Mystery Diner in Woodstock: Napoli Pizza Place a good choice for pizza and more

Located right outside the historic downtown square in Woodstock, Napoli Pizza Place is an appealing spot not only for pizza, as the Mystery Diner found out.

While the restaurant is well-known in the area for its pizza, those who want something else will be pleased to learn that Napoli also offers a variety of salads, wraps, sandwiches and wings.

My fellow diner and I decided to split a 10-inch stuffed cheese pizza ($10). In addition, my companion chose a Caesar salad ($7), and I ordered hot boneless wings. I got six for $6, but there’s also an option for 12 wings for $10.

One of the first things I noticed (other than how good the pizza smelled as I drove it home) was that the staff was thoughtful enough to put the salad and wings into two separate bags, ensuring the salad stayed cool.

My hot wings were great, and an ideal appetizer. The hot sauce they were covered in, which appeared to be an orange buffalo recipe, gave the wings a nice kick. You also can choose mild, hot, garlic Parmesan, or barbecue sauce for your wings, and if boneless isn’t your thing, they have fried, bone-in wings.

Sometimes, boneless wings can be a little dry, but this was not a problem at Napoli. The meat was juicy and tender, and the wings were perfect to share. A creamy side of ranch complemented the chicken well.

My fellow diner told me their salad had crunchy croutons and a nice Caesar dressing that was light and slightly lemony. They were generous enough to offer me a bite, and I can confirm that the dressing, while enough to coat the lettuce, shaved Parmesan cheese and croutons, was tasty and not overpowering. For an extra $2, you also can add grilled chicken, which my companion decided to do. The salad is delicious either way.

The pizza was incredibly cheesy, probably perfect for those social media “cheese pull” pictures. Crispy golden brown in spots, the cheese topped a nice, hearty, doughy crust that was flaky but not dry. It could have used a little more sauce for my taste, but the surplus of cheese more than made up for that. My fellow diner and I could barely polish off one slice each of the filling pie. Luckily, it was easy to place in the fridge for leftovers.

Next time, when we return, I’m thinking of trying the Italian Beef Wrap ($8), which the menu advertises as “Italian beef smothered with mozzarella cheese and chipotle ranch,” with hot or mild peppers in a flour wrap. The $3 garlic Parm french fries, and mozzarella sticks, ($6) also caught my eye.

• The Mystery Diner is an employee at the Northwest Herald. The diner’s identity is not revealed to the restaurant staff before or during the meal. If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment, we will not publish a story.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Napoli Pizza Place

WHERE: 135 W. Washington St., Woodstock

PHONE: 815-338-2430

INFORMATION: napoliswoodstock.com