Settebello, named for the most sought after card in the popular Italian card game Scopa, is a wonderful new restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City. Now, although Settebello is a pizzeria, it is most definitely not “just another pizzeria”. Settebello is different. They are a certified member of Vera Pizza Napoletana, or true Neapolitan pizza. While they are the only VPN member in Utah, this is not too surprising, as there are only 16 VPN members in the United States as a whole. For more information about Vera Pizza Napoletana, see the quote from their website at the end of this post.

A true Italian Pizza, these are each handmade, are never greasy, and have that wonderful wood-fired taste. The flavors of the ingredients all come through in each bite. Bright and clean, these pizzas are fantastic! Don’t expect to find a pepperoni or meat lovers pizza here. No deep dish either. You will find only real crushed tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, fresh mozzarella, and other classic ingredients like salami, prosciutto, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, olives, pine nuts, anchovies, or mushrooms. A more Italian pizza, you will not find anywhere. At least not in the US.

A recent find (introduced to me by Joe), Phở Green Papaya has become my absolute favorite Vietnamese restaurant. The ingredients are fresh, the atmosphere is classy, and the service is impeccable. There is an incredible variety of selections on their six page menu. Although I have by no means tried them all, everything I have tried has been top notch. Their prices are reasonable too — my most recent meal, consisting of tea, an appetizer, and a large bowl of phở, came to less than $19, including a generous tip.

When you go, start with an appetizer. Though not typical Vietnamese fare, their chicken satays are fantastic — coconutty, lightly sweet, moist and tender. I like the fresh spring rolls (Gỏi cuốn), but their crispy, deep fried rolls (Chả giò) are also excellent.

See the main Tsunami post

See the main Tsunami post