Finding a worthwhile pizza place in the Auckland area can be a challenge, as there are many choices to explore. One of our favourites worth spotting is Dante’s Pizza in Ponsonby.
The people at Dante’s Pizza care about how they make their pizza. They provide strict attention to detail for all the pizza products they make. You’ll enjoy the authentic Neapolitan pizza experience when dining at Dante’s.
Dante’s Pizza is at Ponsonby Centre in Ponsonby. You’ll find it west of Western Park. It is open for dinner until 8 p.m. each day, plus it is open for lunch on weekends. You can book a table through the pizzeria’s website at dantes.co.nz/ponsonby-central.
Features
- Features indoor and outdoor dining spots
- Offers pizza made with sourdough bread
- Italian wines and Peroni beer from Italy are available in the drink menu
- The pizzas range from about $25 to $35
A Great Experience
Dante’s Pizza in Ponsonby is designed with a relaxed and rustic atmosphere. The indoor and outdoor dining environments make you feel like you’re in Italy.
The people at Dante’s also treat the guests like family members. They respect the desires the customers have, and they’re always willing to see how they can accommodate certain needs. The place even offers vegan and gluten-free options as necessary.
What’s the Pizza Like?
Dante’s Pizza makes Neapolitan-style pizza. The pizza features a pillow-like crust and mozzarella cheese.
The team prepares its pizzas with sourdough, a bread type with a sour taste that blends well with the pizza’s ingredients. The dough produces a fluffy crust that goes down easily.
You’ve got various pizzas worth trying at Dante’s. We found the pizzas were large enough for about two or three people. The team prepares pizzas that are very filling and easy to consume.
Everything is well-prepared, especially as the vegetables and meats are cooked well without being too rough. We found each bite to be delicious, plus the sourdough crust added a nice touch.
We enjoyed the Carne pizza, which features salami, pork, and fennel sausages. The cherry tomatoes spread on top fit in well with the rest of the pizza.
But you’ve also got many other pizzas worth exploring here, including:
- Margherita pizza with tomato, basil, mozzarella, and extra virgin olive oil
- Contadina pizza with artichoke, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms
- Calzone with spinach and salami
- Bufalina with Buffalo mozzarella and basil
What About Other Foods?
While Dante’s Pizza is best known for its pizzas, you’ll find many other foods worth exploring while you dine here. Some of the foods available at Dante’s Pizza include these:
- Start your meal with garlic pizza bread or some strips of the pizzeria’s sourdough.
- The pasta entrees include spaghetti in many forms, including Spaghetti Bolognese with slow-cooked beef.
- The Fettucine features a fresh tomato sauce.
- The lasagna features roasted carrots and onions.
- The salads include a Caprese salad with mozzarella and tomato. You’ll also find a Mediterranean salad with onions, olives, feta cheese, and balsamic reduction.
- End your meal with one of the desserts here, including Italian gelato with a shot of espresso. The place also serves a calzone filled with strawberries and Nutella.
What About Good Drinks?
You’ll enjoy the drink menu at Dante’s Pizza. You’ll find various Italian wines on the menu, including Chardonnay and Chianti.
You can also order Peroni beer while dining here. You can request a Peroni Leggera, a beer from Italy with a Pale European style. Dante’s also serves Peroni Libera, an alcohol-free beer.
You can stick with various nonalcoholic drinks if you prefer. Dante’s serves apple and pineapple juice, Schweppes dry lemonade, and Coca-Cola products. The drink menu has something for everyone, whether you want something simple, or you want to enjoy a true Italian dinner.
Our Final Verdict
We were impressed with the atmosphere of Dante’s Pizza, plus we enjoyed the great food they have to offer and the variety of drink choices on the menu. The people here were friendly and respectful, and they ensured we got the food we wanted the first time. The place was also affordable and enjoyable. We strongly recommend Dante’s Pizza to anyone looking for an exciting pizza or Italian restaurant in Auckland’s Ponsonby region.
