Ribalta Pizza

OH MY PIZZA. So ive made it clear I LOVE neopolitan pizza. This place is trendy, great location, good prices and great selection.
They give bread when you sit so automatic win. I split the buratta with my friend– my very first– and it was HEAVEN. It basically melted in my mouth it was fantastic. Their wine selection is on point and their pizzas are even better. We OF COURSE split the hot dog and french fry pizza and what an experience that was. They also have buffalo mozz which is my altime favorite so this was basically the greatest thing in life.
There was a predicament with the table next to us and the staff handeled it perfectly and the manager was incredibly accommodating and generous– customer is always right! Always good to see. This is also right by NYU and Greenwich so you’re in an awesome spot.

We came here on a whim after finishing a movie at union square. While the food was good, it wasn’t memorable enough for me to describe what we ate and how it tasted.
However I do remember the place was filled with festive chatter and the music kind of overpowered it, so it was hard to hear what my boyfriend was saying across the table.
We probably won’t be coming back. It just didn’t leave an impression with us.

Went there with an Italian friend who highly recommended it. So far it’s the best pizza (neapolitan style) I’ve tried in NYC. the menu is cool and it does feel authentic. Maybe that’s why around 50% of customers were Italians. Best thing is that they let you create your own pizza. I also appreciated the design of the menu itself (it’s big but manageable, 2 pages with a clean design).
We shared the ‘pizza in pala’ (big enough for 2) and it was amazing, more like a focaccia for my taste however it was crunchy outside and soft inside, plus tomato and eggplant were fresh, which is something I don’t take for granted.
The place is clean and not too bright, even though I’m not a big fan of white and red together. music was kind of loud but unfortunately it seems it’s the norm in NYC. Little disappointed to see wait staff with different attire, I mean pretty much everyone had a red apron but please no ripped jeans.
Bottom line: I’ll be back!

Great gluten free and regular pizza. Great service and ambiance too! May want to ask for the GF pizza crispy or well done but it’s the best around USQ.

Went here for dinner after my son said this was the best pizza in NYC. Gotta say it was pretty much downhill after those lofty expectations. It’s a beautiful space. Pizzas are OK. We had the white 4-​cheese which was good and the basic margherita with basil and another with garlic. Nothing wrong. I wasnt blown away by the red sauce or the crust of any of the pies. Service was good. Honestly, after reading some reviews here and elsewhere I was expecting to be blown away. No love affair at all, nothing wrong with it but it didnt rock me at all.

Came here on a whim one mid-​afternoon from a recommendation and left thoroughly satisfied after our late lunch/​early dinner. My boyfriend keeps a gluten-​free diet, so whenever a pizza place of this caliber has a GF option, we are all over it. A while back a friend had sent me this article (translated):
from an Italian Food Magazine rating Ribalta, NYC’s best pizza. So what the hell was I waiting for?
The restaurant was pretty empty when we got in a little after 4 on a Monday during the holidays, so no problems with getting seating or attentive service. One of the first things I noticed, which is pretty evident after spending more than 10 minutes inside, is that this place is run by Italians. The owners, and even some of the waitstaff and cooks, were all conversing in Italian. This struck a chord with me because it made the environment and meal seem that much more authentic.
We had the seafood salad to start, which was delicious. It looks like it’s going to be a small portion but that bowl is actually pretty deep and filled to the brim. Everything was super tender and well seasoned. I ordered the Capricciosa (Mozzarella, Prosciutto Cotto, Mushrooms and Artichokes sans Olives) and the boy had a GF Briganti (Mozzarella, Salami & Spicy Oil). I found the saltiness of my pizza to be overpowering, even though I should have expected that to some extent given the toppings-​I can’t even imagine adding olives into the mix. The bottom crust was also a little soggy in the middle, which was unfortunate because once I got to the charred rim I thought the dough was delicious. Get an extra side of sauce for dipping! I had a small piece of my boyfriend’s pie, and even though it didn’t look as appealing as mine, it tasted great. The dough had some height to it and just the right amount of spice from the oil and salami.
I definitely want to come back and give this pizza another try, especially because of its accolades. Next time, I’m going with my initial gut instinct and getting the Porcini e Pancetta!

Such a great find in Union Square. After searching for a place for what it seemed like 30 minutes, I got onto Unilocal and found Ribalta.
Even at 9:45pm, Ribalta was bustling. For two people, we had to wait 10 – 15 minutes for a table which was a tad annoying because there were tables for four open. Once seated, the service was a little slow but A OK.
The restaurant doesn’t disappoint with a great ambiance. I ordered the Capricciosa and a chardonnay. The pizza was phenomenal and reminded me of many pizzas I had devoured in Europe.
Would definitely come again and do assorted plates/​pizzas with friends!

Great pizza and pasta! Tons of vegetarian options as well and the caprese dessert is amazing!

Cute little Italian/​pizza joint right off of Union square. I think something about the ambience/​seating arrangement kind of threw me off — I don’t quite know what kind of vibe they’re going for or who they’re aiming to cater to. I guess we were lucky to have gotten seated immediately because the place was packed when we left. Ambience aside, the food is good and the service is great.
We both got pizzas and a salad to share. The salad was fine, but nothing impressive. The pizzas, however, were pretty tasty and the dough was perfectly chewy in all the right places. It’s the neapolitan style pizza, so you’re looking for the soft dough, the slight char and that place where the sauce and almost undercooked crust meet to become the perfect bite. One of the owners is a former owner of Keste, so it’s got that same standard of taste and quality that I’m used to seeing.
Service was excellent, as our waiter was very friendly, charming and quick. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for Italian or pizza in this area.

Great service happy people and great food! Also nice beer and wine! Close to movie theater so great for a date and across from the strand! Extra bonus vinyl record store right next door!

Hung out at the bar for a networking event. The hostess was incredibly dense when I asked where my party was… it didn’t occur to her that the large gathering at the bar was it, I kept telling her the name of the event/​party and she kept asking me for a person’s name! Then she told me I was the first of my party to arrive, which would’ve been impossible because the event started almost an hour before I showed up. My Nero d’Avola was good as was service at the bar. They let you taste the wine before they pour the whole glass, which is great. We tried their margharita pizza and it was just ok. I was not impressed. I’ve had good pizza in Italy and this didn’t even come close to being authentic. Too much crust and the crust was too doughy. Not enough ingredients on top, it just tasted like you were eating slightly burnt and very dry bread. Sadly, Ribalta did nothing for me.

Had a great meal last night! Our server, Stefano, was AMAZING! Super charming, he had great recommendations and true passion for food. I had the Gnocchi which was super good and my date had pizza which was great too (he’s italian so he wouldn’t stop talking on how it tasted just like home)
Great food, great service, I will definitely be back!

Picked up their Marinara Pizza Rosse $ 10.00 (Basil, garlic and oregano. Prepared in the best Neapolitan tradition. A soft and thick dough.) was pretty solid.
Missed the Scoutmob deal way back. Also featured on an i-​italy ep and on Zagat for their french fry pie

Pasta portions are on the small side but the individual pizzas are just right. Really enjoyed my time here because their pesto is super creamy and loaded with the deliciousness one expects from the decadent sauce. We had the pleasure of of sharing the burrata and truffle for starters and we ended the meal with their dessert that was not on the menu, torta nonna.
One star deducted because we were given seats outside when there were plenty inside.
Another one removed because the waiter who took our orders seemed to be rushing us, asking, «Do you have any questions about the menu?» I thought to myself, «Yeah, can you give me a minute?» but instead I answered with, «No, thanks.»

3.5 stars. Potential for 4 with better service.
Went here for a Sunday dinner (6:30pm). I enjoyed a Pizza Margarita. It was good, though the sauce a little runny. Letting it sit briefly somewhat fixed that problem and it firmed up a little more.
The pizza is best for 1 person — there are 4 slices and unless ou just want a very light meal it will not be enough to share.
Service was just average, and a little anxious. Throughout our stay the waitress seemed to come by at inopportunte times, but most annoying was that she asked if we wanted dessert or just the check while my friend still had her dinner plate in front of her and was still finishing up her chicken. Most inexplicable, since here was nobody waiting for a table and turnover was clearly not urgent. Maybe she wanted to leave and just needed us out? I have no idea.
The décor was nice but unfotunately there were too GIGANTIC TVs that appeared to be screens that could drop down or raise. I suppose if there was a major sports event that would be acceptable, but there wasn’t. So, we were in a non-​sports-​bar-​type restaurants with extremely distracting TVs on ESPN. It was out of place and inappropriate for the atmosphere.

This place is AMAZING!
The food is incredible everything from the appetizers to the pizza was delish and super authentic.
The service was great, everyone from the hostess to the bussers were really friendly.
We had Christina as our server and she was super sweet and had some really great recommendations. The restaurant is also super cute and the prices are reasonable
Ribalta you are awesome!!! :D

I sought out Ribalta because they are a member of VPN America, which stands for Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana. It’s an int’l organization that certifies pizzaiolis and pizza establishments as legit with regard to Neapolitan standards. Ribalta is one of only two such places in NYC, so I had to give them a try.
In general, I thought the pizza was good. I should clarify that we got takeout and brought it back to the office, so in fairness to them, the conditions for sampling the goods were not ideal. Wait time, travel time, etc. all affected the experience. Nevertheless, the ingredients were all super fresh, the sauce was well balanced and the crust was decent. Not the best I’ve had, but definitely passable. I think I owe it to them to eat in next time. They have several pie options and also allow you to design your own. Be warned, the prices are steep and the pies are not particularly big. If you’re a big eater, it’s going to cost you.
I probably won’t run back here, but I’m glad I checked them out. It’s definitely good pizza, though I’m not sure I would consider it a destination, even if they are certifiably legit.

This has become a favorite pizza spot of mine. I find myself abandoning the classic NY cheese slice on a folded white paper plate more and more in favor of an extensive sit down at Ribalta.
The atmosphere is as casual as its staff (in a good way). Dinner time can get crowded and noisy with it being further amplified in its double-​height ceilings, but that is to be expected with a popular place.
I had half pizza napoletana rossa with roasted eggplants, cherry tomatoes and parmeggiano. The double bake did wonders for the toppings.
The other half was their napoletana Bianca. The cheese was so creamy and addictive.
Considering how superb the pizza was, 28 bucks for the pie was a steal.

3.5÷5 for me here
This is my third time around here and I still enjoyed it overall. The restaurant was about half full on a Monday night, but the service was a bit slower (especially with the drinks) than normal which is why I dropped it a half star. The ambiance here is very modern and casual but it is in a great location. It is very spacious and clean inside and there is also a big projector to watch your favorite soccer games (Italian) should you choose to do so.
Getting to the food, we tried the burrata with truffles and arugula which was very good. We also did the baby octopus in San Marzano tomatoes that is very traditional to Naples which was also very good. Be sure to use some of the toasted bread to soak up all the sauce when you are done with the octopus. For our entrees, we tried 3 pizzas… Ribalta, which is my favorite (sausage, broccoli rabe and mozzarella), a Margherita and then an eggplant and parmeggiano. All of the pizzas were cooked well done and had excellent flavors and I would highly recommend.
I finished off the meal with an espresso which was very good. For everything we ordered and having 1 cocktail each, including tax and tip it came out to about $ 50/​person which I think is fair for the city. I am sure to be back should I be in the area for a pizza or even to watch a soccer game.
Buon appetito.

So we ordered a pizza topped with hot dogs and french fries, because:
1. Ruggy told us to.
2. It was a pizza topped with hot dogs and french fries. How could we not.
And as we’re eating it, everyone around the table is all, «I’m really surprised; it’s so good!»
I, for one, was not surprised in the LEAST. Of COURSE it’s good. There was no chance it wasn’t going to be good. Perhaps not good FOR you, but we are genetically disposed toward loving this pizza. I said it. If you don’t like it, there’s something wrong with your genes.
And in case you think this is some lowbrow takeout joint based on that Americana pizza, let me learn you a thing or two:
The space is gorgeously laid out with high ceilings, a beautiful open kitchen, and the service to match. Located just south of Union Square, it’s a great choice for a work lunch, or dinner with friends.
The food matches the atmosphere: they make excellent salads, the brussels sprouts are tasty, and the charred octopus is as tender as can be. The legit Neopolitan crust on the hot dog pizza was charred ever so slightly, and had a nice bite, and if you’re into more sophisticated flavors, I highly recommend the Ribalta pie (broccoli rabe and sausage) as well as the quattro formaggio or however you say four-​cheese in Italian.
(I don’t know romance languages. I’m not classy. Which you already knew from my advocacy for the hot dog/​french fry pizza.)