. Let's hope it improves for next time.

2018: Excellent thin crust pizza made in a traditional stone oven. The place is pretty small and it quickly gets cramped when people keep coming through the door. Very friendly staff who clearly are into nice food. A little on the expensive side for what you get. Some free bread and butter on the table would help fill up the customer and make them feel...

Cucina Elena is located in Vleuten, very close to Vleuten train station. This is not a place for tourists but for locals who are either regulars or candidates to be regulars. We arrived at Cucina at 17:35-17.40 and ordered 2 pizzas. We got our pizzas at 18:00. For a place which only has 4 tables inside (1 of them was empty when we ordered), this is really really long. The place is quite small so on a cold day, it might be chaotic with all the people who wait inside and there is no place to move, also for the staff. We arrived home and the pizzas are already got half-cold (we traveled by car for 6 minutes) . The crust around the pizza was so hard it was breaking and hurting your mouth when you bite. Last but not least, according to the "Quattro Formaggi" description, I was expecting to taste gorgonzola which I did not at all. Actually all I could taste was simple cheese...

We were very very dissappointed after the comments on internet and we will not step our foot to this...

ok, you answers to me, but I haven't even write a single word. So I think you deserve some words. I had my pizza for to go, I haven't look to the menu card, I had just an idea and the waiter says "ok no problem". Then I thought "Ok, there are many guests in here. It would take a while" but no, I hadn't even the time to proper check my mails. the pizza was great. The right cheese and some fresh herbs. Here in Germany you have to order the right cheese, otherwise you will end up with Emmentaler cheese. That are my few words for your great little restaurant. looking forward to seeing...