Little Italy Pizzeria

Step into Little Italy and an oversized image of Naples and the Mount Vesuvius faces you from the opposite wall, ringed by blue-and-white soccer scarves emblazoned with “solo Napoli” and "ultra Napoli" slogans. Nearly all servers are Italian natives, but instead of the Tyrrhenian coast, this lively neighborhood pizzeria is located right here in Budapest.

Instead of the city's most fashion-forward people, Little Italy draws a mixed neighborhood crowd with an unpretentious atmosphere and solid pizzas, which are made with lightning speed by the Hungarian owner-chef who spent years working in Naples. I can vouch for the Casagrande (prosciutto, Italian salami, bacon, chili) and the namesake Little Italy (mozzarella, Italian sausage, cherry tomatoes). The pies fall between a Naples and a Roman style. On weekends, Italian soccer fans appear to watch calcio on TV. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays!