Looking for pizza in Minneapolis? You MUST try Element Pizza, for wood-fired pizza in Northeast Minneapolis.
Right behind a good brewery, one of my favorite foods is wood-fired anything. Especially pizza!!! Someday I will have a brick oven in my backyard so I can make my own. But until then I will need to find good restaurants.
My love of wood-fired pizza started in Napoli, (Naples) Italy. I had taken a train from Rome to Sorrento with a stop in Napoli. Based on our itinerary we ended up with a 3-hour layover and a train change so we had some time to kill.
Hungry, we opted to venture out to find some food. I don’t remember the name but it was nothing more than a window you ordered from. I got a slice of the traditional Margherita and I was hooked.
Since that day, I have been on an endless quest to find something equivalent in the US. I have to admit, Element Pizza comes close…
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Where is Element Pizza located?
Element Pizza is located east of the Mississippi River on Broadway St. NE in Northeast Minneapolis. While it does sit along a busy road, don’t let that deter you from going.
What is the atmosphere like?
Element Pizza has a cozy feel. Yes, I mean cozy as in small and yes I mean cozy as in relaxed and comforting. There are only a few tables inside the narrow building. A counter with stools facing out the window gives guests a few more seating options. On one end is the order counter and kitchen; on the other end are the tables.
It could just be the power of persuasion but the glow of the wood-burning oven gives it a warm feel and the soft glow gives it a subtle amount of ambiance.
The menu is written on the boards above the counter. Or you can open their website and check it out there. There are no formal servers so you need to order your pizza from the counter and they will deliver it to your table when it’s ready.
What kind of pizza do they serve?
Now the good stuff, the pizza. Like all good pizzerias, they have a number of traditional pizzas, several specialty pizzas, or of course, you can always make your own. They also have a few daily specials to choose from.
Everything on the menu looked delicious and I had a hard time deciding. I finally opted for Fire, a spicy sausage, roasted red pepper, and goat cheese pizza.
Growing up in the Midwest, where there is a stereotype that ketchup is too spicy, I was not sure if this was really going to be hot. Being a real spicy food lover, I can assure you, this pizza had a good kick!
The goat cheese was a perfect balance to the spicy sausage.
Caution – this next sentence will be controversial.
My partner-in-crime ordered…a Hawaiian pizza. We both love Hawaiian pizzas so I was glad he ordered it. It was tasty but being a spicy girl, I’m glad I ordered the Fire.
The wood-fired crust had nice burn blisters, crispy outside and chewy inside.
Next time, I’d like to try the Farmers pizza; a blue cheese, feta, and parmesan cheese pizza. Or maybe the Wind pizza with arugula and prosciutto.
There are also some appetizers, salads, and of course garlic cheese bread! Yummy!!!
Is there a patio at Element Pizza in Minneapolis?
Look at the FAQs at most restaurants in the Midwest and you will see this question; is there a patio (or outdoor seating) at the blank restaurant? This is not just in the last few years. This has ALWAYS been a popular seating request here.
So it’s no surprise that if a restaurant here has the option for some outdoor seating, they have outdoor seating. Element Pizza is no exception. They have a nice patio and along the busy Broadway St, they have a privacy wall filled with flowers all summer long.
Of course, it’s not open in the winter but most patios aren’t.
Where can I park?
Ok, parking can always be a trick anywhere in a metro area. Near Element Pizza is no exception. They do however have a few parking spots saved in the parking lot on the West end of the building. It can be accessed via Broadway St.
There is also street parking along 11th Ave.
What do they have to drink at Element?
One thing I love to see when eating out is having local brewery beverage options. Element Pizza has several local options which I appreciate!
They have a small drink menu, a couple of tap beers, some beer in bottles, some wine options, hard seltzers, hard ciders, and of course fountain pop (aka soda).
Why you need to check out Element Pizza
While not quite the same as the pizza I had in Napoli, Element Pizza is a great place to get wood-fired pizza in Minneapolis. The options are unique but they have standard classics too. The patio area is a nice place to hang out with a couple of friends or to have a casual first date.
There is always a takeout option and they do offer delivery on their website.
If you want to check out pizza in Napoli, consider a trip to Italy and take a pizza class. I use Expedia for many of my trip plans.
Happy travels and remember the world is full of adventures all around you. Get out there and explore!
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