Apex
North Carolina
27519
United States
MEZZA LUNA PIZZERIA IN APEX, NC – A THROTTLE TASTING THURSDAY REVIEW
By Cut Man | The Common Road Traveler
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 out of 5 Stars
FROM JORDAN LAKE TO A TASTE OF ITALY
There’s something special about combining a motorcycle ride with a good meal. That’s exactly what Throttle Tasting Thursday (TTT) is all about here at The Common Road Traveler.
After visiting Jordan Lake State Recreation Area for my North Carolina State Parks Passport Challenge, I climbed back aboard my 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America ST and headed toward Apex, North Carolina, in search of another restaurant worth checking out.
This week’s destination was Mezza Luna Pizzeria, located at 1763 West Williams Street in Apex, North Carolina.
The ride took me from the peaceful scenery around Jordan Lake into the busier streets of Apex. Traffic lights, intersections, and everyday city traffic replaced the open roads surrounding the lake.
For me, that’s part of the enjoyment of motorcycle travel. Every destination offers something different, and sometimes a good meal is the perfect way to finish an afternoon on two wheels.
🎬 WATCH THE FULL MEZZA LUNA PIZZERIA VIDEO REVIEW
Join Cut Man and The Common Road Traveler for another episode of Throttle Tasting Thursday!
Ride along aboard the 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America ST as we travel from Jordan Lake State Recreation Area to Mezza Luna Pizzeria in Apex, North Carolina.
Enjoy the motorcycle ride, funky road music, smooth restaurant jazz, and a firsthand look at the pizza-and-salad combo that earned a 4-star rating!
Watch the full video below, and don’t forget to subscribe to The Common Road Traveler on YouTube for more motorcycle adventures and restaurant reviews!
ABOUT MEZZA LUNA PIZZERIA
Mezza Luna Pizzeria is a family-owned Italian restaurant that brings traditional New York-style pizza and southern Italian cooking to Apex, North Carolina.
The restaurant is owned by Vittorio and Lucia Vitolo, affectionately known as Vic and Lucy. Both were born in Italy and spent decades serving customers in the Bronx and upstate New York before bringing their restaurant experience to North Carolina.
That background gives Mezza Luna an interesting story beyond simply being another neighborhood pizza restaurant.
The menu offers traditional New York-style pizza, specialty pies, pasta dishes, Italian entrées, appetizers, salads, and other familiar Italian favorites.
Whether you’re interested in a quick pizza lunch or a more substantial Italian dinner, the restaurant provides several options.
For motorcycle riders visiting the Triangle area, Mezza Luna is another local business worth knowing about when planning a ride through Apex.
WHAT DID I ORDER?
For this edition of Throttle Tasting Thursday, I decided to keep things simple with a pizza-and-salad combo.
Pizza is one of those foods that can reveal quite a bit about a restaurant. From the crust and sauce to the cheese and toppings, every ingredient plays a role in the finished product.
I also enjoy trying something alongside the main dish, which is why the salad made a good addition to this particular meal.
Ordering a familiar combination allows me to focus on the food itself without getting distracted by an overly complicated meal.
My goal with Throttle Tasting Thursday is to explore restaurants and share the overall experience with fellow motorcycle enthusiasts and food lovers.
Sometimes that means barbecue, seafood, burgers, or traditional Southern cooking. On this occasion, pizza and salad were on the menu.
THE DINING EXPERIENCE
One of the things I enjoy about filming restaurant visits is showing viewers more than just a plate of food.
The experience begins when I arrive at the restaurant, park the motorcycle, remove my riding gear, and walk toward the entrance.
From there, I like to capture the atmosphere, explore the interior, look over the menu, and document the ordering process.
These details help viewers get a better idea of what to expect if they decide to visit the restaurant themselves.
For motorcycle travelers, the dining experience often becomes part of a larger adventure.
You might spend the morning exploring a state park, riding scenic roads, visiting historic attractions, or completing a motorcycle challenge before stopping somewhere for lunch.
That’s exactly how this particular restaurant visit came together.
My day began at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area and continued with a ride into Apex for a meal at Mezza Luna Pizzeria.
MORE THAN JUST PIZZA
Although I ordered the pizza-and-salad combination, Mezza Luna Pizzeria offers a much broader selection of Italian dishes.
Among its menu offerings are traditional New York-style pizza, Grandma Pie, Margherita pizza, specialty pizzas, pasta dishes, Italian entrées, and appetizers.
The restaurant’s Grandma Pie is particularly interesting because it represents a different style of pizza preparation compared with the traditional round New York-style pie.
Mezza Luna also features dishes inspired by southern Italian cooking, reflecting the owners’ background and restaurant experience.
That variety makes the restaurant an option for customers who want something other than pizza.
It’s also useful for groups traveling together, especially when everyone doesn’t necessarily want the same type of meal.
For anyone planning to visit, I recommend checking the restaurant’s current menu before arriving because selections and prices can change.
IS MEZZA LUNA MOTORCYCLE-FRIENDLY?
When reviewing restaurants for The Common Road Traveler, I’m always interested in whether a location makes sense as a stop during a motorcycle ride.
Mezza Luna Pizzeria is located along West Williams Street in Apex, making it a possible dining destination for riders exploring the surrounding Triangle area.
The restaurant can be incorporated into rides involving Jordan Lake, nearby communities, or other destinations throughout central North Carolina.
Motorcycle-friendly dining isn’t always about a restaurant specifically catering to bikers.
Sometimes it’s simply about finding a convenient place to stop, take a break from riding, enjoy a meal, and prepare for the next stretch of road.
Parking conditions, traffic, and available space can vary depending on the time of day, so riders should always use their own judgment when arriving.
IS MEZZA LUNA PIZZERIA WORTH THE RIDE?
Cut Man’s Final Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
Following my visit, Mezza Luna Pizzeria earned a solid four-star rating.
The pizza-and-salad combo was the focus of this week’s review, and the restaurant is worth considering if your motorcycle adventures bring you through Apex, North Carolina.
Not every dining destination requires a long-distance motorcycle trip. Sometimes discovering a local restaurant during an already planned ride is just as rewarding.
For riders visiting Jordan Lake State Recreation Area or traveling through the Triangle region, Mezza Luna Pizzeria offers another dining option to add to the list.
I wouldn’t necessarily plan an entire cross-state ride around a single pizza restaurant, but I certainly enjoy having interesting local establishments to consider while exploring different areas.
That’s part of what makes motorcycle travel enjoyable. The road takes you places, and sometimes those places introduce you to a restaurant you might never have discovered otherwise.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Throttle Tasting Thursday isn’t about finding only five-star restaurants.
It’s about exploring local businesses, experiencing different foods, and sharing honest restaurant reviews from the perspective of someone who loves motorcycles and traveling.
My visit to Mezza Luna Pizzeria was part of a larger adventure that began at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area.
From exploring the state park to navigating Apex traffic and stopping for a pizza-and-salad meal, it was another enjoyable day on the road.
MEZZA LUNA PIZZERIA INFORMATION
Restaurant: Mezza Luna Pizzeria
Address: 1763 West Williams Street, Apex, NC 27523
Phone: (919) 303-6686
Cuisine: New York-Style Pizza and Italian
What I Ordered: Pizza-and-Salad Combo
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Restaurant Website: www.mezzalunapizzanc.com
Have you visited Mezza Luna Pizzeria in Apex? If so, let me know what you ordered and how you would rate your experience.
And if you know a restaurant that’s worth a motorcycle ride, leave your recommendation in the comments. It might become a future destination for Throttle Tasting Thursday!
Until next time, keep the rubber side down, enjoy the journey, and remember:
Good Roads. Good Food. Great Adventures!
Cut Man
The Common Road Traveler