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Ancora
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 2 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
50 reviews for Ancora
Review Highlights
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"We had the daily market salad which was a caprese this..." In 3 reviews -
"Best Margherita pie I've had in this city." In 10 reviews -
"The oven was hand-crafted with materials from Mt." In 11 reviews
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50 reviews in English
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Review from Sean K.
5/7/2012
My sense of the general ethic of the new Freret Street eateries is to make food correctly, in that it satisfies your highminded view of the craft, and let your audience adjust to you. The first thing I did after walking into Ancora was get an up close look at that badass wood oven. I said, "That is a sweet oven" to no one in particular, but it turned out I was within earshot of Jeff Talbot, who gave a beaming smile like I just complimented his first-born.
Pizza is, or rather should be, all about the dough. Ancora's is very good. (I'd place a Mitt Romney-esque $10,000 bet that they're on a first name basis with their dough starter... if you take IOUs.) Dough is not an afterthought, but should be pizza's centerstage.
It all comes down to the magic of fermentation, which is why their salumi and pizza fit together like peas and carrots. I have a soft spot for blood sausage, and I enjoyed Ancora's very much. But it was their cured tenderloin that was my favorite of the night -- equal parts fatty and lean with generous saltiness. I will definitely return for another fine Old Fashioned (with a very alluring house-made bitter), more cured meats and another great pizza. Good work. -
Review from Stephen K.
Destrehan, LA
5/19/2012
Visually attractive, could probably use some eye catchers on the walls, nice atmosphere, very comfortable, full bar.
Lots of parking in a public lot kitty-corner from the restaurant.
Service was exceptional. Immediate attention when we walked in the door. Drinks were quickly served and prompt followup through out the meal.
Short menu - not a lot of choices. Also, you might want to bring your Italian-English dictionary to figure out what they are serving.
Pizza aficionados - cracker thin crust with high quality toppings. Great cheese. The crust is very tasty. As mentioned above, not a lot of choices. Didn't appear to be any classic veggie type pizzas. A very petite pizza, good taste, but nothing that you will be bragging to friends about.
Meals were quick, probably about 15 minutes from placing an order to having a pizza arrive.
I'm looking at what I have written - mostly positive and still only three stars..... I guess it comes down to the fact that there are places doing the same thin pizza theme, just better. Slice, Domenica, even Reginellis have equally tasty pizza, great atmospheres and a lot more choices.
I would have no problem recommending this restaurant if Midway, a couple of blocks down the street, was full. Does that count as a recommendation? -
Review from Unicorn Y.
New Orleans, LA
Updated - 4/6/2012
Hog's head cheese bruschetta. Wow.
Another incredible pizza at Ancora: coppa, garlic, a fried egg... So good.
The service has improved tremendously, although at busy times, you may be subjected to a wait despite empty tables.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/30/2011
I am giving five stars half because this is one of the best pizzas I have had in New Orleans and… Read more »
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Review from Susan W.
Fantastic authentic pizza in a casual yet stylish atmosphere. Ancora has quickly become one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants. While Freret Street is not technically my 'hood, it is a very short trip and easily accessible.
Ancora not only has great pizza, they also make great use of local vegetables, either on the "Little Bite of Everything" anti-pizza platter, as contorni, or in market salads. They also have delicious, refreshing cocktails (and I have noticed that cocktails and wine pours have gotten larger since they first opened). As important as these things are, you're going for the pizza! The thin crust pizza is cooked in minutes in the imported pizza oven. It's so light, I could eat it daily. My favorite pizza is the Maria with capicola, mascarpone, arugula, and tomato. If this pizza is not on the menu, I'm also a big fan of the Bianca with Fior de Latte, basil, olives, garlic, and chili. I like their pizza so much, however, I would probably be happy with any of the choices. If you love authentic pizza, check out Ancora.Listed in: OPEN on Monday, Live Like a Local, Crowd Pleasers, Meet Me On Freret Street, NOLA Latest & Greatest
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/26/2011
Great pizza & antipasti in a contemporary yet casual atmosphere. Ancora is one of Adolfo Garcia's… Read more »
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Review from Kelsey G.
3/23/2012
Yum yum yum! The atmosphere and food was deeeeeelightful-- great date place ;)
I gave it three stars instead of four simply because their options aren't as prevalent as I had hoped! They have an array of meat toppings, specifically salamis and sausages, but as for vegetables they don't have much of any. They do serve local produce (beet salad was perfecto) and until-it's-gone appetizers that are quite nice.
Overall, their pizza was delicious and I'd go back in a heartbeat when I can pull myself to spend that kind of dough on my dough. -
Review from Tamia G.
3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a hidden jewel. From the friendly service (thanks Bren) to the wonderful aromas to the tasty cocktails, you'll be glad you ventured in!
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Review from Allie C.
New Orleans, LA
12/24/2011
Ancora boasts one of only 2 wood burning pizza ovens in New Orleans (Domenica has the other, in case you hadn't heard). What a difference that oven makes! The Neapolitan style thin crust pizza is a refreshing breather from the cheese-heavy bready pizzas you'll find in other pizzerias. Chef Adolfo Garcia, the same chef responsible for the small plates at Canal Place Theaters and the Warehouse District hit Rio Mar, has done an excellent job of crafting thoughtful pies. They are simple, each with only a few ingredients, yet packed with flavor. I was impressed. Ancora also offers daily specials such as bruschetta and creative salads with local greens and veggies. The pizza is enough for two, but only if you are both light eaters. If you have a large appetite, you may think about ordering more than one pizza, or trying a few appetizers such as the daily side or a cured meat plate.
One major qualm I have with this place is that I feel the wine is too expensive. It is excellent wine, the kind of selection you don't normally see on a wine list. However, even if you only have one glass, you may end up paying just as much for the wine as for your share of the food! I thought I read a while ago that Ancora offered all pizzas for $10 with purchase of a glass after 9:00pm, but when I went the waiter didn't say anything about this special. The waiter did, however, let me try 2 wines before making my decision. He was incredibly nice for the end of the night (I think we may have been the last customers), and he was very patient as we carefully decided what to order.
Bottom line for Ancora: fantastic pizza, delicious but expensive wine, and impeccable service. If they ever offer a happy hour, I'll be around more often. -
Review from Jeff C.
10/22/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Tasty, tasty, pizza.
Stopped in here for a quick birthday dinner between stops. Since we were a little pressed for time My Favorite Vegan and I made our way to the bar and were promptly greeted by Sam who'd take care of us.
Now in a previous review I stated my grasp of the Italian language isn't all that great. It's still not up to snuff... so I had to wing it.
I had the Ancora Old Fasioned, My favorite vegan had a house salad and we split a Marinara.
Overall the salad was wonderful and the pizza was delivered quick both were very flavorful. We were also out in time to make it to our next location for 9:30 which was a bonus.
Overall very nice place with cool ambiance and the wine bottle diffused lighting was a nice touch and you can't miss the pizza oven in the corner.
We're already talking about going again when we're not pressed for time. I'm looking forward to the salumi.Listed in: The "B" List
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Review from Sonya Z.
4/23/2012
First of all, really fantastic space. Very open and stripped down, doesn't strike you as a place you'd typically find in NOLA. Great vibes. However, my (first) dining experience tonight was meh, although I think I just need to come back and try something else. We split the Margherita pizza, which was just OK for me. However, I also don't know how big of a fan I am of European-style pizza.. I kinda like the heavier American stuff better! We also got the house salad, which again was meh - I personally don't like romaine leaves though, so that might be why. There just wasn't anything special about it, although to be fair it WAS just the house salad. Although the croutons on it were really delicious : ) We also ordered the pancetta gnocchi, which we hated - we sent it back because we didn't want to eat it, it was too salty and slimy, and the waitstaff were really cool about that!I had a glass of red wine as well, and our total (sans gnocchi) came to about $34. I'm not in a hurry to come back but I definitely wanna give it a second chance sometime. Also, my pizza-adoring friend highly recommends this place, and I definitely respect his pizza opinion, so I think I have to try again before I make a final decision. They appear to have addressed the previous Yelper complaints about their waitstaff, because our waiter was attentive and nice, and the manager came by to check on things as well.
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Review from Eddie E.
Pearl River, LA
12/18/2011
I've been waiting to go here for quite some time now and was not disappointed. This is how pizza should be. While I like the Americanized versions most are familiar with, these wood-fired beauties are far superior in texture, taste and joy.
Yes, I said joy! When the Putanesca slice hit my palate with her salty garlic anchovie love I was transported into Italian heights.
The dessert was a blackberry walnut toasted bread served with marscapone and honey. A wonderfully crunchy bite married in a bed of not-too-sweet cream.
We loved it and will be back! -
Review from R T.
New Orleans, LA
4/26/2012
Pizza is fresh, tasty, and brick oveny. They have good beers on tap. I'd say this place ties Dominica for best pizza place i've tried in new orleans
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Review from Scott H.
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
To quote the website, "Ancora offers the first truly authentic Neapolitan pizza to New Orleans using a style that is hundreds of years old." The oven was hand-crafted with materials from Mt. Vesuvius, and reaches temperatures of up to 900 degrees. To keep with Neapolitan tradition, they bake the pizzas on the oven floor, and it only takes 45-90 seconds to cook. Pizzas are made with flour, water, and sea salt only. No commercial yeast is used, and the dough takes 3 days to prepare from start to finish. Ingredients come from New Orleans markets or they're imported from Naples.
We were seated quickly and our friendly waiter explained the menu thoroughly. It became evident that they take these pizzas seriously- there are many rules involved in making these authentic, and they follow all of them diligently (rules are on the website.) We ordered the cured meat plate, and the chef came out to explain details of each one. The flavors of each were very sophisticated. We ordered 2 pizzas, the margherita and the daily pizza- both were perfect. When I inquired about the oven, I was invited to take a look at it in action, which I thought was a cool gesture- they really do bake these things bare, on the oven floor- it's really neat to see, and all you have to do is peer over the counter to see it in action.
Service was friendly and very attentive. The acoustics are not that great- it was noisy but tolerable, and it being only a Tuesday, I'd imagine the weekends to be very noisy.
Please note- this is anything but Americanized pizza- it's much, much more involved and sophisticated, so don't come expecting the expected. If you're in the mood for a Chicago-style deep-dish, go to Midway down the street (love it.) Keep in mind, these two places offer completely different experiences- it depends on what mood you're in. -
Review from Judy H.
3/4/2012
I went here "by accident" two nights in a row so this review will be longer than usual. We were thinking of going to High Hat the first night, but we met some random people in the street who told us to try Ancora...so we did. The second night we went to Domenica's but it was a 45 minute wait and we were hungry so I recommended we go back to Ancora's. The first night they had us wait 5-15 minutes for a table when there was clearly an empty table in front of us and the second night they seated us almost immediately.
As for the atmosphere, the restaurant reminds me slightly of a warehouse,
probably because there are little to no decorations. It would be cool if they paint up some cool font words explaining what the Italian words mean on the menu; example: fior de latte = mozzarella cheese or something better.
They also have a wood burning oven that they allowed us to walk up to and look at. Double dome to keep the heat in and smoke out. Pretty cool. Supposedly it takes 2-3 minutes for the pizza to cook, but because it looked like there was only one guy making pizzas, the wait for the food took about 40 minutes anyway.
Service wasn't bad. We had the owner, manager/bartender, and waiter come by to check up and answer any questions we had. Everyone was friendly and apologetic about the wait time.
As for the actual food, it was delicious. Pizzas are all about the same size (11-12") and crusts are thin, crispy, but not dry. Sauce and cheese ratio wasn't overwhelming either. They have pretty simple ingredients on their pizzas, but the simplicity enhanced the flavors. We ordered the diavola (salami, mozzarella, chili, and tomatos) and margherita (basil...was the only ingredient I could remember, but it was still good) pizza the first night with a bruschetta ricotta cheese platter and the second night the same two pizzas plus the daily pizza. The ricotta cheese was super fresh and tasty. I kind of wished my friend who ordered it kept the olives on there because I want to see how it paired, but no olives. Daily pizza the second night was prosciutto which was, by far, the best but because of the amount of time it takes to cure the meat, isn't available all the time. It took them 9 months to cure it.
Overall, I really like it, obviously since I've been back twice. Good stuff. :D -
Review from Suzanne J. C.
New Orleans, LA
8/29/2011 ROTD 1/2/2012
I am unabashed about asking for information. If I want something, I will put on a smile and go looking. In a restaurant, I will ask about where they source x, y, or z ingredient. I will ask about preparation. I will ask what something means. I will ask about wine, beer, or cocktails. I will leave no stone unturned.
Ancora was ready for me, in that respect. We asked our server to define roughly half the menu; and he did so with panache. I asked about the nuances of some of the different cheese; he had a simple explanation ready for me. I wanted wine, but I didn't recognize any of the varietals on the menu so I asked the bartender (who wasn't slammed so I didn't feel a bit guilty). I asked and asked and asked, until I was happy with the answer. And Ancora's staff kept answering me. That pleases me.
So why the emphasis on questions? Because Ancora has a learning curve. With a menu that relies heavily on Italian, it can get confusing. But see, Italian is a language with a number of very specialized food words so each nuance of cheese or meat has a name. This leaves us with a delicious precision in food preparation. I am happy with the precision because it means the flavors are carefully cultivated.
We had two pizzas (the daily special and the Bianca), both delicious. Between three people, two pies and an app were enough to satisfy. Now, the trick with the pizzas we ordered was compromise. One member of our party doesn't like olives or capers, both fixtures on the Bianca pizza. She agreed to try it because she was out-voted...then she loved the pizza. I think that reflects strongly on the quality of the ingredients going into each pie. Another of our number doesn't love arugula on pizza, but she didn't mind picking it off if it was too much. There wasn't a leaf left on her plate, either. I was super impressed.
There is no doubt that I would return to Ancora. I'd love to see the decor change a little bit and move away from using grey as the neutral. (Art historian moment: I feel like they need a warm neutral like taupe or soft yellow to really capture the creamy, soft, crisp vibe. Grey was too cold, too industrial, too "Chipotle-esque" for my eye.)
And a note on the service: They seem to have ironed out the issues other, earlier reviews noted. I can see where the service would get thin, but everyone was where they should be doing what they should be doing tonight. It was like watching a beautiful bicycle being put through its paces. I really enjoyed the cohesive nature of the service, with management blending into table service blending into the bar blending into the kitchen blending into the pizza makers. It really worked.
I want to give Ancora a 5 star review, but I also want to leave room for the place to grow. My fervent hope is that I will bump this place up to a 5 star joint with my next visit.
Accessibility notes: Door opens out. Fully accessible for mobility devices. Can get loud. No braille menu or signage. -
Review from Spenser K.
New Orleans, LA
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food at Ancora was delicious. I'm not a huge fan of thin crust, Neapolitan style pizza in general because it usually leaves me hungry, but the pizza here was so good that I'm more than willing to ignore that. They've got an awesome oven in the corner, and all of the pizza comes out of there in a very short period of time. Similarly, their bartender is awesome. Presuming their is more than one, the one that was working when I went was great, deliberate, and precise. Watching him mix my drink was almost as good as drinking it.
The decor is modern without being pretentious, the tables worn without being dirty. If there was a single thing I'd say negatively about the atmosphere is the high ceilings, which are really high. It may just be me particularly, but high ceilings in a place tend to feel awkward. I doub tit's something they could really control, but regardless, it's a little thing that I'm not a fan of.
Overall, Ancora makes really good pizza, but is not quite my cup of tea. While I enjoyed my experience, and would gladly go with a friend if this was what they were in to, its just not my thing. That said, I think it's a great addition to the booming Freret St. and would recommend it to any pizza connoisseurs in the area. -
Review from Jean-paul V.
New Orleans, LA
Updated - 9/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Sad to see Racer 5 exit the beer line-up, but happy to see the portions are more consistent than my first visit.
The service was on, the pizza delightful, and I was surprised at how comfortable it was to bring my kids as on the surface it just seems a little too cold (as in flat, linear, darker pallette) in design.
I do enjoy this pie more than Midway though my favorite is still a tossup between a Nor'Easter from Reginelli's or an Olivier from Cote' Sud.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/11/2011 ROTD 10/3/2011
Three things you need to know:
(1) The oven has a passport hailing from Naples and being only 1 of 20… Read more »
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Review from jen f.
New Orleans, LA
12/30/2011
Yummmm. Some of the best pizza I've ever had! We tried the Maria (gorgeous), the Bianca (dee-lish) & the Diavola (pretty good). We also had the "little bit of everything," which included some sauteed greens, white beans w/ lardo, olives, 2 kinds of bruschetta (my favorite part) and some house-cured smoked meat.
The bartender was a little flustered when we arrived... a barback would be a good idea, since they offer a pretty full bar and some interesting cocktails. As some other yelp-er mentioned, the wine is a little on the pricier side. I'd like to see them offer more by-the-glass affordable options.
We'll definitely be back! -
Review from caleb g.
1/17/2012
My Italophilia is well documented, but let my real gushing begin in earnest now. While I do thouroughly enjoy "American style" pizza (as my raves about Slice will attest), there is nothing like the real deal, pizza Napolitano. The most mediocre one I've tasted in Italy beats the best American for me, so my first visit to Ancora almost brought marinara tears to my eyes.
My gal and I went for lunch (what a deal!) and before I get to the pizzas, let me give a shout out to a perfectly balanced salad of red sail lettuce with Grana Padano and a subtle citrus dressing. Delicious and the perfect guilt removal device for the utter devestation I wrecked upon my Pizza Bianca (Fior De Latte, olives, garlic, chiles & basil) which had wafer thin crust and a perfect amount of char along the edges. As good as it was, the Bianca paled (pun intended) to my sweetheart's textbook classic Margherita.
Her pizza's crust was as flawless as mine, but the sauce and cheese balance transported me to Pizzaiolio in Florence, my brain fogging in a gustatory Stendahl's syndrome...and Ancora doesn't have the advantage of fresh Mozzarella Buffula from Campagnia Italians take for granted.
I can't wait to try dinner there for the (slightly) expanded menu options, but I can't imagine ever eating at Ancora and not devouring at least one perfect pizza. -
Review from Ira W.
Baton Rouge, LA
8/21/2011
And now, for my most equivocal review ever...
Ancora did one thing well for me: expensive artisanal pizza. If you go expecting exactly that, you won't be disappointed. If you want to pay $20 a person to be full or if you want to be dazzled with flavor, maybe hit up Reginelli's or Theo's instead. If you want to pay $20 a person to eat pizza the way people in Italy have apparently made it for hundreds of years (because that ALWAYS means it's good, right?), get thee to Ancora!
Also, it was Friday night and the bartender was a huge tool. I'd trade twelve imported ovens for good service pretty much any time. -
Review from Rene D.
8/2/2011
I'm stickin' with three stars. I'll be happy to come back and update my thoughts...
The over-the-top 'rules' about what you want on pizza is sort of a turn-off. i understand purity, but when three options are basically a margherita pizza with one extra spice, it's too restrictive.
Our server was fast and helpful. She knew all the right things to say, and was helpful for alternatives if something was not available. The only clunker of the night was my choice of wine. The rose featured on the wine list was flat and not that cold, and steep at $9.00 for a paltry pour.
Also, the nature of the pizza does not allow for take-out. Within 5 minutes, the crust gets too wet for proper delivery, so stop whining. -
Review from Lindsay H.
New Orleans, LA
3/29/2012
not wild about the food but it was definitely OK. the pizza is very euro- not much cheese. we also had an app-- mozzarella cheese coated in risotto rice and deep fried. i don't know. it just didn't taste as decadent as it should have...
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Review from Christy L.
New Orleans, LA
If it were socially acceptable to make love to a pizza then Ancora's pies would be my secret lover.
I've been to Ancora twice now in the first week that they've been open. It seems like they are still working on the space since there isn't any art on the walls but no one cares as evident from the healthy amount of tables in the place. Our servers on both visits seemed enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the food which really made us even more excited to try it.
The pizza is Neapolitan style, which I love. The crust is heavenly, not too dense but not super thin and crispy either. It is just soft enough to give you something to chew on without being overly doughy. The toppings are stupidly flavorful and authentic. One of our servers informed us everything is imported from Naples so this is about as close to eating in Italy as you can get without a plane ticket.
A dinner for two was $50 pre-tip and that got us two cocktails, an app and a pizza. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this restaurant will grow and affect the Freret Corridor, seems like Freret Street is quickly turning into a foodie destination.Listed in: Friends of Freret Street
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Review from Erin V.
New Orleans, LA
7/31/2011
This is a cute trendy Authentic Italian pizza place in an up and coming area on Freret. I had the Aperol Spritzer and it was exactly like what you would drink in Italy at 5pm every day! For pizza I had the special for the day which was a bacon and egg yoke. It literally had a raw egg yoke cracked on top of the pizza. It was surprisingly good but had a really strong smoke flavoring since it was cooked in a real wood pizza oven. It was a little too much for me but the crust was really good also- very doughy and soft. The menu was also very limited so my friend had the Margarita pizza which was pretty standard.
Overall it was a good experience but I woudln't go back because there are too many better pizza places in new orleans. I MAY go back for another spritzer but thats it... -
Review from Robert B.
New Orleans, LA
2/11/2012
If you are looking for traditional pizza, don't come here. if you want something unique for New Orleans, this is your place. In other words, this is not your father's Pizza Hut. I really enjoyed my dinner here. It was partly the great conversation and laughter with awesome friends at our little four top. It was also the great wine my wine gurus brought. But the food played a great part. As above, this is non traditional pizza. The crust is remakably thin and crunchy, the toppings creative and fresh. An example is the Maria, my favorite of the four we ordered --capicola, marscapone, arugula, and tomato sitting atop the aforementions cracker thin crust. Awesome! The puttanesca is an example of how unique this place is. No cheese! No 16 oz of flavorless Papa John's rubber patch mozzarella. The cured meat plate was a great starter too. This is a fun place I will def visit again.
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Review from Jen L.
Y'know I'm not a "lively" environment person & this place is lively to loud. I think they weren't prepared for their instant popularity, so service seems a bit chaotic...like they haven't found their groove.
But the food is delish. We had the daily market salad which was a caprese this evening and the heirloom tomatoes were AMAZING. We ordered 2 pizzas...whose names I can't even remember b/c I am braindead. But they were both excellent.
Cocktails were an interesting twist to an old-fashioned (no orange but satsuma cello instead...may account for my current zombie state) and NOLA brewing wheat bear. Tasty. -
Review from Ryan W.
6/7/2011 ROTD 7/18/2011
Some friends took us here on opening night. Opening night typically a bad time to go to a restaurant. We went anyway, and it was definitely not a mistake. Granted, they do have a couple things to iron out, but that should take no time at all, and none of the problems were even big enough to knock it down from a full five stars.
The number of places the serve good Neapolitan style pizza in this city are growing (Mondo, Domenica), but this is the first place to specialize in it (along with Salumi), and I'm lucky to have it only a few blocks from my house. Chef Adolfo Garcia even came and chatted with our table for a while.
Best Margherita pie I've had in this city.Listed in: Carnivoria, When the Moon Hits Your Eye...…
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Review from Kelley M.
6/16/2011 3 photos
Before I had dinner at Ancora earlier this week, I had read a number of 5-star reviews. Unfortunately, I only had a 3-star experience. Let's start with the positive--the décor of the restaurant is what I will call modernist- minimalist (I just made that motif up). It is really simple but chic; somehow managing to feel trendy and casual at the same time. Our server was incredibly helpful. She gave us a thorough description of each menu item, which was necessary since the menu lacked adequate description and used lots of Italian words.
The boy and I shared a small meat plate as an appetizer. The plate came with three pieces of five different kinds of house-made meats and a couple of pickled tomatoes. The meat was very delicious. The small plate ($7) is a good choice for two people to share. It isn't filling, but I don't imagine it is intended to be, but it is good.
We shared a pizza. It had some kind of salumi on it but I can't remember what the pizza was called. Diavolo, maybe? Anyway, the pizza was alright. The crust was heavenly--soft and fluffy--but the sauce was quite watery and the cheese was barely existant. And the salumi, although delicious, made the pizza very greasy.
Also, I ordered unsweetened iced tea and asked for sweetener. I was told that the restaurant is "all natural" and therefore does not have any sweetener, however I could have some simple syrup if I wanted. Odd. Well, I guess that's what I get for trying to sweeten my unsweetened tea.
Will I go back? Probably, but I won't be in a hurry.
Advice: If you are wondering if the pizzas are meant for one or to be shared, I think you're better off ordering one pizza per person. You may have leftovers, but if two people share one pizza, you're likely to leave hungry. -
Review from Kate K.
Hollywood, FL
2/13/2012
Fantastic pizza made in wood burning oven. Absolutely the key to great pizza is the crust, and this place does it perfectly. Thin, perfectly done with simple toppings. Absolutely great!
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Review from Rita P.
New Orleans, LA
7/2/2011
Neopolitan pizza like you'd get in Italy. The crust is more than a conveyance for toppings -- crisp and chewy and a great balance between yeasty and salty. On the margherita, the flavors are all so mild that nobody overpowers anybody else, and you can taste the quality of the ingredients.
We also got the large meat plate, which featured several of the restaurant's home-cured salamis along with a nice cheese and a dried fruit spread. Delicious. -
Review from Brooke C.
New Orleans, LA
6/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
If one word could describe my experience at Ancora, it might be "meh".
My boyfriend and I decided to split the market salad, cured meat plate, and a margarita pizza. Simple enough. Well, the ingredients in the market salad aren't listed on the menu (neither is the price), and the waiter didn't inform us of what was on it. I glanced at the specials board and noticed that the salad contained melon, which I am very allergic to. We asked the waiter if he could substitute tomatoes for the melon, and he said that the restaurant doesn't do substitutions of any kind. Really?! I understand a complex dish where every ingredient is essential, but a pile of arugula drizzled with olive oil can be easily changed. Come on.
The cured meat plate was divine, and it was served with peppers and a cherry hot mustard sauce. Unfortunately, the plate arrived before our drinks (water + a beer) did. Our waiter was inattentive throughout the meal, but the proprietor seemed nice and walked around the restaurant all night.
The pizza was okay. The sauce was too watery, but the crust was nice, and the flavor was there. Could have probably used a little more cheese as well. The BF thought the crust was too soft, and if you're going to use a wood burning oven, you need a crispy crust. The waiter also walked up to our table, stood there silent for 30 seconds, and then pulled out napkins from a holder at our table and gave them to us when we were mid-meal and clearly had napkins. Weird.
When our check arrived, the waiter had forgotten to take off the $9 salad we ended up cancelling. Oops.
I will go back to Ancora to get another cured meat plate and try the other pizzas (and a cocktail!). I know they're a new business and need time to get their stuff together. -
Review from Eric F.
Destrehan, LA
6/16/2011
Perhaps I'm not quite as refine as rest of the writers, or maybe I'm just more honest. I really wanted to believe this to be the best pizza in all of NOLA but that just is not the case.
The pizza is a very rustic, traditional, Italian pie. What ever is on the menu is what you get...don't even think about asking substitutions or eliminating an item. All I could really taste was the burnt dough from the oven.
The atmosphere was nice and led me to believe that the food would be great too. The service was A-ok, i found it interesting that utensil es were stored in a paint can in the middle of the table. I wasn't really a fan, considering I didn't know who was at the table last and if their hand grazed my fork. Another oddity, if you get ice tea, be prepared for no sweet and low, but a cup of sugar that will be promptly picked up and shared with another table.
In the end I hope they refine whats happening at Ancora and they go on to be a bright spot on Freret for years to come, until then come see me eat'n pie at Theo's. -
Review from Melissa M.
New Orleans, LA
7/16/2011
I was very excited to go to Ancora and I was not let down. We started out with cocktails and then had the anti-pizza plate which is a selection of apps and was very good. I loved my old-fashion!
The pizza did not disappoint. We ranked the pizza as the favorite was the special of the day, then the Margherita, and finally the putanesca.
I can't wait to go back and try more of the the menu. -
Review from Jessica F.
New Orleans, LA
8/3/2011
I hate to give a place with high quality ingredients and tasty food two stars, but my friend and I tried it the other night and the service was AWFUL. Not only did we wait for nearly an hour for a pizza (as we watched other patrons who had arrived long after us get theirs), but we weren't offered any kind of recompense for our how long we waited, ever after complaining to our waiter. In a nice restaurant like Ancora, I was surprised that barely anything was done to make us feel less dissatisfied with the service. The waiter sheepishly apologized about the wait but it was far too little too late. Part of what you pay for in an upscale restaurant is the service, and this was way below the bar.
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Review from Phil W.
New Orleans, LA
12/10/2011
Probably the most authentic pizza in town. The waiters will tell you this, at great length. However the pizza is indeed the real deal and the quality of the ingredients is awesome. Good regional italian wine list. They did seem to struggle with service in the early days, but problems were politely and quickly dealt with. After a particularly long wait the manager sent over the mascarpone and honey desert. I mention this because I never would have got it otherwise but it was excellent - recommend.
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Review from Jennifer M.
New Orleans, LA
11/23/2011
So I had friends in town who have been to New Orleans quite a few times and they wanted go some where new. I heard about all the new stuff on Freret St. and decided to check it out. I had the Brooklyn Ale, a pizza, forgot fancy name but it was delicious, and the most amazing pate salad. We had a party of five and were accommodated nicely. Our waitress was super friendly, attentive, and even funny. I think Ancora might make it into my restaurant rotation.
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Review from ry m.
New Orleans, LA
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow...not sure what pizza other reviewers of Ancora have enjoyed but I was simply underwhelmed...I had been craving good pizza since torturing myself watching NY pizza competition on TV, so decided to give this place a try. Let's see, Tueday night, not crowded, and it was so loud we couldn't hear our server. We order wine and a draft which we hadn't tried before and unfortunately these turned out to be the highlight of our dining experience. We ordered a meat plate to start, which was decent followed by Caprese salad, which was the precursor to the failings of this experience. Both the mozzerella and basil were tasteless, the claimed creole tomatoes, not tasty like any creole I've grown accustomed too...Unfortunately we also order the pizza of the day which featured of course tasteless basil, bland mozzerella, hidden garlic, and now chopped rather than sliced creole tomatoes. The pizza dough was chewy and had way too much burn taste associated with it. So like mexican food and BBQ, good pizza still seems to elude Nola.
PS Service was fine and very informative, so a non issue for us.
All in all probably went to Ancora twice..the first and last time.
Sorry -
Review from Steve B.
New Orleans, LA
10/19/2011
I've heard complaints that dissuaded me from trying Ancora sooner. I can only speculate that all issues have been worked out. Nothing was less than stellar. The cocktails were well crafted and nuanced. The cured meats were some of the best I've enjoyed. Everything else was fantastic as well. Service was helpful, friendly and efficient, a flawless dining experience.
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Review from Eric E.
New Orleans, LA
8/17/2011
Pizza was good to great. We got the Diavolo and the Margherita. Good, chewy crust, bright and delicious sauce, really quality mozzarella cheese. Very impressive.
But the service. Our waiter had not been trained in basic table waiting. I'm usually OK with a no-nonsense, transactional approach, but if you're going to be that way at least check up on me. We had to flag him down whenever we wanted anything. And the pizza took quite a bit of time (over 30 minutes) to come out, which I thought was too slow.
Also, the wine is a huge rip-off. They serve it in cocktail glasses so it's hard to tell how much you're getting, but it is about half of what you should get at this price point. Cheapest wine on the menu is $9.
If I lived in this area I would take out the pizza, buy my own wine, and skip the indifferent service. -
Review from David R.
New Orleans, LA
10/19/2011
Ancora is a great addition to the Feret St Restaurant Scene! Great Anti Pizza plate with housemade meats and sides.
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Review from Shannon S.
New Orleans, LA
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
The pizza here is very old school and traditional style. The crust was very good but the flavor of the toppings left a great deal to be desired. I had the margherita pizza and I found it to be very slack in the basil area. I would have to say that this was one of the blandest pizza's I've EVER had but the crust was fantastic so that it evens out to about a 3 star pizza. Pizza Delicious makes a far more fantastic and VERY flavorful margherita so I would greatly suggest that one over the version at Ancora. The service was acceptable and my pizza came out very fast. Ancora also makes all their cured meats in house but they seem to focus only on the pig to the exclusion of all other meats. The price for their one available (and small) single serving size of pizza is way too much for what it is. I would be willing to pay around $5 (like at happy hour at Domenica for very similar pizza) for this size and type of pizza and certainly not the $13 price. I probably won't be returning here as I find it extremely over priced for the very simple, basic, and cheap food that it is along with the bland toppings (at least for the margherita).
