For several months, a vacancy haunted the former home of Fry’s Spring Station after it shut down in 2023. High operation costs proved insurmountable for the warm do-it-all restaurant. However, a new tenant quickly claimed the prime location near Grounds — Pi-Napo. The pizza restaurant opened Aug. 22, and I decided to give it a try this week with a housemate. While on the pricier side for pizza, it was the best I’ve had in Charlottesville. The restaurant is the perfect place to spend an evening with friends or family, as it’s sure to bring you a taste of home.
Growing up, my family would make pizza almost every Friday night, and we would all talk about our day at the table together. Pizza holds a special place in my heart, and there just are not enough good pizza options near Grounds — save for Christian’s on the Corner. What’s more, my favorite hometown pizzeria — Pizzeria Orso in Falls Church, Va. — closed down recently. I have been looking for a similarly welcoming pizza place ever since.
I first discovered Pi-Napo when walking down Jefferson Park Avenue, and I told myself I would go try it when it opened. I just had a feeling that it would be like the pizza from home that I loved.
Upon entering the building, we were greeted by classic Italian-American music playing at a soft volume through the speakers, and a pair of TVs had the prime sporting events of the evening on display. The building was a former service station and had a unique ambiance. Pi-Napo felt ultra-modern yet family-oriented and cozy.
My housemate and I opted to sit at the bar after the owner and managing partner, Onur Başeğmez, took our order at the counter. After sitting down, we got a close-up view of the pizza-making process. Directly in front of us, we saw dough tossing by hand and the glowing embers in brick ovens at 500 degrees Celsius. Around us were families, students and even solo diners who all had a smile on their face. The new restaurant has evidently already become a booming success.
Pi-Napo offers concise categories to choose from on their menu — but within each category, there are several options. There are 12 variations of pizzas, three salads and a quartet of desserts. There is also an extensive bevy of lunch specials. As for beverages, Pi-Napo features a collection of bottled wine and beers plus soft drinks.
I ordered the Marinara for $16.95, and my housemate got the Margherita D.O.P. for $18.95. The pizzas are 16 inches, so the price was not too unreasonable. For beautifully crafted pizza made with quality ingredients, that price point is a bargain.
My housemate and I had hardly begun talking about our days before the pizza arrived on a large serving tray less than 90 seconds after ordering, with a paper placemat included as to avoid a saucy mess — an appreciated detail. We made a quick detour to an adjacent spice table, where I drowned my pizza in basil and crushed red pepper.
A clear-cut sign of perfect pizza is the presence of leopard spotting — a criterion that Pi-Napo passed with flying colors. The crust was thin and crispy but with a slight chewy quality as well. The face of the pizza was adorned with mouth-watering San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh garlic and oregano.
The only error of the night was that I poured enough crushed red pepper on my pizza to set my mouth ablaze with the intense flames of Hades himself — but thankfully, the heat on my tongue subsided with some ice-cold water from Pi-Napo’s exemplary beverage station.
Still, I was seeking one more item to help me cool off. When we ordered at the counter earlier, I saw an elaborate rolling gelato machine with 12 flavors. I stared at the gelato, and the gelato stared back at me. I confidently returned to the counter and ordered the chocolate gelato, while my housemate got coconut.
At $5.95, the gelato was well-priced. I estimated about two or three scoops went into the cup — plus a cute cookie with “Ciao!” written on it. We downed our gelato in about one minute, and it was the perfect end to our meal. Finally, my self-inflicted pepper flames were extinguished.
The meal was divine, but the smoothness of the entire operation really elevated the dining experience. The chefs wore white shirts and had no sauce stains — a feat that I also somehow accomplished — much to my own personal amazement.
After dining, I had the chance to speak with Başeğmez — the brains behind the operation. He told me that the menu is inspired by the Neapolitan pizza he tasted on a visit to Italy. He wanted to combine those vibrant Italian flavors with the speed-focused nature of American dining. With Fry’s Spring Station closing, a prime opportunity arose to actualize his restaurant concept.
Başeğmez’s service was the cherry-on-top of our visit to Pi-Napo. Başeğmez thanked us for dining with him as we left the restaurant. Even though he did not know I was writing a review, he treated us — and every customer — like family.
Bravo, Başeğmez and company. Bravo. While some may balk at the overall pricing — salads, for example, hover around $10 — the relatively high cost for a pizza-based restaurant is worth it at Pi-Napo. Whether you are looking for an evening out with friends or family, a date or just an undeniably satisfying meal, Pi-Napo deserves your time and money. When my family comes to visit, I look forward to taking them to Pi-Napo for the best pizza in Charlottesville.
Located just a mile from central Grounds at 2115 Jefferson Park Ave., Pi-Napo is a quick drive or a 25-minute walk from central Grounds. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
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