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Via Appia in Schwabing – A few days ago, I went to an Italian restaurant. That's nothing special in itself, and anyone should be able to manage it. However, the pizzas, the way they landed on the plates there, are something definitely not everyone can make. Not even every second or third person. But let's start from the beginning. So, where was I? At Via Appia. Right in the heart of Schwabing, on Leopoldstrasse, for lunch. That's just to give you an idea. Before entering, I wasn't – as is usually the case before any review – overly enthusiastic, nor did I have any preconceived notions. I simply wanted to get to know Via Appia better. Up until then, I'd only made two relatively short visits. It was time for a comprehensive review. No sooner said than done – I went in!

One of the nine different homemade lemonades

First impressions

Or rather, let's take a step back. Let's mentally step outside again. Because there, a significant part of Via Appia, which opened in mid-September 2016, is visible: the terrace. Still a bit chilly, but soon it will surely be the place to be for all friends of Schwabing, pizza, pasta, and good vibes. Okay, let's go back inside. Door opens, first impression and first impression: the delicious smell of pizza! No, really, even upon entering, this unmistakable and undeniable aroma of pizza hits you. For anyone who wasn't quite sure whether they were hungry or not, Via Appia has already made up their mind. Okay, so I – not alone, of course, but with my companions in tow – went in, sat down, and waited. Not two minutes later – menus in hand. Already a first "Oooooh! Ahaaa." They're A3 size, screwed onto a wooden board, food on the front, drinks on the back. First glance: pizza! Ohhhh – there it was again! – Quite a large selection, quite fair prices. Next stop: pasta. Again, a wide selection, also fair prices. On to soups, fish & meat, salads, and antipasti. Sounds good, but first, drinks. So, I turned the menu over, and for the third time, a collective "Ooooh!" rippled through the group. Why? Because in addition to nine different homemade lemonades (0.5l each for €4.50), what is probably the city's largest Spritz menu awaits you. 18 different Spritzes, including my beloved Ramazzotti Rosato in various variations. A fair €6.50 per Spritz, plus water, beers, various teas (10 different ones from Zanzibar – fantastic!), wines, and long drinks. So, the menu had passed the test. The ingredients were top-notch, too, as they come from the surrounding area whenever possible, or only those of the highest quality cross the threshold of Via Appia. (Example: eggs and butter from the Garching area, pasta from a small Italian manufacturer, mozzarella without binding agents from a premium supplier, etc.). I felt like trying it.

The creative and artistic "Via Appia" on the wall

What makes the Via Appia special

Before I go into detail and describe my/our visit more closely, something almost more important. Via Appia isn't just special because of the food on your plate, but also because every little detail of the experience is meticulously thought out. A few examples: First of all, the quality is consistently excellent. From A to Z. This applies to the ingredients in the dishes, but also to pretty much everything you can perceive with your eyes and ears. Great decor, a fantastic atmosphere, good music, friendly service, prompt attention at the tables, and everything else that really matters. But there's more. The Via Appia team pays attention to the smallest details, serving their homemade 0.5-liter lemonades, for example, in 0.6-liter glasses filled with ice to ensure you actually receive the advertised 500ml. The same goes for the pizzas: You'll be hard-pressed to find more generously topped pizzas anywhere else in the city, right to the brim and without any tricks. Fairness towards the guest isn't just empty talk here; it's practiced down to the last detail. The unique touches, like serving and pouring wine in stylish apothecary bottles (0.2l to 0.7l) or having coffee served in chic flowerpots, make Via Appia stand out and intriguing even before you order. Add to that the harmonious lighting, herb pots on the tables, decorative touches here and there, and a huge, colorful picture of the "Via Appia" in the entrance area, symbolically extending all the way to Munich – specifically, to Leopoldstrasse. Another special feature: wines aren't celebrated or described in excessive detail on the menu, but rather offered in ample variety by the glass and by the bottle. Fifteen wines in total, nine of which are available by the glass, both red and white. And of course, they're happy to offer recommendations.

My new star: The Pizza Parma at Via Appia

Selection of dishes

So… I think you all understand by now that it's great to be here. Now for some "fame, fame!" Let's order. Pizza, no question; but also pasta and a salad. There's no lunch menu, but a weekly menu that changes every two weeks with specials: three pizzas, three pastas, and an aperitif. In addition, Via Appia offers a salad or soup, a 0.33l drink, and an espresso (macchiato) with your main course for an extra €4.75 until 5:00 pm. After 5:00 pm, a 0.5l bottle of water and a 0.2l house wine with your main course, soup/salad, are available for an extra €7.75. The aforementioned weekly menu appealed to my companion, so we started with "Strozzapreti Al Curry Con Filetto di Manzo" (Northern Italian pasta with pak choi, beef tenderloin tips, and curry sauce) for €14.50. The "Gnocchetto Sardo Al Forno" (Sardinian pasta baked in the oven with meat ragu and zucchini) for €11 caught my companion's eye, so the pizza ended up on my plate – poor me. The choice was easy, firstly because I'm a huge fan of Parma ham, and secondly because a "Pizza parma e rucola" with Parma ham, mozzarella, arugula, and Parmesan (€12.50) is always a good indicator of whether the pizza maker knows their craft. And, purely for testing purposes, of course, I added an "Insalata Salmone" with salmon, feta cheese, honeydew melon, and horseradish (€13) to share. This is an option shared by most salads and antipasti dishes at Via Appia: they are offered in large and small portions. Salads, for example, start at just €3.75 and cost a maximum of €15 if you choose the giant salad with scampi, pine nuts, and basil. We skipped the antipasti in this case, but they offer both classic and modern, creatively arranged options. (The octopus in house marinade or the stuffed grape leaves with rice, for example.) Okay, then – order placed and wait.

While you wait, here's another piece of information for you. You absolutely shouldn't forget – although I haven't tried them myself (yet!) – the unique 1-meter pizzas offered by Via Appia. From 5:00 PM onwards, you can order the one-meter-long, rectangular pizza with your choice of four different toppings. Ideal for groups or when you're really, really hungry. 😉 A real hit and already on my to-do list. So…food's coming!

This is how your coffee will be served here. Nice, isn't it?

Food review

It's ready. And pretty quickly, too. You only have to wait a maximum of 10-15 minutes for your food here. Depending on whether the place is packed and 20 other people have already ordered pizza before you. Everything went super fast, didn't take long, and – another plus – was served all at once. Nothing gets my blood pumping more (…well, almost nothing…) than when I've already finished eating and my companion is ceremoniously served lukewarm pasta. Not the case here; everything was quick, simultaneous, and sooooooo appetizingly presented. My first glance – naturally, you always look out for yourself – fell on my pizza. Topped like a feast fit for the gods, the crust nice and thin and crispy. Just look at the pictures – mmm! I was almost a little annoyed that I had to take the photos for this post before I could start eating. The pizza lived up to its visual promise: "Eat me! I'm amazing!" It was like that, and it stayed that way. Even my enthusiastic dining companions agreed. The strozzapreti – admittedly a bit too spicy for my taste – were a fantastic combination with the tender beef tenderloin tips, the pak choi, and the curry. My "Phew, that's pretty spicy!" comments were countered with the killer argument, "Um, Bianca, it's curry!" It was delicious – all around! Admittedly, I didn't try my companion's other dish, but it looked and smelled wonderful, like something lovingly prepared by a mother. If you believe the diner, it was divine. So... everything was great, the salad with its generous portion of salmon – again, the "always enough for the guest" philosophy – was fresh and plentiful. I had absolutely nothing to complain about, and I didn't find anything to criticize until the very end. Sipping my homemade lemonade ("Wild Berry Lemonade"), I wondered if I'd ever had such a good pizza in recent weeks and came to a resounding "No!". Anyone who likes pizza will love the one from Via Appia.

Yes, I know, it looks good!

Key facts and personal conclusion

You can reach Via Appia via the "Münchner Freiheit" station using public transport. It's open from 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM. Via Appia offers seating for 156 people at 50 tables, plus an additional 202 people on its attractive terrace. In the evening, you'll be shown to your table upon arrival, so there's no need to wander around looking for a seat. Parking is, let's just say, a matter of luck. Card payments are accepted, and reservations are recommended, as I'm not the only one who knows the food is delicious – and now you won't be either. 😉

My conclusion is obvious: Stop by, and don't wait five weeks. That's when the sun will be shining more often, and all the hungry Italian pizza and pasta lovers will flock there at once, occupying the terrace (and the pizza oven). Be smart and come before then, be even smarter and take me with you! It's worth it. I sat for ages, ate superbly, and had a truly wonderful lunch and afternoon (…yes, I did have a lot of time that day…). If, like me, you don't have a group with you and can't try everything, then I definitely recommend the pizza. It's fantastic and a solid 10/10. Yes, really, I wanted to find something to complain about, but I couldn't. If I may nitpick, it's that I wasn't offered or served any cake with my – incidentally – excellent cappuccino (made with beans from a Munich roaster!). They don't have any. I'll still be back, though. When can we go?

Details:
Restaurant: Via Appia in Schwabing
Address: Leopoldstraße 48, 80802 Munich
Website

Pictures: