Pizzeria Di Matteo

Pizzeria Di Matteo is a long-running pizzeria at Via dei Tribunali 94 in the historic centre of Naples, Campania, Italy. It sits on the same pizza-lined street as several of the city's best-known names and is recognised mainly for its fried pizza and for the street-side fritti counter at its doorway. The cuisine is classic Neapolitan: pizza made with soft, airy dough, tomato, mozzarella and basil, alongside the fried snacks that are a deep part of the city's street-food culture. The signature dishes are the pizza fritta, the fried folded pizza filled and served hot, and the margherita, plus small fried street snacks such as crocche (potato croquettes) and arancini that are sold from the counter and eaten standing or on the move. The specialty is this combination of sit-down pizza and take-away fritti, which lets visitors sample the street-food side of Naples without committing to a full meal. The dining room is plain, busy and informal, with a working-pizzeria atmosphere, brisk service and a noise level that rises when queues build. There is no dress code and no elaborate beverage programme; soft drinks, beer and simple wine accompany the food. Prices are low, with a margherita costing roughly EUR 5-7 (about $6-$8), and fried snacks cost less than that. Reservations are not accepted, so visitors queue at the door, and waits grow at peak lunch and dinner times, in the tourist season and at weekends. The pizzeria is generally closed on Sunday and for about two weeks in August, and sources differ on exact opening times, so confirmation locally is advisable. The location is a short walk from the Naples cathedral, the Spaccanapoli street and the archaeological museum district, which makes it an easy stop between sights. Many visitors use the counter for a quick fried snack when the dining room queue is long, and then return for a seated pizza at a quieter hour.