REVIEWS
byrachel h., McKinney, TX
01/17/2008
We found this place by accident while driving around an area of
hotels (@ Esters and John Carpenter Freeway) with NO OTHER RESTAURANTS around! (Note: I do not consider Denny's or any
place that is inside a gas station a restaurant).
The owners (a husband and wife team) welcomed my husband and I
in and let us know that we were their first customers ever! We
sampled the good old fashioned Margherita pizza and chose to wash
it down with an ice cold root beer (they do have a good selection of fountain drinks).Read Entire Review.....
by Ted P., Irving, TX
01/27/2008
We just stopped in this restaurant and were really impressed by the pizza. This is a million times better than your standard greasy fast-food-chain pizza. They make their own dough and tomato sauce plus fresh mozzarella to make
a true Italian style margherita pizza. The ingredients are fresh (lots of toppings to choose from) and our pizzas were baked to order in about 90 seconds in their wood-burning oven. We also brought a bottle of red wine to go with the meal. This place is highly recommended!
01/18/2008
This has to be the best pizza I've had in a long long time! Cavalli Pizza.
I stopped by this newly opened place after work to take a pizza home. It's an authentic, wood fired pizza that used fresh mozzarella cheese. I had the Margherita pizza. It was incredible! Their dessert pizzas sounded good too.
by Raul S.,Oconomowoc, WI
02/13/2008
We traveled to the DFW metro area just to taste this. About the spot, it is a very nice Italian decorated place with a very easy access, parking and very comfortable seating. The staff is very friendly and will explain to you all the process that they follow to prepare and bake your pizza.
Now, about the pizza. It is an unbelievable taste that leaves you totally satisfied. No more greasy Domino's / Pizza Hut / Papa Murphy's... This is the pizza of the 21st century. The fact that it is delicious, plus that it is baked in 1:30 minutes makes it a great product. The service provided by the staff was excellent too. I will make this a regular place every time we go to DFW.
Next time I will write a review about that Nutella Pizza everyone is talking about.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Best Bites: Dining out in DFW February 22
By Teresa Gubbins
Cavalli Pizza in Irving sure does look like the real deal. Mom-and-pop owners Paolo and Clara are first-generation Americans who modestly point out that their recipe is protected by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, which implies certain ingredients and techniques, and who else can say that.
The tomatoes are imported from Italy, the dough is made on the premises "according to the strictest standards", including the use of Caputo flour, and leavened for 1 to 2 days, which enhances both flavor and texture.All of this is aces, but look also at the toppings. A "Margherita Extra" has buffalo mozzarella with those Italian San Marzano tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and salt. There are at least two pizzas without cheese. There is a pizza with potatoes and rosemary, and another with ham and egg. Egg! Pizza with egg is awesome. There are also four dessert pizzas including one with fruit and ricotta cheese. Yes.
by Jay, Allen, TX
02/26/2008
Without a doubt - this is one of the TOP places to get pizza in the Dallas area. It is the real deal - they do everything right. The pizza is so light and fresh I swear I could easily eat 2 in one sitting. I had a Margherita Extra (with mozzarella di bufala) and it was so good I ordered another one and a Parma (white pizza with prosciutto) to go. Everyone there is very friendly and you should be sure to ask them why the pizza is sooo good. Look - I own a very popular pizzeria in Dallas and Southlake and I specifically avoided eating at work today so I could swing by Cavalli. I know of what I speak - so make sure to go and check them out. Dallas can only become a better city by having more quality pizza. Just don't ask for a meat lovers, a supreme, or a side of ranch dressing!!
by Jon D., Irving, TX
02/27/2008
I can only hope that places like Cavalli's are a precursor to an influx of family owned, high quality places into the fast growing area around Las Colinas/Valley Ranch/Mercer Crossing.True east coast style pizza cooked in a wood fired oven, with a kick-A$$ sauce, and the correct thin and crusty but chewy crust. The pie was charred just right, made by hand with, extremely fresh ingredients. This pizza is not a cheesy mess, so if you want extra stringy and cheesy, make sure you ask for it with extra cheese.
I am truly excited that there is decent pizza within a short drive of my house, and I can't wait to try other stuff on the menu.
I tried the green peppers, and I think they were not bell peppers, but some sort of green mildly hot pepper. I will be sure and check it out the next time I go.
by Justin C., Coppell, TX
03/06/2008
In the search for the perfect authentic Italian thin crust pizza in the Dallas Metropolex over the past year I think I am finally done. Yes my friends I have tried them all and although there are some good ones out there (Coal Vines, Fireside Pies, Pastazios, Nonna, I'Fratelli, and Campisi's) they don't compare. This one not only has the best pizza but has a casual atmosphere where I feel like I am in a true Italian pizzeria and not in D-Town's "place to be seen". The owners are very friendly and have a passion for their product. All ingredients are flown in fresh and I mean fresh as the tomatoes are imported directly from Italy! The crust is very light and chewy with a hint of salt. You can choose to have your pizza Magherita (with basil) or New York Style (with oregano). You can choose fresh Mozzarella made with cow's milk or upgrade to Mozzarella di Bufala with is Mozzarella made with buffalo's milk (taste amazing). You can create your own or choose from one of their numerous selections either way you can not lose. The Restaurant is BYOB for you wine and beer connoisseurs which is great as you can enjoy a great meal with a perfect glass of vine without paying the markup. My only suggestion to Cavalli's is to provide some outdoor seating as that will truly be the final piece of the puzzle making this establishment 100% authentic! 5 Stars we will be back again and again.
"Best Pizza in Texas!!!" by Petunia123
June 29, 2008
I just had the best pizza ever and I found it in Irving, TX. Cavalli Pizza is the real deal, they are true Neapolitan Pizza just like they make it in Naples, Italy. They are actually the only pizzeria in texas certified by the Italian Government to serve true neapolitan Pizza. It is family owned and the prices are the best around by far. They only use fresh ingredients and they have special products brought in from Italy. This is the best of the best, a must try. Great job Cavalli Pizza, I will be back again for sure.
by Manny S.,
Keller, TX
07/24/2008
I have to agree with the rest of the reviews. This place is the real McCoy. I ordered the Margherita, cuz I figured If I ordered something that simple. I should be able to taste the cheese, the fresh contrast of the basil leaves and the sauce that they use, and I did!
The crust is thin, crisp and fresh. Heck, they toss the pizza dough in front of you, you can't get any fresher than that!. I have to come back and try their other stuff.
I just came back from NY 3 weeks ago. I ate at Lombardi's the oldest pizza joint in the US, and Cavalli's pizza can definitely stand up to Lombardi's any day IMHO.
by Diane T.,
Keller, TX
09/08/2008
Oh yea! Baby, this is for real (so when was the last time you heard/said that?!). Well, I'm sayin' it and I really mean it. This is the best pizza I've had in years! It's certainly the best pizza I've had since moving to this part of the world (except for the delicious thin-crust pizzas we started making at home 'cause we live in the dreaded burbs bordering on 'in the country' and can't find anything tasty around here).
So anyway I saw Carrie W's review the other day and was reminded of a review I had read in the Star-Telegram a few months ago about Cavalli's. Hubby and I hitched up the team and moseyed (how DO you spell that?) on over for lunch this past weekend. Cavalli's is located in a small strip mall consisting mostly of restaurants off Beltline and just south of the 635. It's easy to find.
Hubby and I split a Cavalli Salad and each had a pizza. I had the Contadina Pizza (mozzarella, sausage, mushrooms, basil) and hubby had the Parma Pizza (mozzarella di bufala, parma prosciutto, parmesan, olive oil). While the salad was fresh and delicious, the pizzas were absolutely to die for - thin, crisp flavorful crust and fresh delicious toppings. These are pizzas 'kissed' by high quality toppings. You won't find that 20-pound pizza here with 10 pounds of cheese and 5 pounds of greasy pepperoni (you already know where to go for that).
The staff was super-friendly and looked like they were happy to see us. That always makes a good impression on me (I am increasingly becoming annoyed by surly people - especially those who are taking my money). The decor isn't anything to write home about, but I found it pleasant. The tables are dark wood and the walls are a bright, happy yellow.
While Cavalli's isn't that far from my neck of the burbs, I sure wish it was closer (it's less than 20 miles - hey! I used to live in LA where driving 20 miles is like stepping next door!). Actually maybe it's a good thing it's not closer. Hubby and I would be eating there all the time and losing out on that home pizza-baking quality time.
by Pete M.,
Plano, TX
09/03/2008
Was near Irving when I remembered a morning TV show mentioned Cavalli's. Found it quite easily and stopped in for a Margherita pizza. Any time I try a new pizza place, I always get the most simple as that helps me decide what is good. This is good! Best in the Dallas area. I live in Plano and the distance won't keep me from stopping in from time to time.
Like another here mentioned, not the best interior I've ever seen, but that doesn't matter to me.
It didn't appear that they had beer or wine and I didn't check if they allowed you to bring your own wine. Next time back I 'll check on that.
by Lily M., Irving, TX
10/08/2008
My husband and I tried this restaurant today because I had a craving for pizza after watching Food Network. I did a guidelive search for pizza places in my area and I couldn't find any with good reviews and for some reason I happened to click on the link for Cavalli's and checked out their website. I'm a VERY picky eater and I don't eat very much anyways but I knew I wanted a good pizza and not from some chain restaurant where I have to wipe the grease off my pizza before I eat it. Since they are listed as the Best of Big D, I knew it wouldn't hurt to try it because they were close by and the prices are REALLY reasonable.
I ordered the Margerita Extra and he ordered a pizza with sausage and all I can say is that this is the best pizza I've eaten and my husband and I couldn't believe I finished the whole thing by myself AND I ate some of the S'mores pizza I ordered (took the rest to go!). The crust is light and crispy, the sauce tastes like it's made fresh and not out of a can and they use fresh mozzarella...omg it's so good. Like other's have said their service is fast because the pizza came out like 5 min after we ordered it and the people working there are so nice. This place will definitely be the place where we get all of our pizza from now on.
by Michael G., San Diego, CA
10/23/2008
The only way to eat pizza! I was in town for business and a co-worker recommended this place for lunch. My wife and I had recently gotten back from a trip to Naples, Italy where we lived off of pizza for 2 weeks. I thought I'd never have a chance to eat the true Neapolitan style pizza again until Cavalli's.
This is as authentic as it gets ... the ingredients, the oven, even the owners are all Italian. The Italians know how to do it right and these guys would make Italy proud.
I was back the following evening, bottle of wine in hand (one of the customers recommended that), and they even hooked me up with a wine glass. My favorite so far is the margarita with prosciutto. The portions are perfect and doesn't leave you feeling like you've got a rock in your stomach like the typical greasy pizza joints. And if you've got room, definetly try the dessert pizza.
If you've never had pizza the way it is supposed to be made, do yourself a favor and check this place out!
by Vincent M., South Lyon, MI
10/24/2008
My wife and I were on vacation visiting a couple of our friends and they said that we had to try this place. Being originally from NY, I had serious doubts that any pizza in Texas could match up to good old fashion NYC pizza but let me tell you that after the first bite, we ended up eating there the next two days.
The Margherita is a classic but my wife really liked the artichoke and Mozzarella (I think they called it the Stizza Special). What was really cool was that you could bring your own wine and they'll even give you the wine glasses.
The prices are extremely reasonable. Don't make a mistake, this is not your run of the mill pizzeria. This place uses authentic ingredients from Italy. The owners (also Italian) came out and made sure that everything was alright. Where else can you get such good service?!?!
We didn't try the desert pizza (because we were just too full from the other pizzas) but it seemed that every other person ordered one so we can't wait to try it next time we're down there.
Nutella Pizza in Dallas area!
Posted by Mai-Ly on October 25, 2008
Was introduced to an Italian pizza restaurant (Cavalli's) in the Dallas area (Irving) this week, which has an awesome dessert pizza menu that includes Nutella pizza. I was in heaven! Gooey dark chocolate with hazelnuts in the middle of the pizza dough and drizzled with dark chocolate all over the top. I think they have another Nutella pizza with rum (maybe you can get it on the side :) ). Their other pizzas are yummy as well. There was a sign saying they are certified by an Italian association for Neapolitan pizza or something to that effect. Highly recommend!