Imbriglio's Pizzeria Napoletana

Excellent pizza - as if you're sitting in a cafe in Naples Italy!

I have to say: I’m glad to see the slow evolution in Rhode Island from this strictly Italian American food that bears no semblance to anything in Italy to something a bit more authentic. Sardella’s seems to try to bridge that divide with Imbriglio’s. It is high time the Italian American restaurants start introducing patrons who may not have the luxury to travel to Italy to food and products that are closer to what one might actually get in Italy. The Neapolitan pizza is a good example. Our Margherita pizza was a little over cooked and a true Neapolitan pizza should be crisp with charred bubbles but have a pillowy crust as soon as you bite into it. Chewy yet light. It should also require a forms and knife to eat because the fresh mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes should make an also soupy, delightful center with a very thin bottom and almost dissolves, leaving you with a ring of delicious crust to enjoy (or maybe dip into the sauce left over from your meatballs. The cocktails were standard and good (Manhattan and Negroni) and the meatballs tasty. They have a good high breadcrumb ratio, as they should, as meatballs are from la cucina povera—a food created out of necessity. We took a tiramisu to go. It held up well and was yummy before bed (oops!)
I am not convinced that the olive oil on the table was actually olive oil. I hope they change that. It was light yellow and tasted maybe like vegetable oil.
The pizza critique is not meant to assume ignorance on the part of the owner. Sometimes you just have to ease American customer into something new and novel. Maybe that’s what going on at Sardella’s? Either way, it seems like a good thing.
Last thing: there was a tall gentleman who greeted us from behind the bar (lovely and interesting design and layout of the space with indoor/ outdoor/ and hybrid options!) with a friendly shout and that was a nice touch. Warm hospitality and a friendly smile are not the easiest to find on this little island in the smallest state in the union, that that went a long way. Thanks for a lovely evening. Definitely worth a stop on your trip to Newport.

Fantastic pizza and a great staff!