Wow. This place was SO good. I cannot recommend it enough. The food was so tasty and the staff were very accommodating. The nice lady and man who we were served by were 10/10. They were so kind and so polite. I couldn’t of asked for better. The pizza was SO tasty highly recommend the fungo pizza. Am definitely going to come back here
I’ve been here twice and these guys make the best traditional Margherita pizza so far. Love the fresh mozzarella cheese, the amount of basil they put on, pizza crust is perfect and olive oil to top it off. Makes me want to head there now as I write this review. So yummy!
We were greeted by a really friendly staff who provided us with really great recommendations. Had bufalina and diavola pizzas. Both were really great and we absolutely loved the pizza dough. The staff told us it takes two whole days for them to make their pizza doughs and that’s what makes them so light. Bufalina was delicious with fresh cherry tomatoes, basil and buffalo mozzarella. The taste of diavola was stronger with all the salami and chorizos but my boyfriend who is a meatlover really enjoyed it.
Delicious pizza and awesome location in the heart of Ponsonby. I had the Margherita pizza, which I loved!
Damn Dante's always pulls through. Came here for a pizza with my mum and it was 10/10 delish! I love love love the Dante's in Takapuna so decided to go to the Ponsonby one and it's just as good. The pizza's are so good because they're wood-fired and full of Italian flavours, yum. My mum and I got a Margarita and I have no complaints it was devine. Defienlty recommend. x
Great pizza! Was nestled in a quaint spot with exceptional staff and heaters!
Good to watch the chef create through a timely wooden old world window...could have been little Italy!
100% the best place for pizza in Auckland, I’m yet to find a more authentic taste. The service is always superb dinning in - although I prefer to sit at the beach and enjoy
Great pizza bases with tasty, fresh ingredients. Tastes very authentic, expensive but I think it’s definitely worth it for the quality of the food!
Went there for dinner. They were busy as always. Liked theirs pizza with crunchy base, creamy sauce and friesh ingridients . Service was good and up beat atmosphere. Parking at the back sometimes is very busy.
The pizza here is great, it’s actually better than some of the pizza I tried in Rome! And it’s the closest in Auckland to an authentic Italian pizza pie! The price is maybe a little much for a regular visit but it’s worth a try for some unique and flavoursome pizza. The location is nice and staff are very friendly! Def recommended! 🍕
When people ask where to get the best pizza in Auckland, we immediately direct them to Dante's in Ponsonby! I usually love pizza with cured ham and other delicious ingredients but at Dante's it was not my favorite, we sampled a few different pizzas and we all thought the Buffalina was the best pizza ever! I now always come back for the Buffalina, the quality of the ingredients are amazing on that one, very good Buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and generous drop of extra virgin olive oil.
We highly recommend to try this one out!!
I review very few pizzeria. This is one of them. A nice boutique pizzeria with compact seating, dante's pizzeria serves woodfire pizza which is very flavourful, fresh and piping hot. it is very filling and a glass of red wine goes perfectly with it.
amazing pizza!!! cool vibe, great service. Have come back a few times more and it's still amazing!!! will keep come back for there pizza!!!!
Been here quite a few times for the pizza, which is the best pizza on the shore!!! Would give 5 stars, but they put a lemon slice and green grapes on our tiramisu the last time we went, which is just wrong!
Love the vibe here. Real authentic italian. The pizza was amazing with the normal soggy base. The pasta was also divine. Even my fussy kids loved it
I am Italian, and I must say, the pizza at Dante is fantastic. The pizza chefs are a great yarn and the whole atmosphere was fantastic. It's good to see that you can find great "like home" products here in Auckland.
We’ve been hunting Auckland for truly authentic Italian pizza and Dante’s is it. We’ve been before and we’re delighted with the rocket and pancetta salad and pizzas but this time we were blown away. We ordered a simple Regina Margherita with buffalo mozzarella and an Alfredo with spinach and pancetta and oh my... the two dishes shared were perfect together. The creamy, salty pasta and crisp, fresh, flavoursome pizza were ideal companions, completely satisfying. Lovely staff too. Highly recommended.
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We were lucky enough to nab a table here on a Friday night without a reservation.
The service we received was lovely with our server checking up on us at just the right moments.
Our group of 4 ordered a Minara and Margherita to share. The pizzas came out relatively fast and we're hot straight from the oven. The pizzas had a wonderful char with blacken spots all over. Dante's Pizzeria's dough is probably one of the best in New Zealand (of the one's I've tried). The crust is crispy with a great chewiness. The pizza itself had a fresh and light tomato sauce. Very simple so you can taste all the ingredients.
My fault would have to be how cramped Dante's is. I felt as though I was trapped inside a plastic bubble. I was practically sitting back to back with a guy from the table behind me. And the tables are oriented oddly, either facing a wall or with the chairs bolted to the floor directly infront of the table leg making it uncomfortable to sit.
For $20 for the Marinara and $24 for the Margherita, We found the pizzas to be overpriced especially compared to the portion size. Don't get me wrong, the ingredients were fresh and of high quality but the price didn't match the quality.
Dante's pizzas are a homage to the classic Sicilian slice but isn't the best place to come to for a vegan pizza, you only have 1 option which is the Marinara.
My favourite pizza spot in Auckland!! Authentic and homey food that will leave you wanting more. Great location and Friendly service. The food is always fresh and oven baked right before your eyes. The pasta is fresh and has a generous amount of sauce and topping.
This is how Neapolitan pizza meant to be. I can't believe I am able to taste such authentic pizza here in Auckland. Saucy San marzano tomato, buffalo mozzarella, soft, yet crispy base. Just perfect 👌
Pizza made to perfection coupled with a Peroni. What more could you want. Amazing staff that go above and beyond! I've been here many times and the consistency is there every time.
I'm so glad I found Dante's, I finally found a decent pizza spot in Auckland! Our pizza were beautifully fresh and just bloody perfect - I have no words. Oh it's all about the base Dante's pizza... it's all about the bass.
I stumbled upon this place whilst walking around Ponsonby. It's only small but it's warm, friendly and inviting. The pizza was absolutely delicious, true authentic Italian! I had buffalo mozzarella, spinach, cherry tomatoes and salami. I will defo be back. My only slight criticism was that the pizza had a little too much oil on it.
Literally the best pizza you could have in Auckland! I took my parents here and they loved this place! Dante's offered warm service and delicious food, much more than what I expected! Really enjoyed the meal! We ordered four kinds of pizza. All of them are tasty! To me, Diavola is the most outstanding one! Mom's favorite is the one without tomato sauce that recommended by the staff. All the pizzas we ordered taste rich. Thank you Dante's! :)
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OH MY GOODNESS. I had the most wonderful experience at Dante’s Pizzeria last week – great food, great ambience, and excellent customer service that I just can’t fault. We were attended to and seated very promptly, and after being given the menu I was checked up on twice by two different staff members if I was ready to order and/or if I was being looked after. Our pizza was served quite quickly with our drinks – we went for the $35 one with the many different varieties of cheese and it was lovely. The base was really nicely made, very crispy and just the right amount of thickness. And the cheese! We were also recommended the Nutella calzone for our dessert instead of the one I’d picked out beforehand, and it was a delight – one definitely feeds two, and the presentation was just beautiful.
As much as I enjoyed our meal, what I enjoyed the most was interacting with the staff, who were all very warm and friendly and genuinely seemed to love working there. It’s very rare to find an eatery with great food and such a nice welcoming atmosphere where their staff are clearly treated well. Will be back for sure.
This pizza was totally delish! I loved how there were very few ingredients and they were all fresh. Did you know it only takes 90 seconds in the oven for these pizzas to be done? Seal of approval by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana...approved by Italians what more could you need! One happy pizza eater here.
Highly recommend this place for a pizza night! I am not really into pizza, but this is literally the best pizza i've ever had in Auckland!!! My friend and me had a really good meal at Dante's. Diavola was sooooo damn good. You gotta try this if you enjoy spicy food! And the one with mushroom was delicious as well! Service was really lovely :D Thanks guys!
Pictures show how we ate two of them :D So delicious that any piece cannot be wasted!
Came here for a small bite late on Friday night. Had some beers and a pizza. Loved the simplicity of decor, menu and food. So many options for vegetarians. Service was fast and lovely staff. We ordered primavera pizza, was delish. Prices for beer and pizza were very good. Looking forward to visiting again and trying more from the menu. I wish you had a few more options coffee other than espresso.
Very good pizza very good service. Would def go back.
Took family who we visiting from Canada and they loved it. The pizzas are great and the wine selection is 👌
Delicious pizza and we also had a caprese salad. Both were really good. Great service as well. Overall I'd definitely recommend it. We'll be back.
Nicely cooked, requiring almost no effort to chew and swallow. Pleasantly surprised. Located in Ponsonby central around the middle section. Worth a try or two I would say.
Came here this afternoon, pizza was excellent and well made. HOWEVER, I think I was overcharged as I only ordered a Margherita Pizza which costs $24 on the menu and a can of Coke. When I came to pay the bill, the man entered the price on the Eftpos machine, I swiped my card and entered my pin without looking at the price he just put on the machine (my fault), but when I got home several hours later, I looked at my bank balance and receipt that I was charged $39 in total for a can of Coke and pizza.
(The waiter was extremely friendly when serving; last time I came here, I think it he served me as well and I remember we had quite a long conversation)
This is my second time here, and the food did not disappoint, however am disappointed about being overcharged in the end.
Would give this restaurant a 5/5 if not about the incident!
Divine pizza done by authentic passionate foodies. The real deal nothing quite like it. Kevin and his team are awesome! From now on each time you will have a pizza somewhere else you will always compare as reference. The ultimate pizza really: the "prosciutto" one is what you want, dont even fake it. Love it 😍
Great Italian pizza (and you can trust my word since I was born and raised in the beautiful boot-shaped Country...)
We had a Margherita and one Alla Romana pizza, a bottle of nice Italian wine and an affogato as well!!
Service casual but friendly :)
This is definitely the best pizza in Auckland, the ingredients are of great quality! The only place in Auckland where chorizo taste like real chorizo!
The staff is also really friendly, always a good time :) thanks alot!
Very authentic pizza, quick and friendly service. We had the carne and con prosciutto pizza, both very tasty. Would love to come back more often. Definitely worth what we paid for it!
Definitely bookmark this one & pay a visit.
Search out on Sunday morning for pizza and found this place. Phoned & checked was open.
Place was very neat. Staff were extremely friendly & services was A+
Tried vegetarian with a few added toppings. Delicious gourmet and definitely worth trying
Fantastic flavoursome pizzas. Not cheap but well worth the spend and probably the best pizzas in NZ. Also a great range of flavour options and staff who are always friendly.
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Authentic Italian food! Escatatic to come here after hearing/ reading all the reviews! We were seated immediately and greeted politely by the staff. As a group of 4 we decided on ordering 3 pizzas and a couple of glasses of wine. We definitely wanted to try the margherita and prosciutto pizza but asked our server if he could put chicken in the fungo pizza. He replied that it's an insult to the food and would not be able to do it. A little taken aback but we went ahead with fungo as it was. In hindsight we all agreed even the devout meatlovers, the margherita was the best and all 3 pizzas should have been that option.
The pizza base was thin and delicate in the middle with the buffalo cheese and olive oil in a pool on top. The scattering of basil leaves and its aroma on top was perfect.
However, it would have been better if the staff had asked whether we would like any black pepper or seasoning on top.
The atmosphere here was really pleasant and not too loud despite all the other restaurants nearby.
Simple classic pizzas done right
Very limited seating which is a disappointment
great service and location, situated in the heart of ponsonby central
Very traditional italian
Went to Dante on a Friday night at Ponsonby Central, the place was packed, we were greeted with an excellent, fast service.
The pizza was perfect, I say PERFECT and I am Italian and a pizza baker !
The pizza at Dante is consistently as good as they made it in Napoli: puffy chewy borders slightly burnt, thin in the middle with a beautiful topping of real mozzarella and fresh tomato sauce, olive oil, basil. All the ingredients were well balanced and well cocked, for me Dante's pizza is the best in town.
Seriously good traditional pizza with an uncomplicated menu - less is really more. I'm a vegetarian and I was stoked with the options. Beats all the other Italian restaurants in Auckland for pizza hands down. See you again Dante's!
Chorizo Reale Pizza was very good, recommended Peroni matched it well. Great for a simple n quick bite to eat, maitre d' was good with the chat as well :)
Let me first start off by saying their chorizo pizza is AMAZING and I would walk miles for it. Dante's has changed my world of pizza for good, never again will I go back to cheap pizza. Service is amazing and there isn't too much of a wait. These guys really do know what they're doing. Definitely a highlight in Ponsonby Central.
My husband and I had been into the city to the IMAX to see the Star Wars movie on New Years Eve. We then decided to drive to Ponsonby to see if Dante's was open - it was to our delight. We ordered 2 pizzas - Marherita and Marinara and a glass of Chianti for me and a glass of Peroni on tap for Bill. We had a considerable wait for our pizzas, as they were busy, but well worth the wait. These are the best pizzas outside of Naples. Worth seeking out and trying.
I came here for the first time tonight with my Italian friend who loves this place and of course knows the way authentic Italian pizza should taste.
It was delicious! The menu is kept simple, with only a few different pizza options and toppings. I'm a classic kind of girl so my all time favourite pizza is the margherita, which did not disappoint. The ingredients are fresh and the base is cooked perfectly.
Highly recommend this place if your craving a good, Italian style pizza! Definately one of my favourite pizza places now.
One of two certified pizzeria's in the country, so you know what you're getting is the same as what you would get in Naples! I am in love with the Regina Margherita pizza and constantly amazed at how something so simple can be so flavourful. One thing I would recommend doing if ordering multiple pizzas is order them one at a time. You really want to finish these pizzas in under 5 minutes as the flavour changes drastically after that. And it's not like there is a long wait for the pizzas as they only take 90 seconds to cook! The manager and staff are extremely friendly and accommodating and will go out of their way to make sure you have a great dining experience. The Al Fresco dining is also a great plus, but it can get a little bit crowded sometimes. Overall I love the service and food at Dante's and the ambience is nice too. I definitely plan on coming back many more times.
Love Dantes! This is a cute little pizza joint at the back of ponsonby central. Really cool vibe, with italian red wine and pizza. The takapuna store is bigger and more restaurant based, this is more for a date venue, catch up with friends place. It is nice and casual and super tasty! Order a whole pizza for yourself its so good!! I've eaten pizza all over the world and this is great! Apparently Dantes is the only place in NZ with accreditation from naples for authentic pizza. I have eaten pizza in naples itself the home of pizza and Dantes know how to do it!!
Pizza is my favourite food and I have been looking for a great place for long time in Auckland. I have tried many and many and this is actually the best. Their pizza is simple as it should be but extremely delicious. They are very quick pleasant to meet and very clean. In particular Briden and David are lovely and quit on to it. Great location
Beautiful authentic Italian pizza. Had the Chorizo Reale which was simple but oozed flavour. Charming chefs and wait staff too. Will definitely be back!
Enjoyed a lovely prosciutto pizza and a fungo pizza for a late lunch. Good quality pizza, nice chewy thin base but was slightly soggy at the tip on half the pizza.
I liked the tomato sauce but the wife thought it a bit sweet.
Great location in Ponsonby Central building.
Note this place does not accept credit cards.
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Num Num, Taste of Napoli Baby! Thank you Dantes Pizzeria for bringing me right back to Italy again.
The authentic flavors were absolutely delicious and I adored the bubbly , quirky Italian waiter. I am literally always in Ponsonby Central and was always extremely disappointed.. as I am Gluten Free and all I could ever do was enjoy the smells as I thought that Dantes was a NO GO ZONE.. thankfully having been approached by the waiter whilst standing outside.. to my surprise he informed that their Traditional Approach to creating the pizza, using Sour Dough.. meant that it is Gluten Free(Not Coeliac however) and I must admit, I polished off the Entire thing , much to my companions suprize.. myself being a tiny 5ft2 female :)
Anyway, I would absolutely 100 percent go back there again as i would like to try more of there options on the menu. My only suggestion would be a slightly more complex wine menu with a few alternative Italian drops,.,, as my Chianti Red.. although delicious and worked perfectly with my Napoletana Pizza.. it created quite the sore head in the morning , even having only the two glasses ;) Overall, I was a happy Girl and well Fulfilled. Cheers guys !
Had a lovely evening catching up with my mother last night who loves all things wine and pizza so what better place to take her than Dantes. We had three pizzas Regina Marghertia D.O.C, Con Prosciutto and this weeks special complimented with a beautiful bottle of smooth red Italian wine. Dantes is my favourite spot for pizza, no words can describe how amazing their dough is, the pizzas always come out perfect topped with the freshest ingredients and the staff are always helpful and friendly. The atmosphere is perfect you can escape and feel as though you are sitting in a little village in Italy eating the finest pizza, while sipping on the finest wine
Aaaaawesome. Took a friend here yesterday whos gluten free. She could eat her pizza with no issues. They are not technically gf but the dough does not effect her or another gf friend. So yay for that
Will def be there again soon.
Best pizzeria in New Zealand. I don't think kiwi knew what was a proper pizza till Dante's. Had the best experience last night with Kevin and Walter pizza's and all the best customer service from all the staff.
We got here for a casual lunch.we had a margarita and one I already forgot the name:) it was so nice and fresh. You would smell the fresh tomatoes from them.service was fast. Taste of Italy I would say
When we arrived here tonight we were greeted kindly by the waiter who arranged our seating place. The restaurant has very limited space as there are only two big tables provided outside. Nonetheless, the atmosphere lively and cosy.
We ordered the carne pizza and the chorizo reale pizza. The two pizzas were a sufficient size for the three of us to share. While both tasted good, I favoured the chorizo better. I must add that the cheese taste was a bit overpowering, however some individuals may like that.
The only downfall of this place is the limited space provided. With our experience tonight we were told to make room for other customers, which seemed a bit odd having to share a table with strangers. Overall, good experience - might come back in the future!
First time here and shared a con prosciutto pizza for lunch. Was beautiful. The place is cute and small. Well suited for small groups of 2-3 people. Staff are friendly too.
Sarah Nicole Jesudason
+5
Absolutely delicious pizza, super light and tasty base, simple yet tasty toppings! Highly recommend! The service was also really good! Don't miss out!
Agustin Jauregui Cairoli
+4.5
The best Italian pizza I have tried in Auckland so far. This will depend on one's taste (as always), but they are the best in my opinion. I have been there several times and have always received the best service. Nicely located in Ponsonby central, good prices, the only disadvantage is the lack of space, so you'd need to book or be lucky to find a seat. I fully recommend it to all the pizza lovers.
HIghlught: Prosciutto pizza
Amazing pizzeria. Was wandering along the street with friends and got pulled inside. Best decision ever. Very Italian experience with the waiter and incredible food and atmosphere. Love it. Had to take my family back the second time
Dantes is very simple, yet using fresh ingrediants is a very tasty pizza restaurant. Ordered the chorizo tomato pizza and the special panchetta pizza. The base was delicious, however chewy which isnt my preference usually. It's simple and fresh and you don't feel bloated after you're done which is a bonus. The service is great and the pizzas seemed to come out quickly. I also wished they had parmesan and cream balsamic at hand. It's simple and delicious, enough said
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An award winning restaurant and for good reasons. I would say THE best pizza place in Auckland. It is unfortunate that so many tastes buds have been ruined by larger fast food chains, where pizza has turned to be about the AMOUNT of ingredients. Clearly, people are starting to forget how TRADITIONAL pizza was back in the days. Pizza was never about the amount of ingredients that goes on it, it has always been 'keep to the basics' with FRESH FRESH ingredients. This place keeps true to the traditions. CHEEZY mozerella the way it's supposed to be. FRESH tomatoes that are full of flavour. PERFECT pizza bases. Am definately a regular here. Customer service wise, AWESOME. ALL the workers here are friendly and so informative. I now know the history of this restaurant, where the chefs are from, and where the ingredients come from. All from just a few conversations. GREAT SERVICE is what I call it making sure that I dont just feel like any old customer but respecting my experiences here (showing great interaction).
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My mind was opened to the possibilities of pizza when I visited Dante's. I've had gourmet pizzas with Satay Chicken, Cranberry and Brie, Hawaiian etc. However I had never tried pizzas like these until I came here.
I said it about 3 times during the night, and I'll say it again. I felt as though I had been on a journey to Italy. I imagine Dante's as being the epitome of Italy.
I visited Dante's with a couple of friends. The setting is very cute, and there is ample parking along the side streets at night (something I look for in a restaurant in Auckland city). The setting itself is like walking into a little pizza restaurant on a cobbled street in Italy. Lots of interesting books to read as you wait.
Everything on the menu is Italian, even the drinks. At first I was a little put off by this, however my mind was soon changed as I tasted the delicious drinks and food.
The service was fantastic and the staff were happy to change around the toppings to suit dietary requirements and spice preferences (we like it spicy).
The food was out of this world. I know I've already said it but seriously, it's the best pizza I've ever had in my entire life. EVER. I could eat it everyday.
We ordered two pizzas and had to order one more because they were so delicious!
Super cheap as well for what you get. $24 for a whole pizza (which is pretty large) is pretty good considering it's in the heart of Ponsonby.
I can't fault a thing about Dante's. The staff, the food, the surroundings and the experience were outstanding and I would 100% recommend. ANY of the pizzas are delicious and the staff are more than happy to change toppings around to suit your needs!
Don't be put off by the drinks - step put of your comfort zone and try them. Delicious! - Let me know how you love it :)
I will be taking anyone new to Auckland to this restaurant.
Genie @ BunnyEatsDesign
+4.5
My friend and I came here for casual lunch with wine.
We were lucky it was before the lunch rush and we had no problem getting a table.
The menu is short and sweet. It’s refreshing to see a place just offer a few items and concentrate on doing them really well.
We shared the Con Prosciutto which was a good size for our light appetite. The pizza was quick and excellent. Best pizza in napoletana style that I have ever had. The dough was the perfect texture and the ingredients were a very good amount. Happy to return.
Hands down the best pizza place in Auckland. Dante pretty much has a degree in pizza, and it shows. Super fresh and flavourful ingredients on the most dreamy pizza base. I've been going to this place since they were out in Huapai and they're still the best in town.
I once even went on a god awful date at their Ponsonby branch where the dude had previously spilt his entire beer all over me at a bar and then proceeded to ask if we can go dutch on the pizza.
I was glad Dantes pizza was there to console me. Their pizza fixes everything.
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Dantes Pizzeria is seriously the cutest pizza bar around! This place was originally recommended to me by my parents who always rave about their Regina Margherita pizza. I have been twice now and absolutely love it.
The first time I dined at Dantes, the service was friendly and very welcoming, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Before we took our seats, we were showed how they cook their pizzas and we were able to take many photos of the pizza oven…what an amazing oven! No wonder the pizza crust is delicious!
We ordered Chianti wine and a San Pellegrino drink. Both were delicious and perfect drinks to accompany pizza! We were torn between what pizza to order, because my parents swear by the Regina Margherita pizza ($24) with tomato, fresh buffalo mozzarella and basil. However, we wanted some meat on our pizza too. When we asked the waiter for advice, he told us that he would add chorizo to our pizza, free of charge. He also gave us some chorizo samples to taste. Delicious! We were really looking forward to it!
So, out came the pizza. It did not take long and smelt heavenly. However, no chorizo! I asked the waiter if he was adding chorizo. He replied that he forgot – which I think was probably due to the fact that we were up and down taking photos of the restaurant and he was also taking photos of us in front of the pizza oven. He then said he would make us a Chorizo Reale pizza (tomato, mozzarella and chorizo), free of charge because he got our order mixed up! Another pizza that would have cost us $24 was now going to be free. Two for the price of one! We were happy!
As for the pizzas, well, the fresh buffalo mozzarella was absolutely amazing. It was stringy and tasted delicious. I would happily order both pizzas again. While there are few ingredients on the pizzas, Dantes uses good quality and fresh ingredients, which taste wonderful. They are truly cooked in Napoletana style. But, the best part about the pizza was the thin crust. Being cooked in a wood fired oven gave it a nice crisp base on the outside, but it was still chewy in the middle – perfect!
Dantes Pizzeria has been one of my favourite dining experiences in Ponsonby Central so far. I recommend coming here for a quick bite to eat or on the weekend for a casual family dinner. I cannot wait to go back!
Dante's makes the best, most authentic pizza in Auckland.
Their wood fired oven cooks pizza perfectly, and so so quickly. I ordered 4 take Aways
Pizzas and they were cooked (to perfection) and ready to go in literally 5 minutes.
The owners are Italian, as are the staff. Everything about this restaurant is authentic and fantastic!
Dantes Pizza is amazing!! I went to Italy midway through last year, and since I have been back I struggled to find pizza similar to what we had there. At Dantes they make pizza like they do in Napoli! It's amazing. The pizza is simple, but the dough is insane and they use awesome Italian products like FRESH mozzarella and procuitto.
I hope they remain awesome. Great work Dantes!
Johnine @ HaloHaloAtbp
+5
Dante’s is known for having the best pizza in New Zealand having been an awardee of Metro magazine for four years straight from 2008 – 2011, and again in 2014. When an Italian colleague of my fiancé affirmed that this indeed is a good pizzeria, we knew we had to try it ASAP. The opportunity popped up when we invited our friends for a celebration of some sort for a small milestone in my fiancé’s graduate school life.
“So, what’s your winning pizza?” my friend asked the staff when he came to give us the menu. It was the Regina Margherita but he said his favourite was the Con Prosciutto – we ordered both.
I’ve tried wood fired pizza before but they were nothing as good as Dante’s. The first bite tells you why they have received membership into Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. The crust was thin, crisp but chewy, and had that slightly burnt taste for having been cooked in a wood fired oven at 450 degrees. I loved how it was so simple but packed a lot of flavour. Every thing was just right – the tomato sauce had just the right balance of sourness and sweetness, the mozzarella was not overwhelming, the basil tasted fresh and the amount of olive oil it had was spot on, it had enough for me to mop up the plate with the last bit of crust I had. This is how pizza’s supposed to be like.
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Ah, pizza. To be quite fair with you, my love for pizza has slowly diminished over the years (shh, I know, I know) and what I mean by that is that I no longer crave it every day of the week nor do I call it my favourite dish in the whole world (sorry). However, when I do feel like a pizza, it has to be a GOOD one. And Dante's pizzas are just that: crispy yet chewy, with a charred and bubbly base, fresh, flavoursome tomato sauce and minimal toppings. I shared a chorizo pizza with a friend and it was great! Chorizo was plentiful and the size of the pizza itself was perfect for two people, although I will not judge you if you eat it all by yourself - I can imagine it is entirely possible because the pizza does not feel greasy or heavy at all!
The service had its ups and downs: when I just arrived, the staff were all friendly and bubbly, yet something a little weird happened when me and my friend were finishing our meal. By the time we were almost done, the tiny place that Dante's is has pretty much filled up (there was no one there when we arrived). As I was finishing my last slice I could hear the owner say to the incoming customers who were looking for a table that "these two are going to leave in 5 minutes" (pointing to me and my friend). I'm not sure if he meant that, or whether it was simply an accent/miscommunication issue, but it sounded a little rude to me, like he just wanted us out. What if we were planning to order more drinks and chill for longer? Oh well.
All in all, come here if you want to enjoy proper, truly great pizza in a nice setting, although I would personally recommend avoiding busy times as the place itself can only accommodate a handful of people. Oh, and there's always takeaway! :)
The Marinara pizza is my new favourite. I have cravings for it. I can see why they get voted the best pizza all the time and I can also see how people are disappointed when they get something that is quite different to pizza you get elsewhere (even wood fired ones). This is the place that has ruined pizza from anywhere else for me. The staff were really good and even took our 4 yr old into the kitchen to 'help' make the pizza. He loved it.
Good pizza - a shame about the service. I stopped by Ponsonby Central on my weekend stroll through Ponsonby and decided to sample Dante's after hearing rave reviews. The margarita was very nice - thin crust, tasty sauce and toppings - what one would wish for in a good pizza. However, I couldn't abide by the bizarre and patronising attitude of the server. Upon arrival, I was told this was not Dominoes and when I sat down, I was questioned on whether I knew how to eat this type of pizza. After receiving my pizza, he continued to lurk by my table until he saw that I could competently eat their authentic Napoletana pizza. Whew! I passed 'the test'! A shame though - take away the bizarre treatment and this would have been a 5/5 experience.
I walked past this cute joint in my fav, Ponsonby Central and noticed the alluring 'Metro Magazine best pizza winner' sign for the past few years for their margherita pizza and knew I had to taste. The pizzas, each $24 are a good size and very filling, though I can't quite agree with Metro's rating. The margherita was appetising but nothing outstanding. The dough was the best bit - soft, smooth and substantial, however I found the pizza over-oiled. I did enjoy the con prosciutto pizza. The place is small, but made up for with the quick arrival of pizza and (over)friendly service.
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Courtney @ A Food Awakening
+4
Dantes is the one and only pizza joint in Ponsonby Central. Originally based in Huapai in West Auckland, it’s had a modern upgrade with the possibility of sitting in, not just a takeaway option.
Tbh I am not a huge fan of pizza because I think it’s uninteresting to eat a lot of the same one thing, but Dantes knows pizza. Serving true Italian toppings and cooked in a wood fire oven. The menu is limited with only 5 pizzas but I think this is smart. They whip them up quickly and you aren’t left waiting a long time for something so delish.
The dough is nice and thin but has a great crispy crust. If you’re not a huge pizza fan like myself you will like dantes and should make the exception. The only change I would like to see is a more extended wine and beer list, just because it’s situated in Ponsonby Central where the atmosphere is boisterous and happening and a cider would go down nicely.
Rating
Food: 9/10
Service: 7/10
Value for Money: Good
Definitely the best pizza in New Zealand! Their Isle of Capri is my favorite. :) glad they moved to ponsonby. But we were willing to drive to kumue before just to have dante's pizza coz eezzoo good! :)
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Great little place and will definitely return as it’s head and shoulders above any other pizza joint I’ve tried in NZ. The guys at Dante’s have obviously paid serious attention to pizza making in Naples and it shows here. It was refreshing to find somewhere to get a genuine, proper pizza; if, like most Kiwis ;-) you like your pizza piled high with every kind of topping known to man (Meat Lovers????) then this is not the place for you. If you like a pizza done properly in the original Naples style, this is the place.
Afraid there’s a bit of a negative though, which is about the cheese. The Margherita says on the menu that it’s made with fresh buffalo mozzarella. Anyone who’s had this in Naples will know that this kind of mozz is very white, creamy and not especially stretchy. The mozzeralla on my Margherita was waxy yellow, firm and stretchy. It tasted fine, but I’m afraid it was the standard mozz that goes onto the other pizzas. Look at the main picture on the website; the white cheese on the pizza there is buffalo mozz; the cheese on my pizza was nothing like this I’m afraid.
Will eat there again, but next time I will ask for my Margherita to be made with the same cheese used on the pizza from the website!
Dantes pizza is good old fashioned authentic pizza made with love. You won't find meat lovers or stuffed crust on this list! All ingredients are fresh and the dough is soft and crispy on the crust with a slightly charred flavour. My personal favourite would have to be the con prosciutto (in the photo) since I am a huge prosciutto fan. Service is quick and before you've eaten, the prices may seem a bit high, but afterwards you can see how much love is put in it, Not to mention the beautiful flavour and great service.
Love the pizza here, so authentic. Don't go here if you think you are getting a franchise style pizza with overloaded toppings. This is basic italian style pizza with few but excellent toppings. Basic seating as its inside Ponsonby Central so great casual dining.
Best Pizza in NZ, Always stop here for a feed when coming to Auckland from Hamilton. In actual fact it is the only Pizza I will ever eat. Well done Kevin. Been follower of Dante`s since his Kumeu days. The real deal. Would be willing to eat this on the sidewalk who cares about tables for this quality.
I'll start by saying I'm a pizza snob not easily pleased.
Carl E's review is spot on.
I'll go even further and so far as to give Dante's 5 stars. Kevin is really doing an outstanding job creating authentic Neapolitan pizza that is rare to find in New Zealand.
We ordered a Margherita, and Prosciutto and Rocket. I can only comment on the taste of the Margherita, which was well balanced, excellently cooked and hard to fault. If you're after genuine neapolitan pizza look no further, this is the real deal.
Great friendly and prompt service as others have mentioned.
Kevin (the proprietor & pizzaiolo) mentioned in conversation that the oven was perhaps not at its optimal temperature that night, which gives me all the more reason to believe that Kevin is completely tuned into the fine details that go into making a perfect pizza, and that when I return my next pizza might be even better than the one I had... which is frankly hard to imagine.
Dante's will be a regular stop for me when in AKL.
First time here and we will definitely be back. Fantastic friendly service and the pizza is unreal. We had the prosciutto pizza and were fighting over the last piece. Hands down best pizza in Auckland!
Dante's is one of the new Establishments in the buzzing Ponsonby Central. It's got room for about 6 people at high benches inside and another two large tables outside. The decor makes you think you're in Italy and there's no doubt about the quality of the ingredients that must go in to these pizzas.
This is the first time we visited Dante's and ordered the prosciutto and rocket pizza and the chorizo pizza. Both pizza's were topped with the highest quality ingredients and they tasted amazing. The chorizo was probably the most spicey I've ever had but we're both fans of chili so it was good for us. The only criticism that we had was that the base was thicker than we experienced at Italian pizzerias. However, the base was very tasty nonetheless.
We were really touched by the fact that Kevin visits each customer and asks them how their pizza is. It gives you an understanding of how it used to be in the age where many chefs did that.
Dante's Pizza is an amazing Pizza place! Really love their pizzas - though they used to be out in Kumeu and the Pizza was a bit better there, which is a shame - because every bite was wow! Will definitely go back and hopefully once they settle it in returns to its absolutely, truly amazing performance. (only 4 stars until they do).
You might have heard someone say "Dante's serves the best pizzas in New Zealand". Well, I can't say anything about the original Dante's in Kumeu, but Dante's Ponsonby is nothing spectacular.
Dante's serves authentic Neapolitan pizzas (a rarity in Auckland). All the ingredients are freshly imported from Italy. All this makes for some pretty good traditional pizza - but it's definitely not the best. The menu is limited to simple classics - think thin crust Margheritas and Prosciuttos. One pizza at $20 is just about enough per person.
The toppings are scant, and yes, the crust is too much around the edges. The Italian ingredients are delicious, but you'll be tasting more dough than anything else. Best Neapolitan pizza? Maybe. Best pizza? Nope.
We picked the Carne pizza and Greek salad. Both were fresh and came out very quickly. Also enjoyed a glass of the Pinot Grigio, and my husband liked the Peroni 0%. Would definitely return!
Second time here great food probably best pasta I’ve had, pizza was also good. The service was very good kind wait staff as well. Short wait time for food so didn’t leave me starving for awhile.
After one bite, It made me remember back to 5 years ago I was at Firenze (Italy). This is the best pizza in the last 3 years I have. Even pasta, it is soooooo nice. The prices is reasonable. The tables have limited need to book before. Staff are so nice and good service. Overall, it is a really nice shop, Highly recommended 👌🏻
Lived up to the hype. The crust was good which was what was being marketed but the toppings are a bit different/lacking. Good service and the small space in ponsonby was nice.
Award winning pizza place in the vibrant Ponsonby central. The pizza was awesome but the seats weren’t the most comfortable.
Definitely authentic Neapolitan pizza. It wants you to savour the crust with minimal sauce. Staff are efficient and friendly. The place is tiny though you will have a hard time if you want to take off your winter coat.
They said the pizza is a personal size but I find that a bit big for 1 person. I will recommend sharing 2 with 3 people.
We usually go to the Takapuna one but they are under renovation so we came to this one- because their pizza is the best! Our little one was disappointed there was no fluffy here. The lovely owner bought one for her from the cafe nearby. What a warm gesture! It made our day!
Loved their Montanare and Carne Pizza 😘
Great Woodfired pizza, and authentic Napoletana taste. Their bases are sourdough based which are gluten free friendly, fluffy and delicious. Fast service and quick arrival of food. Only complaint was that it was a bit tight for space so keep your elbows in.
Juergen Heinicke-Lindt
+4
We tried Dante's based on a report that's under the top 50 restaurants in the world. You pay the price for this title with fries for $17 and Pizza above $30. No pasta on the day only for staff. Pizza was very good for NZ in Italian style but I have eaten similar in other countries. You should try it and make up your mind.
I really like the ambiance here. It's nice and relaxed. The staff was really approachable and helpful, and really seemed to care if we enjoyed the food and the experience. The food was pretty good and didn't take very long to come out. Definitely a place I would consider coming back to in the future.
Eugenie van der Schyff
+5
If I could give 10 stars I would! Best best pizza I have ever had!
Being a pizza lover (this is my favourite food- we even have our own Ooni pizza oven), this is honestly the best pizza I have had in my life.
Very very tiny little spot, so best book a table.
Swiftly get your drinks (ice cold Peroni on tap) and the food follows soon.
We ordered the Con Prosciutto and Fungo.
Money well spent x100! We will be back and back and back again...
Wicked great pizza, super friendly crew. Can’t go wrong.
Update: Three years later and I'm still thinking about how good this was.
The best pizzas ever! Coco’s the sweetest! She was such a great communicator on the phone and during dining as well. Definitely made the experience even better! 😊
The best and most authentic Italian pizza I've ever had! Their pizza dough is really chewy and yummy, making the toppings taste better. Visited twice already because of their amazing food. Just one star off as there is not enough seats for a group of people. A bit small pizzeria, but has a wooden fire whole, where they bake pizza. Highly recommended :)
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