I was born and raised in Naples Italy, the birth place of Pizza, so when I read "authentic Pizzeria Napoletana" on a menu, I am always very skeptic. Let me forewarn, If you like nothing but the american style huge doughy pizza loaded with crappy cheese and oil, or the crunchy thin pizza that feels like you're eating a cracker with some tomato sauce, then steer away from this place, unless you're an open minded eater.
Now on to the pizza. I was impressed. What makes or breaks a pizza napoletana is 70% the dough and how it is cooked. This had the right consistency, it was soft, but not undercooked, and the crust was perfect, lightly crunchy and fluffy, with a few lightly burnt spots that give it hat distinct flavor. I oredered the Margherita. That is the very first pizza invented, and when I try a pizza place I always try the simplest one. My philosophy is, if they can't get right the simplest of pizzas, How can they do the more complicated ones well? I would give this pizza, on a scale of 1 to 10 (one being terrible and 10 being a real pizza napoletana) a 7. Not to be mean but unfortunately the mozzarella was very disappointing. It's hard to get good fresh mozzarella in the US, and when they do, they make you pay for it.
Mozzarella is an essential ingredient and nobody makes it better than Naples Itlaly, If you're curious, research Mozzarella di bufala campana and see what mozzarella should look like. And if you want to taste it, either fly to Naples, or go to Miami Florida, and visit Fratelli la Bufala Pizzeria THE best pizza I've ever had in the US, and oreder the Mozzata. Shell out $30 bucks if you're curious... I loved it.
Anyway back on to La perla. Will I go back? Yes there are many other pizzas to try. Is it worth going? Yes, the pizza is very good (the margherita for now). Steer away from the cold cuts cheeses plate in the Antipasti, they're mostly picked veggies, 3 pieces of crappy cheese and some passable cold cuts, drowned by the veggies vinegar and oil.
I will update on my next visit. Till then, I hope this was helpful.
Best pizza West of New York.  Visited our niece at  univ Oregon and she took us over to La Peria and what a surprise!  The crust, cheeses and sauces are right out of Italy. My wife had the pracito and arugula pizza and it was #1.  I had the 4 combo and was extremely good but loved the simple favors. I might have to drive down from Portland more often!
Review Source:A friend who goes to U of O suggested this place when I came to Eugene to visit and I'm definitely glad I came. Pizzas were not very filling - we ordered two for three people for dinner (two of us are not big eaters) and definitely could have eaten more. But the quality was great and if you don't mind something a little pricey for the quantity, definitely stop by here! Everyone was super friendly and it's really quick!
Review Source:Updating because all the cons from my previous review stand, but my impression of the pizza has now changed substantially. I've had the good fortune of having pizza from another place with the same certification La Perla has, and the two pizza's could not have been more different. I fully admit I was living in the dark the handful of times I enjoyed La Perla's pizza. I had no idea that La Perla's crust is a shadow of what a well executed Neopolitan style pizza can and should be. The crust should fluff up around the edges, and be thin but somewhat bready beneath the ingredients. La Perla's crust ranges from chewy to crunchy, depending on the visit, but has nothing resembling the heavenly soft goodness of a better example of Neapolitan style pizza.
Review Source:Went here on a whim to try their pizza and was pretty impressed. Â The service was great and our waitress suggested, since there was three of us, to order a salad and two pizza's, which we did. Â The salad (Caesar Salad), was fresh and well prepared. Â The pizza's were hand made in a brick over, wood fired, with very fresh tasting ingredients. Â Is this cardboard pizza for cheap? Â No. Â If you want lots of pizza for cheap, this is not your place. Â If you prefer quality over quantity, this is your place. Â Place was clean and enjoyed it overall and would have no problem going back.
Review Source:Best pizza ever. And I've seen some pizza. The wood fired oven is amazing, house made mozzarella is incredible, flavor, texture, quality all superb. We found this place on yelp while traveling and will definitely stop for some pies perfecto every time we are in eugene. Heck this pizza is so good we might come to eugene just for some of this pizza!
Review Source:I'm not sure what's kept me from La Perla after my first visit years ago but I'm disappointed in myself. I finally found my way back, thankfully my mother decided she loves it too so I'll have another driving force to keep me going back more frequently!
The pizza is delicious, it's absolutely fabulous. It doesn't stuff me like the over load that American pizza can have, I had enough room for dessert which is very rare.
We had an amazingly attentive and sweet waitress, that's always a plus of course.
I look forward to going back soon.
I like this place. My kids like this place. That by itself is a friendly little miracle. Yes, it's a little spendy, yes the ambiance (while not bad) could be a little less like a cafeteria, yes getting the waitperson's attention can sometimes be difficult. But it has real, thin crust neapolitan pizza, with a wide range of high quality toppings. And a fabulous wood oven, and an open kitchen that's fun to watch. And once you find your favorite pizza, it's dependably delicious, every bite - crust and all. Fun Italian drinks and a few decent ales. A TV in the corner of the bar if the Ducks are playing. Lunch is a particularly good deal on weekdays (but not Saturday, go figure). No, it's nothing like american pizza - but isn't that the point??
Review Source:I usually come here for lunch. The pizzas are consistent and high-quality. The crust is the star. I'm not sure what they're doing with just flour and water, but it's working. Once they talked me into getting a butternut squash soup that was heaven in a bowl.
The only problem with these pizzas is that they're best consumed the instant they arrive in front of you and their quality diminishes by the minute.
The atmosphere is a bit warehouse-y for my liking. But to be fair, this used to be the location for Pearl Street ice cream (which had red velvet wallpaper and kitsch coming out the floor boards).
Look, we're a bit foodie....We like good food. Â This place is as good as it gets for pizza, non traditional, fresh ingredients, and desserts. Â My husband and I like to go out somewhere we can actually 'talk' to one another, have a relaxing dinner with or without wine, and spend some time. Â We aren't pushed here, the menu is varied enough to keep us happy.
 I agree this is NOT traditional greasy mass cheese pizza, and for us, that's great.  Having a small salad (which is pretty large), any of their pizzas, (yes, they are NOT large or heavy topping for a reason:  these have to cook through in a short time) without overly burning the crust and being sloppy wet, highly flavored pizzas, where you can order extra garlic if you wish and no cost, sit back and enjoy!
Their desserts are varied; apple tart, Peach frozen and put back into it's skin in an amazing ice cream type number. Â Ice cream and Espresso to die for that is put in a wood smoked oven and served...Tiramisu is "ok", a little wet and thrown together, like it isn't pre made and chilled...your typical volcano chocolate cake and Cheese cake.
I love the fact that the place is friendly staffed, knowledgeable, take their time with you, the water is chilled and bottled to your table, they have true cafe style outside dining with a rod iron fence, so you are NOT on the side walk, with an awning, not just umbrellas.
The food isn't cheap.. Yes you may need more than one pizza to get a true full meal that most people would require, but really, it is quality rather than quantity. I like a pizza I would actually eat the crust, rather than stopping where the topping quits because the crust is pre made, mostly conditioned dough...
The interior is low lights, but not so low you can't see what you are eating.  If I were to change anything, it probably would be the seating; it is all wood, hard chairs (sort of like the ones you have at Chipotle) that are uncomfortable inside...outside the seating and tables are fantastic.  Music is canned, would love it if they actually had something  other than the 70's soft rock, more mood enhancing, like italian fare, or Sinatra era music: Just me.
Disabled friendly, good parking, and clean restrooms.
"Gourmet" pizza isn't usually my thing, so my expectations were pretty low when it was suggested we dine at La Perla for my niece's (half!) birthday. Â Luckily for us, our dinner companions knew just what to order and we left happy campers!
+ Focaccia alla Beppe & Gianni was bursting with flavor and had a perfectly chewy crust
- Our server's mood seemed to lift right before she brought us our check. Â Hmmmm.....
- Price per pizza averages around $14 and wouldn't be enough for two
Thanks to all the Yelp reviews, I made sure to snack on some fruit before dining at La Perla so I wouldn't leave starved. Â I suggest an order of Focaccia alla Beppe & Gianni with a cocktail for a starter and then moving on to a different spot for your entrees.
Really terrific pizza with lots of options to choose from. Â It's not the typical pizza place with a playground for the kids but it is still a good place to bring little ones where no one is going to be disturbed by a little bit of noise. Â Good atmosphere and you can see them preparing and cooking the pizzas in the wood burning oven. Â Pizzas are not that big so get one per person and share.
Review Source:"Excuse me sir, may I have a side of ranch with my pizza?" Oh, boy. I am sad to say that I am one of those people who can't seem to eat a slice of pizza without some ranch for dippin'. I am, however, happy to say that La Perla didn't scoff at my ridiculous ranch idiosyncrasies. They may not have ranch, but they do have a fabulous homemade gorgonzola dressing that is perfect for dipping that crust in (and actually better than ranch for that matter)!
My boyfriend and I were blown away by this place. As previous reviewers stated, I haven't ever experienced pizza that is baked in a brick oven in 90 seconds either. I don't think my pizza palate will ever be the same after eating at La Perla. I tried their large pizza with a different topping on each quarter: marinated mushrooms on one, genoa salami on the other quarter, artichoke hearts on another, and marinated red bell peppers on the last quarter. Every ingredient on this pizza dazzled me with the freshness and intense flavors. We also tried a small salad with their citrus yogurt dressing. The salad was beautiful, and delicately flavored. The vegetables were fresh and complemented the dressing very nicely, and the touch of mandarin oranges (not canned!) was a beautiful surprise.
I am always impressed when fabulous food is accompanied with fabulous service. Our waiter was attentive and helpful. He even took the time to chat with us about the breweries in town. Sure, cultural American hegemony expects that pizza fall under the five dollar hot and ready category, but La Perla is so worth that extra splurge. In fact, I have a difficult time calling it pizza.
Most Americans are not comfortable with fancy pizza. We typically like it big. greasy. and loaded with cheese and toppings. Add a cheap cold beer and there you have the all American pizza deal.
La Perla is not that. And it's not trying to be! They really are a treat here in Eugene. The pizza is fresh and light (even though you look like a idiot trying to pronounce the names of them when you order). The wine list huge and sophisticated  (even though they serve it in a regular drinking glass. Is that a Italian thing??) Salad and appetizers. Low lighting and outdoor seating.
A bit pricey if you tend to eat large portions of food at a time. But worth a try and an occasional return...
Best pizza I have ever had! I haven't experienced authentic instant baked pizza in a 1500 degree brick oven before, but it is a new favorite. A medium pizza with anchovies, olives, and parmesan cheese over red wine left me dreaming a week later for more. The meal was topped with a decedent hazelnut and chocolate moose that was almost too small to share with others.
I will be back for more soon.
Ok, the pizza is good. It is however GROSSLY over priced. Do not even get me started on the wine list. Absolute  rip off. Service is fair, spent 200 bucks on 4 pizzas 2 salads 5 desserts and 8 drinks. Waitress was snotty. I kick myself every time I go here, when will I learn? This place needs to cut prices by at least 20%. If you want a meal and not feel like you were violated try Mezza Luna or Provisions. I promise to never come back.
Review Source:I've had some hits and misses at La Perla, but more recently, things have been pretty decent. Sure, the pizzas are more individual-sized vs. a large pie to share with several friends, and the thinner dough is not everyone's favorite, but more often than not, you can have a nice meal here.
Service is ok. I wouldn't describe it as attentive; on more than one occasion I have seen my pizza come out of the authentic Napoletana oven to sit waiting (and cooling) on the counter for delivery to my table while my server was nowhere to be seen.
Pizzas are tasty, with good ingredients, well seasoned sauce and fresh mozzarella. Favorites include the Napoletana (a classic margherita version with anchovies); the Bianca al Prosciutto which is reminiscent of my favorite pizza I had in Berlin; the variety of meats and veggies of the Capricciosa, whose artichoke hearts make the crust a little soggy in the center; and the meat-centered Campagnola.
Salads are pretty good. I like the green salad and the classic ceasar, but the finocchio insalate (fennel salad) is described better on the menu than tastes in reality.
Desserts, with the exception of the tiramisu, seem like they are imported as pre-packaged desserts from Italy or some other (non local) producer. I can almost guarantee they are not made fresh onsite.
Last item of note: despite average service and a seemingly busy restaurant, all my meals here have been relatively quick. Even my attempts to go out for dinner before a show at the Hult Center was able to be ordered, eaten and finished in about an hour. Very nice to know this is possible and consistent.
In a town without many good pizza options, a good Italian-style pizzeria is welcome. And the pizza is really good. Generous with the toppings, and a really tasty thin crust.
I've only visited once, so I can't generalize too much. But the appetizers were really lackluster. The caprese salad was a special disappointment: the mozzarella had a dry texture and was completely flavorless--and what's the point of a caprese salad without a nice creamy mozzarella? --and the tomato was flavorless as well.
The staff was friendly, and the ambiance was good enough that I'll probably be back for the pizza, if not the extras.
So happy that I can find this style of pizza in Eugene! Â It is made right before your eyes and is cooked in one of those big stone ovens. I love the Margherita pizza with is deep red sauce, big globs of mozzerella, and a sprinkling of fresh basil.
I really like this place. It's clean, the staff is friendly, and the food is good.
Definitely not the run of the mill pizza you get in a delivery place.
Can't wait to try other stuff on the menu.
I've never written a review on Yelp before, but after my fantastic experience here tonight I decided that I had to. The pizza here is top notch authentic Italian, and you really can't go wrong. When I went, the place was nice and casual and just what I needed at the end of a rainy day.
What brought me to write this review, however, is their fantastic customer service. My aim for going there tonight was to eat half a pizza there and bring half home for Thanksgiving dinner because I was unable to get a plane ticket to see my family and figured I might as well at least have good pizza.
But then something terrible happened. I have bad arms, and after I boxed up the remaining half of the pizza I accidentally dropped the box and the pizza spilled on the floor. I was headed towards an oatmeal Thanksgiving. My waiter, however, not only expressed sympathy but said that they could fire up a small pizza for me to take home instead. I can't think of many other places that would have done that for someone, and now I have a delicious, artisan pizza in my refrigerator where otherwise there would be an empty void of sadness.
La Perle Pizzeria managed not only to provide me with the delicious, authentic meal but also saved my Thanksgiving.
The Pearl Street ice cream shop was a staple in this neighborhood for years, and I'm kinda sad to see it gone. Granted, I don't think I ever actually went in there in all my years living in Eugene, but still, I was sad to see it wasn't there anymore.
Then I tried the pizza at its replacement, La Perla, and any memories of the previous occupier were gone. Man, that is quality pizza!
Sounds like this place has the same owners as (personal favorite) Beppe & Gianni, but it's got a more casual atmosphere. Great outdoor patio too, at least in the summer time. Between 6 of us, we split 4 pizzas and a "focaccia alla Beppe & Gianni", which was basically a fifth pizza. All of them were fantastic, and the thin crust pizzas were just enough to fill everybody up. My personal favorite was the quattro formaggi, although I'm a sucker for anything with gorgonzola. The Siciliana was also an excellent vegetarian option.
A decent beer selection, reasonable prices and friendly service. This is my new favorite pizza place in town, and I will definitely be making an appearance on each visit to town.
PS: Congratulations to La Pearla for being my 400th review. Their certificate of achievement will be mailed shortly.
Quite simply the most authentic Neapolitan pizza you'll find in Oregon! The crust is deliciously chewy, the scent of fresh tomato and flour and cheese is just right for an Italian pizza, and the toppings and sauce are not overdone.
A few things they could improve, but which do not detract from the 5 tar rating for me:
- Every once in a while the crust is burnt on the bottom, as other reviewers note.
- The toppings seem a little bit TOO light sometimes, more so than in Italian pizzas
- They should source more of their ingredients locally.
- Their salads are mediocre (but I didn't go there for those anyway!)
So while I hope they do a little bit of tweaking on the basis of Yelp comments, they easily make the most delicious, authentic pizza you'll find. The negative reviews here seem mostly from people who either don't get the concept of Neapolitan pizza, or just don't like that style. If you know you like Neapolitan pizza, go for La Perla!
And the best part about this place is probably that I can call from my car, as I'm leaving my driveway, and by the time I arrive ten minutes later, they will have my order hot and ready to go. Awesome!
A simple modification of Andre Nickatina's Smoke Dope and Rap:
I chew chewy pizza like an Italy loving nut
You got a gram bag of nice flour hit the zags and bake it up
Cuz a Eugenite like me, cant fake it, I like pizza pie
Get the mozz and basil on the Margherita for Nine Ninety-Five
Jumped on my bike with my girl from the set
Drank some beer at Sixteen Tons, but we aint done yet
Get another pint absorbed like some moss on the street
aint nuttin like a pizza, some beer, and a pair of birkenstocks on my feet
This place is so good. My husband and I shared the Caesar salad. I'd recommend ordering the small. The large isn't much "larger," but you pay more for it. We also had a pizza with arugula and prosciutto. We drizzled it with olive oil and balsamic. It was so light and refreshing. It's not often I eat pizza and don't get that "rock in my stomach" feeling...I didn't miss it.
Service was quick and friendly. Our waitress was attentive. The lobby was clean and the arrangement is open and relaxing.
Plenty of bike parking out front.
I'm on the fence about La Perla because it's true... if you're hungry you're likely to leave hungry unless you order more than you think you should and if you do it get's expensive.
My take on the following pizzas:
Puttanesca - Delicious, but extremely salty because of the olives and anchovy. Maybe share this pizza with someone so you don't eat too much of it.
Bianca al Prosciutto - Awesome. So good. I had my doubts about a pizza with a giant salad on top, but they were quickly put to rest.
Pollo - I thought it was completely lacking in flavor.
Pugliese - Just ok. Not my favorite.
Over all, their food is really good but extremely light. If you want a good standard like pepperoni or sausage, go somewhere else. I had an entire pizza to myself and was satisfied enough, but if I had an equal amount of pizza from Mezza or Pegasus I'd be stuffed, which frankly... when it comes to pizza that's generally the goal.
I'd recommend this place for brunch or a late dinner. Service was ok. Atmosphere is like a really fancy cafeteria. The pizza is cooked in like 3 minutes so it's a fast meal.
I went to La Perla with my sister after several runarounds of "What's good to eat around here?" Â
We decided pizza and La Perla in particular because neither of us had been there. Â Needless to say we have been back.
The die-hard American pizza person in me appreciated the more euro-style pizza with smaller portions and less cheese. Â Full of flavor and selection, three of us walked away at about $14.00 each. Â We were full, enjoying a caprese salad appetizer and dessert with espresso in the comfortable outdoor seating.
I keep going back! In fact I'm going there tonight!
If you were raised on American Style pizza you might be disappointed.
I have a small appetite and the portions are just right for me, with some left over to take home.
Hit and miss with the parking lot, but usually plenty of street parking available. Fun to watch the guys making pizza and they have those yummy Italian candies!
Foo-foo pizza to be sure. In the recent popular style of artisan thin crust, brick oven fired small pizzas.
I grew up with and fell in love with the thick doughy, cheesy, cheap style often available by the slice but have diversified over the years with travels across the country. This is not that kind.
La Perla is authentic Italian style gourmet pizza that comes with associated price point. The pizza is good but not great, atmosphere is upscale cafeteria with large communal tables inside. Sitting outside is nice when weather permits.
This is more of an occasional indulgence as opposed to regular family dining spot.
A good experience. Â The food was quite good and even though the place was very busy the wait was only 10 min. Â I did not think the price was high for a "fancy" place. Â Its not pizza hut after all! Â I could see that my money was spent on the quality of food.
The only negative I would have to say was the lack of sound control with the place. Â I'm all for cafe style seating if some sound mitigation is in place. Â It was quite noisy and was difficult to have a conversation with out yelling.
Second chances are a good thing, and I'm glad we gave La Perla a second chance. Â I agree that the prices are a bit high, and I'm not keen on subsidizing the costs of shipping pomodoro from Italia, but, in fairness, the pizza was quite tasty.
This isn't the place that will supplant Papa John's on your "I'm hungry and don't want to cook so what crap can I order to eat" speed dial. Â It is, however, a pizzaria with an upscale look that probably deserves a spot in Eugene.
They did a good job accommodating a group of 8 without qualms. Â Kudos for that.
Just another over-priced restaurant here. That's just what Eugene needs right? wrong, this place could use a 20% price drop and maybe then it would be worth it. The pizza is tasty, the service is good, and the wood burning oven is a sight to be seen. But, when it comes down to it the pizza just isn't filling enough. I'd rather be at Provisions Pizza... where at least I can get a slice and be full (plus, the food is all local and seasonal).
The place always seems to be full, which makes me think that they might have a pretty heavy following. I just wonder who those people are? They're definitely not students. Even though they should capitalize a little better on that demographic. It could be a great college date spot, instead its overpriced and has an air of haughtiness that turns my stomach and only increases my appetite for pizza somewhere else.
If you enjoy still being hungry after you've already paid for dinner then this is the place for you. Â Way too expensive for what you get. Â I am small and don't eat much and even I can say that the portions are tiny - we left hungry. Â Pizza wasn't tasty enough to make up for the expensive price and small portions. Â I would expect more from the owners of Beppe & Gianni's which is a very nice upscale Italian restaurant. Â This place feels like they were trying to create a money pit. Â I am thankful, however, that they chose this location rather than going Oakway on us. Â It's just too bad they weren't being realistic to what Eugenians need. Â It really shouldn't be too much to ask for excellent food, quality ingredients, and fair prices. Â Especially when it comes to PIZZA.
Appropriately, we now call it "The Pearl Necklace".
I had a pleasant experience at La Perla. Â The service and ambiance was nice, but I just can't wrap my mind around paying $12+ for a personal sized pizza.
We ordered the capricossa pizza, a large salad and two glasses of wine. Â We payed $36 or so, and we left still hungry. Â The pizza was good, in fact, but I know that the ingredients they use are relatively cheap.
I've been to "Punch" pizza in Minneapolis, which is also a Neapolitan pizzeria. Â The service was ultra fast, the food came ultra fast, and we payed $6 for the same quality of pizza.
What??!!! Good pizza in Eugene? It's true. La Perla makes a great pie. The thin crust is crisp but not too hard, the sauce is flavorful, and the quality of the cheese is top notch - even the Parmesan cheese they give you to sprinkle on your slices.
I had the pugliese, pizza with sausage and caramelized onions. Delicious. Perfect really. My husband went for the four cheeses. It was tangy but overpowered by the Gorgonzola, not much of a surprise there, very tasty though.
My only complaint is the atmosphere. It was nice inside - murals on the wall, spacious, kitchen up front so you can watch them make the pizzas and stick 'em in the fire - but they had a big TV on in the corner and the kitchen staff were glued to some Japanese reality action game show. They could barely look away, some of the waitresses too. It was weird. I would have been much happier with some chill Italian background music. The TV thing was a real vibe killer.
Parent's Note: Highchairs are plentiful it seemed, as we were there around 6pm and saw quite a few other families with little ones. My daughter liked watching the fire and thought the pizza was divine. Bring your own crayons or toys. There is room to park a full size stroller near most tables so go on foot if you so desire.
Ehhhhhhhhhh
That's the best I can describe my experience at La Perla.
It's a cute place, I like the idea, wood-burning stove is great...
But,
the pizza is just not that good! I mean, it's not like I couldn't eat it, but to be fair, I think it's pretty difficult to make pizza that's inedible, as cheese and bread together are usually tolerable. Combine that with the price, and I'll pass.
I dig the fact that they're going for true Italian pizza, not the super bready/cheesy/saucy American style pizza. However, their dough was super bland, and my topping mixture seemed off to me. I had the "Capricciosa" w/artichokes, herbed mushrooms, olives, fresh house-made mozzarella, prosciutto cotto and parmesan for $14.00. I thought the Focaccia alla Beppe & Gianni was good though - an appetizer made with cambozola and roasted garlic. I think the cambozola made up for the lack of flavor in the dough. I was kind of bummed at the experience... perhaps they will improve as they get in the swing of running the location?
The "individual" pizzas here are quite large. Â I'd say they're probably about 10" or so in diameter. Â Unless you're really hungry, you'll probably end up taking some home. Â
The service here is hit and miss, but mostly lands on the side of miss. Â Plus, someone in the kitchen thinks it's okay to serve partially burned pizzas, which is so not cool.
The food here is mostly good unless you get something that's burned. Â You'll just have to come by a few times in order to make a fully informed decision. Â This is one of those places where your experience will be drastically different each visit.