Pizzeria Virtù: Traditional Neapolitan style pizza

Rich in Italian tradition, Pizzeria Virtù serves guests a slice of Italy. Gio Osso, chef and owner, said Pizzeria Virtù is an elevated pizza experience.

Osso said they have a number of popular pizzas on the menu, such as Milano’s. The pizza offers a Stracchino cheese base topped with caramelized onions, peppered bacon and chestnut honey.

He said because it was important to him to uphold Italian traditions, almost 80% of the ingredients they use are imported from Italy.

Pizza’s are not the only thing on the menu, Osso said. They incorporate Southern Italian culture into each dish on their menu.

When cooking their pizza, he said they follow the rules established by the Neapolitan Pizza Association. Created in Naples, some of these guidelines include cooking the pizza in 90 seconds or less and using only flour, water, salt and yeast in the dough. These rules, he said, help uphold Italian traditions of Neapolitan style pizza.

“We want to make sure that everyone leaves here saying, ‘I love that place. That was the best food I ever had,'” Osso said. “That’s the most important part.”

Guest Beau MacMillan said he has been a long time friend of Osso’s, and Pizzeria Virtù is his family’s go-to spot.

MacMillan said it is perfect for an intimate date night or family gathering, and the restaurant has something for everyone.

After trying a variety of dishes on the menu, MacMillan said his standout dish was the pork milanese. He said the dish not only looked delicious but tasted equally as good. To finish off his visit, he ordered a hot cup of coffee, which he said wrapped up his visit perfectly.

MacMillan’s pro tip: Get a cup of coffee at the end of your meal.