The Humble Italian Restaurant In Ohio That's Been Owned By The Same Family For Over 30 Years
By Sarah McCosham|Published October 12, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
I have a slight obsession when it comes to pizza. And by “slight obsession” I mean that, despite having pizza on the regular when pregnant with each of my four kids and pretty much every weekend since and in between, I have yet to experience burn-out when it comes to pizza. Aside from the obvious — pizza is delicious — there are tons of great pizzerias in Ohio that serve up killer pies, so my pizza palate is constantly being piqued. Columbus-style pizza (yes — Columbus pizza is a thing!), wood-fired Neapolitans, 29″ inch masterpieces… passionate pizza people have much to celebrate in Ohio. Today’s feature destination is a true standout; a vibrant Italian restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, that’s been slinging up pizza perfection for 30 years.
For over three decades, the Aracri family has been dishing up authentic Italian cuisine to the fine folks of Columbus, Ohio. Italian immigrant Palmo Aracri and his wife Deanne have happily embraced their "Ma and Pa" personas, and their four kids are part of the family biz, too.
The Italian restaurant first opened as Cafe Napolitana in downtown Cbus in 1992 and, more recently, moved to a building few blocks away, reopening as Aracri Pizzeria on Gay. Restaurant name and location aside, the Aracri family has become synonymous with New York-style pizza in Columbus.
Palmo learned the art of pizza from his work in his brothers’ restaurants, before earning the prestigious title of pizzaiolo in 1985. (For reference, a "pizzaiolo" is a chef who specializes in making pizzas and who has been trained to make real, Italian-style pizzas.)
More specifically, Aracri Pizzeria specializes in New York-style pizza. What that means, to them, is a thin-crusted pie with a soft middle that makes each massive slice easily foldable for a perfect, heady bite.
It's my firm belief that you can separate a good pizzeria from a great pizzeria by how well they execute a classic margherita. It's a simple pie with three main components: sauce, basil, and mozzarella, that, at its best, is light and zesty and perfectly balanced. The margherita pizza from Aracri? It's great.
It's rare to find a proper sit-down pizzeria that sells both full pies *and* pizza by the slice. When you find a place that does, you need to hold on to it! Because you never know when a craving for the perfect slice of pizza will strike.
Pizza aside, there is an entire menu of delicious dishes at this family-owned Italian restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. Of course! The spaghetti and meatballs is a classic combination that never gets old, whether you're five or 55.
Ohioans have embraced the Aracri family and their delicious cuisine, and it's no wonder why: come and taste for yourself what makes this family-owned Italian restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, truly one of a kind.
Have you visited this delightful family-owned Italian restaurant in Columbus, Ohio? Prepare to be warmly welcomed and treated like famiglia when you visit Aracri Pizzeria.
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