Many a foodie movie has sung praises to the authentic Neapolitan pizza, usually with the some version of the obligatory "food porn" shots. For us, it was a documentary, Arrangiarsi: Pizza...and the Art of Living that put the quest for the taste of Napoli on...our itinerary. To discover Rusciano's Authentic Napoli Pizza in our back yard made us a bit suspicious. The word "authentic" has become another marketing gimmick in the restaurant world. Rusciano's however, has certainly earned that label.
This pizza joint occupies a humble spot among other strip mall businesses, but it welcomes with the warm Italian charm of the owner, Genaro Rusciano. Tidbits of his story as a native of Napoli are offered as he glides from being a host to serving and educating diners about the art of Neapolitan pizza in this hipster setting
Of course, the secret is in the ingredients. We only tried the pizza, Margherita and Marinara to start, and Cinque Formaggi on a second visit. Fresh mozzarella cheese, San Marzano tomatoes, and a bit of basil. Even though I don't usually have tomato based pizza's, this is the pizza I've craved without knowing it. Cinque Formaggi is just that, pizza topped with five types of cheese and a few roasted pecans. I would have preferred the cheese to be better blended for a consistent flavor over the whole pizza, but one gets a bit of a gustatory adventure in tasting different undertones in different bites.
I rarely order dessert unless it bears the promise of being spectacular. Genaro told us that he'd made the canoli from scratch, including the crust, so I couldn't resist. Extraordinary absence of the heavy sugar punch so typical of American desserts made me so glad I succumbed to this temptation. The crust was perfectly browned and flaky and the filling and dollops of garnish demanded a sensuous savoring.
I'm done searching for a perfect pizza, and I look forward to tasting other things on Rusciano's menu.More