Your Guide to Pizzeria Vetri

The Melanzana at Pizzeria Vetri | Photo by Courtney Apple

Pizzeria Vetri has made national news over the past couple of days because of Urban Outfitters announcement that it was purchasing Marc Vetri’s pizza chain and the rest of his restaurants (minus the eponymous Vetri). Headlines have blared “Why Urban Outfitters Made Its Controversial Pizza Purchase,” “Urban Drops After Saying It Will Buy Pizza Chain” and “It Will Take More Than a Pizza Party to Sure Up Urban Outfitters.” The business end of the deal has been covered excellently by our business reporter Jared Shelly, but we’re the food guys, and we want to talk pizza.

So for all the Wall Street analysts, URBN stockholders, University of Texas Seniors and everyone else who has been meaning to try Marc Vetri’s jump into casual dining, here is your guide to getting the most out of Pizzeria Vetri.

What do I have to get?

Rotolo | Courtney Apple

Since the opening of the first Pizzeria Vetri on Callowhill Street in Philadelphia the rotolo has been the must-have dish. It is pizza dough, wrapped around mortadella and ricotta then baked in the oven. It comes out like a savory Cinnabon that is then drizzled with a pistachio pesto. Get your own because you won’t want to share.

How about the pizza?

We tend to be purists at Foobooz, usually opting for the Margherita or a Marinara. And on some days, Pizzeria Vetri can claim to have the best in the city. But other times we’ve been left a little limp by the plain pies. But what Vetri brings to the table that most Neapolitan pizza spots can’t, is access to tremendous ingredients. So order the Melanzana, with crushed San Marzano tomatoes, eggplant, stracciatella cheese and oregano, or for the meat lover, get the Salsiccia topped with fennel sausage. Or better yet, listen closely to the specials, that’s where Vetri’s ability to get the best in-season ingredients really shines.

I’m a New Yorker and I’m not sure I should ever leave Manhattan, what do you have for me? 

Rittenhouse Pizza – White pizza topped with lobster | Photo by Arthur Etchells

Glad that you asked. You’ll want to get the Rittenhouse Pizza, it’s a white pizza baked with Parmesan and scamorza (like a smoked mozzarella) cheeses and afterwards it is bedazzled with a generous amount of lobster that is coated in olive oil, parsley and lemon juice. As Marc Vetri is fond of saying, “boom.”

What if I’m on a budget?

Pizza al Taglio: Pistachio Salumenta with Mozzarella & Fresh Oregano | Instagram

One of our favorite under $10 lunches recently has been ordering a rotolo and the pizza al taglio. Usually two styles are offered of the puffy, focaccia-like pizza , one with meat and one vegetarian. Save money at lunch, more money for shopping. AmIrightWallStreet?

Anything for the Sweet tooth? 

The Affogato is the way to go.

If you’re thinking about something sweet, Pizzeria Vetri can satisfy that craving. The Nutella pizza with marshmallow is one over the top way to go. So is the fried pizza dough with citrus fennel sugar. But don’t sleep on the soft-serve. The fior di latte is always on the menu and it can be twisted with the seasonal flavor, or make dessert a pick-me-up as an affogato, soft-serve plus a shot of espresso.

Pizzeria Vetri – Callowhill [Foobooz]
Pizzeria Vetri – Rittenhouse [Foobooz]
Pizzeria Vetri [Official]