Four Stars for Meanwhile in Belfast's Authentic Neapolitan Pizza

The latest four star recipient from Press Herald food critic James Schwartz is Meanwhile in Belfast, opened in March 2015 by Italians Alessandro Scelsi and life/business partner Clementina Senatore. In his latest Dine Out Maine column, Schwartz raves about Scelsi's wood-fired, sourdough, Neapolitan pie, which is "certified by Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, the 'True Neapolitan Pizza Association,' founded to insure the quality of traditional Neapolitan pizza internationally."

Particular favorites include a spicy broccolini and sausage special as well as the Cote d'Azur, "more like a sandwich — a hearty sandwich covered with slices of Prosciutto di Parma, sugary sun-dried figs and fresh fior di latte mozzarella." In lieu of a salad, he recommends a Formentera, with its artichokes, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes and fresh basil; he suggests skipping dessert in favor of another pie, as "pizzas are the obvious draw and the core of the business."

TripAdvisor and Yelp users tend to agree, with the restaurant currently scoring a solid 4.5. This despite a few complaints about service or lack of gluten-free options, not to mention the requisite one star review wondering how the owners dare close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays "in a tourist town and during the height of tourist season."