Zeneli Pizzeria e Cucina Napoletana
Zeneli Pizzeria e Cucina Napoletana things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
Plan your stay
Posts
New Haven is a city known for its pizza or apizza as it is known there, Wooster Street perhaps being one of the most pizza dense streets in the world. To compete on Wooster Street you need one of the best pies in the world, but on a street competing for the greatest New Haven style pizza Zaneli's stands out. I am from Florida, lived in Connecticut for some time, and often visit family up in the Northeast. When visiting, I have to visit Wooster street for apizza. With world class pies from the likes of Sally's and Pepe's it is a must visit. That said, the New Haven style apizza is not necessarily my favorite style of pizza as I prefer both a classic New York slice and the Neapolitan pizza. This is where Zaneli's stands out for me as a pizza place sitting on one of the most pizza dense streets in the world, yet focusing on a style completely different to those around it. I doubt there are many Neapolitan pizza places in the U.S. with as fierce local pizza competition, and I think it shows in the quality of Zaneli's. To start, the atmosphere of the restaurant is incredible. The interior has a neat and professional look with a fantastic open kitchen allowing you to see the entire process of making the pizzas. The staff are responsive and come off as genuine and grateful for your visit. I would say more than any other place on Wooster street, the overall experience is balanced as not just a pizzeria, but as a restaurant. To start I got the meatball appetizer which came in a marinara sauce including two pieces of well sized bread. The meatballs were good, maybe a little small and dense compared to some of the northeastern Italian places I've been to, but the bread and the marinara were fantastic. The bread had a nice crust, crunchy similar to the pizza crust, with a nice and moist interior aided by a drizzle of oil. The bread was great for dipping into the marinara which was among some of the best marinara sauce I've ever had. Following, I got a Margherita pizza, and of course this was the star of the show. Back to the point about competition, when you have to compete with the best while bringing a new style, it's clear you have to bring the best of that style. I have never had a Margherita pizza as good as the one at Zaneli's. The crust was thin with a solid crunch, the sauce was perfect, and the fresh mozzarella might be the best cheese available in New Haven. In fact, if there was one word I could use to describe the pizza it would be "fresh." The pizza is nice and light, could easily finish the one I had on my own, and still had room for dessert after both the appetizer and full pizza. When you take a bite with a nice basil leaf it tastes so fresh and light you could mistake it for a salad only for the crunch of the crust to bring you back to reality. There might not be a better Margherita pizza within the United States. To finish off the meal I had a slice of lemon cake for dessert. It seems they have a constant in the Nutella pizza with another rotating dessert, and I felt this lemon cake was a great way to finish the meal. Maybe a little dense on the cake, but the flavor was great, it was presented well, and the fresh lemon taste worked well to contrast the tomato heavy courses previous. Overall, while I love Sally's and Pepe's, I prefer the Neapolitan style which Zaneli's does as good if not better than any other place in the United States. If you could only try two pizzas on a trip to New Haven, I would pick any of the New Haven style places and Zaneli's as the other, worth tasting how good the competition of Wooster street can be as shown in another style.
Joe LyonsJoe Lyons
00
I recently had the pleasure of dining at a Zeneli pizza restaurant, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. With a menu boasting a variety of options, I opted for the classic Margherita pizza, a Vegetarian pizza, and a unique twist on a traditional dessert, the Ricotta Demilyn. Here's my review of each dish: The Margherita pizza was a true testament to simplicity done right. The crust was thin, crispy, and expertly baked. The tomato sauce was vibrant, bursting with flavor, and complemented by a generous amount of fresh basil leaves. The mozzarella cheese melted beautifully, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes. Each bite was a delightful journey into the heart of Italian cuisine, and it left me craving for more. Next up was the Vegetarian pizza, and I must say, it was a feast for both the eyes and the palate. The crust, just like the Margherita pizza, was outstanding, and the toppings were a medley of vibrant colors. A plethora of fresh vegetables adorned the pizza, including green peppers, mushrooms, onions. The balance of flavors was spot-on, with each vegetable maintaining its distinct taste while harmonizing with the others. The addition of a blend of cheeses elevated the pizza to new heights, creating a truly satisfying vegetarian delight. To conclude my meal, I indulged in the unique and intriguing Ricotta Demilyn. This dessert was a revelation. The delicate layers of fluffy ricotta cheese combined with a honey. The dessert struck a perfect balance between richness and lightness, leaving a lingering sweetness on my palate. It was a delightful departure from the usual dessert offerings, showcasing the culinary creativity of the restaurant. Apart from the exceptional food, the service at the restaurant was top-notch. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and eager to accommodate any special requests. The ambiance was warm and inviting, providing a cozy atmosphere that enhanced the overall dining experience. In conclusion, this pizza restaurant exceeded my expectations in every way. From the classic Margherita pizza to the flavorful Vegetarian pizza and the innovative Ricotta Demilyn, every dish showcased the skill, passion, and creativity of the chef. Whether you're a fan of traditional flavors or seeking something unique, this restaurant has something to offer. I highly recommend giving it a try and indulging in their delectable pizza creations.
Faisal AlshammariFaisal Alshammari
00
I was searching for something to eat in the New Haven area. I didn't have much time to figure it out and had no clue where to begin. When I googled "Restaurants near me," Zeneli was one of the first restaurants that showed up. I read a couple reviews, checked out a couple photos and just knew that I had to try out this spot! They have indoor seating and a very good amount of outdoor seating too!! I went on a day where it was cloudy outside but the outdoor seating arrangement was pretty awesome and charming! Their menu selection is pretty straight to the point! Antipasti, pizza, pasta, wine/beer, pellegrino and some soft drinks. The waiter gave such great service! Very nice and knowledgeable. He started us off with a jug of water, and we immediately put in a salad to share. We ordered the fresh mozzarella salad. The mozzarella was served over arugula and cherry tomatoes with a little bit of sea salt, basil and evoo to top it off. When the salad came we ordered 2 pizzas to share. We got the "Tre Carne" off of the "Le Pizze Classiche" list. This pizza had tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, spicy salami, prosciutto cotto, sweet sausage, basil and evoo. And the 2nd pizza we ordered was also from the "Le Pizze Classiche" list and that one was called "Salsicciotta." That pizza had tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, sweet sausage, cremini mushrooms, basil and evoo. We hadn't even put a dent in the salad when our two pizzas came out!!! The waiter let us know that the pizza only takes 90 seconds to cook in their oven!!! Everything was spectacular! The pizza crust was soft, airy and fresh! Every ingredient they used at this restaurant was super fresh and it shows! They only have one size of pizza and it's a tad bit bigger then the "average personal pizza." We still ended up taking home 4 slices each. One pizza can serve one hungry person OR 2 moderately hungry people. Our bill came to $46. I will definitely be returning!! I added pictures of the whole menu (front and back) and pictures of all the food mentioned in this review.
Mel CMel C
00
Good thing Sally's Apizza was closed for maintenance this past weekend. Otherwise, who knows when we would have gotten around to trying Zeneli? I like to hit different joints when seeing my son at Sacred Heart, but we can't spend every trip in New Haven's Historic Mozzarella District. Zeneli was a huge score all around. It was lousy out - icy drizzles and windy - but we scored a parking spot right in front. There was only one tiny deuce table inside but they had two makeshift, well heated dining rooms built on the sidewalk. We were sat quickly, we dropped our order quickly and our pizzas were at the table about 7 minutes later. The pies were things of beauty - charred, bubbled, blistered - with toppings scattered with precision chaos. I'd picked the Tartufella, which sported a light slather of black truffle & mushroom cream with finely crumbled sausage. My mushroom-resistant kid demolished most of it after his first bite. I was a little disappointed in getting squeezed on sharing that pizza, but the Diavolina which came with it was a revelation. Margherita style pizzas don't turn me on all that much yet this was one of the best pizzas, of any kind, I've had the pleasure to smash down. Great sauce, zesty AF spicy salami, yeah, yeah, yeah... the real magic of this pizza was the fresh mozzarella. It actually had flavor. A lot of flavor. The crust, of course, is everything you may have heard about. Thin as a leaf across the middle stretch while remaining more than strong enough to support the toppings. The crisp outer surface of the puffy, chewy rim leads to seriously happy eating with a sultry yeastiness. Freaking nice pizzas - and served by super nice people. I won't mind is Sally's is closed next time as well...
Howard FHoward F
00
It was a beautiful day to enjoy a nice dinner on Wooster St. My family and I decided to go to Zeneli for the first time. We were seated after about 10 minutes from requesting a table. Like I mentioned before, it was a really nice day, so we sat outside. After about five minutes, we were placing our order. We ordered the meatballs to start-off our lunch. It comes with three (3) meatballs. The sauce was good, but the meatballs not so much. We ordered the Tartufella. It was my first Black Truffle pizza that I've ever tried. It also came with Sweet Sausage. It did not disappoint. It was delicious! My sin loved it! We also had the Tre Carni, which has Sweet Sausage, Spicy Salami and Prosciutto. My wife loved it! I had the Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe. Creamy and delicious! My daughter had the Gnocchi Ala Sorrentina with fresh mozzarella. She really liked it! Sadly, we found a piece of hair on one of the pies. We brought it to their attention and they quickly replaced it. Pros: They have good overall service and prices are comparable to other restaurants nearby. Cons: Good luck trying to find parking. It's something that affects most restaurants in the area.
Wai01Wai01
00
If I could eat pizza everyday I would do it at this restaurant ! It’s the BEST Italian PIZZA I have ever eaten in the US! The owners are super sweet and very welcoming and they went above and beyond for the service! We ordered from Starters, entree, desert: Ricotta de Miele : excellent toast and cheese (which is made by one of the owners!) Margherita Verace pizza: excellent, cooked at perfection and tasty ingredients! My pizza was ok hot because of the very cold weather outside but the owner brought me an EXCELLENT cappuccino to compensate for that. Genovese pizza: excellent, cooked at perfection and tasty ingredients! Nutella pizza: Excellent with strawberries! Fresh and tasty’ We also took wine which was good! I ll ask next time for their recommendation! Overall it was an EXCELLENT diner really nothing else to say. Awesome service and cute place to eat dinner or lunch! You can also take out which is great. It was that good, that people were waiting in line to eat here! And totally worth the wait 😍 Not mentioned anywhere but : THEY ARE 20th best pizza in the US and First in CT! WELL DESERVED 🏆🥇
Sarah GoldSarah Gold
00
Nearby Attractions Of Zeneli Pizzeria e Cucina Napoletana
IKEA
Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale
The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - New Haven, CT
Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center (formerly Knights of Columbus Museum)
State Street
CCT Repairs - Computer, Cell Phone, Gaming Console, Tablet, Drone Repair
Million Asian Market
Kebabian's Rugs
CitySeed Wooster Square Farmers' Market
Wooster Square Park

IKEA
4.3
(3.3K)
Click for details

Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale
4.1
(996)
Click for details

The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - New Haven, CT
4.8
(368)
Click for details

Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center (formerly Knights of Columbus Museum)
4.7
(192)
Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Zeneli Pizzeria e Cucina Napoletana
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
Sally's Apizza
Cody's Diner
Da Legna at Nolo
Encore by Goodfellas
Cast Iron Chef Chop House & Oyster Bar
Adriana's
Cajun Boiled Seafood
Lucibello's Italian Pastry Shop
Libby's Italian Pastry Shop and Italian Ice

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
4.5
(3.9K)
Click for details

Sally's Apizza
4.4
(2K)
Click for details

Cody's Diner
3.9
(740)
Click for details

Da Legna at Nolo
4.4
(631)
Click for details
Basic Info
Address
138 Wooster St, New Haven, CT 06511
Map
Phone
(203) 745-4194
Call
Website
zenelipizzeria.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.8
(810 reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Italian restaurant & pizzeria serving classic Neapolitan dishes amid laid-back surrounds.
attractions: IKEA, Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale, The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - New Haven, CT, Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center (formerly Knights of Columbus Museum), State Street, CCT Repairs - Computer, Cell Phone, Gaming Console, Tablet, Drone Repair, Million Asian Market, Kebabian's Rugs, CitySeed Wooster Square Farmers' Market, Wooster Square Park, restaurants: Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Sally's Apizza, Cody's Diner, Da Legna at Nolo, Encore by Goodfellas, Cast Iron Chef Chop House & Oyster Bar, Adriana's, Cajun Boiled Seafood, Lucibello's Italian Pastry Shop, Libby's Italian Pastry Shop and Italian Ice

- Please manually select your location for better experience