Fantastic Frittatine and Where to Find Them

The frittatina di maccheroni (a small fried pasta cake) is a fantastic Neapolitan street food, delicious to eat while strolling through the streets of Naples, but also as a starter before a good pizza. It's smaller than the one usually cooked at home and, traditionally, it's made with bucatini pasta and filled with béchamel, minced meat, peas and provola cheese. However, there are also several variations, such as the one with friarielli (Neapolitan broccoli rabe), genovese (a slow-cooked onion and meat sauce) or pasta e patate (pasta and potatoes).

by Alessia Giannino

Below are the best places to eat the finest frittatine in Naples.

PIZZERIA DI MATTEO: their offering is called Top One. There's no better frittatina than the one from this historic pizzeria in the old town centre, with a gooey heart of provola cheese, minced meat and peas. It melts in your mouth with every bite. The pizzeria fries them by the hundreds, and before long the tray is empty.

Where: Via dei Tribunali, 94.

ROSTICCERIA IMPERATORE: here too you can try a frittatina worth mentioning. This rotisserie has two locations: one in Colli Aminei and the other in Fuorigrotta, and it boasts a great reputation — in fact, it's one of the best rotisseries in Naples. Here as well, the frittatina is made with béchamel, minced meat and peas, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Where: Via Colli Aminei, 66 / Via Giacomo Leopardi, 84.

50 KALO’ DI CIRO SALVO: here the frittatina is made with pasta di Gragnano (pasta from Gragnano) and fior di latte from Agerola. The ragù sauce makes it even creamier and tastier. The quality ingredients make this frittatina the must at this pizzeria, very light and easy to digest.

Where: Piazza Sannazaro, 201 B.

FRIGGITORIA FIORENZANO: for Neapolitans, this fry shop is an institution — a pillar of the old town centre. Here too the frittatina is excellent, and you can choose between the classic version and ones filled with sausage and friarielli, pasta e patate, prosciutto and provola, or mushroom-style aubergine. Anyone passing through Pignasecca (a historic market street) simply cannot resist the temptation.

Where: Via Pignasecca, 48.

PIZZERIA GAETANO GENOVESI: this pizzeria, which has been gaining huge popularity in recent years, makes a truly delicious frittatina di maccheroni. Tradition wins here too, with classic béchamel, minced meat, provola and peas. Their version is smaller than the usual frittatine, but just as good, crispy outside and soft inside.

Where: Via Alessandro Manzoni, 26/i.

PIZZERIA CONCETTINA AI TRE SANTI: a landmark for those living in the Sanità district (a historic Neapolitan neighbourhood), although, especially recently, it's frequented by pretty much everyone. Its speciality is the frittatina alla genovese, made according to the traditional recipe with meat and onions. An essential stop, especially for tourists, after the usual tour of the area's places of interest.

Where: Via Arena alla Sanità, 7bis.