Pizza may be the answer to all of life’s curveballs.
Pizzeria Nomad began serving slices out of a food truck in Amarillo back in 2018. Now one of downtown Amarillo’s stationary options for great pizza, salads and desserts—plus local beer and full bar service—its latest iteration, Nomad Napoletana, aims to please.
Beyond the former church pew benches and past the host stand lies the open “secret” to Nomad Napoletana’s distinctly flavored dishes: a wood-fired grill that reaches temperatures around 1,000 degrees.
Warm bread doused in Nomad Napoletana’s signature garlic confit olive oil is the starter for every meal. This appetizer is a delightful precursor to the good to come.
Nomad Napoletana offers an array of other appetizers that diners will find truly unforgettable. The meatballs are nothing short of heavenly—perfectly seasoned and nestled in a rich sauce. Hot, gooey cheesy bread is served fresh and piled high with melting cheese, creating a dish that feels like a whimsical dream for any cheese lover.
A dish unique to Nomad Napoletana is panuozzo, which it describes as an “Italian pizza sandwich.” Panuozzo is like a pizza folded in half, with a crisp crust on each side and stuffed with salad-like or pizza-like toppings. Panuozzo options include a deli sandwich stuffed with ham, romaine, ranch, fresh onion and pickles, or a meatball hero featuring house-made meatballs, ricotta and sharp, leafy arugula. There’s also a chicken Caesar option featuring a fried chicken breast, romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, Parmesan and a few cracks of black pepper, or the simple classic Caprese, which is filled with burrata, tomatoes, arugula and a tart sweet balsamic glaze.
Twelve-inch pies range from the classic Margherita topped with mozzarella, featuring tomato sauce, bright green basil leaves and Parmesan, to the iconic pepperoni with mozzarella, tomato sauce, pepperoni and fresh basil. Diners can also take a less traditional route and check out the brisket pizza, where mozzarella is substituted for provolone, cream sauce replaces tomato, and smoked brisket, balsamic reduction and pepperoncini are piled high, adding texture, flavor and satisfaction to each bite. To possibly settle the debate over whether pineapple belongs on pizza, try the Hawaii Five-0: mozzarella, sugo (tomato sauce), thin-sliced ham, pineapple and fresh basil create a savory-sweet and altogether satisfying main course.
For those who want a spicier experience, anything on Nomad Napoletana’s menu that includes “freak sauce” will do the trick. Try the Diablo con Queso; it’s the traditional pepperoni topped with freak sauce (read: super spicy), pickled jalapeños and slightly cooled with a beer cheese drizzle.
It may not be a casual pizza eater’s first inclination to add honey to pizza, which is all the more reason to appreciate the refined tastes of the chef at Nomad Napoletana. Hot honey serves as an exclamation point on the Pepperazzi Pie, already a tasty mix of tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, ricotta, fresh red onion and fresh oregano. Another must-try suggestion from this incognito regular is the Pickle Pie. This adventurous dish features a medley of mozzarella, crispy bacon, ranch dressing, crunchy pickles, garlic and tangy kimchi aioli, all topped with fresh dill. Nomad Napoletana’s Pickle Pie is so perfectly balanced that it’s both oddly rich and surprisingly light at the same time.
As with almost everything else on Nomad Napoletana’s menu, dessert is homemade. Diners might visit on a rare day when the featured dessert is tiramisu—don’t hesitate to order it first. It is a truly unselfish public service that this article includes a disclaimer about Nomad Napoletana’s Basque cheesecake—yes, it is intentionally burnt, and yes, that feature makes it more unique, more flavorful, and more sought after.
In a city bustling with dining options, Nomad Napoletana stands out not only for its remarkable food, but also for the warmth and passion that infuse every dish. Whether you’re indulging in a classic pizza, exploring adventurous flavor combinations, or savoring a homemade dessert, each visit promises to be a delightful experience. So gather your friends, roll up your sleeves and dive into the vibrant world of Nomad Napoletana—a true gem in Amarillo’s culinary landscape.
614 S. Polk St., 806.376.4700, nomadnapoletana.com
Open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
