Whenever accolades are distributed to a local restaurant by a national outlet, and it doesn’t get more national than National Geographic. In January, the publication named San Antonio’s Dough Pizzeria Napoletana one of the best pizza spots in the United States (outside of New York and Chicago) and the only restaurant in Texas to earn the distinction.
So, we visited its Hemisfair location ahead of National Pizza Day (February 9) to try the pie and so much more.
When MySA last caught up with the team at Dough, co-owner Doug Horn gave some recommendations on what to order, so we were primed for the dining experience at the long-running eatery’s downtown abode. Arriving at Dough is relatively easy if you park in the Hemisfair garage, which costs $5 for about an hour and a half of parking.
Dough is a refuge of serenity on a street corner riddled with constant construction. From the moment one enters, their senses are blessed with fragrant aromas, soft jazz and attentive service. A host directed us to a table in a long room with plenty of windows through which we could glance at the adjacent park.
Dough Pizzeria Napoletana has a serene location on the corner of Cesar Chavez and Alamo Street. (Polly Anna Rocha/MySA)
With Doug Horn’s recommendations in mind, we started with the signature burrata al tartufo ($30), a house-made burrata filled with truffle essence, mascarpone and ricotta served alongside flatbread. The plating was stunning, with the burrata carefully resting in a pool of extra virgin olive oil and a rosemary balsamic reduction. The server offered freshly cracked pepper for the plate, and after a few twists of the grinder, it was off to the races.
The indulgent, creamy center was bursting with truffle flavor, making it difficult to slow down to save room for the pizza. Speaking of, Horn recommended the classic Margherita, which is assembled with San Marzano D.O.P. tomato sauce, house-made fior di latte, Lone Star Farm’s basil and Locatelli pecorino romano. This was served alongside Dough’s lasagna, another recommendation by Horn.
Going between bites of Margherita pizza ($19) and steaming hot lasagna was such a treat, especially with a few additional sprinkles of crushed red pepper and parmesan that were served on the side. The best part of the pizza was absolutely the crust, with its charred bubbles lining the outside of the pie. If you do order a pizza from Dough, do not let that crust go to waste.
The signature burrata is a must-try at Dough. (Polly Anna Rocha/MySA)
It’s easy to see why Dough Pizzeria Napoletana has lasted as long as it has in San Antonio. From the service to the tasty grub to the ambience, the Hemisfair location is a prime choice for a Neapolitan-style pizza experience in the downtown area.
Find it: Â 518 S. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78205
This article originally published at San Antonio pizza joint lives up to national hype after 19 years of Italian eats.