Date > 2010 > April
Activity > Food Odyssey | Restaurant Review



Neva's Pizza
Location : Neva's Pizza, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines





Food Type: pizza + pasta
Location: Hibbard Ave, corner Amigo Subdivision, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines
Tagline: Home of the Kuripot Pizzas
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Local Tel: 226-2580
UPDATE: (Jul 21, 2010) Neva's Pizza opens up it's fully air-conditioned 2nd floor space today providing Dumaguete's lunch crowd a comfortable venue to enjoy a sumptuous meal with. Try the Wednesday and Thursday brick-oven special - lechon de pugon!
Love at First Bite
I discovered Neva's Pizza by chance while waiting for a prospective apartment owner who scheduled a meeting at this pizza joint. Neva's Pizza seemed to me like an ordinary obscure neighborhood pizza place...no biggie. I didn't think too much of the pizza but ordered the cheapest on the menu since I was using their table while waiting. After the first bite, pizza was never the same again! If they can make their cheapest pizza taste this good, I can't wait to try their top-of-the-line!

Kuripot Deal
Interestingly enough, the menu had a Special (uses Mozzarella cheese) section and a Kuripot (cheap, uses Cheddar) section. I thought it would be funny to bring a date over and order the cheapest Kuripot pizza on the menu, look her in the eye and tell her she's special...LOL! Yes, that's a dare! Bring a date over and order the Hungarian Kuripot pizza at P82. He-he, can't wait to try that on Char.
Owner's Suggestion
On a serious note, I was talking to Daphne, the owner. She suggested trying the Seafood Pizza (P167) or the House Special at P222. I haven't tried any of those as of this writing, but my cross hairs are on those for my next visit.
Things that really work for this place:
- excellent pizza - you might argue that's a given. No! I'd been to many pizza places that can't seem to get it together...soggy crust, plain lousy flavor, carton-like texture, etc. Usually, the problem is with the crust.
- affordable price - I can mention a few pizza chains that serve decent to very good pizza...but they cost an arm and a leg - California Kitchen, Yellow Cab, Pizza Hut, Shakey's. As a bang-for-the-buck guy, exceptional value has to be there to qualify for a 5-star rating.
- wood burning brick oven - this is where you separate the men from the boys. Unless you're using a wood burning brick oven for pizza, you're just a hobbyist. Sorry!
- ambient conversation-friendly piped-in music - it's rare nowadays to go to a place that actually encourages conversation by putting old-world music in the background (and not IN YOUR FACE). More often than not, there's a loud live band, cheesy elevator music or blaring rock (hey, I like rock, but not in all places). At any rate, you end up competing with the sound to make conversation. This joint plays Nora Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and similar artists of the same genre. Totally chill!
- the pizza makers can be crowd pleasers. If asked to perform, they can toss the pizza dough high up!
-
Other Stuff on the Menu:
- if you're really hungry, you can try the rice meals - lechon de pugon, roast beef...price range from P70 - P109.
- pasta (chicken al pesto, putanesca, etc.) - P47 to P70
- burger sandwich - P57 to P89
-
Things They Can Improve On:
- all their bamboo chairs need to be reinforced...they all have a forward-backward play
Verdict
If you're thinking of something else while eating, and the food grabs your attention, that's saying something. Trust me, I know pizza. I used to host pizza parties at my place...and I know where all the best pizza joints in town are. I go out of my way for good pizza. And I have to say, at Neva's Pizza, they know what they're doing. I would put Neva's Pizza in the Dumaguete-Must-Try category.
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit
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Leave a comment?
Reader Comments:
Missy Cheah
(Nov 10, 2010) You should see the Facebook post of our friend whom we brought there the day after. He's practically selling it to his friends. :)






(Nov 9, 2010) Super sulit ng Neva's Pizza! =) Ang sarap and ang mura! Suggestion ko lang, to include appetizers like soup, fries, chips in the menu so that we can eat something while waiting for the pizza to cook =)





(Oct 19, 2010) Ambiance could be improved

(Oct 19, 2010) I'm not really a pizza person, but their seafood pizza is TERRIFIC!





(Jul 20, 2010) Neva's Pizza. Love their cheap and delicious big pizza from the brick oven! For a "kuripot" pizza, the taste is very good and the ingredients are generous! Thanks to Gigit who welcomed us to Dumaguete and introduced Neva's to us.

(May 10, 2010) Aha... I will try this soon!

(May 7, 2010) I didn't think I can eat delicious pizza like this in the Philippines. I had pizza in Manila and Siquijor and I couldn't find it there.

(May 4, 2010) Thank you so much for that beautiful review. Anis and I were laughing about that "date dare" part. Natawa kami kasi yung first radio ad na pinagawa at na-air namin e ganyan ang tema. May nagd-date tapos ang request pa nung girl e ang kuripot pizza ang kainin nila at nagpa take-out pa ng lima!
More on Dumaguete:
Dumaguete Travel Tips
- Airport to City
The town proper is a very short ride from the airport with jeeps and tricycles plying the route. If you don't have luggage, instead of cabbing it from the airport or chartering a van (there will be lots of vendors hawking this service), walk outside the airport into the main road and flag down a jeep or tricycle. Fare is only P8.00
Dumaguete Map
Dumaguete, Philippines

Filipino Japanese Amity Memorial Shrine - 2175 feet above sea level and perched on a hilltop overlooking the sea and the neighboring islands
Casaroro Falls - pencil-narrow waterfall dropping nearly 100 feet to a wide and deep lagoon
Balinsasayao Twin Lakes - twin crater lakes 894 meters above sea level
Dumaguete Boulevard - 1km long boardwalk along the main hub of Dumaguete

Hotel Essencia - 9-storie hotel in the heart of Dumaguete
39 Real St., Corner San Juan St., Dumaguete City - 09°18'32.1"N 123°18'20.3"E

Mario Scuba Diving and Homestay - homestay in Apo Island, scuba diving, restaurant
Apo Island - 09°04'40.08"N 123°16'09.19"EDumaguete Divers - scuba diving in Apo Island, resto / cafe, accommodation
Dauin - 9°11'18.6"N 123°15'54.3"E

Arteasan Handcrafted Beverages - coffee, tea, milk tea, frappes, waffles, sandwiches
79 San Juan St., Dumaguete City - 9°18'33.0"N 123°18'21.0"E
Dumaguete >> Cebu City by bus/boat
Dumaguete to Cebu City route is done by bus and boat. Ceres bus leaves almost every hour from the Ceres Terminal bound for Cebu City. It goes to Tampi and boards a roro until it reaches Bato, Cebu. From there, it resumes its land travel until Cebu City. 7 hours, PHP xxx.

Dumaguete >> Siquijor (Siquijor Proper & Larena Port) Boat Trips
(as of Jan 2023)- Montenegro Lines - at Dumaguete Port, P234.00/pax, P169/bicycle
- Aleson Shipping - at Dumaguete Port, 8 am and 6 pm daily, 10 am M-Sat, Regular P200.00/pax, Aircon P250.00/pax
- Ocean Jet - 40 mins, docks at Siquijor Port, 0919.066.5964, www.oceanjet.net, marketing@ocenajet.net
- Atlantis Yohan Express - Siquijor Port or Larena Port?


Please check first if Atlantis Yohan Express is back in operations
Dumaguete >> Lazi, Siquijor by boat
Dumaguete to Lazi, Siquijor route by Kho Shipping was just opened up in early September 2023. Before, going to Lazi meant going to Siquijor Proper first, then catching the 2pm jeep to Lazi (last trip), adding 1 hour on the trip. Now, Siquijor Proper can be completely bypassed.
- Dumaguete Port - take Kho Shipping to Lazi, Tu-F-Sun, 3 hours, Dumaguete departure 1 am, arrival in Lazi Port 4 am, economy P300, tourist P500.

Dumaguete Itinerary

- Eat at Neva's Pizza. They have a wood-burning stove and make the best pizza in Dumaguete
- Eat the local version of Tempura, fish ball, balut at Tempurahan, an adhoc outdoor section by the City Port entrance.
- Eat Paklay, a local delicacy made of pork inards. Popular in Dumaguete's roadside eating places
- Try any of the lechon manok (chicken roasted on a spit) that's scattered all over the city
- Try the torta bread (bread made with fermented coconut nectar) - you find that along the highway in Dauin...or the Dumaguete Public Market
- Eat the breakfast combo - Budbud Cabog (Dumaguete's specialty suman) or puto + tsokolate (sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf + native chocolate drink)

- Stroll along The Boulevard
- Taka a tour of Silliman University

- Valencia
- Forest Camp in Valencia - a mountain resort fed by the Banica River. Great for getting wet and picnics (blog by Lakwatsero)
- Go to the Japanese Shrine and Casaroro Falls - 100 meter falls and site of a fierce WWII battle between Japanese, Americans and Filipinos
- Head out to Camp Lookout in Valencia for great views. Famous writers stay there for the Silliman University National Writers Workshop.
- Stop by The World War II Museum in Valencia and talk to curator/owner/collector, Constantino "Tantin" Cata-al.
- Splash on Pulangbato Falls and Hot Spring - via Palinpinon road towards PNOC. Great to dip-in after a day's hike or for hot lazy days
- Climb Mt. Talinis. At 1864 meters, it lords over Negros Oriental, and home to endemic and rare species of flora and fauna.
- Dauin
- Dive on Apo Island - best for scuba and turtle watching
- Dive on Dauin's District 1 Marine Reserve - best spot for snorkelling - 10K grouper, turtles, cuttlefish, Titan Triggerfish, etc. This is only one of many marine reserves dotting the Dauin coastline.
- Soak in Baslay Hot Spring
- Sibulan
Go to Balinsasayao Twin Lakes - two lakes almost 1000 meters above sea level - Siquijor
Take the ferry to Siquijor - stay in Siquijor overnight - Zamboanguita
Visit Malatapay Market on a Wednesday and try their lechon, tuba, and grilled fish - Bais
Go dolphin watching and swim on the sandbar - Mabinay
Rappel down Mabinay Caves - Siaton
Experience Lake Balanan
Onward Destinations After Dumaguete
These are the nearest popular destinations from Dumaguete by boat
- Bohol - Bohol is an island northeast Dumaguete. Tourist attractions are Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Monkey, Loboc River Cruise, Beaches of Panglao, whale sharks (recent offering), freediving (recent offering)
- Cebu - Cebu City is the usual gateway into the Visayas. But in Cebu Island itself, there are many offerings - Whale Sharks of Oslob, sardine run at Moalboal,Thresher Shark of Malapascua
- Dapitan (Zamboanga del Norte) - I haven't been there but a lot of island ferries ply this port. There must be something here.
- Plaridel (Misamis Occidental, Mindanao) - I haven't been there but a lot of island ferries ply this port. There must be something here.
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