One of the best pizzas in Naples, near the Materdei metro stop, where Sofia Loren shot L'oro di Napoli, the prices are low.
It is no mystery what to find one good pizzeria in Naples be pretty easy. On the other hand, it is difficult to define where "the best pizza" is eaten within the Neapolitan city. The choice is wide and many places claim ancient and glorious traditions within what can be fully defined "the art of pizza".
If you are in Naples I strongly recommend going to eat at the Starita pizzeria, in Materdei. I don't know if it's the best, but it's definitely in the top ten. Starita represents a piece of history of the cinema and the city and also you eat really well and cheaply.
It is a pizzeria-fryer, a few steps from the Materdei metro stop, and therefore easily accessible from all parts of the city. Founded in 1901 as a cellar, it hosted the beautiful Sofia Loren during the scenes of the film The gold of Naples, where the actress took on the role of a pizza chef.
Since reservations are not accepted, if you want to go there for dinner, it is better to arrive very early, around 19pm or earlier to take the seat. Arriving at 19.30 pm, the line will last about 30 minutes, times that lengthen if you decide to take it easy and have dinner at a later time. Once you arrive you have to give your name to the cashier and wait for the table to be ready to be called. Advice: keep your ears open to prevent your name from being called and you won't notice it!
The venue is very large, modern and bright, unlike what one might expect given its long history. Despite this, even with all the tables full, the waiting time for a pizza it does not exceed 15 minutes.
The menu offers pizzas of all kinds and some specialties, strictly fried. There is also a menu for celiacs. Prices range from the euro 4 up and the average expense, for a pizza and a beer (and a sweet half with your diner) is less than 10 euros. A luxury these days.
The pizza is very good, so I recommend staying on the classic and ordering a margherita to fully enjoy the original flavor.
Fried lovers should definitely try it Montanara Starita (fried pizza, then topped with mozzarella, tomato and basil and then baked) or Horns of Maradona (a kind of fried pizza stuffed with ricotta, cracklings and pepper). To finish with a flourish (but not lightly) there are the fried angels (cost per portion for 2 people = 4 euros): pancakes covered with a generous mantle of Nutella. Mouth-watering.
And if you are a globetrotter who cannot give up good pizza even abroad, Starita also has one based in New York and to Atlanta.
