A restaurant dedicated entirely to stuffed white pizza has opened in Rome

Pizza chef and YouTuber Massimiliano Ceccarelli, aka Max Crunch, has opened a restaurant in Rome that serves only stuffed white pizza, in the Ostiense/San Paolo area.

In this sweltering Roman summer, there's always room for pizza. After all, pizza truly seems to be in a state of insecurity, and while the heat exhausts everyone, we can't say no to pizza. So here we are, sharing a new restaurant that opened its doors last June in the Ostiense/San Paolo area, entirely dedicated to one of the capital's most iconic products: stuffed white pizza. It's called Ripiena (we mentioned it here) and is located at Via Gabriello Chiabrera 107, a stone's throw from Roma Tre University. The creator is Massimiliano Ceccarelli, better known on social media as Max Crunch, a former pizza chef and consultant, often seen alongside Franchino Er Criminale in his Roman food tour videos.

How Ripiena was born in Rome

The format revolves around the crispy, light, and exclusively stuffed pizza, as the name suggests, following a deeply rooted tradition in Rome, from historic bakeries to neighborhood pizzerias. “After many experiences and consulting roles in the world of round pizza, 'Ripiena' was born from the desire to return to my first great love: Roman pizza al taglio. We're talking about a super-crispy, white pizza by the slice, packed with delicious fillings, in true street food style. 'Ripiena' is my heartfelt project, but it's also a tribute to Gianni Antonelli, of the legendary pizzeria 'Gianni al Mattone' in the Primavalle area, whom I absolutely adore,” explains Max Crunch.

Stuffed pizzas in Rome

The space, about 50 square meters, features a corner counter and a slightly old-fashioned overhead projector displaying the pizza names. It also has a few stools for dine-in. Pizzas are sold by weight (20 euros/kg). The dough is made with a blend of flours and left to rise for a long time, then rolled out on a peel and baked in an electric oven. Once cooked, the pizza is sliced ​​and topped.

The menu features classic fillings like mortadella, porchetta, and zucchini frittata, tuna, and tomato, as well as more creative variations, including a pizza with crabmeat, mayonnaise, and salad, dubbed the "10-Pizza," inspired by one of Gianni's most famous pizzerias. To round out the offerings, each month features recipes created in collaboration with other pizza chefs and chefs.

Stuffed. Via Gabriello Chiabrera 107, Rome. Tel. 06 9727 1734. Instagram. Open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.