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Described by Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine as home of “the area's definitive authentic Neapolitan pizzas,” Punch Neapolitan Pizza combines a thin crust, “a modest amount of toppings, and a luscious San Marzano tomato sauce to make a restrained but satisfying pie.” Punch (almost named Bruni, until the owner’s wife stepped in) was a success soon after John Soranno founded it in Highland Park in 1996, and it has since become a Minneapolis-St. Paul pizza icon, partly because Caribou Coffee co-founders John and Kim Puckett fell in love with it and partnered with Sorrano. There are now 9 locations of what they’ve called their favorite restaurant.
Punch is all about quality, and it turns out excellent pies. Peruse the menu and you’ll see that they have had some fun, detailing the anatomy of a Neapolitan pizza (frame-blackened blisters, fresh mozzarella, crushed tomatoes), and laying out their pies under headings like “For Those Who Get It,” “Those Who Really Get It,” and “Double Your Pleasure.” But know that the Margherita Extra (fresh mozzarella di bufala, crushed tomatoes from Campagna and Mount Vesuvius) is their most popular one, and that the newest pizza is the Bufalina with mozzarella di bufala, arugula, and prosciutto (no crushed tomatoes).
— Arthur Bovino, 101 Best Pizzas in America 2015, 8/6/2015
