Gerardo’s Firewood Cafe
512 N Beeline Hwy, Payson, AZ, 85541
Gerardo’s Firewood Cafe Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Diabetics at Whataburger
Diabetics need to be a bit cautious while dining at Whataburger. Almost every burger is rich in sodium content and it is highly recommended to keep your burger cravings in control while dining at Whataburger. However, you can always satisfy your cravings for a burger by choosing Whataburger Jr. or other non-burger items from the menu.
Foods to Avoid at Whataburger for Diabetics:
A diabetic should resist from ordering any extra meat-based burger such as Double Meat Whataburger or Triple Meat Whataburger to limit the sodium intake and calories. Most burgers except the Whataburger Jr. are high in sodium and hence should be avoided.
If you are a diabetic, you should also avoid Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich and Whataburger Patty Melt at Whataburger. Chicken Fajita Taco is also off-limits for diabetics. You must also avoid Breakfast Platter and Pancake Platter from the menu. Pancakes and Cinnamon Roll from the breakfast menu are also off-limits for diabetics.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Whataburger
Double Meat Whataburger Jr.®
Nutritional Facts: 420 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 1g & Sat. Fat 6g), 700mg sodium, 37g carbs, 6g sugar, 2g fiber, 23g Protein
Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuit
Nutritional Facts: 350 calories, 22g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 12g), 730mg sodium, 31g carbs, 0g sugar, 2g fiber, 8g Protein
Biscuit with Bacon
Nutritional Facts: 360 calories, 22g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 790mg sodium, 32g carbs, 2g sugar, 1g fiber, 8g Protein
Hash Brown Sticks
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 500mg sodium, 21g carbs, 0g sugar, 2g fiber, 2g Protein
Garden Salad with Grilled Chicken
Nutritional Facts: 290 calories, 12g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 7g), 770mg sodium, 12g carbs, 4g sugar, 6g fiber, 34g Protein
Taquito with Sausage, No Cheese
Nutritional Facts: 380 calories, 23g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 8g), 480mg sodium, 28g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fiber, 16g Protein
Apple Slices
Nutritional Facts: 30 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 7g carbs, 5g sugar, 1g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Payson for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at Whataburger
High sodium intake can be lethal for people suffering from high blood pressure. If you're someone with high blood pressure and dining at Whataburger, then you got to be careful. Most burgers and sandwiches at Whataburger contain high sodium which can spike your blood pressure levels.
Foods to Avoid at Whataburger for High Blood Pressure
Skip the Double Meat Whataburger and Triple Meat Whataburger at the restaurant if you don't intend to shoot your blood pressure levels. Avoid all types of Bacon and Cheeseburgers at Whataburger as these items are high in sodium. You must avoid Chicken Fajita Taco at Whataburger as it is too high in sodium as well. Skip the Pancakes Platter and Pancakes from the breakfast menu to control your sodium intake. Cinnamon Roll and Grilled Cheese are also the best to avoid at Whataburger for its high sodium content.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Whataburger
Whataburger Jr.®
Nutritional Facts: 310 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 580mg sodium, 37g carbs, 6g sugar, 2g fiber, 14g Protein
Biscuit Sandwich
Nutritional Facts: 400 calories, 24g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 680mg sodium, 32g carbs, 2g sugar, 1g fiber, 12g Protein
Hash Brown Sticks
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 500mg sodium, 21g carbs, 0g sugar, 2g fiber, 2g Protein
French Fries
Nutritional Facts: 420 calories, 21g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3g), 260mg sodium, 52g carbs, 1g sugar, 4g fiber, 5g Protein
Hot Lemon Pie
Nutritional Facts: 320 calories, 16g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 230mg sodium, 41g carbs, 12g sugar, 3g fiber, 4g Protein
Apple Slices
Nutritional Facts: 30 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 7g carbs, 5g sugar, 1g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Payson for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at Whataburger
Calorie intake is the main concern for people with high cholesterol while dining at a fast-food restaurant like Whataburger. Well, you can always try the Lighter & Smaller options from the menu to cut down your fat intake. Opting for grilled sandwich or burgers are preferred compared to double meat or triple meat cheesy burgers which contain high cholesterol.
Foods to Avoid at Whataburger for High Cholesterol
Cut down on your meat intake to control your high cholesterol. You must skip Double Meat Whataburger and Triple Meat Whataburger at all costs. You should also avoid Avocado Bacon Burger and Monterey Melt as both these burgers contain a high amount of fat. Sweat & Spicy Bacon Burger will add extra 1080 calories in your diet so skip that as well. Whatacatch Dinner may sound tempting but the famous fish sandwich is also full of calories and unhealthy fat. Lastly, avoid French Fries and Onion Rings at Whataburger if you are already ordering a burger or any other heavy meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Whataburger
Whatachick'n® Sandwich
Nutritional Facts: 600 calories, 26g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 890mg sodium, 57g carbs, 11g sugar, 4g fiber, 33g Protein
Breakfast On A Bun®
Nutritional Facts: 350 calories, 15g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 910mg sodium, 34g carbs, 5g sugar, 1g fiber, 18g Protein
Egg Sandwich
Nutritional Facts: 310 calories, 12g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 740mg sodium, 34g carbs, 5g sugar, 1g fiber, 15g Protein
Justaburger®
Nutritional Facts: 300 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3g), 570mg sodium, 34g carbs, 5g sugar, 1g fiber, 14g Protein
Hot Apple Pie
Nutritional Facts: 270 calories, 14g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 260mg sodium, 34g carbs, 7g sugar, 2g fiber, 33g Protein
Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Nutritional Facts: 230 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 180mg sodium, 31g carbs, 18g sugar, 1g fiber, 2g Protein
Double Meat Whataburger Jr.®
Nutritional Facts: 420 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 1g & Sat. Fat 6g), 700mg sodium, 37g carbs, 6g sugar, 2g fiber, 23g Protein
Apple Slices
Nutritional Facts: 30 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 7g carbs, 5g sugar, 1g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Payson for healthy meals suggestion.
Q & A on
Which states have a Whataburger?
There are more than 800 Whataburger restaurants across the USA which are open 24 * 7 serving the tastiest meal. If you want to know the nearest Whataburger, then search the restaurant in our Restaurant Listings Directory.
Is Whataburger closed on Easter and Christmas?
Though Whataburger remains open 24 hours and seven days a week, most of the branches are closed during Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
What are Whataburger opening and closing time?
This is the only restaurant which proudly serves the customer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone can enjoy good food in the early morning or a late-night meal at Whataburger restaurant branch.
Does Whataburger have a vegan burger?
Yes, Whataburger have Vegan as well as Vegetarian burger option. Whataburger veggie burger and Whataburger sandwiches are popular among vegan crowds.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Whataburger
Whataburger, as the name suggests, is an American fast-food restaurant specializing in hamburgers. Unlike other famous US restaurants chains, Whataburger is a regional fast-food chain serving customers at 824 locations in the country. Most of these locations are based in Texas while a few others are spread across Florida, Oklahoma, Arizona, Alabama, New Mexico, Louisiana, etc.
Whataburger was founded by Harmon Dobson and Paul Barton in 1950. The basic idea was to offer a better burger that tastes so good that every bite makes you say, “What A Burger!” In the same year, the Whataburger trademark was granted to Harmon Dobson, one of the co-founders. The restaurant specializes in different varieties and sizes of burgers including fish sandwich.
Healthy Food Options at Whataburger
Being a fast-food restaurant, you won't find many healthy food options at Whataburger. However, citing to the fitness trends and health preferences across the United States, Whataburger has revised its menu and introduced a selection of 550 calories or less menu in 2012. You can also try other items on the menu besides the burger to grab healthy food choices at Whataburger.
-
Address :
512 N Beeline Hwy
Payson, AZ, 85541 - Phone (928) 468-6500
- Website https://www.gerardosfirewoodcafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Yuko H.
Being in the area for some photo shoot outing, as soon as I gained my cell signal back, I started looking for a place to eat on yelp. This restaurant came up on my search as #1. Since we both like Italian, after reading some reviews on yelp about this restaurant, I didn't look any further. I like the way it was decorated inside, creating a nice ambiance. Service was excellent, very friendly and fast. The food I had was more than I expected for the location but after a half way through my meal, I became full. Very generous portion size. Come hungry.
(4)Brooke W.
We were visiting Payson for the day from Phoenix and we stopped here for a late lunch. They were SUPER friendly with great service. We sat outside with our dogs and they were nice enough to give them water and continue refilling it. Food was great too, especially the ceasar salad. Thanks for the canollis!
(5)Laura S.
We came here on a Friday evening for a family dinner after a long day of hiking. The service was fast, and staff were polite and pleasant. I ordered bruschetta, my husband ordered baked ziti, my father ordered spaghetti and meatballs, and my mother ordered eggplant parmesan. All were delicious! They also have a decent wine list and good beers available. And because us ladies need to know: the bathrooms are VERY clean!
(5)Tatyana K.
We were hiking in the area on a Sunday afternoon and stopped there for lunch. We found this place on Yelp ( it had great ratings) and called to confirm it was dog friendly. We were not allowed to bring dogs inside but the staff set up our large group of hikers and dogs on the patio. The first thing they did-brought water for the dogs. It was greatly appreciated:) Oh, a parton leaving the restaurant assured us the place is just amazing. Great first impression I would say! And then there was delicious food and good service. Made my day:)
(5)Brendan B.
Let's talk about Gerardo's. First, I somehow was deceived by fellow Yelpers who are normally trustworthy. Perhaps this rating should only be taken in context of other food nearby, not food in general. I'm not a Payson regular but I've been through a few times. I do however eat often and generally know what is good and what is not so good. Don't get me wrong, the service and cleanliness is as good as you'd hope for in a small town restaurant. It's clean, people are very friendly and open, staff is responsive and polite. Those areas are good. But I don't go to a restaurant for cleanliness and politeness. We came to eat. I ordered spaghetti and meatballs. My wife and our friends ordered pizzas. I've literally never had more bland spaghetti sauce. Including late nights in college with warmed sauce out of a jar. Flavorless, oddly bright red, little to no seasoning, whole cloves of garlic...people this isn't how sauce should be. The meatballs. Oh the meatballs. I wrongly assumed that a ball of ground meat would remain relatively soft after cooking. But no. I've had many steaks that melt in your mouth better than these little tough balls. And for $15, laughably bad value. This is a 5.99 plate . The pizza was not great either. Again, bland, too simple, little flavor, over priced. The place is warm and cozy and friendly and has pretty terrible food.
(1)Irina H.
Delicious food, pleasant service and super cute Italian decor - a bar all in brick, a partially open kitchen, a tempting dessert cooler, and even a dog-friendly patio. We shared the baked ziti, which was lovely. It came out of the oven still bubbling, and the tomato sauce and cheese flavors really made the dish. The pasta itself was nothing special, which was fine. Note: there's a $3 split plate charge, but that's only if the chefs put it on two plates - if you just get an extra plate, it's waived. We each started with a side salad - the ziti came with one, and we ordered another. It was super simple - just iceberg and spinach mix with a single tomato, but the lettuce was very fresh and the balsamic dressing was very nice, so it was yummy. We were also served plenty of delicious hot bread (perfect for dipping in olive oil and balsamic vinegar - bottles on the table). This place might be 4 stars in Scottsdale, but in Payson, it's closer to 6! We'll definitely be back!!
(5)Lisa B.
Pleasantly surprised to find a fabulous Italian restaurant in payson. Delicious bread right out the oven. My son had chicken fettuccine and said it was the "best ever". Husband had baked Zito and loved the sausage. I had chicken paradiso, which was excellent also! We also splurged and ordered dessert. Cannoli and the most monstrous brownie ever!!! Great service from our waitress, Angie
(5)Matthew R.
What a surprise. Dropped in for lunch and was blown away by food and service. Definitely will go again next time I am in town.
(5)Josh F.
Delicious food! The eggplant was fresh and tasty, the pizza perfect. Recommended to anyone looking for good Italian in payson.
(5)Wende S.
Overall a great place to eat! The four seasons pizza and the Greek salad with chicken was amazing! They forgot to put the chicken on the salad so they took the chicken cost off the bill and still brought us some chicken to eat with the salad. Great service. The Italian mac and cheese was ok. A little too greasy for our tastes. I had a glass of house cab and it was very good especially for being a house wine. Over all a great experience, I would definitely come back again!!
(4)Wendy R.
A nice little family restaurant with some of the best Fettuccini I've had in a while. The kids also loved the pizza. My husband had the lasagna, but liked my dish better. Friendly staff. I would definitely recommend.
(4)Leslie H.
This place was great. The food was made with quality ingredients. My husband got the special which was an Italian burger and he loved it. I got the meat and cheese board as my meal and everyone was stealing my food. The service was great as well. I would say, the kids meals are large so if your kids are like mine and don't eat a lot they realistically could share. I'll definitely come back when visiting or driving through Payson.
(5)Bruce B.
The restaurant was closed to the public for a Holiday event that was wonderful! We've eaten in many places in and around Payson but were unaware of Gerardo's until this Christmas. The food was exemplary and the service was first class. I had the free range New York steak and my wife the wild salmon - yum!! Can't speak to the Italian food since we didn't have any! But from what we saw, that was well represented by the dishes we saw served.
(5)F D.
We have been to Gerardo's several times and have never had a bad meal here! The service is excellent! On our most recent visit yesterday, our server, Natalie, was wonderful. She was attentive and able to answer all our questions about the menu. But Natalie is not alone .. Gerardo's is definitely well staffed. We were assisted by three different people during our dinner. Everyone is helpful and friendly. Now on to the food .. I had the Chicken Paradiso, which is a large chicken breast breaded and topped with some fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. It also comes with a side of large cheese ravioli. Both were excellent! The chicken was crisp and not a bit greasy. My friend had the Eggplant Parm, which has become his favorite dish at Gerardo's. He said it is the best he has ever had! The sauce is prefect .. fresh and light but very flavorful! We've had the pizza in the past and it is also excellent! If you're looking for a great meal in Payson, be sure to check out Gerardo's.
(5)Donna S.
Whenever we drive through Payson, we stop here. The food is lovingly prepared by the chef owner, Gerardo. He and his wife are usually there to make sure everything is OK. Most recently we had an Italian sandwich and Greek salad for lunch with a Tuscan red wine. We ordered some lasagna to go for our dinner later. Everything was prepared perfectly and quite delicious. Prices are very reasonable. Our server was professional and personable. We feel it's the best restaurant in Payson and the surrounding area.
(5)Christina W.
Amazingly delicious food! You can tell it's hand made with love food. I had the baked ziti.. it was the perfect choice for me creamy with lots of flavor lots of sausage. Grandma ordered a special pan seared salmon on top of linguine with a white wine lemon butter sauce with asparagus tried it also amazing! And for desert a slice of Carmel apple cake (what just slapped me in the face) man it was good. Our waitress was Angie, very friendly great energy and smile, right on top of everything knew her menu down to the little details. Even told me her favorites and I went with one of them. Another thing I noticed as soon as you were finished with a plate of any kind someone would swoop right by and pick it up.. I don't think a used plate sat on my table for more than a minute! Really good teamwork on everyone's part. Really nice to have found this place. Will definitely be back every time I come to Payson. Made it a perfect evening for mothers day dinner. Can't wait to eat the leftovers oh and the portions are big.. 2 maybe 3 meals depending on how much you can eat. Definitely a 5 star in a little town. Very impressed! Bravo! That's Italian right?
(5)Tigar D.
Excellent service, unbelievable portions, a true taste of Italy! Would recommend to sit and have a drink to enjoy the atmosphere and smells, then off to dinner, the antipasto salad is the best, they don't skimp on the meat, the dressing is not overwhelming, the main enter is nothing but the best, I give it a 10, and the whole evening a 10, perfect dinner, Thanks!
(5)Jason R.
Up in this neck of the woods for hiking and photography and needed a nice meal to top off our day. Came in at 4 in the afternoon and were greeted pleasantly and seated immediately. Our server advised us of the specials of which my buddy selected the Chicken Marsala while I selected the Fetuccini with Sausage from the menu. After a pleasant dinner salad and bread, our selections were delivered and we were both pleasantly surprised by the portion sizes and presentation. There are very few times when I've been unable to finish a meal due to portion size and this was one of them, and it certainly wasn't for lack of effort. A fine Italian eatery in a picturesque town. Thank you for the food and service!
(5)Angie V.
We stopped in here for dinner on a recommendation from a local and couldn't have been more surprised. It's a cute little restaurant with a small bar and a partially open kitchen where you can see them making their pizzas in a beautiful brick oven. We ordered the cap rese appetizer, our waitress hit the wrong button on accident which was the bruschetta so we received both as an "I'm sorry" and it was very good. We also ordered the eggplant parm and it came with this perfect butternut squash soup that was just incredibly delicious! The flavor, texture & consistency of it was spot on. Then the eggplant parm came and had this rustic tomato sauce it was sitting on top of and it really complimented it. The breading on the eggplant was crisp and the mozzarella had a wonderful flavor! We plan on going back tomorrow to try their pizzas!
(4)John T.
Excellent lasagna! And a huge portion too! This is my first time trying this restaurant and I was not disappointed! Service was great. The food was excellent and the place was packed. If you are looking for a nice little Italian restaurant in Payson you can't go wrong here.
(5)James P.
Gerardo's met our every expectation. That says a LOT, coming from this Yelper and his esposa. Ambiance is nice, but understated. The wine bar shines. The scents wafting from the kitchen made my mouth water while perusing the menu. The homemade noodles were an unexpected surprise. We loved our white wine. Everyone's food was hot, fresh, flavorful, and authentic. We've eaten some of the best pasta in Italy and Manhattan. The food here would stand up proudly to those standards. OVERALL: SUPERB. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
(5)Shiqi Y.
We had lasagna and meat lovers' pizza as main course. Appetizer is mussels. Everything is good. Cora, my friend's dog is very happy about the meat toppings.
(5)Julie G.
We went to Gerardo's for lunch on an excursion to Payson from the Valley. I had the Baked Ziti with house made sausage while my husband had a Hawaiian pizza & a dinner salad. We were served a basket of hot rolls right out of the oven while waiting for our food. Everything was so fresh & tasted delicious. The pricing is in line with any other restaurant that serves fresh ingredients. I think it's worth every penny. I agree with another reviewer that... our service was excellent, very friendly & fast.
(5)Nesto M.
Really. I have never reviewed this place?! Gerardo's is THE go to place for solid, great quality Italian food in Payson. I have been here dozens of times in the past decade, and know the tradition will continue now that Payson is our home. The rolls are made of fresh-baked, doughy, crispy heaven. His house dressing is so good I would eat it with a spoon if my wife wouldn't get really pissed. The entrees and desserts never disappoint. This most recent visit, we had crab cake starters, butternut squash ravioli, and a seafood pasta. All perfection. We ended with tiramisu, and gelato, which they make in house. Their house wines are tasty and ridiculously reasonably priced. Now my pants don't fit. But I am a happy (temporarily fat) man. If you haven't eaten here. You should.
(5)Grant L.
Simply amazing! Started with the mussels which were to die for with white wine and butter sauce and perfect garlic bread. Then the shrimp scampi was even better. Cream brûlée was as sweet as our lovely server. I don't live in payson and was the best Italian food I've ever had!
(5)Aaron H.
While spending the weekend in payson, I thought I would stop by Gerardo's and order some take out. The inside was nice and cozy. To be honest, eating in the restaurant probably would have improved my opinion of the food. I ordered the four season pizza, which sounded pretty great on the description. Unfortunately the pizza ended up tasting pretty average. Definitely better than your run-of-the-mill Pizza Hut or dominos, but nothing I would go out of my way try again. It's worth a stop if you're in payson and craving Italian.
(3)Chris H.
Gerardo's is hands down delicious! How unassuming and then BAM! That calzone hit the table and we never looked up from our plate! The service is incredible, genuine and friendly. We met another table there and they let us finish our meal and kept service going long after the kitchen was closed!
(5)Ron D.
Solid 4 stars. Went in for salads for lunch today and were pleasantly surprised with the variety and quality of the Italian food. The antipasti salad was excellent and I have had them all over. Decent atmosphere. Very busy at a lunchtime today. The deserts looked great but we were too full after our salads to try them. It is a wine bar too! Prices seem fair for the amount of servings they provide.
(4)Ben M.
Incredible Food! I love going her for his sandwiches during lunch. I love that Gerardo will frequently pass through the restaurant and talk his customers. He is a very humble, down to earth guy who doubles as an amazing chef. Payson is lucky to have a place like this!
(5)Louie P.
This is my favorite place to eat whenever I'm up in Payson. I've been to Italy three times so I know authentic Italian food and not the Americanized version that most Americans are used to. Gerardo is legit!!
(5)Elba E.
We stopped for dinner in our way to Winslow,AZ based on the reviewes found on yelp. We loved it. Excellent service, great presentation and good size portions! The lobster bisque was wonderful! Smart to have reservations on a weekend.
(4)Sara E.
We've enjoyed Gerardo's three times, pretty good given that we are from Tucson and get to Payson only occasionally. I am a real fan of the eggplant parmiagiana -- just delicious and the best that I've had anywhere. Pizza was great, and my husband loved the lasagna. We will return again and again.
(5)Susie's Q Barbecue W.
I don't get in there very often, but I will say the food is good and so is the service! Ambiance is pleasant too!
(5)Sarah H.
Lobster mac and cheese is to die for! However the scampi, fettucini and salad were all just ok. But the lobster mac is seriously out of this world.
(3)Tracey L.
Delicious food and reasonable prices. There is a full bar available. The service was good and the staff was friendly.
(4)Taylor S.
This is my favorite restaurant in town! It is so good I love there pizza! The service is excellent! Order the bread that tastes delicious! It's not even that pricey!
(5)Kenneth S.
Simple put this is the best restaurant in Payson AZ period. Food is great and the wait staff are excellent. Pizza, pasta, sea food, meats and salads are expertly prepared and served. It's a must try for locals and visitors to the Rim Country in AZ.
(5)Tobias K.
There were four of us and we each tried something different and it was all really good. Reasonably priced and friendly staff. The homemade bread was delicious. Definitely a place we would go to again.
(5)Michelle P.
Let's face it, not a whole lot of places to eat in Payson! We looked up this place and decided to try it, based upon the reviews. We were NOT disappointed! I ordered the chicken and Italian sausage with peppers and my mom ordered the salmon over fettuccine. Both were excellent...flavorful and cooked perfectly. They also serve you fresh garlic bread rolls which were very tasty as well. The service was excellent and our waitress was in top of it filling our drinks an checking in with us. This is definitely a place I would recommend for anyone visiting Payson.
(4)Gordon B.
I wasn't going to reveiw Gerardo's because I didn't think it would be fair to do so. After thinking it over I have changed my mind. Yesterday was my wife's and I 5th wedding aniversary and we were in Payson for the weekend. We decided to try Gerrado's after reading some of the reveiws on Yelp. We were seated quickly at a nice table and our drink order was taken. We had a nice appetizer of Caprese. It was very good. After that things began to go down hill. To make a long story short, there was an incident with the couple behind us that disrupted the entire restaurant. We decided mid meal that we were going to leave. This in no way had anything to do with the excellent food and excellent service we were getting. It was beyond the staffs control. This being the case, I insisted on paying the bill. They gave us a free desert and we left. The next morning, while getting gas for a trip up on The Mogollon Rim I discovered that my debit card was missing. In a panic, I realized that I had left it at Gerardo's during the incident. I called later that afternoon and yes they had my card. As I walked to the door, one of the staff met me and handed me an envelope with my card. We chatted and I asked how things had turned out after we left. All was well. After I got back to our room. I opened the envelope and with my card was a 2 page letter from the staff expressing how sorry they were how things had gone. And, our receipt for dinner which they had refunded. My wife and I were floored. What a fantastic group of people they have working at Gerardo's. I am rating them 5 stars for the food and the way they handled a difficult situation. Next time we are in Payson, we will be at Gerardo's and I would encouage others to dine there as well. Gordon Banks
(5)Stephanie L.
Delicious Eggplant Parmesan and Clams in a White Wine Sauce. Great Service. One of the Nicest and Most Menu-Complex Establishments to Patron in Payson. Highly Recommend!
(4)Tim R.
Ate lunch there last week. We ordered the macaroni and cheese and the club sandwich. First let me say that out of 50 restaurants 1 or 2 might impress. This is because we have backgrounds in front and back house restaurant operations. Over 20 years. I told our server that we were impressed. The sandwich was not just good, but the components that could be made there were, all fresh. And care was taken the components were at the correct temp. Plus The Mac n cheese was the best from anywhere. Most places try at it, and most underachieve. Plus we noticed that even when they hit it right the bottom of the bowl usually can be about a half inch of grease but this was not. The only thing we thought less than superb was the house salad was very unremarkable. Plus we will be back to try the lobster mac n cheese. Good job Girardo! Love the Ferraris.
(4)Anne K.
best pizza in Payson! their lasagna and chicken sandwich are also fantastic. servers are very efficient and friendly. it's my favorite place to eat in Payson!
(5)S H.
In an effort to get out of the Phoenix heat once again we traveled North and happen to be in Payson for my dinner hunger. My husband picked this one from Yelp which had good reviews and had items on the menu we both liked. The staff was very friendly and we were lucky enough to beat the crowd which showed up 15 minutes after us. My first comment is what ever the menu we were looking at on Yelp was different then their menu. I already decided before we arrived that I was getting the eggplant parmesan. My husband had the strawberry salad with shrimp. We also had a caprese salad for an appetizer. I'll start with the appetizer. The tomatoes were ice cold, bad bad and the mozzarella was hard. The dish as a whole did not have any flavor except for the basil leaves. It looked as possibly we selected the wrong appetizer. This maybe not their strong point. I was going to get the mussels but when I asked the server if they were fresh she said, "No." So I opted out. My dinner salad was less then desirable. The lettuce looked like it came out of a bag and the dressing was, eh, for the "house" Italian. My eggplant, I was actually pleasantly surprised. It was different in that it wasn't smothered and baked with mozzarella all over it. It was two crispy breaded pieces of eggplant with a slice of mozzarella between. The only down fall is it had slices of tomato on top with the same bad cheese from my appetizer. Although it tasted better warm. The sauce was different than what I usually make but it was tasty and not too tomatoey as it looked like it was going to be. Was a very chunky sauce and not acidic. I can say I liked it. The strawberry salad was not anything to brag about. I would more likely return and try something else.
(3)Z A.
Whenever we find ourselves camping near Payson, this is one of our two "must visits," the other being Pizza Factory. Stopped in yesterday for lunch and shared the spaghetti and meatballs as well as a calzone. The food was delicious and prompt, as always. The server was attentive and friendly. Food always tastes better when camping, but I'm convinced this place is the best restaurant in Payson!
(5)William T.
Been here several times while visiting from CA. Never disappointed. Friendly and attentive wait staff but most important: great tasting creations and large portions at reasonable cost.
(5)Phil S.
What a great restaurant this is for fine Italian cooking in Payson. Highly recommend the pizza, Lasagna was scrumptious. Great vibe as well and a friendly wait staff ambience.
(5)Mara F.
I could not be happier with our Gerardo's experience. I have gestational diabetes and absolutely loved the eggplant parm. My husband had the seared salmon- it was actually seared and the asparagus actually blanched. The owner hails from Dearborn Michigan, as do I, and this spot was a true Detroit style Italian kitchen, only a notch above in the foodie world. ;) can't wait to grab some pizza there after a mid summer water wheel hike!!
(5)Steve M.
This has always been a favorite, but lately it is becoming very inconsistent, I normally have the lasagna which was a large thick serving, now its served in a shallow oval plate, only about 1/2 inch thick....very little layers....very little pasta....I questioned the server and was told they just use what they have...not sure what is happening here, but it was disappointing
(3)Walter P.
Traveling with our adult son and his family at the end of a long drive back to Phoenix, we arrived at Payson around 9 p.m. Yelp reviews and a very easy location just north of the main intersection led us to Gerardo's. We were very pleased. Comfortable, welcoming and quick, we nonetheless had excellent food (a pasta, a couple of wood-fired pizzas, a wonderful Caesar salad, and a heavenly dessert). Just what is needed in such a situation. Even the hot tea was at a higher level than usual (special fabric gourmet bags). Very highly recommended. The people were exceptionally nice and even the décor was inviting. Like in Italy.
(4)Don R.
Wonderful little Italian place in Payson. My wife and I split the Cioppino which was very good. We are from Chicago and being Italian I have had some great tomato sauces. The sauce in this dish was one of the best I have very had. Very rich tomato base with plenty of garlic. The service was great. The wine was fantastic. I would eat here weekly if I lived in the area.
(5)Bobbi B.
We went to this great little Italian restaurant based on your reviews and we were not disappointed. We skipped appetizers and went right to the main course. Soup or salad was included and I had the minestrone soup which was good. It had a heavy tomato, oregano flavor and was not spicy, which suits me just fine. My companion had a Cesar salad which was average. The entrees, however, were really good. I had lasagne which arrived still bubbling from the oven. It was very meaty and had a great cheesy flavor as well. We also ordered the lobster mac and cheese which was one of the specials of the night. Both dinners came as large portions and we took some home. The Crème brule we shared for desert was also tasty. The service was excellent and our waitress gave us a little run down on what was happening in town after we asked her to tell us about the upcoming rodeo. All in all, a nice experience and one we look forward to repeating the next time we are in Payson.
(4)Jason B.
The floor, table, and bread plates were a little dirty. My wife had a hair in her sandwich. The pizza and sausage sandwich were good. They comped the entire meal due to the hair in the meal. That was very nice.
(2)Carlos M.
We arrived on 8/19/2011 at about 8:30pm. The waiter was nice and we ordered pizzas and side salads. The salads seemed like they came out of a bag and were mostly iceberg lettuce. My pizza was a pepperoni/sausage and my wife ordered a salmon/sun dried tomatoes. The pepperoni was bright red and artificial tasting and the sausage looked lke ground hamburger meat with no flavor. The salmon/sun driied tomato pizza had no flavor but the ingredients were apparently real. Overall a big disappointment as we came into Payson hungry and tired.
(1)Dave D.
My wife and I spent the weekend up in Payson about a month ago to get out of the Phoenix heat and we stumbled into this absolute gem! It's true, it's not real flashy, more of a mom and pop restaurant but the food and service was fantastic! We had the bruschetta and pizza. The bruschetta was very good but be prepared for a lot of garlic! The pizza was excellent! We had the meat lovers and it was one of the best we'd ever eaten and we're pizza snobs. The one dish I'd like to try next time we're there is the lobster mac-n-cheese. It was the special while we were there and the people around us that ordered it said it was phenomenal! In fact, we saw a lady eating it and it was a scene right out of "When Harry met Sally." We may make a special trip up there just for that! Again, the service was very good. Maria, our waitress is also the owner. Her husband is the chef and their HS kids work in the restauarant. They are all very friendly and just as sevice oriented as they can be. You can tell they want your experience to be top notch. Great job Gerardo's! Dave & Leslie
(4)Rebecca R.
Good service and food. Everyone was very friendly and we were checked on many times. This restaurant could have almost been romantic but it was loud and busy, go at off hours and you will enjoy good wine (try the reisling!) over candlelight. All daily specials were delicious and the bread rolls were piping hot and doughy. Most food was very rich I would recommend splitting things if you don't want to be stuffed!
(5)Monica J.
Great little mom and pop Italian joint in Payson. I highly recommend the baked ziti but the hubby's chicken parmesan was very undercooked and not well seasoned. They have a decent wine selection but limited availability by the glass. The front patio always seemed to be packed with people but I did not find it very enjoyable because it is adjacent to the parking lot and beyond that a busy highway. Overall, a relatively good place for Payson but nothing really that special.
(3)Samantha C.
Awesome! The GF pasta was amazing and so was the meat lovers pizza and we had the creme brûlée was incredible ! Service fantastic! Exceeded expectations:) will return!!!
(5)Jasmine C.
Came here on Memorial Day weekend after reading the reviews about gluten free pizza. They happened to have a hand written sign on the door that they were closed for the next hour. Was so bummed because we were starving but we went to Walmart and came back after the hour. Went in and the hostess lets us know that they don't have gluten free pizza but they have gluten free pasta. I read the description on the menu and it was like olive oil and garlic on it for over $15. We turned around and walked out. Very disappointing!
(1)Sarah Y.
I go to Payson, AZ just to eat at Gerardo's! Every time I have been to Gerardo's I have been impressed. The food is consistently delicious, the service is great, and the atmosphere is pleasing. Their pre-meal Italian style bread and olive oil dip is to die for. Honestly, it is the best bread I had at an Italian restaurant. After the pre-meal bread, their appetizers and entrees never disappoint. Lastly, their creme brulee is the best way to finish a meal. I was at Gerardo's just last weekend and was pleasantly surprised with their new take on eggplant Parmesan. You absolutely have to try it! UPDATE: I went to Gerardo's a few weeks ago, and they had changed a few menu items. Upon receiving our meals, we were disappointed to find out that the food had gone down in quality. I am uncertain if this is due to a change in menu, cutting costs, a change in ownership, or what was going on that day, but for the first time I was disappointed in the food.
(4)Brendan W.
Individual meat lovers pizza was perfect. Not too overwhelming just right. Greek salmon salad was so fresh and good. Both kids ate Alfredo ziti and loved. Their bread is amazing. Service was great. The waitress offered more bread, it was tough to turn down. The patio was good for kids and the weather was just right. Dog friendly too.
(5)Amy N.
Was good food. There seafood is a but pricey but delicious. 20+ a plate. Desserts were good, had the creme brûlée & and my husband tried the Cheesecake.
(4)Elis N.
Had dinner on a Saturday night here on our weekend away from the Arizona heat this past weekend. Great restaurant, no "frills", friendly servers, and good sized portion entrees. We had the Salmon over pasta and the Chicken Parmesan. The thick portion of Salmon was cooked perfectly, noodles al dente. The Chicken Parmesan was a little dry, but the cheese ravioli sauce was sooo tasty! Great, friendly service, but had to wait a while for our food. For a town that doesn't have too many places to choose from, this is a must!
(4)Scott A.
We stopped here on our way through town. We always look for non-chain food. This is very good. Great Italian food - vegetarian and kids options too
(5)Carol K.
What a gem nestled in Payson! We didn't get to eat full meals as we weren't really hungry but wanted to check out the calamari which had been written up in a local publication. We will return here as a dining destination and yes, the calamari was outstanding AND the tomato sauce rich and delicious. Cute place with lots of character. 8/11 Went back and knocked a few stars off. Cute place, good calamari although the portion size was small, delicious linguine and clam sauce BUT the eggplant parm was not good at all. The red sauce was way too sweet, the eggplant splayed on the dish (prefer layered and bubbling) was a combination of oily yet dried out... not easy to achieve. It is all about the marinara. If an Italian place cannot make an outstanding marinara why go at all?
(3)J M.
This place is amazing. Great food and good service. My wife and I took the kids there on our way up camping this weekend. Bruschetta is excellent, Greek Salad is very good and the pizza is awesome!
(5)Henry R.
This place seemed nice. It probably is best if you eat in, we took ours to go. We had the build your own pizza. It was ok but lacked sauce. I will give this place another chance when we're in Payson again.
(3)Nicole O.
Great local Italian food; this has become a Payson tradition for our family. The kids love the spaghetti sauce and they were able to accommodate my son's milk allergy. The portions are huge and the $3 split fee is well worth it. Try the calamari fra diavolo if you like a little spice.
(4)Josh B.
Very good service. Amazing food. That is all i could ask for! We live in north scottsdale and we went to payson for a day. If we go back to payson we will definitely go back!!
(5)Erin K.
I am surprised to see the negative reviews about the service on here! My date and I stopped in and were immediately warmly greeted by not only by the hostess but the people in the kitchen. Out waitress (didn't catch her name) was friendly, chatted about the weather and was attentive. We 'built' our own pizza and it was enough for a light lunch. Didn't leave feeling stuffed, just the right amount. If this place was closer to home I'd eat there again. I would probably eat there the next time I am in town just so I could try something else on the menu.
(4)Ted L.
When you say you are open till 9pm then be open- if you change your hours - update your adv. I will never try this place again.
(1)Lisa M.
Was in Payson this past week and this was one of the restaurants we dined at. This was our favorite hands down. Gerardo speaks with you personally. The food and service were topnotch. There were four in our party items ordered were: Chicken and vegetables, seafood pasta special, butternut squash ravioli, bruschetta, meat, cheese and olive platter, two bottles of Chianti. Gerardo treated us to some fantastic desserts. Cannoli, Tiramisu and a special dessert pizza. All homemade top quality items. This restaurant is your best bet in Payson by far.
(5)Shamanth K.
After a good hike at the national park, this place is the ideal place to end the day. This place was closed the first time I visited Tonto national park. I am glad I went back to try their pizza.
(4)Darren S.
OMG the best Italian food we have had outside of Little Italy in Baltimore and New York. The pizza, baked zitti and lasagna were awesome. The service was wonderful and quick. This is definitely put on our short list to revisit.
(5)Steve N.
recently Gerardo's catered an event that wa at a nearby hotel. they were very accomodating and the food was excellent
(4)Ryan J.
Here's a summer idea. Escape the relentless Phoenix heat, hike the Mogollon Rim, have lunch here, enjoy the very attentive service from the French waitress, and watch the monsoon clouds break over the East. Some very good Italian from a wonderful Sicilian family.
(4)Leah N.
The restaurant was pretty packed when we went. The wait staff were very friendly, but service was slow (probably because of it being packed!) Butternut Squash Ravioli was really good, but came out slightly cold! I'll go back and give them another go, because it was good enough, especially for Payson. (gave it a second try--much better experience this time!)
(3)Craig S.
Had to be in Pine this weekend to do some work on the cabin. Someone had told us that Gerardo's was a good place to eat in Payson. I had the Seafood Pasta. It was great, plenty of shrimp, calamari, mussels, clams, and a piece of fish. This was a good as I have eaten anywhere. I believe our waitresses name was Janice. She took very good care of us. Making sure our glasses were full and checking several more times to make sure everything was going OK. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. We will be back when we are in the area.
(5)Lisa Z.
This place is wonderful! The food is excellent, the staff is pleasant and our waitress, Carmen, was the best! I will be back again. We drove from Phoenix to check this place out and it was well worth it.
(5)Duane T.
Soup very good, cheesecake good, antipasto salad ok, eggplant parmigiana inedible. It was three fourths bread crumbs. I couldn't even taste the eggplant. When the waitress saw that I didn't eat it she gave us a piece of cheesecake. Paid $16 for something I couldn't eat and got a free dessert. They should have taken the eggplant off the check.
(1)David A.
Friendly staff and great food... Catered for our table of 10 with ease. The food came out quickly and it was delicious. A culinary gem in Payson, who'd have thought!!
(5)David P.
Service was extremely slow, food was so-so. I dont think I will go back
(2)Karen C.
My mother had eaten here the previous year while on vacation, so she insisted we stop on our way back from Colorado. The service was good, but to us, the food was only so-so. My daughter got the New York Strip Steak and the steak had absolutely no seasoning on it, not even salt or pepper. The Mac-n-cheese was okay, but was disappointed that they used bacon instead of prosciutto. Again, not a lot of season. The ziti was pretty good as was the linguini, but the the chicken breast they chopped up to put in both dishes tasted like something out of a can, not freshly grilled as it was supposed to be. It was okay, but nothing to write home about.
(3)Nic H.
We had the Parthenon greek pizza. It was outstanding. A little burn on the edge but that happens with real pizza sometimes. Very close to a 5 star. Might upgrade them if we have a chance to enjoy another meal here.
(4)Eddy S.
Seeing how much food I can cram into my tiny little frame! I love when I find a restaurant that is good enough to survive in a bigger city that resides in a small town. This is one of those. Not great, but could definitely survive in a neighborhood of a big city. All of my food was good - like 4 out of 5 good, and service was small-town friendly.
(4)Misty E.
We came here the other day after reading reviews on here looking for great food in Payson. I like Italian food. A lot. So I'd like to think I'm a pretty good barometer on whether something is good or not.. of course all tastes are different. We ordered the calamari fritti after reading previous reviews. It was great. Not overcooked, not smothered in cheap breading.. it was very good. We will probably go back to try the other two varieties of their calamari appetizers. The bread was okay. The flavor was good, however it seems that it was either a bit old, maybe a bit overcooked, but it was just not a good texture when it comes to breads. I had the butternut squash ravioli which had an alfredo sauce on it and topped with chicken. The ravioli and sauce was good, but the chicken was terribly overcooked and could not even be chewed. I pushed it to the side and just ate the ravioli. My husband had the baked ziti, which he liked. Sauce was good.. tasted homemade (not canned). Same story with the chicken.. awful. His portion was huge so he took the rest home for leftovers. As I passed to the bathroom I saw them grilling a steak which looked phenomenal. I think next time I'll give that a try! Service was pretty good. It was slow so our waiter was very attentive to the few tables he did have.
(4)mike a.
What a great place. Reasonable prices, great service, friendly people. My wife and I split the delicious Chicken Parmesan and brought home enough for another meal! The Tirimisu dessert was great. The house salad was good. I'm Italian but I prefer Greek salads with more ingredients and I'm not fond of white bread but most people would have said they were fine. Considering that most places in Payson have "down home" cooking, this was a nice change. Edit - Delete
(5)Karen F.
Actually 3 1/2 stars. We have been to Gerardo's several times so I wanted to finally review the place. This is one of two or three places in Payson that serves good food...not outstanding but for Payson, pretty great. I like the intimate nature..small and friendly. On previous visits I've had the Italian Mac and Cheese..delicious but very rich and calorie laden. Also have had pizza..can't remember which one though. Husband and I were there again 11/26/11..I had the Quattro Fromaggio pizza..ricotta, mozzarella, asiago and the delish goat cheese from Fossil Creek Creamery. The pizza was fantastic BUT the crust needed to be cooked a tad longer..it was soft in the middle. I like my crust VERY CRISPY. The pizza is very rich. I added some red pepper flakes and a pinch of black pepper to enhance the creaminess of the cheeses..made it perfect. Hubby had the Lasagna. He didn't say much about it but I noticed it seemed very mushy. He didn't finish it so I'm thinking he likes my lasagna better..lol. Shared Tiramisu for dessert...FABULOUS! Love it. Shared a bottle of Candoni Pinot Noir. It was delicious but could have been a tad cooler..I like a little chill on my Pinot. But the wine was great. Be prepared to spend some $$$$$ here though. It is a bit on the expensive side for Payson but as a once in awhile splurge...go for it.
(3)Tim G.
After a night of camping at Woods Canyon Lake, we stopped in Payson for lunch. This place is fantastic: textures, taste and service all to perfection. Wish I could give them 6 stars, it's that good!
(5)Trudy L.
This was awesome pizza! Just had a basic cheese and sausage but it was one of the best I've had and I'm from Chicago! Ever in those parts, u gotta stop and eat there!
(5)Kevin H.
Gerardo's is a genuine Italian cafe run by family. These people are very nice and the food is good. It tastes genuine. Fresh veggies, great cheeses and the doughs are really well done. Stone brick oven baked items make it really great. The buffet is a "so-so" value - for $6 what did I expect, right? But I would add lots more fresh items - and kinda scary - it was a hot day and the cold wasn't really cold - the hot stuff wasn't hot enough because they used heat lamps. Food has to be heated from above and below in those situations otherwise it can get JUST cold enough to grow bacteria. But these people care - they're good people - the food is good. You can tell there is love and care in their work and they do their very best. I think they can do a little better - but they already do a good job.
(4)Dione G.
My two brothers and I took my mother here for Mother's Day and were very pleased with the food. It was very busy but the staff was very helpful and friendly. The owner was awsome sending us out a complimentary order of their flat bread dish which was delicious. He also chatted with us for a long while before we left making the experience even better. We highly recommend this place if you are ever in Payson because trust me you don't find food like this anywhere in the area.
(5)Jodi R.
Their food needs salt. The wedding soup was great, service was pretty slow.
(3)Betty K.
Gerardos is hands down, the best place to eat in Payson. My family has dined here several times now and we always come away stuffed and happy. A few of our favorites are: calzones, lasagna, chicken parmesan, their complimentary rolls and the mussels appetizer. We finally ordered dessert on our latest visit and everyone was crazy about the cannoli...SO yummy (3 of them were more than enough for the 4 of us.) If you're in the Payson area and are looking for some excellent food, stop here. You wont regret it.
(5)Glenn H.
Excellent food with an unmistakable touch of Italian style.
(5)Helenmarie S.
My friends from France had told us Gerardo's was the best Pizza they had in the U.S. after living in multiple locations. We tried Gerardo's today and it was awesome. We didn't expect to find anything our daughter with Celiac's could eat but, they had Gluten Free pasta and sausage - that she loved! The chef/owner Gerardo took the time to come out and chat with us about her meal. The rest of of tired and loved the woodburning brick oven pizza. We tried the Bianca with the pesto (rocked) on the side, which we loved. We also had a sausage with fresh mushrooms that was delicious. We can't wait to visit next time we head up north.
(5)Tracy H.
Truly authentic Italian cuisine, excellent service, great place to eat in Payson, AZ.
(5)Richard v.
Great food, large portions, good service
(4)Greg S.
I was traveling solo and was recommended to go there by the staff of a nearby hotel. I found the food exemplary, the staff marvelous and prices inexpensive. When the dinner came, I was surprised by the portion...huge...so huge that I asked the waitress to split it and, with a little coaxing, agreed to take the other half home with her...they were all very appreciative and I think you'll find it quite a nice place to go.
(5)Sean L.
probably the best in town as the locals suggest, but i had better at La Bucca. pretty inexpensive, chicken parmisean was mediocre
(3)Kory K.
Best Lasagna I've ever had! Authentic Italian all the way.
(5)Campus F.
Oh, how I wish this place was down in the Phoenix area.... but this is one of the places that makes Payson bearable for eatng out! Have eaten here several times and have never been disappointed. Also love that it's family owned..... I'm so sick of chain restaurants.
(5)Sherita W.
Excellent food. Great friendly service. A little on the pricey side but worth it. If I am ever in Payson, AZ again I will definitely dine here.
(5)Jeanette P.
This is the second time I've been here in the past few months. I live in Phoenix, but made it a point to eat here after my first visit, since we were coming up for the weekend. I had the Italian Macaroni and Cheese, again. I had it the first time I came here. My husband had a Calzone and really liked it too, and he's not a big Italian food lover. Both were very generous sizes and we had enough for another meal, each. Oh! Their Italian rolls are AWESOME!! I asked the waitress if she could put a couple of them in my 'to-go' box and she gave me four, which I thought was very generous. I would highly recommend this place.
(5)Luke P.
Expensive for mediocre. We were taken in by the positive yelp reviews. Our waitress was nice. The plates weren't clean, we got new ones. Later plates came out dirty also but we got new ones. The spaghetti and meatballs was inedible and seemed old. We tried 3 pizzas which we assumed would be thin crust. They turned out to be thick, with a plasticky cheese and toppings which could use serious improvement. The sauce on the pasta and pizza was planned and tasted like canned sauce. Basically im not sure how so many people have had positive experiences. If you're driving through payson looking for a decent meal you'd do better at pizza hut (and youd spend less).
(1)Brandon K.
Food was good. Service was good. A good meal in Payson. The red sauce felt like it was just made which is good if you like fresh, but bad if you like the seasonings to penetrate the tomatoes. We will come back. This is a nice place in Payson, which is hard to finds
(4)Joanne I.
Reminds me of family Italian restaurants where I grew up. Terrific food, great service and no rushing by staff. A wonderful place for a nice dinner with conversation. Always know if taking friends, the meal will be a winner. Love the Eggplant Parm !
(5)Tim R.
Ate lunch there last week. We ordered the macaroni and cheese and the club sandwich. First let me say that out of 50 restaurants 1 or 2 might impress. This is because we have backgrounds in front and back house restaurant operations. Over 20 years. I told our server that we were impressed. The sandwich was not just good, but the components that could be made there were, all fresh. And care was taken the components were at the correct temp. Plus The Mac n cheese was the best from anywhere. Most places try at it, and most underachieve. Plus we noticed that even when they hit it right the bottom of the bowl usually can be about a half inch of grease but this was not. The only thing we thought less than superb was the house salad was very unremarkable. Plus we will be back to try the lobster mac n cheese. Good job Girardo! Love the Ferraris.
(4)Anne K.
best pizza in Payson! their lasagna and chicken sandwich are also fantastic. servers are very efficient and friendly. it's my favorite place to eat in Payson!
(5)S H.
In an effort to get out of the Phoenix heat once again we traveled North and happen to be in Payson for my dinner hunger. My husband picked this one from Yelp which had good reviews and had items on the menu we both liked. The staff was very friendly and we were lucky enough to beat the crowd which showed up 15 minutes after us. My first comment is what ever the menu we were looking at on Yelp was different then their menu. I already decided before we arrived that I was getting the eggplant parmesan. My husband had the strawberry salad with shrimp. We also had a caprese salad for an appetizer. I'll start with the appetizer. The tomatoes were ice cold, bad bad and the mozzarella was hard. The dish as a whole did not have any flavor except for the basil leaves. It looked as possibly we selected the wrong appetizer. This maybe not their strong point. I was going to get the mussels but when I asked the server if they were fresh she said, "No." So I opted out. My dinner salad was less then desirable. The lettuce looked like it came out of a bag and the dressing was, eh, for the "house" Italian. My eggplant, I was actually pleasantly surprised. It was different in that it wasn't smothered and baked with mozzarella all over it. It was two crispy breaded pieces of eggplant with a slice of mozzarella between. The only down fall is it had slices of tomato on top with the same bad cheese from my appetizer. Although it tasted better warm. The sauce was different than what I usually make but it was tasty and not too tomatoey as it looked like it was going to be. Was a very chunky sauce and not acidic. I can say I liked it. The strawberry salad was not anything to brag about. I would more likely return and try something else.
(3)William T.
Been here several times while visiting from CA. Never disappointed. Friendly and attentive wait staff but most important: great tasting creations and large portions at reasonable cost.
(5)Phil S.
What a great restaurant this is for fine Italian cooking in Payson. Highly recommend the pizza, Lasagna was scrumptious. Great vibe as well and a friendly wait staff ambience.
(5)Mara F.
I could not be happier with our Gerardo's experience. I have gestational diabetes and absolutely loved the eggplant parm. My husband had the seared salmon- it was actually seared and the asparagus actually blanched. The owner hails from Dearborn Michigan, as do I, and this spot was a true Detroit style Italian kitchen, only a notch above in the foodie world. ;) can't wait to grab some pizza there after a mid summer water wheel hike!!
(5)Steve M.
This has always been a favorite, but lately it is becoming very inconsistent, I normally have the lasagna which was a large thick serving, now its served in a shallow oval plate, only about 1/2 inch thick....very little layers....very little pasta....I questioned the server and was told they just use what they have...not sure what is happening here, but it was disappointing
(3)Walter P.
Traveling with our adult son and his family at the end of a long drive back to Phoenix, we arrived at Payson around 9 p.m. Yelp reviews and a very easy location just north of the main intersection led us to Gerardo's. We were very pleased. Comfortable, welcoming and quick, we nonetheless had excellent food (a pasta, a couple of wood-fired pizzas, a wonderful Caesar salad, and a heavenly dessert). Just what is needed in such a situation. Even the hot tea was at a higher level than usual (special fabric gourmet bags). Very highly recommended. The people were exceptionally nice and even the décor was inviting. Like in Italy.
(4)Don R.
Wonderful little Italian place in Payson. My wife and I split the Cioppino which was very good. We are from Chicago and being Italian I have had some great tomato sauces. The sauce in this dish was one of the best I have very had. Very rich tomato base with plenty of garlic. The service was great. The wine was fantastic. I would eat here weekly if I lived in the area.
(5)Bobbi B.
We went to this great little Italian restaurant based on your reviews and we were not disappointed. We skipped appetizers and went right to the main course. Soup or salad was included and I had the minestrone soup which was good. It had a heavy tomato, oregano flavor and was not spicy, which suits me just fine. My companion had a Cesar salad which was average. The entrees, however, were really good. I had lasagne which arrived still bubbling from the oven. It was very meaty and had a great cheesy flavor as well. We also ordered the lobster mac and cheese which was one of the specials of the night. Both dinners came as large portions and we took some home. The Crème brule we shared for desert was also tasty. The service was excellent and our waitress gave us a little run down on what was happening in town after we asked her to tell us about the upcoming rodeo. All in all, a nice experience and one we look forward to repeating the next time we are in Payson.
(4)Dave D.
My wife and I spent the weekend up in Payson about a month ago to get out of the Phoenix heat and we stumbled into this absolute gem! It's true, it's not real flashy, more of a mom and pop restaurant but the food and service was fantastic! We had the bruschetta and pizza. The bruschetta was very good but be prepared for a lot of garlic! The pizza was excellent! We had the meat lovers and it was one of the best we'd ever eaten and we're pizza snobs. The one dish I'd like to try next time we're there is the lobster mac-n-cheese. It was the special while we were there and the people around us that ordered it said it was phenomenal! In fact, we saw a lady eating it and it was a scene right out of "When Harry met Sally." We may make a special trip up there just for that! Again, the service was very good. Maria, our waitress is also the owner. Her husband is the chef and their HS kids work in the restauarant. They are all very friendly and just as sevice oriented as they can be. You can tell they want your experience to be top notch. Great job Gerardo's! Dave & Leslie
(4)Rebecca R.
Good service and food. Everyone was very friendly and we were checked on many times. This restaurant could have almost been romantic but it was loud and busy, go at off hours and you will enjoy good wine (try the reisling!) over candlelight. All daily specials were delicious and the bread rolls were piping hot and doughy. Most food was very rich I would recommend splitting things if you don't want to be stuffed!
(5)Monica J.
Great little mom and pop Italian joint in Payson. I highly recommend the baked ziti but the hubby's chicken parmesan was very undercooked and not well seasoned. They have a decent wine selection but limited availability by the glass. The front patio always seemed to be packed with people but I did not find it very enjoyable because it is adjacent to the parking lot and beyond that a busy highway. Overall, a relatively good place for Payson but nothing really that special.
(3)Samantha C.
Awesome! The GF pasta was amazing and so was the meat lovers pizza and we had the creme brûlée was incredible ! Service fantastic! Exceeded expectations:) will return!!!
(5)Jasmine C.
Came here on Memorial Day weekend after reading the reviews about gluten free pizza. They happened to have a hand written sign on the door that they were closed for the next hour. Was so bummed because we were starving but we went to Walmart and came back after the hour. Went in and the hostess lets us know that they don't have gluten free pizza but they have gluten free pasta. I read the description on the menu and it was like olive oil and garlic on it for over $15. We turned around and walked out. Very disappointing!
(1)Lisa B.
Pleasantly surprised to find a fabulous Italian restaurant in payson. Delicious bread right out the oven. My son had chicken fettuccine and said it was the "best ever". Husband had baked Zito and loved the sausage. I had chicken paradiso, which was excellent also! We also splurged and ordered dessert. Cannoli and the most monstrous brownie ever!!! Great service from our waitress, Angie
(5)Matthew R.
What a surprise. Dropped in for lunch and was blown away by food and service. Definitely will go again next time I am in town.
(5)Josh F.
Delicious food! The eggplant was fresh and tasty, the pizza perfect. Recommended to anyone looking for good Italian in payson.
(5)Luke P.
Expensive for mediocre. We were taken in by the positive yelp reviews. Our waitress was nice. The plates weren't clean, we got new ones. Later plates came out dirty also but we got new ones. The spaghetti and meatballs was inedible and seemed old. We tried 3 pizzas which we assumed would be thin crust. They turned out to be thick, with a plasticky cheese and toppings which could use serious improvement. The sauce on the pasta and pizza was planned and tasted like canned sauce. Basically im not sure how so many people have had positive experiences. If you're driving through payson looking for a decent meal you'd do better at pizza hut (and youd spend less).
(1)Wende S.
Overall a great place to eat! The four seasons pizza and the Greek salad with chicken was amazing! They forgot to put the chicken on the salad so they took the chicken cost off the bill and still brought us some chicken to eat with the salad. Great service. The Italian mac and cheese was ok. A little too greasy for our tastes. I had a glass of house cab and it was very good especially for being a house wine. Over all a great experience, I would definitely come back again!!
(4)Leslie H.
This place was great. The food was made with quality ingredients. My husband got the special which was an Italian burger and he loved it. I got the meat and cheese board as my meal and everyone was stealing my food. The service was great as well. I would say, the kids meals are large so if your kids are like mine and don't eat a lot they realistically could share. I'll definitely come back when visiting or driving through Payson.
(5)Tatyana K.
We were hiking in the area on a Sunday afternoon and stopped there for lunch. We found this place on Yelp ( it had great ratings) and called to confirm it was dog friendly. We were not allowed to bring dogs inside but the staff set up our large group of hikers and dogs on the patio. The first thing they did-brought water for the dogs. It was greatly appreciated:) Oh, a parton leaving the restaurant assured us the place is just amazing. Great first impression I would say! And then there was delicious food and good service. Made my day:)
(5)Brendan B.
Let's talk about Gerardo's. First, I somehow was deceived by fellow Yelpers who are normally trustworthy. Perhaps this rating should only be taken in context of other food nearby, not food in general. I'm not a Payson regular but I've been through a few times. I do however eat often and generally know what is good and what is not so good. Don't get me wrong, the service and cleanliness is as good as you'd hope for in a small town restaurant. It's clean, people are very friendly and open, staff is responsive and polite. Those areas are good. But I don't go to a restaurant for cleanliness and politeness. We came to eat. I ordered spaghetti and meatballs. My wife and our friends ordered pizzas. I've literally never had more bland spaghetti sauce. Including late nights in college with warmed sauce out of a jar. Flavorless, oddly bright red, little to no seasoning, whole cloves of garlic...people this isn't how sauce should be. The meatballs. Oh the meatballs. I wrongly assumed that a ball of ground meat would remain relatively soft after cooking. But no. I've had many steaks that melt in your mouth better than these little tough balls. And for $15, laughably bad value. This is a 5.99 plate . The pizza was not great either. Again, bland, too simple, little flavor, over priced. The place is warm and cozy and friendly and has pretty terrible food.
(1)Yuko H.
Being in the area for some photo shoot outing, as soon as I gained my cell signal back, I started looking for a place to eat on yelp. This restaurant came up on my search as #1. Since we both like Italian, after reading some reviews on yelp about this restaurant, I didn't look any further. I like the way it was decorated inside, creating a nice ambiance. Service was excellent, very friendly and fast. The food I had was more than I expected for the location but after a half way through my meal, I became full. Very generous portion size. Come hungry.
(4)Brooke W.
We were visiting Payson for the day from Phoenix and we stopped here for a late lunch. They were SUPER friendly with great service. We sat outside with our dogs and they were nice enough to give them water and continue refilling it. Food was great too, especially the ceasar salad. Thanks for the canollis!
(5)Irina H.
Delicious food, pleasant service and super cute Italian decor - a bar all in brick, a partially open kitchen, a tempting dessert cooler, and even a dog-friendly patio. We shared the baked ziti, which was lovely. It came out of the oven still bubbling, and the tomato sauce and cheese flavors really made the dish. The pasta itself was nothing special, which was fine. Note: there's a $3 split plate charge, but that's only if the chefs put it on two plates - if you just get an extra plate, it's waived. We each started with a side salad - the ziti came with one, and we ordered another. It was super simple - just iceberg and spinach mix with a single tomato, but the lettuce was very fresh and the balsamic dressing was very nice, so it was yummy. We were also served plenty of delicious hot bread (perfect for dipping in olive oil and balsamic vinegar - bottles on the table). This place might be 4 stars in Scottsdale, but in Payson, it's closer to 6! We'll definitely be back!!
(5)Brandon K.
Food was good. Service was good. A good meal in Payson. The red sauce felt like it was just made which is good if you like fresh, but bad if you like the seasonings to penetrate the tomatoes. We will come back. This is a nice place in Payson, which is hard to finds
(4)Joanne I.
Reminds me of family Italian restaurants where I grew up. Terrific food, great service and no rushing by staff. A wonderful place for a nice dinner with conversation. Always know if taking friends, the meal will be a winner. Love the Eggplant Parm !
(5)Wendy R.
A nice little family restaurant with some of the best Fettuccini I've had in a while. The kids also loved the pizza. My husband had the lasagna, but liked my dish better. Friendly staff. I would definitely recommend.
(4)Bruce B.
The restaurant was closed to the public for a Holiday event that was wonderful! We've eaten in many places in and around Payson but were unaware of Gerardo's until this Christmas. The food was exemplary and the service was first class. I had the free range New York steak and my wife the wild salmon - yum!! Can't speak to the Italian food since we didn't have any! But from what we saw, that was well represented by the dishes we saw served.
(5)F D.
We have been to Gerardo's several times and have never had a bad meal here! The service is excellent! On our most recent visit yesterday, our server, Natalie, was wonderful. She was attentive and able to answer all our questions about the menu. But Natalie is not alone .. Gerardo's is definitely well staffed. We were assisted by three different people during our dinner. Everyone is helpful and friendly. Now on to the food .. I had the Chicken Paradiso, which is a large chicken breast breaded and topped with some fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. It also comes with a side of large cheese ravioli. Both were excellent! The chicken was crisp and not a bit greasy. My friend had the Eggplant Parm, which has become his favorite dish at Gerardo's. He said it is the best he has ever had! The sauce is prefect .. fresh and light but very flavorful! We've had the pizza in the past and it is also excellent! If you're looking for a great meal in Payson, be sure to check out Gerardo's.
(5)Donna S.
Whenever we drive through Payson, we stop here. The food is lovingly prepared by the chef owner, Gerardo. He and his wife are usually there to make sure everything is OK. Most recently we had an Italian sandwich and Greek salad for lunch with a Tuscan red wine. We ordered some lasagna to go for our dinner later. Everything was prepared perfectly and quite delicious. Prices are very reasonable. Our server was professional and personable. We feel it's the best restaurant in Payson and the surrounding area.
(5)Tigar D.
Excellent service, unbelievable portions, a true taste of Italy! Would recommend to sit and have a drink to enjoy the atmosphere and smells, then off to dinner, the antipasto salad is the best, they don't skimp on the meat, the dressing is not overwhelming, the main enter is nothing but the best, I give it a 10, and the whole evening a 10, perfect dinner, Thanks!
(5)Angie V.
We stopped in here for dinner on a recommendation from a local and couldn't have been more surprised. It's a cute little restaurant with a small bar and a partially open kitchen where you can see them making their pizzas in a beautiful brick oven. We ordered the cap rese appetizer, our waitress hit the wrong button on accident which was the bruschetta so we received both as an "I'm sorry" and it was very good. We also ordered the eggplant parm and it came with this perfect butternut squash soup that was just incredibly delicious! The flavor, texture & consistency of it was spot on. Then the eggplant parm came and had this rustic tomato sauce it was sitting on top of and it really complimented it. The breading on the eggplant was crisp and the mozzarella had a wonderful flavor! We plan on going back tomorrow to try their pizzas!
(4)Christina W.
Amazingly delicious food! You can tell it's hand made with love food. I had the baked ziti.. it was the perfect choice for me creamy with lots of flavor lots of sausage. Grandma ordered a special pan seared salmon on top of linguine with a white wine lemon butter sauce with asparagus tried it also amazing! And for desert a slice of Carmel apple cake (what just slapped me in the face) man it was good. Our waitress was Angie, very friendly great energy and smile, right on top of everything knew her menu down to the little details. Even told me her favorites and I went with one of them. Another thing I noticed as soon as you were finished with a plate of any kind someone would swoop right by and pick it up.. I don't think a used plate sat on my table for more than a minute! Really good teamwork on everyone's part. Really nice to have found this place. Will definitely be back every time I come to Payson. Made it a perfect evening for mothers day dinner. Can't wait to eat the leftovers oh and the portions are big.. 2 maybe 3 meals depending on how much you can eat. Definitely a 5 star in a little town. Very impressed! Bravo! That's Italian right?
(5)Jason R.
Up in this neck of the woods for hiking and photography and needed a nice meal to top off our day. Came in at 4 in the afternoon and were greeted pleasantly and seated immediately. Our server advised us of the specials of which my buddy selected the Chicken Marsala while I selected the Fetuccini with Sausage from the menu. After a pleasant dinner salad and bread, our selections were delivered and we were both pleasantly surprised by the portion sizes and presentation. There are very few times when I've been unable to finish a meal due to portion size and this was one of them, and it certainly wasn't for lack of effort. A fine Italian eatery in a picturesque town. Thank you for the food and service!
(5)John T.
Excellent lasagna! And a huge portion too! This is my first time trying this restaurant and I was not disappointed! Service was great. The food was excellent and the place was packed. If you are looking for a nice little Italian restaurant in Payson you can't go wrong here.
(5)James P.
Gerardo's met our every expectation. That says a LOT, coming from this Yelper and his esposa. Ambiance is nice, but understated. The wine bar shines. The scents wafting from the kitchen made my mouth water while perusing the menu. The homemade noodles were an unexpected surprise. We loved our white wine. Everyone's food was hot, fresh, flavorful, and authentic. We've eaten some of the best pasta in Italy and Manhattan. The food here would stand up proudly to those standards. OVERALL: SUPERB. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
(5)Shiqi Y.
We had lasagna and meat lovers' pizza as main course. Appetizer is mussels. Everything is good. Cora, my friend's dog is very happy about the meat toppings.
(5)Julie G.
We went to Gerardo's for lunch on an excursion to Payson from the Valley. I had the Baked Ziti with house made sausage while my husband had a Hawaiian pizza & a dinner salad. We were served a basket of hot rolls right out of the oven while waiting for our food. Everything was so fresh & tasted delicious. The pricing is in line with any other restaurant that serves fresh ingredients. I think it's worth every penny. I agree with another reviewer that... our service was excellent, very friendly & fast.
(5)Nesto M.
Really. I have never reviewed this place?! Gerardo's is THE go to place for solid, great quality Italian food in Payson. I have been here dozens of times in the past decade, and know the tradition will continue now that Payson is our home. The rolls are made of fresh-baked, doughy, crispy heaven. His house dressing is so good I would eat it with a spoon if my wife wouldn't get really pissed. The entrees and desserts never disappoint. This most recent visit, we had crab cake starters, butternut squash ravioli, and a seafood pasta. All perfection. We ended with tiramisu, and gelato, which they make in house. Their house wines are tasty and ridiculously reasonably priced. Now my pants don't fit. But I am a happy (temporarily fat) man. If you haven't eaten here. You should.
(5)Aaron H.
While spending the weekend in payson, I thought I would stop by Gerardo's and order some take out. The inside was nice and cozy. To be honest, eating in the restaurant probably would have improved my opinion of the food. I ordered the four season pizza, which sounded pretty great on the description. Unfortunately the pizza ended up tasting pretty average. Definitely better than your run-of-the-mill Pizza Hut or dominos, but nothing I would go out of my way try again. It's worth a stop if you're in payson and craving Italian.
(3)Grant L.
Simply amazing! Started with the mussels which were to die for with white wine and butter sauce and perfect garlic bread. Then the shrimp scampi was even better. Cream brûlée was as sweet as our lovely server. I don't live in payson and was the best Italian food I've ever had!
(5)Chris H.
Gerardo's is hands down delicious! How unassuming and then BAM! That calzone hit the table and we never looked up from our plate! The service is incredible, genuine and friendly. We met another table there and they let us finish our meal and kept service going long after the kitchen was closed!
(5)Ron D.
Solid 4 stars. Went in for salads for lunch today and were pleasantly surprised with the variety and quality of the Italian food. The antipasti salad was excellent and I have had them all over. Decent atmosphere. Very busy at a lunchtime today. The deserts looked great but we were too full after our salads to try them. It is a wine bar too! Prices seem fair for the amount of servings they provide.
(4)Ben M.
Incredible Food! I love going her for his sandwiches during lunch. I love that Gerardo will frequently pass through the restaurant and talk his customers. He is a very humble, down to earth guy who doubles as an amazing chef. Payson is lucky to have a place like this!
(5)Louie P.
This is my favorite place to eat whenever I'm up in Payson. I've been to Italy three times so I know authentic Italian food and not the Americanized version that most Americans are used to. Gerardo is legit!!
(5)Elba E.
We stopped for dinner in our way to Winslow,AZ based on the reviewes found on yelp. We loved it. Excellent service, great presentation and good size portions! The lobster bisque was wonderful! Smart to have reservations on a weekend.
(4)Sara E.
We've enjoyed Gerardo's three times, pretty good given that we are from Tucson and get to Payson only occasionally. I am a real fan of the eggplant parmiagiana -- just delicious and the best that I've had anywhere. Pizza was great, and my husband loved the lasagna. We will return again and again.
(5)Susie's Q Barbecue W.
I don't get in there very often, but I will say the food is good and so is the service! Ambiance is pleasant too!
(5)Sarah H.
Lobster mac and cheese is to die for! However the scampi, fettucini and salad were all just ok. But the lobster mac is seriously out of this world.
(3)Tracey L.
Delicious food and reasonable prices. There is a full bar available. The service was good and the staff was friendly.
(4)Taylor S.
This is my favorite restaurant in town! It is so good I love there pizza! The service is excellent! Order the bread that tastes delicious! It's not even that pricey!
(5)Kenneth S.
Simple put this is the best restaurant in Payson AZ period. Food is great and the wait staff are excellent. Pizza, pasta, sea food, meats and salads are expertly prepared and served. It's a must try for locals and visitors to the Rim Country in AZ.
(5)Tobias K.
There were four of us and we each tried something different and it was all really good. Reasonably priced and friendly staff. The homemade bread was delicious. Definitely a place we would go to again.
(5)Gordon B.
I wasn't going to reveiw Gerardo's because I didn't think it would be fair to do so. After thinking it over I have changed my mind. Yesterday was my wife's and I 5th wedding aniversary and we were in Payson for the weekend. We decided to try Gerrado's after reading some of the reveiws on Yelp. We were seated quickly at a nice table and our drink order was taken. We had a nice appetizer of Caprese. It was very good. After that things began to go down hill. To make a long story short, there was an incident with the couple behind us that disrupted the entire restaurant. We decided mid meal that we were going to leave. This in no way had anything to do with the excellent food and excellent service we were getting. It was beyond the staffs control. This being the case, I insisted on paying the bill. They gave us a free desert and we left. The next morning, while getting gas for a trip up on The Mogollon Rim I discovered that my debit card was missing. In a panic, I realized that I had left it at Gerardo's during the incident. I called later that afternoon and yes they had my card. As I walked to the door, one of the staff met me and handed me an envelope with my card. We chatted and I asked how things had turned out after we left. All was well. After I got back to our room. I opened the envelope and with my card was a 2 page letter from the staff expressing how sorry they were how things had gone. And, our receipt for dinner which they had refunded. My wife and I were floored. What a fantastic group of people they have working at Gerardo's. I am rating them 5 stars for the food and the way they handled a difficult situation. Next time we are in Payson, we will be at Gerardo's and I would encouage others to dine there as well. Gordon Banks
(5)Stephanie L.
Delicious Eggplant Parmesan and Clams in a White Wine Sauce. Great Service. One of the Nicest and Most Menu-Complex Establishments to Patron in Payson. Highly Recommend!
(4)Z A.
Whenever we find ourselves camping near Payson, this is one of our two "must visits," the other being Pizza Factory. Stopped in yesterday for lunch and shared the spaghetti and meatballs as well as a calzone. The food was delicious and prompt, as always. The server was attentive and friendly. Food always tastes better when camping, but I'm convinced this place is the best restaurant in Payson!
(5)Michelle P.
Let's face it, not a whole lot of places to eat in Payson! We looked up this place and decided to try it, based upon the reviews. We were NOT disappointed! I ordered the chicken and Italian sausage with peppers and my mom ordered the salmon over fettuccine. Both were excellent...flavorful and cooked perfectly. They also serve you fresh garlic bread rolls which were very tasty as well. The service was excellent and our waitress was in top of it filling our drinks an checking in with us. This is definitely a place I would recommend for anyone visiting Payson.
(4)Sarah Y.
I go to Payson, AZ just to eat at Gerardo's! Every time I have been to Gerardo's I have been impressed. The food is consistently delicious, the service is great, and the atmosphere is pleasing. Their pre-meal Italian style bread and olive oil dip is to die for. Honestly, it is the best bread I had at an Italian restaurant. After the pre-meal bread, their appetizers and entrees never disappoint. Lastly, their creme brulee is the best way to finish a meal. I was at Gerardo's just last weekend and was pleasantly surprised with their new take on eggplant Parmesan. You absolutely have to try it! UPDATE: I went to Gerardo's a few weeks ago, and they had changed a few menu items. Upon receiving our meals, we were disappointed to find out that the food had gone down in quality. I am uncertain if this is due to a change in menu, cutting costs, a change in ownership, or what was going on that day, but for the first time I was disappointed in the food.
(4)Brendan W.
Individual meat lovers pizza was perfect. Not too overwhelming just right. Greek salmon salad was so fresh and good. Both kids ate Alfredo ziti and loved. Their bread is amazing. Service was great. The waitress offered more bread, it was tough to turn down. The patio was good for kids and the weather was just right. Dog friendly too.
(5)Elis N.
Had dinner on a Saturday night here on our weekend away from the Arizona heat this past weekend. Great restaurant, no "frills", friendly servers, and good sized portion entrees. We had the Salmon over pasta and the Chicken Parmesan. The thick portion of Salmon was cooked perfectly, noodles al dente. The Chicken Parmesan was a little dry, but the cheese ravioli sauce was sooo tasty! Great, friendly service, but had to wait a while for our food. For a town that doesn't have too many places to choose from, this is a must!
(4)Amy N.
Was good food. There seafood is a but pricey but delicious. 20+ a plate. Desserts were good, had the creme brûlée & and my husband tried the Cheesecake.
(4)Scott A.
We stopped here on our way through town. We always look for non-chain food. This is very good. Great Italian food - vegetarian and kids options too
(5)Carol K.
What a gem nestled in Payson! We didn't get to eat full meals as we weren't really hungry but wanted to check out the calamari which had been written up in a local publication. We will return here as a dining destination and yes, the calamari was outstanding AND the tomato sauce rich and delicious. Cute place with lots of character. 8/11 Went back and knocked a few stars off. Cute place, good calamari although the portion size was small, delicious linguine and clam sauce BUT the eggplant parm was not good at all. The red sauce was way too sweet, the eggplant splayed on the dish (prefer layered and bubbling) was a combination of oily yet dried out... not easy to achieve. It is all about the marinara. If an Italian place cannot make an outstanding marinara why go at all?
(3)J M.
This place is amazing. Great food and good service. My wife and I took the kids there on our way up camping this weekend. Bruschetta is excellent, Greek Salad is very good and the pizza is awesome!
(5)Jason B.
The floor, table, and bread plates were a little dirty. My wife had a hair in her sandwich. The pizza and sausage sandwich were good. They comped the entire meal due to the hair in the meal. That was very nice.
(2)Carlos M.
We arrived on 8/19/2011 at about 8:30pm. The waiter was nice and we ordered pizzas and side salads. The salads seemed like they came out of a bag and were mostly iceberg lettuce. My pizza was a pepperoni/sausage and my wife ordered a salmon/sun dried tomatoes. The pepperoni was bright red and artificial tasting and the sausage looked lke ground hamburger meat with no flavor. The salmon/sun driied tomato pizza had no flavor but the ingredients were apparently real. Overall a big disappointment as we came into Payson hungry and tired.
(1)Henry R.
This place seemed nice. It probably is best if you eat in, we took ours to go. We had the build your own pizza. It was ok but lacked sauce. I will give this place another chance when we're in Payson again.
(3)Nicole O.
Great local Italian food; this has become a Payson tradition for our family. The kids love the spaghetti sauce and they were able to accommodate my son's milk allergy. The portions are huge and the $3 split fee is well worth it. Try the calamari fra diavolo if you like a little spice.
(4)Josh B.
Very good service. Amazing food. That is all i could ask for! We live in north scottsdale and we went to payson for a day. If we go back to payson we will definitely go back!!
(5)Erin K.
I am surprised to see the negative reviews about the service on here! My date and I stopped in and were immediately warmly greeted by not only by the hostess but the people in the kitchen. Out waitress (didn't catch her name) was friendly, chatted about the weather and was attentive. We 'built' our own pizza and it was enough for a light lunch. Didn't leave feeling stuffed, just the right amount. If this place was closer to home I'd eat there again. I would probably eat there the next time I am in town just so I could try something else on the menu.
(4)Ted L.
When you say you are open till 9pm then be open- if you change your hours - update your adv. I will never try this place again.
(1)Lisa M.
Was in Payson this past week and this was one of the restaurants we dined at. This was our favorite hands down. Gerardo speaks with you personally. The food and service were topnotch. There were four in our party items ordered were: Chicken and vegetables, seafood pasta special, butternut squash ravioli, bruschetta, meat, cheese and olive platter, two bottles of Chianti. Gerardo treated us to some fantastic desserts. Cannoli, Tiramisu and a special dessert pizza. All homemade top quality items. This restaurant is your best bet in Payson by far.
(5)Shamanth K.
After a good hike at the national park, this place is the ideal place to end the day. This place was closed the first time I visited Tonto national park. I am glad I went back to try their pizza.
(4)Darren S.
OMG the best Italian food we have had outside of Little Italy in Baltimore and New York. The pizza, baked zitti and lasagna were awesome. The service was wonderful and quick. This is definitely put on our short list to revisit.
(5)Ryan J.
Here's a summer idea. Escape the relentless Phoenix heat, hike the Mogollon Rim, have lunch here, enjoy the very attentive service from the French waitress, and watch the monsoon clouds break over the East. Some very good Italian from a wonderful Sicilian family.
(4)Steve N.
recently Gerardo's catered an event that wa at a nearby hotel. they were very accomodating and the food was excellent
(4)Leah N.
The restaurant was pretty packed when we went. The wait staff were very friendly, but service was slow (probably because of it being packed!) Butternut Squash Ravioli was really good, but came out slightly cold! I'll go back and give them another go, because it was good enough, especially for Payson. (gave it a second try--much better experience this time!)
(3)Craig S.
Had to be in Pine this weekend to do some work on the cabin. Someone had told us that Gerardo's was a good place to eat in Payson. I had the Seafood Pasta. It was great, plenty of shrimp, calamari, mussels, clams, and a piece of fish. This was a good as I have eaten anywhere. I believe our waitresses name was Janice. She took very good care of us. Making sure our glasses were full and checking several more times to make sure everything was going OK. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. We will be back when we are in the area.
(5)Lisa Z.
This place is wonderful! The food is excellent, the staff is pleasant and our waitress, Carmen, was the best! I will be back again. We drove from Phoenix to check this place out and it was well worth it.
(5)Duane T.
Soup very good, cheesecake good, antipasto salad ok, eggplant parmigiana inedible. It was three fourths bread crumbs. I couldn't even taste the eggplant. When the waitress saw that I didn't eat it she gave us a piece of cheesecake. Paid $16 for something I couldn't eat and got a free dessert. They should have taken the eggplant off the check.
(1)David A.
Friendly staff and great food... Catered for our table of 10 with ease. The food came out quickly and it was delicious. A culinary gem in Payson, who'd have thought!!
(5)David P.
Service was extremely slow, food was so-so. I dont think I will go back
(2)Karen C.
My mother had eaten here the previous year while on vacation, so she insisted we stop on our way back from Colorado. The service was good, but to us, the food was only so-so. My daughter got the New York Strip Steak and the steak had absolutely no seasoning on it, not even salt or pepper. The Mac-n-cheese was okay, but was disappointed that they used bacon instead of prosciutto. Again, not a lot of season. The ziti was pretty good as was the linguini, but the the chicken breast they chopped up to put in both dishes tasted like something out of a can, not freshly grilled as it was supposed to be. It was okay, but nothing to write home about.
(3)Misty E.
We came here the other day after reading reviews on here looking for great food in Payson. I like Italian food. A lot. So I'd like to think I'm a pretty good barometer on whether something is good or not.. of course all tastes are different. We ordered the calamari fritti after reading previous reviews. It was great. Not overcooked, not smothered in cheap breading.. it was very good. We will probably go back to try the other two varieties of their calamari appetizers. The bread was okay. The flavor was good, however it seems that it was either a bit old, maybe a bit overcooked, but it was just not a good texture when it comes to breads. I had the butternut squash ravioli which had an alfredo sauce on it and topped with chicken. The ravioli and sauce was good, but the chicken was terribly overcooked and could not even be chewed. I pushed it to the side and just ate the ravioli. My husband had the baked ziti, which he liked. Sauce was good.. tasted homemade (not canned). Same story with the chicken.. awful. His portion was huge so he took the rest home for leftovers. As I passed to the bathroom I saw them grilling a steak which looked phenomenal. I think next time I'll give that a try! Service was pretty good. It was slow so our waiter was very attentive to the few tables he did have.
(4)mike a.
What a great place. Reasonable prices, great service, friendly people. My wife and I split the delicious Chicken Parmesan and brought home enough for another meal! The Tirimisu dessert was great. The house salad was good. I'm Italian but I prefer Greek salads with more ingredients and I'm not fond of white bread but most people would have said they were fine. Considering that most places in Payson have "down home" cooking, this was a nice change. Edit - Delete
(5)Dione G.
My two brothers and I took my mother here for Mother's Day and were very pleased with the food. It was very busy but the staff was very helpful and friendly. The owner was awsome sending us out a complimentary order of their flat bread dish which was delicious. He also chatted with us for a long while before we left making the experience even better. We highly recommend this place if you are ever in Payson because trust me you don't find food like this anywhere in the area.
(5)Jodi R.
Their food needs salt. The wedding soup was great, service was pretty slow.
(3)Karen F.
Actually 3 1/2 stars. We have been to Gerardo's several times so I wanted to finally review the place. This is one of two or three places in Payson that serves good food...not outstanding but for Payson, pretty great. I like the intimate nature..small and friendly. On previous visits I've had the Italian Mac and Cheese..delicious but very rich and calorie laden. Also have had pizza..can't remember which one though. Husband and I were there again 11/26/11..I had the Quattro Fromaggio pizza..ricotta, mozzarella, asiago and the delish goat cheese from Fossil Creek Creamery. The pizza was fantastic BUT the crust needed to be cooked a tad longer..it was soft in the middle. I like my crust VERY CRISPY. The pizza is very rich. I added some red pepper flakes and a pinch of black pepper to enhance the creaminess of the cheeses..made it perfect. Hubby had the Lasagna. He didn't say much about it but I noticed it seemed very mushy. He didn't finish it so I'm thinking he likes my lasagna better..lol. Shared Tiramisu for dessert...FABULOUS! Love it. Shared a bottle of Candoni Pinot Noir. It was delicious but could have been a tad cooler..I like a little chill on my Pinot. But the wine was great. Be prepared to spend some $$$$$ here though. It is a bit on the expensive side for Payson but as a once in awhile splurge...go for it.
(3)Tim G.
After a night of camping at Woods Canyon Lake, we stopped in Payson for lunch. This place is fantastic: textures, taste and service all to perfection. Wish I could give them 6 stars, it's that good!
(5)Nic H.
We had the Parthenon greek pizza. It was outstanding. A little burn on the edge but that happens with real pizza sometimes. Very close to a 5 star. Might upgrade them if we have a chance to enjoy another meal here.
(4)Trudy L.
This was awesome pizza! Just had a basic cheese and sausage but it was one of the best I've had and I'm from Chicago! Ever in those parts, u gotta stop and eat there!
(5)Eddy S.
Seeing how much food I can cram into my tiny little frame! I love when I find a restaurant that is good enough to survive in a bigger city that resides in a small town. This is one of those. Not great, but could definitely survive in a neighborhood of a big city. All of my food was good - like 4 out of 5 good, and service was small-town friendly.
(4)Kevin H.
Gerardo's is a genuine Italian cafe run by family. These people are very nice and the food is good. It tastes genuine. Fresh veggies, great cheeses and the doughs are really well done. Stone brick oven baked items make it really great. The buffet is a "so-so" value - for $6 what did I expect, right? But I would add lots more fresh items - and kinda scary - it was a hot day and the cold wasn't really cold - the hot stuff wasn't hot enough because they used heat lamps. Food has to be heated from above and below in those situations otherwise it can get JUST cold enough to grow bacteria. But these people care - they're good people - the food is good. You can tell there is love and care in their work and they do their very best. I think they can do a little better - but they already do a good job.
(4)Betty K.
Gerardos is hands down, the best place to eat in Payson. My family has dined here several times now and we always come away stuffed and happy. A few of our favorites are: calzones, lasagna, chicken parmesan, their complimentary rolls and the mussels appetizer. We finally ordered dessert on our latest visit and everyone was crazy about the cannoli...SO yummy (3 of them were more than enough for the 4 of us.) If you're in the Payson area and are looking for some excellent food, stop here. You wont regret it.
(5)Glenn H.
Excellent food with an unmistakable touch of Italian style.
(5)Helenmarie S.
My friends from France had told us Gerardo's was the best Pizza they had in the U.S. after living in multiple locations. We tried Gerardo's today and it was awesome. We didn't expect to find anything our daughter with Celiac's could eat but, they had Gluten Free pasta and sausage - that she loved! The chef/owner Gerardo took the time to come out and chat with us about her meal. The rest of of tired and loved the woodburning brick oven pizza. We tried the Bianca with the pesto (rocked) on the side, which we loved. We also had a sausage with fresh mushrooms that was delicious. We can't wait to visit next time we head up north.
(5)Tracy H.
Truly authentic Italian cuisine, excellent service, great place to eat in Payson, AZ.
(5)Richard v.
Great food, large portions, good service
(4)Greg S.
I was traveling solo and was recommended to go there by the staff of a nearby hotel. I found the food exemplary, the staff marvelous and prices inexpensive. When the dinner came, I was surprised by the portion...huge...so huge that I asked the waitress to split it and, with a little coaxing, agreed to take the other half home with her...they were all very appreciative and I think you'll find it quite a nice place to go.
(5)Sean L.
probably the best in town as the locals suggest, but i had better at La Bucca. pretty inexpensive, chicken parmisean was mediocre
(3)Kory K.
Best Lasagna I've ever had! Authentic Italian all the way.
(5)Campus F.
Oh, how I wish this place was down in the Phoenix area.... but this is one of the places that makes Payson bearable for eatng out! Have eaten here several times and have never been disappointed. Also love that it's family owned..... I'm so sick of chain restaurants.
(5)Sherita W.
Excellent food. Great friendly service. A little on the pricey side but worth it. If I am ever in Payson, AZ again I will definitely dine here.
(5)Jeanette P.
This is the second time I've been here in the past few months. I live in Phoenix, but made it a point to eat here after my first visit, since we were coming up for the weekend. I had the Italian Macaroni and Cheese, again. I had it the first time I came here. My husband had a Calzone and really liked it too, and he's not a big Italian food lover. Both were very generous sizes and we had enough for another meal, each. Oh! Their Italian rolls are AWESOME!! I asked the waitress if she could put a couple of them in my 'to-go' box and she gave me four, which I thought was very generous. I would highly recommend this place.
(5)