Pizzeria Playa — Restaurant in Cebu City

A Delightful Duo at Pizzeria Playa

My recent visit to Pizzeria Playa was highlighted by the new-to-the-menu Minazzole? Pizza (unsure about the name..hihi) and a perfectly paired Sangria. The atmosphere was inviting, service was exceptional, and the meal itself was a true treat, delivering on both quality and generosity.

The Minazzole? Pizza, which is new on the menu, is an absolute must-try. Visually, it was a stunner—a beautifully charred, authentic Neapolitan-style crust with a puffy, airy cornicione (edge), indicating a proper, high-heat bake.

The first thing to note is the generosity of the toppings. The pizza was lavishly covered, living up to the promise of not "cheaping out," especially on the high-quality, thinly sliced ham (which appears to be mortadella or a similar delicate, cured meat). These slices were artfully draped and plentiful, offering a wonderful, savory richness in every bite. The aoli sauce, forms the creamy base of the pizza, providing a rich, garlicky, and herbaceous foundation that elevates the entire dish. Its smooth texture and bold flavor perfectly cut through the richness of the ham and the chewy-crispness of the crust. The addition of what appears to be fried shallots or onions, along with fresh basil and chives, added a complex layer of texture and brightness.

The pizza is of a generous size, making it a great value and perfect for sharing (as evidenced by the slice on the plate). This is a satisfying, filling pie where the excellent quality matches the quantity.

To accompany the pizza, the Sangria was an ideal choice. As shown in the video, the drink had a beautiful, rich orange-amber hue, poured over a glass full of ice. The taste was delightfully refreshing—the perfect counterbalance to the creamy, savory pizza. Its fruity, light profile cleansed the palate after each slice, preparing you for the next. It was an excellent compliment to the robust flavors of the Minazzole.

The new Minazzole? Pizza at Pizzeria Playa is a resounding success. From its generous portions to the incredible aoli sauce and the flavorful toppings, it's a dish worth seeking out. Paired with the crisp, refreshing Sangria, this meal offers a truly satisfying and memorable dining experience. Highly recommended for a flavor-packed...

It has lots of great reviews. Was really looking forward to visiting Minante Pizzeria. 4 of us went. Ordered 4 drinks, one appetiser, one pizza and three pasta dishes.

Ok. Let's start with the drinks. It's expensive. 150 pesos plus 10% service charge for SM Light. It's a local beer lol. Its cheaper at the airport 😅.

Three cheese appetiser came out first. It was wonderful. All of us really enjoyed it. Now we all were really looking forward to the main dishes.

Pizza. Ok. Nothing special. Lasagna was good but not what I was hoping for. Carbonara, little bland. Would have been better if a little more cheesy. Bolognese, a little too salty.

Maybe the chef just had an off day. My 2 biggest issues with Minante was the number of employees and the 10% service charge. Way too many employees doing nothing (at least they are making a living). But 10% service charge in a local restaurant in the Philippines? Really? Hopefully 100% of it goes to the employees. The last time I was in Italy, local restaurants do not have service charge. Most restaurants in Philippines do not have service charge... who said 'when in Rome, do Romans do...' Bottom line, for Philippines, it is expensive. If food was great, it would be fine. If I crave pizza in Cebu City, I'll probably head to...

The glass brand says "Minante" But we couldnt find the restaurant on google to review it. But since i knew how the interior looked like so am assuming this is the same location inside 88Ave near IT Park.

So of with the review;

Where to start, the located is nice and the outside is covered so you can enjoy the outdoor perfectly whether its rainy or not.

The food, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AS CLOSE AS POSSIBEL FOR THE ITALIAN AUTHENTIC Pizza and Italian food. This is the spot to come to. We were surprised and delighted when the pizza came UNCUT (Authentic italian way).. just perfect, fresh and spot on flavor wise (ah the olive oil).

The other dishes were true to the original acidic wise and flavor wise. we loved it. We will be coming back to explore the menu more. SInce we just ordered few not knowing how big or small things will come by for 2 people. (The tomato buffalo Appetizer salad was GOD tier flavors and spot on)

Anyone craving Italian food, come here. Yes its a bit pricy compared to the other so called italian restos, but you are going to go thru the closest Italian experience food wise you can...