Don Antonio is a Neapolitan pizzeria on West 50th Street in Hell’s Kitchen, a short walk from the Theater District’s Broadway houses. Pizzaiolo Roberto Caporuscio opened it in 2012 with Antonio Starita, whose family has run Naples’ Starita a Materdei since 1901. That Naples lineage draws diners looking for pizza made the way it’s made at the source (source: Don Antonio).
The signature order is the Montanara Starita. The kitchen lightly flash-fries the dough, then tops it with tomato sauce and smoked mozzarella and finishes it in the wood-fired oven. The result is a crisp, airy crust unlike the standard soft Neapolitan pie. Classic Margheritas, a long list of specialty pies, fried starters and gluten-free crusts fill out the menu. The bar pours seasonal cocktails alongside Italian craft beers and wines. The room is casual and close-packed, and it works well for couples and for groups sharing several pizzas.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
The pre-theater window, roughly 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., is the busiest stretch, especially on matinee days (Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday). Book ahead for those slots. For a calmer meal, arrive after 8:00 p.m. once curtains rise, or come for a weekday lunch. Delivery and takeout are available, though the fried Montanara is best eaten on site. The 50th Street station (C/E) at Eighth Avenue is a block away, and the 1 train stops at 50th Street and Broadway. Confirm current hours before visiting.
