La Piazza PHX
1 N 1st St,Ste 103, Phoenix, AZ, 85004
La Piazza PHX Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Phoenix for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Phoenix for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Phoenix for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1 N 1st St,Ste 103
Phoenix, AZ, 85004 - Phone (602) 795-7116
- Website https://www.lapiazzalocale.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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.
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Chris M.
You need to eat here, you have to. La piazza is absolutely incredible. Their pizzas, appetizers, desserts - all of it. I've been to plenty of Italian restaurants around Phoenix, and until I had La Piazza, The Parlor was my favorite. The next part may sound ridiculous to you, but the moment I bit into a slice of the Diabolo, I was hooked. Seriously, I couldn't believe how good it was! I couldn't believe I could be surprised by pizza, an item I've had millions of times, but not like this one. The dough, incredible. It tastes fresh, like my grandmother hand rolled it in the back there. The sauce, amazing. You could taste each ingredient in it and it was as fresh as picking a tomato and taking a bite right out of it. I don't know what else to say, other than the food is phenomenal. I recommend this place to EVERYONE. My friends are probably getting tired of me talking about it lol but it's something you have to experience. Do it.
(5)Arnie B.
We visited La Piazza for lunch on a visit to Phoenix. We ordered three pizzas, the Bianco, Italian Stallion, and cheese pizza for the kiddos(Margherite minus the basil). The pizza had a nice charred crust and was flavorful. The Bianco needed salt, which was a surprise; however, I prefer more salt on my pizza than most. We also had the warm spinach salad, which was very tasty. I would come back here, I can appreciate real wood fired pizza, which is miles better than those "fast fired" pizzas at those popular chain pizza joints.
(4)G J.
The first pizzeria that doesn't play Sinatra - thankfully. I'm always skeptical of places claiming to be "certified real artisan Neapolitan pizza" but I have to say this pizza is pretty damn close to the real deal - without going to Naples. First of all, it's not fair to compare a Neapolitan pizza to a standard Italian-American pizza. A Neapolitan pizza has a few, high quality ingredients. Italian-American pizzas tend to have a glop of sauce, cheese and no less than four other crappy ingredients. He landed at La Piazza after bailing on a 2 hour wait at Arrogant Butcher. Everyone at the table was very surprised and pleased with our meals. Definitely go back.
(4)Salomé H.
Tuesday night 6pm. Me and my sis were downtown for a concert at US Airways. Came here based on the great reviews and because it was close by. It was not crowded but it was full enough for a Tuesday. Had a glass of wine and the Bianca pizza. It was delicious!! I'd love to try the pastas and salads. I will definitely be back for more. My only complaint is the bathroom in the back is a little dark and grungy.
(5)Kelly E.
Some of the best pizza I've had in awhile. The crust is amazing, crunchy on the outside, but chewy on the inside. I got the Filetti D.O.C. which consisted of tomatoes, basil, garlic and fresh mozzarella. The combination was divine. Good cocktail and salad as well as good service. Nice to see that downtown PHX has so many good pizza options.
(5)James E.
Welcoming environment, fantastic customer service, and some of the greatest artisan pizza I've ever had
(5)Nita M.
La Piazza PHX is an easy to miss, small restaurant tucked away in downtown. I just didn't find it to be 4.5 stars on Yelp good. The restaurant had the UFC fight on with the volume turned up and nothing else on, which set a weird ambiance seeing as how it's not a sports bar. Service was okay. We ordered an appetizer, salad, and pizza to share between two of us. The fried mozzarella was okay - I was expecting something novel from the menu description (house made mozzarella) but what came out looked and tasted like normal fried mozzarella sticks from the freezer. My arugula salad was fine, it came out dressed though I ordered it dressing on the side which took some time to get someone's attention to fix. No big deal though. The Margherita pizza was pretty good, a little burnt on some parts but the sauce and cheese were quite good. It was a fine meal, but not very memorable or one of my favorite pizzas in Phoenix.
(3)Cara K.
First, (and ugh...I hate having to write bad reviews but I just can't get over this) had I peeped my head into either restroom prior to eating dinner, I would have left this place immediately. The restrooms were absolutely filthy!! As in, wet TP all over the floor, water all over the sink and floor, toilet seats up (just a pet peeve and I know this may be difficult to monitor with community bathrooms), and no joke...brown gunk that may or may not have been feces in some areas in one of the restrooms! An establishment who doesn't take pride or concern in the cleanliness and sanitary necessities of their business, shows me they have no respect for their customers or their own means of income. It's a bit disturbing. *Side Note: Don't worry, I still tipped over 20% as I know this wasn't our server's fault. * Okay, now as for the food...hmm, maybe I should stop my review because it's not going to improve, unfortunately... No, I'm here. I might as well go through with it. The food was pretty slow coming out. A very basic salad of mixed greens with a little balsamic vinegar poured on it takes 20+ minutes? Oh well, the pizza came right after that which was good. No, the pizza wasn't good, the TIMING was good! Just to be clear. We had the burrata one, soggy as fuuuudge. And they totally skimped us on the basil and sauce! C'mon guys, that's just crappy...like your restrooms.
(2)Mark C.
Came back here on a night where the owner Justin Piazza was putting part of their profits to work for their upcoming re-branding. They are changing their name from La Piazza Locale to La Piazza PHX effective 9/1/2014. Apparently Chipotle (yes, that Chipotle) is opening a chain of pizzerias called Pizzeria Locale nationwide and sued Justin to change his restaurant's name. Not wanting to go broke fighting a corporate titan, they instead opted to re-brand. While La Piazza isn't my favorite of the Downtown Phoenix pizzerias, its still great and more than worthy of support. The place was much busier than my last visit. This despite the fact that there were no sporting events or concerts this night. Justin himself was manning the pizza oven and the restaurant was pretty close to full when I arrived. I just came by myself this time. They have a tiny bar area near the oven, but I opted for a small corner table instead. This time I went with arguably their best and most popular pie, the Italian Stallion. Four meats (sausage, pepperoni, cotto, and sopressata) on top of house-made mozzarella and San Marzano tomato sauce. Its a pretty manly dish. I've had this pizza before at their location in Glendale, but tonight it was especially awesome. The meats were cooked perfectly and the crust was spot on. This is the first time Justin himself has made me a pie so I'm guessing that made the difference. Looking around the restaurant its pretty clear there are quite a few regulars as Justin and his wife were hugging and shaking hands with a lot of the patrons. The wait staff is super friendly and laid back just as they were last time I was here. The setup here is still a little bit quirky (particularly the bar area), but it seems like they're coming into their own. I would still rank this 4th on my list of Downtown Phoenix Pizzerias (behind Pomo, Cibo, and Bianco), but the product and the pace of business is definitely improving. Their name may change, but as long as Justin is making the pies, my enthusiasm for his pizzerias will remain the same.
(4)Mattheaux B.
Honestly, the best dining experience I have had in a while. Lights were dim, music was unbelievable and the pasta!! I will be here regularly, count on it.
(5)David D.
Ingredients. La Piazza PHX has the best ingredients over any other competitor. First we started off with Angioletti Fritti and the Foccacia. Both were delicious. For the main course we ordered Lasagne Ah' Pizz. The tomatoes really stood out. Ricotta is my favorite ingredient to add to a pizza, but even the tomatoes stood out over the ricotta. They were definitely imported tomatoes. We are talking DOP standards here. Nothing but the best. The restaurant is small so you might miss it. You will not want to attempt to park in a parking garage like we did. Instead they have parking right in front of the restaurant. The staff is very friendly and made some good food suggestions. I am not a big fan of soda in a glass bottle at restaurants because 99% of the time it is and has been expired for a while which makes it tasteless. I would definitely go back and would strongly suggest over Pizzeria Bianco. It is much easier to get into, tastes better and isn't cramped inside like PB.
(5)Aaron B.
Great Napoleon style pizza! The Margarita pizza was our favorite, but I really liked the crusts on all the pizzas -- thin on the bottom yet voluminous at the edge. The pizzas are actually cooked in their 900 degree oven in just 90 seconds! Overall the service from Jenny was fast and friendly. Definitely recommend this place if you are looking for pizza.
(4)Allen G.
Not an expert in styles of pizza, so walked in and asked what would be awesome for my tast. And ended up with one of the best pizzas of my life.
(4)Jeffrey L.
The locale was clean & the staff was phenomenal & welcoming. Pizza was good but could have been better. The place was crowded b/c it was the first night of the U2 concert.
(5)Dennis D.
There are better pizza places then this. I'd rather go to Pizzeria Bianco, Pomo, or Nook even. Service was so-so. Understandably, there was a large party also in the restaurant, but besides them, the rest of the room was empty. The quality wasn't bad, but I think they are missing something in their pizza dough. Some kind of seasoning, a little bit more pepper or salt, something. I doubt I will go back.
(3)Hedda F.
Awesome food. Hands down best pizza in Phx. Beats pizzeria bianco to a tomato pulp. If you want an authentic wood fired pizza come here. Great family run restaurant. High quality food at reasonable prices. You cannot beat this pie. You'd have to travel to Italy to try and find a better pizza, sauce etc
(5)Jeanette A.
Pizza was delicious. However service was HORRIBLE from the beginning. Took forever just to get drinks ordered, receive high hair and get pizza. We where there over an hour before we received our food. Waiter just made excuse that they had large party but we had actually gotten there way before them. And all they did to compensate was take off a measly drink. Terrible customer service is all I have to say. I'll order to go next time.
(2)Suzanne M.
The ragu and bread are superb! The pizza was a little watery from the mozzarella, otherwise I would give the place 4 stars.
(3)Tim S.
So........my mom is in town and I have been telling her about all the amazing pizza joints that I have been to since moving to Phoenix. She is always down for some pizza so we decided to get some tonight. We were going to go to the OG one in Glendale but its "Christmas Light Season" so I heard that they are always slammed and waits can be a bitch. I figured that this one wouldn't be crowded so we drove downtown to try it out. We found parking right out in front. You are supposed to pay at the little kiosk thing but my mom is an old, hobbled soul who can't walk...aka, handicapped plates! Score! The place was easy enough to find. It's not in a super duper obvious spot but it's right in the heart of downtown about a block or so from the stadiums etc. We walked in and were seated by a table at the window. We placed our order for 2 Cokes ($3.00, liter of Mexican Coke in a bottle), a Pizza Fritte aka Calzone and a Salciccia e Friarielle pizza. About 5 minutes later our food was out. Here is how it tasted..................... Salciccia e Friarielle ($15.00)- My mom really likes sausage on pizza. There were a few pizza options that had sausage and this one sounded unique and delicious, so we tried it. This pizza came with smoked mozzarella di Bufala, Schreiners (Local sausage place) sausage, rapini (kale...looked like broccoli rabe kind of) and olive oil. I should have probably read the description better because I swear that this one came with red sauce. Nope...it was a white pie (olive oil based sauce). First bite in, I noticed a few different things. 1. The smoked mozzarella di Bufala is incredibly smoky! It had a super strong flavor profile which was just a tad overpowering. It was good, but not pizza good...that cheese would be better with crackers or wine or something on its own..not melted on pizza. 2. This pizza was really "wet". When I removed my first slice, I noticed that the plate that it was on was real wet on the bottom. The crust was more soggy than normal and it was hard to pick up, fold and eat. Almost a knife and fork job. The non soggy crust was fantastic though and the rapini put a unique spin on the pizza. The Schreiners sausage was the best part of the thing. They cubed up this sausage and it was spread out evenly. It was delicious. A plain margherita pizza with sausage as a topping may be the way to go if you are a sausage lover. We ate the whole thing, it was pretty tasty and unique but I would never order it again. Not bad by any means, just different and every other pizza I have had from this pizza family has been way better. Pizza Fritte (Calzone) ($10.00)- Wow! Just WOW! You want to talk about massive! This thing is the size of a football! This calzone is unique in the fact that they fry this bitch instead of bake it. I cut this thing open and saw the fantastic ingredients of mozzarella, ricotta, salami and tomatoes just begging to be shoved in my mouth. It comes topped with basil strips and served with a side of marinara sauce. I took a bite of the dough and was hooked. Its like eating Indian fry bread in pizza dough form. It was very unique and very tasty. This thing was so big that I had to take half of it home. Good morning breakfast! Can't wait! I will definitely get this thing again. For sheer value ($10.00), its the best thing on the menu. Service was great! Our waitress was on top of things and checked in with us a few times during our meal. 4 stars for now because of a few things. First, it's way far away from my house in Surprise. Second, the Glendale one is closer, tastes better and has more of a "homey" feel to it. If I am ever downtown though watching a Suns/Dbacks game and want some pizza, I will definitely head over here again.
(4)Brandy H.
I love this restaurant. I actually love both locations Phx and Glendale. We decided to try a new Italian restaurant nearby and were greatly disappointed. We then decided to walk over to La Piazza Phx for dessert. Best decision of the night. The food at both restaurants are great. The pizza from the brick oven, the fresh pasta, and the homemade desserts. I tried the fried risotto balls (arancini nepoletana) while the others had the ricotta cheesecake and a cannoli. I learned my lesson not to stray from a sure thing.
(5)Don C.
Excellent Neopolitan pizza, friendly staff. Terrific fried mozzarella. The iced tea wasn't my favorite.
(5)Andy A.
My girlfriend and I love this place! We have tried several different appetizer, pizza and pasta combinations and they are all awesome! We always get Mateo as our waiter and his service is always on point! He gives great recommendations, answers any questions and always brings a warm friendly vibe to the experience. Great job guys! You're our fav!
(5)Alyssha V.
I see all these bad comments , bad reviews and I'm like whatever , get a life , this pizza is probably the best i ever had , Justin is awesome and the pizza is amazing , you can clearly taste the difference in high quality ingredients that la piazza is using, there's a lot of pizza joints but this place is great , I work down town Phoenix and I tell everyone to go and check them out , don't let these bad reviews stop u from going there.
(5)Frank M.
Definitely one of the best pizza joints I have been to! Great customer service, Justin is awesome! I highly recommend.
(5)Ann D.
So glad to have found this gem! Authentic Italian, amazing wood fired pizza, & great local business.
(5)Gabi M.
Looking for a quick bite before a show at the Herberger last Saturday night (ATC's Xanadu), Jared and I headed into La Piazza Locale... There were a handful of other diners in the place but several tables open. When the hostess offered to seat us at a two-top, Jared kindly asked if it would be okay for us to take a four-top instead. She hesitated but allowed us to do so, however told us that if a party of three or more came in, she would have to move us. Understandable but kind of weird how she communicated it - with a bit of an attitude. I did like the casual atmosphere and noticed that the have Coke and Coca Cola Light (not Diet Coke) bottles in a cute refrigerator. I asked about them and learned that they are imported from Mexico. Matteo was our server and he was knowledgeable on the menu and very friendly. We ended up ordering a mixed green salad, a meat pizza (the Italian Stallion), and a pesto pasta to share. Read: we haven't started our new year diet just yet ;) The salad was chilled - it almost tasted like it was in the freezer prior to arriving to our table though. The pizza was good and so was the pasta... although it was super creamy. We skipped dessert as we were both pretty full. The meal was fine but nothing to rush back for. I also learned the hard way that carbing up on pizza and pasta is probably not the best pre-show meal. I felt like I was in a food coma and Jared had to knudge me during the show to keep me awake!
(3)Eric D.
Got the salciccia. The smoked cheese overwhelms the pizza. You can't taste anything else! I've been here before - the previous experience was much better.
(3)Bacon B.
So, I've been back a dozen times and for the most part haven't ordered the same pizza twice. Even the pasta was fantastic! Mateo is seriously one of the most gifted chefs I've had the honor of meeting. How he can transform a simple pizza into a complex dining experience blows me away. Most of the times I get lunch here, my coworkers are equally excited to see what creation I will return with. Yeah, it's just that good; he's just that good. Owner Justin told me Mateo is working on specialty pizzas to rotate in the menu for 2014. I can't wait to see what he comes up with. I'm salivating just thinking about it!
(5)Sunny B.
I went with a group of 6 last weekend and we had a reservation so there was no wait. I would recommend reservations for large groups as the place is pretty small. We were seated immediately and looked over the drink menu. They are mainly a beer and wine place but they do have a few cocktails on draft. None of the cocktails looked that appealing so I stuck with wine. We started with the Mozzarella in Carrozza, and the Palle di Riso. The 2nd dish was really special, I had never tried anything like it before, it's a risotto ball stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella. It's a must try. We ordered quite a few pizzas for the table, my two favorites were the Italian Stallion and the Lasagne Ah' Pizza, both had delicious San Marzan and Schreiner's Sausage. Our server was attentive and the food was above average, however with there being so many other pizza joints in the valley this once just gets 3 stars A-ok. If I was in the area I would try it again, but I wouldn't necessarily seek it out.
(3)Dolores G.
Living and working downtown I have my fair share of pizza joints to choose from and I like to change it up regularly to rotate my business. If I had to choose my favorite pizza it would be Locale. Why you ask? Their crust. It has the perfect texture smooth and chewy inside with a crisp exterior specked with just the right amount of char to add a smokey flavor. The dough is not tough and overworked like a few places plus it has the right balance of salt and sweetness. My second favorite thing is the red sauce. The tomato flavor in the sauce is simple perfection. My mom grows and home cans her own San Marzano tomatoes so I can be a bit particular about the flavor when someone says they are using these in their sauce. I can not speak to the sit down service as I have only ever ordered carry out which is super quick and too easy when the last thing I want to do is cook after work.
(4)Gaby V.
Thank you yelp. You never dissapoint me. Oven brick pizza with delicious flavors. Got the Italian Stallion "meat pie". Crisp crust, dough was light, sauce was just delicious. San Marzano Tomatoes D.O.P., House-Made Mozzarella, Schreiner's Sausage, Pepperoni, Prosciutto di Parma (Cotto), Sopressata, all just tastefully done. Every bite was amazing. $15 for the meat pie Service was excellent.
(5)Darlene H.
Wow, wow and wow. As I walked into this dope little spot that was jamming out to Jay-Z I just knew....it may be true love. I was greeted promptly and happily by Matteo, who was also my server. I sat at the little bar area and ordered a beer and hung out while browsing over the menu. I was going stag that night, and everyone was super friendly! Not in the manner of "wow this chick probably has no friends, what a loser" type fake friendly....but genuinely super cool, including the owner who was manning the oven. It finally came time to order some food, so I decided to go with the Pizza Special, the Tricolore. It was perfect because I couldn't decide on just one pizza, and this pizza was split into three different sections. I added some anchovies to one part and wow. Took the first bite and wanted to punch someone in the face because of how good it was. The cheese, you could tell was fresh and made in house. The crust was the perfect amount of crispy and soft and all the ingredients were great. I also saved room for a cannoli and couldn't be happier with how good THAT was. Just the right amount of sweet, perfect crunch of the shell, none of the extra added BS like chocolate shit drizzled for no apparent reason. I'll definitely be coming back and bringing more people. Thanks La Piazza.
(5)Justin S.
I've been to the old Glendale location a few times and have now been here now 3 times, and this place just keeps getting better every time I visit. There's one waiter I get every time, and he always gives me great recommendations on new things to try or old favorites I might have missed. My favorite pizza with toppings (possibly of all time, competing with the similar "Zoli" at Il Cane Rosso in Dallas) is the Italian Stallion, and the last time I went he also suggested the Montanara which is effectively a margherita pizza but they take the dough and flash fry it before putting on the toppings and then tossing it in the brick oven to finish. Now I have to order both or I feel like I'm missing out! Their calamari is great as well as the burratta for appetizers (ask for focaccia to go with the burratta), and they usually have some sort of delicious dessert that involves Nutella to finish it all off. Since it's not their fault, I can't take anything away from them for this, but since it's downtown Phoenix parking can be a little challenging. For some places I wouldn't bother, but La Piazza PHX is always well worth the trip. P.S. It's also deservedly the New Times "Best of Phoenix" Best Gourmet Pizza 2014: phoenixnewtimes.com/best…
(5)Nathan S.
Mediocre at best. Nothing we got was terrible, just not really notable. The pizza was rather bland, but not awful. The spinach salad left much to be desired. Spinach, bacon, goat cheese, and dressing. I dunno...cranberries or differing would have been nice. Also if you're going to serve "Italian soda" it should probably be pointed out on the menu or at least when ordering that it is in fact a can of soda from an Italy and not a traditional Italian soda with cream and such. And $2.50 for a can of misleading soda? Please. Our whole group was disappointed and sent them back. There most irritating thing though was the broken speaker. They had loud music playing over an extremely staticy speaker which kept jumping the volume up and down and annoying everyone there. I'm curious how long that problem has been going on. The 7 year old seating tables was a nice touch though. That was cute. But still. Grumble grumble.
(2)Scott C.
First time coming into this location and it surpassed my expectations. Great place for a lunch appointment. Service was quick and the food was terrific. We ordered the Dolce Diavolo and Italian Stallion. Chilies and honey on a pizza? Are you nuts? But it works so well. The problem with most all meat pizzas is they're too heavy and too greasey, but not the Italian Stallion. Great meat but without the grease.
(5)Yvonne G.
A fan of La Piazza in Glendale and being in Phoenix, I decided to dine at the "sister" restaurant. Nice location, nice atmosphere. Simple, clean decor. The first thing I noted was that the menu is much smaller than the Glendale location. No chicken marsala.. etc. Ok, we accept that. Decided to order Pizza margarita with prosciuito (extra charge). Hubby ordered pasta puttanesca which was to include anchovies. My pizza came out with very, very thin and scant prosciuitto. I ordered this at the Glendale location and it was much more generous on the prosciutto. I also recall seeing more basil on it. It was good, but not the greatest. The puttanesca was the star of the two dishes. Garlicky red sauce with NOT an anchovy in sight. The portion was small. It was like being back in France where restaurants serve you like you are on a diet whether you want to be or not. Flavorwise, I thought the sauce was good. My husband's take was that the sauce was almost as good as mine (Thank you, darling). Puttanesca sauce requires anchovies end of story and they were not there. Although it was happy hour, our server did not offer any happy hour drinks. We had to ask and after we did, he put a menu on the table which looked like their regular drinks list. When we asked, he said everything was on there. Don't most restaurants highlight what is part of the happy hour and how much it is? I think if we were prompted, we would have imbibed some of the offerings. Management: you may want to let people know what the happy hour offers. Why don't you try offering an appetizer of the day with a signature cocktail, wine and beer of the day. MAKE US WANT IT is what I am saying l!!! Remember most of your customers are weak and waiting for an excuse to have a drink. Well, all in all, this place does NOT compare to the Glendale location. Those of you who are giving this place rave reviews, go to the Glendale location first and then we'll talk.
(2)Erik N.
Best pizza I have ever had. This place is perfect. Try the Rubicon IPA it's delicious. I had a veggie pizza everything was perfect.
(5)Dustin F.
Stopped in for a quick lunch in between class at law school right around the corner. Service was quick and informative. We got the Caprese appetizer...it was ok and I've had better. Needs a nice aged balsamic to bump it up. I got the Italian Stallion...AWESOME! Excellent dough and ingredients, ate the whole thing by myself in about 10 minutes. My wife got the pesto pasta dish, added artichoke hearts. Great pesto, but they couldn't add grilled chicken. Would have made it my wife's new go to italian dish for lunch downtown. Ordered a Blue Moon, but waiter came back saying they were out. Suggested a Peroni, my first time trying. Tastes like a Bud Light
(4)Marissa C.
Yes! Italian hubby approved! Nice little gem, great for families, fresh ingredients and very friendly staff. The portions are good and they can customize the pizza's to meet your dietary needs. Wish I would have taken a picture before we inhaled the appetizers and food! Need to return!
(4)Britt C.
My husband and I were attending a concert at Comerica Theater, and wanted to grab dinner nearby beforehand. I've read a few write-ups about this restaurant, and decided to give it a shot. Our go-to Neapolitan pizza restaurant is usually Pomo, but after eating here La Piazza Locale has stolen that prize. After being seated our server explained to us that they have draft cocktails. He described the cocktails in detail, and then offered samples if we would like. I sampled the Italian Margarita and the Lost Leaf. They Lost Leaf was quite good, and I liked it much better than the other one, so that was my drink of choice. For our entrees we chose the burrata pizza and the carbonara pasta. The pizza came out super fast, as typical neopolitan pizza is cooked quickly. The pizza was parallel with the pizza we've had in Florence. The sauce was perfect, just the right amount of sweetness, but not overly sweet. The burrata was smooth and creamy, the basil was fresh, and the crust was cooked perfectly. Our carbonara came out a little later, it also was quite good. It had a rich cream sauce with egg, guanciale, peas, and pecorino. The crushed black pepper added a nice bite. We were offered dessert of tiramisu which was made that day. This was also fantastic, with rich layers of mascarpone and liquor soaked lady fingers. After a great experience here, we can't wait to return and try more of the menu.
(5)Beth C.
Downtown Phoenix. Saturday. Comicon was on. We needed good food within a few blocks of the convention center. I have eaten at La Piazza al Forno in downtown Glendale so I knew these people could make good pizza. We arrived at Locale soon after they opened at 2pm, and the place was hoppin'. I was part of a party of three, which ended up perfect: a pizza bianca split three ways, plus different side salads for each of us. I had the rucola salad; I was impressed with the size of the salad, and the dressing and arugula were delicious together. Now, to the pizza. Imagine a vat of divine cheese. Fling your tastebuds into that. That's the bianca. Their crust isn't my favorite, I confess, but it's still yummy, and that fresh cheese is soooo good. Plus, delightful air conditioning (me wearing a steampunk costume in 110-degree heat was not the smartest of ideas) and a server who was willing to constantly refill our water glasses... coming here was the perfect choice. Plus, I got to show some out-of-town friends that Phoenix has some darn delicious pizza.
(4)Bryan P.
I don't leave many reviews but I would be completely wrong if I didn't leave one for this place. Absolutely THE best pizza experience I have ever had!! Truly legit Napoli style pizza! And that come Aron a group of guys who spent 4-5 years in Naples! If you're near this place, GO!!!
(5)Nathan S.
I have never been to a pizza restaurant that ran out of pizza dough. Had to order some pasta. It wasn't too bad. The sauce was good and had a nice flavor. Comfortable little place, though. Attentive, friendly service. However, the bread (or whatever it is) that they give you is gross. Guess I'll go back later and try their pizza.
(3)Dan W.
Came in on a whim, with a pleasant surprise in eating here. The meats and mozzarella are amazing here in the dishes served. Rucola salad is a tastey simple salad. Service was very polite and corteous in a very busy environment (super bowl crowd). Pricing we're happy with. Cannoli and cheesecake were good. We'll be back again.
(4)Joe R.
I was pressed for time today so I ordered the Calzone (Pizza Fritti) to go. From the moment I opened the box, I could tell this calzone, was different from any other one that I have had in the past. Unlike other calzones that you get in other "pizza" restaurants, these are fried, instead of baked, using the same "certified authentic" dough used to make their wonderful pizzas. The result is a soft and chewy dough that holds the fillings in check, and is a delicacy all on it's own. The calzone comes filled with salami, ricotta cheese, house-made mozzarella, and San Marzano tomatoes, all playing together in harmony as they dance across your palate. And although not listed on the menu, mine contained a few ripe olives which at first surprised me, but added a whole new complexity to the experience. La Piazza Locale continues to impress me, and if YOU only remember one part of my review during YOUR visit, it is this: "Experience as written!" A lot of thought went into the items on the menu and they are beautifully crafted with flavors in perfect balance...Do not mess with perfection.
(5)Karen H.
Great pizza! They were polite and quick when we needed a pizza fast. Delicious I recommend 100%!
(5)Ross S.
Great classic Italian Neapolitan style pizza done right. Been here many times and it does not disappoint. Friendly staff and expedient service. On concert or event nights be aware that the wait can be longer than usual. Another solid addition to an amazing downtown pizza scene.
(5)Jordon H.
For starts...NO CRAFT BEER...IN DOWNTOWN PHX?!?! Haha I ran into the owner and asked him about it. He recommended a good beer from Italy. I got a delicious pizza and the cheese ball deals, both were amazing. I don't know why I've seem elite members on yelp rate this place wayyyy below than where it should be. Last I got a canoli. The shell was deep fried (out of the ordinary) again, delicious! Hats off to the owner and the crew. The one lady who was our server, eh, could do better. More personable.
(4)J G.
Seated immediately. Nice decor more rustic meets modern. Set up so it's not too crowded. Cool temp not cold. Waitstaff and owner were personable and friendly. Made suggestions and were descriptive. Dolce Diavolo pizza was surprisingly delicious. Enough spice to taste the other flavors. Risotto Balls were crispy and great sauce on the side. Overall enjoyable experience & plan to come back only if they incorporate Craft Beers!!! *hint hint
(4)Tom S.
It's great to see a place in downtown Phoenix that gets it! Great food, great service-we'll be back for sure.
(5)Kirk T.
When you stop and think about it Pizza is pretty simple food. Good crust, sauce and cheese. This place rocks all three with a home made feel and taste. To top it off the music was like revisiting the 80's best rock. Great food with fair prices. A must eat when downtown.
(5)Eilonwy W.
So I was wandering downtown, vaguely pretending to be in Europe, when I looked down a side street and saw neon proclaiming "piazza locale." I thought to myself: "If I were actually in Europe, that's where I'd have dinner -- the little place down the side street, not the big tourist scene." So I did that thing. The pizza is incredible. Pure tomato flavor in the sauce. Speck. Speck is good. There is the promise of anchovies on other pies. Interesting flavor combos, crusts to crawl over broken glass for, wine recommendations that actually work, and staff who are helpful and attentive in a soothing way. Having generated leftovers in a stylish box, I will smile at two more meals this weekend. Prices are extremely reasonable for artisanal pizza in a pleasant environment.
(5)Ronnie M.
First, I absolutely loved the staff. I went in to get my food (I ordered) and we had miscommunication, and they fixed it. Not just fixed it but redid my order and asked if I wanted the extras. The food: Was good but a little burnt on the bottom of the pizza. Did not take away from the flavor of the meat. I will say that the dough is amazing. Will not say "loved" it because it was a little burnt but the pizza was really freaking good, mainly because their dough and meats (meat pizza) are good. So good that I will order it again when I am back in Phoenix. The best thing on the menu is that Nutella dessert. If you do not get it, then you should slap yourself in the face.
(4)Kenneth W.
This was our second visit. The lady at the door remembered us, which was cool, and her service was great. They have upgraded their antipasto platter, and I highly recommend it. We also shared an excellent spinach salad which contained lots of real European quality bacon. The espresso was an excellent finish. The service is paced to your needs, which makes this perfect if you're going to an event downtown.
(4)Jemmie W.
On a business trip, we went here because it was near our hotel and the reviews were great. We shared a calamari and then I had the all meat pizza. Everything was awesome. We ate at around 2:15pm and they close at 3pm for a break before dinner. The chef walks out in a shirt. We start talking with him and he's an FOB (fresh off the boat) from the old country whose English is a little broken. So this place at least has a chef who is actually from the place where the food is purportedly representative of.
(5)Chris W.
Fanastic food, prompt service, they are always on point. I have frequented the original location in Glendale and thought I would give the Phoenix location a try while working late tonight. I called my order in about an hour before I planned to pick it up and arrived to find it had not yet been started. I found this to be a little concerning, however, I was assured it wouldn't take more than three minutes to get my pizza and they were not lying. The pizza is fantastic as ever and they are quick to resolve any issues, but if you are expecting to just quickly pick up and walk out durng a lunch rush you might want to be very clear to have the order ready and waiting.
(5)Christine P.
Sisters with la piazza al forno on Glendale. Love both places. Ahhh mayyyy singggggggg. Love ittt The quattro stagioni was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend it. :)
(5)Jennifer A.
O mio Dio!! My friends know I don't like pizza, so believe me when I say this place is phenomenal. (My friends are also probably sick of this word.) I was introduced to this place while looking for a place to dine while working Phoenix Comicon this year. My friend wanted pizza and I was too tired to argue with him. I'm so grateful I didn't. We were seated immediately and the server was very friendly and attentive. My friend introduced me to burrata. It was a little ball of heaven. It melted in your mouth and was creamy. It came with speck (prosciutto) and Rob said it was delectable and perfect. I don't eat pork, so I'll take his word for it. Following this was the quattro formaggio pizza. Oh sweet baby Jesus.... I loved it. Then came the tiramisu. The owner's wife makes it daily from scratch. I've had my share of "good" tiramisu desserts that people raved about, but I could never fathom ever eating a second time. Hers was amazing. It is rich and the lady fingers are perfectly soaked with just enough of the coffee liqueur. The marscapone is creamy, smooth and layered equally. This is the only place I will eat this dessert now. Just delicious and a dance for my taste buds! Since then, I've brought my sister, niece, son, mother, co-workers and friends to this place. They all love it. I've tried their burrata pizza, their regina margherita pizza and also the bianca. All of these are fantastic!! I was finally brave enough to try calamari when one of my friends ordered it. Both my friend and my mother are extremely picky about calamari since it can be quite rubbery when not cooked right. Their calamari came out perfect. Not one bit was bad and the garlic and Italian chilies are very good with it. We were stabbing each others' hands with forks to get at the garlic. Here's one thing that I found to set them apart from other restaurants. When I ordered the burrata and speck the last few times I was there, the server remembered that I do not eat pork, so he substituted artichokes and tomatoes so I could enjoy the entire appetizer. They didn't up-charge for the substitution like most places would. For those with a nut allergy - Their pesto is made with almonds. It is not on the menu, so if you don't ask, you won't know.
(5)Nikki F.
This place is a great downtown gem with some seriously fresh and tasty food. Locally owned and operated, in here they treat you like you're part of their big Italian family. The menu offers up a nice selection of pizza options all with a yummy chewy crust. They also have a few homemade pasta dishes available although I've not yet tried them. Do not miss out on the balsamic vinaigrette if you opt for salad! And for dessert? Cannoli for the win! I'll definitely be going back.
(4)Ali H.
This place is amazing! Everything I have ordered from here is fresh and delicious. I vote it better than bianco!
(5)Ian F.
Stellar pasta and salads. Good pizza. Service can be slow at times but the food is worth the wait.
(5)Mark H.
Many reviewers here on Yelp seem to dole out 5-star reviews like candy on Halloween. However, I feel an establishment needs to really earn 5 stars, and rarely bestow such high ratings. To the owners of La Piazza Locale - you earned it! Wow. Just freakin' WOW! I left your restaurant completely stuffed, and raving about your pie to whoever would listen to me for days! Thank God I don't live in AZ, or I'd be 450 pound regular in a matter of weeks. I wish I could say I'll be back soon. Order the pizza diavolo. You're welcome.
(5)Karen V.
My husband and I returned this evening and had the Burratta e Speck appetizer, Margherita DOC pizza and Cannoli. We love this place, which is VPN certified so you know you are getting true Napoletan style pizza. Honestly, I can't seem to get excited about anything other than this style of pizza ever again, so simple and flavorful that my eyes roll back into my head every time I eat there. I can't wait to try their pastas. The Cannoli was amazing. The texture was beautiful and the serving was probably twice as large as what I expected. I had it was a double shot of espresso; the perfect thing. The only thing that we would have changed was the music, which was sort of rap influenced, American Idol style mainstream stuff that I'd expect to hear in a gym, or some run of the mill college pizza pub. But this is not college pizza pub pizza but pizza designed for a more sophisticated palette so homogenized pop/rap just doesn't suit. I'm not saying they need to play Mario Lanza recordings or anything but something that connects a little more with the food and Italian culture would be sort of unique and special. We've been in a couple of times this summer and the music just doesn't make any sense. Maybe if they streamed in an Italian radio station, with contemporary Italian artists it would be an even more stimulating sensory experience. Of course, if they wanted to have Puccini and Verdi playing some of the time, I'd just bring my cribbage board and never leave. We arrived on our bicycles by the way and it was nice to find bike parking right out front, by the way.
(5)Melissa H.
I prefer this place for dinner to lunch. At lunch it seems hectic and I want to be able to savor my pie. At lunch too I find the pastas saltier than they are in the evening, and can't have a glass of wine to enjoy. The pizza's have a great amount of char and for those who like a more tarte tomato sauce this place is for you. They take their pizza seriously and have the awards to back it up. The best starter and can't miss is the burrata. Creamy, served with charred bread it makes for a lovely carb laden starter. The pizza's come out super fast and I can't say enough how this is a great place to grab a bite before a show downtown. The portions are not huge which is good, then you don't feel guilty about leaving the leftovers in your car while you catch the concert. But I never feel like I'm leaving hungry. Pretty solid overall.
(3)Jennifer S.
Great new addition to downtown Phoenix, but not quite as good as Bianco or Pomo! I think downtown Phoenix is becoming a hotbed for amazing, authentic pizza and this addition helps solidify that! Good location, friendly staff, quick service and tasty pizza. The margherita pizza was good...sweet but still savory!
(4)Nick J.
I'm from San Francisco, and this $30 meal would easily be $50-$60 in north beach. We had the locale salad, margarita pizza, and pomodo pasta. I would give the meal 5 stars and our server was not only attentive but super sweet. They were closing and they let us finish our meal and take our time. If I'm ever back on the Phoenix area I would 100% recommend this place. It was honestly some of the best Italian food I've had in quite some time.
(5)Debbie S.
Truly excellent pizza - The Italian Stallion! What was better than the pizza? The service was second to none!!
(5)Jeremy P.
Having opened just a few weeks ago, La Piazza Locale brings the 2nd VPN-certified Neapolitan pizza to downtown Phoenix. The first thing I thought when I found this place was, "What, don't we have enough excellent pies downtown?" But we had to try it anyways. My friend went with Rocco, and I went with the special of the day Don Matteo (smoked butternut squash puree as the sauce, with speck and mozarella). My first observation was that the crust had the soupiness that a real Napoletana pizza should have. The crust was perfect. This is knife-and-fork pizza, and if you think their crust is too soggy, you're wrong. The smoked butternut was phenomenal. I'm not sure that's a real authentic ingredient for Neapolitan pizza, but it was probably one of the top three pies I have ever eaten. My friend's Rocco was pretty good, too, but the Don Matteo was definitely at a whole different level. My only real complaint about this place was that the music was a little too loud and too trendy. When dining, I don't like it when the music is too noticeable. I usually prefer restaurants not to be too trendy, but everything else about the restaurant was great, so I can let this pass. Locale is now on my short list of best pies in the Valley. It's not as good as Bianco, but it's top tier.
(5)Serge B.
Best pizza in Phoenix hands down!!!! True European style pizza - so nice of a change from the usual greasy pizza... Will definitely be back! In addition to the Italian Stallion and Salciccia E Friarielle, we had the misto tavola with fresh baked focaccia bread - to die for!!!! Alisha was great too!
(5)Joseph G.
After reading about this place in The Wall Street Journal I had to stop by. Based on "Authentic Napoletana" pizza, it was a target on my list. With that being said, I have never been to Italy. But the food was really amazing for the price. I Spent 35 bucks and had an 3 course meal of high quality tasty food. However, I am a stickler for service. Even though I did not see anyone wait very long to get seated (self included), It took 5 minutes to get acknowledged for a drink - and I sat at the bar. Followed by me flagging servers down to take my order plus asking the owners wife for a utensils and my napkin. Bless the owner and his wife. He is busting his butt cooking for quality and trying to keeps things moving and his wife was very nice and tried to do the same. Rare is it that I would consider going somewhere again with bad service. But - I under stood the issue, not the food, location, price, quality of restaurant - but staff. I will come again. lol.
(4)S L.
Good food, but they're way too skimpy on the toppings. I had two pieces of basil on my margarita pizza. Two. I'd go back for a cheese pizza but not much more.
(3)Lees V.
I did a take out lunch order for my first visit. I will certainly be back to enjoy the decor and atmosphere. I had the tomato e mozzerella Panino- lunch special. It was delicious and a great lunch (as I had left overs) for $7. If you love brick oven - wood fired pizza, go to this place.
(4)Ashley S.
This is seriously the best pizza I have had anywhere during my entire life. It is utterly delicious. The location is great, right downtown near all of the sports arenas. It is a perfect spot to grab a bite to eat before a game or a show. It has a great atmosphere and very nice and informative staff. We have had the margharita and Italian Stallion, both were amazing and cooked perfectly in their brick oven. One of my absolute favorite things here are their desserts. I have heard that their house made tirimisu is amazing, but we tend to eat late and it has been sold out. So we have had their house made cheesecake each time and it is the best cheesecake I have ever had. I highly recommend everything about this place. A must hit in downtown Phoenix!
(5)Cynthia Q.
Very nice place, and the Puttanesca was full of flavor! The pizza was also delicious. It can be a good place for a first date :)
(5)Amanda D.
We don't get it!!! Did not eat the pizza, maybe that was our mistake. Underwhelmed and overcharged
(2)Ivan B.
The up beat casual atmosphere was overshadowed only by one of the most tasteful italian sausage pizza on the perfectly baked thin crust.
(4)Vane M.
After reading the reviews I will NOT give this place a try! HAIR in food! That's the worst. It ruins the whole experience.
(1)Darcy C.
Hidden Jewel in dtphx! Perfect spot to grab a super tasty lunch or dinner before a Suns or Dbacks game. This place is in the old Cartel spot. It is cozy but comfortable and inviting. Both times I have dined there the staff is super friendly. The pizza is AMAZING. I would rank local joints like this: 1) Bianco's 2) La Piazza Locale 3) Federal Pizza 4) The Parlor 5) Cibo 6) Pomo So since Bianco's is ranked nationally this place is holding its own in a close 2nd. Check it out ASAP.
(5)Dante M.
You're all doing it wrong. While I like their pizza I have equally good pizza right next to my house in Cibo. Their Calzone however...That's what you should be ordering. They fry their calzone as opposed to baking it. It winds up like an italian fry bread filled with sausage and cheese and olives. It's like going to a fair in Italy. I worry about Locale. In a sea of fantastic pizza that is Downtown Phoenix it's equally good but for some reason gets none of the love as the surrounding pizza spots.
(5)Madd R.
I've had plenty of pizza in my life but I have to say that this is the best pizza there is! My favorites are the Italian Stallion & The Dolce Diavolo, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu.
(5)Adam S.
If you like hair in your food, this is the place for you! Food was ok. If you like to pay $8 for a salad that is just arugula and olive oil and vinegar, just come to my place and I'll rip you off for half the cost. Meat and cheese plate was good, pizza ok, but kind of soggy. Service was terrible. Apparently having hair in your food is not a big deal to this place. Go to cibo or Pomo pizzeria for better service and food. I wanted to like this place, so bummed they suck.
(1)Tim P.
Slowly becoming a big fan of this place. I am already a fan of Pomo Pizzaria, just up the street for La Piazza Locale. Yes, this is the smae style of Pizza as Pomo, Cibo, Federal and la bianca (though not as gourmet as the last two), Good solid Napoli pizza (thin quick cooked, a bit soupy at times). There are special pizzas every week, ask your waitress or waiter. Great crust, pizza made to order. The woom is a bit dark and simple, but good pizza.
(4)Carolyn R.
Great place for pizza and pasta. The food is well prepared It was difficult to decide what we wanted to eat - everything is so fresh.
(4)Souvir B.
Good service. Great Pizza!. Margherita is awesome!! I will come here again
(4)Alix M.
We ended up here on Valentine's Day, when a bicycle-taxi driver recommended it. I'm so glad, because this was the perfect place for a decadent and sexy meal that wouldn't break the bank. The wait staff were my favorite part, as they were much friendlier (hunkier) and more helpful than most. Waiter helped me to choose a great table wine that was delicious but light so we could polish it off quickly. We had tickets for a show, so the kitchen rushed our pizzas out of the wood-fired oven in record time. The pizza on special was the Valentino, with mozzarella di bufala, zucchini, prosciutto and the best crust ever. This was honestly the best crust, no kidding. I wish I could have stayed and savored longer. There are plenty of appetizers and small dishes to mix-and-match, including the house antipasti platter, which was also incredible. I had to take my cannoli to-go, because I was so stuffed. It made a scrumptious post-Valentine's breakfast.
(5)Scott M.
We came here late after a volleyball tournament with our kids and were absolutely blown away. This is authentic Italian pizza. Everyone in my family loved the food. My wife and I have both been to Italy and this is as good as anything you would find in the best pizza locations in Sicily... Great, friendly service too!!
(5)Kyle H.
Best marinara sauce I've ever had. I'm leaving downtown soon, and will miss this place the most.
(5)Rachel C.
Wow! I got the margarita pizza which is a cheese pizza. It was so delicious. I love how they make their own mozzarella cheese. Service was fast and friendly. Rare these days with some places. I will definitely come back!
(5)Kristin H.
This is without a doubt the BEST Italian restaurant I have been to In the US. I live in San Francisco, home to many outstanding Italian restaurants. Who knew the best is in Downtown Phoenix?! I am in town three days and came back for a second visit because it was that good. The pizza crust is perfect, the service delightful, and the ricotta cheesecake (homemade) out of this world. I wish I could pack this restaurant in my suitcase and bring it back because there is so much more I want to try!
(5)Chelsea B.
Have you ever eaten at Pomo? Cibo? Bianco? If yes, then you know what to expect of this neapolitan-style pizza. It's delicious, super thin, and yes, a little soupy (as it's supposed to be). In my own humble opinion, the two winners for this type of pizza in Phoenix are Piazza and Pomo. They are very similar, and even have a similar ambiance. Piazza is located more downtown, whereas Pomo is in the Roosevelt district. My boyfriend and I ate there on a Friday night. We went in around 7:30, and were seated immediately. We started off with two of their signature cocktails. By the end of the night I had tasted three out of four, and let me tell you....FANTASTIC!!!!! Especially the bourbon-based drink, nice and tangy. We ordered the calamari and mozzarella appetizers. The calamari was very lightly breaded, and cooked perfectly. I find that many restaurants tend to over-cook, and the calamari ends up chewy and rubbery. This was absolutely perfect. The mozzarella was great, although I'm not a huge fan of fried mozzarella, but for what it was, it was yum. Both appetizers were served with their tomato pizza sauce for dipping. It's a traditional pizza sauce, best described as watery and runny (again, that's how it's supposed to be). SO GOOD. We ordered the margarita pizza, because I like to judge restaurants based on how well they do the simple stuff, before getting all fancy. The pizza came out perfectly, nice and hot, with chewy crust and melty cheese. Seriously, this pizza is amazing. The staff is awesome, very attentive and friendly, with great suggestions. We chatted with the owner, who liked us enough to send over a complementary slice of their ricotta cheesecake. Now, I usually hate cheesecake. It's too rich and dense for me. This cheesecake couldn't be more different from the usually Cheesecake Factory heart attack on a plate that you usually see. It was very light and fluffy, with a hint of lemon and drizzled with honey, perfect complements to the tang of the cheese. In all, fabulous pizza, fabulous people. Definitely going to be going back there. The nice part about it is...They are closed on Sunday, whereas Pomo is closed on Monday. Now we can get great pizza seven days a week!
(5)Matt K.
Went with friends who regularly attend locale and they had nothing but great things to say about it. Got to meet Justin the owner and he recommended the Italian Stallion pizza which was incredible!!! Had a great experience. Justin is also a hip hop head so nothing but great beats coming through the speakers! Can't wait to go back and try more things!!
(4)Dan M.
I was left speechless..... What more could you ask for in a pizza that cooks in a minute AND is perfected in its taste and ingredients. We split two pizzas, the Italian Stallion and the Dolce Diavolo (which comes with Sopressata, Calabrian Chiles, Fresh Basil and Honey) crazy combo but totally works! I equally loved both pizzas so much and killed almost two whole ones by myself (the other couple that came with us couldn't finish all their and I gladly helped.) Like other reviewers, the crust was perfectly charred and the only thing I could compare it to was a marshmallow. When you roast marshmallows and make that perfect one that has that golden brown char on the outside and it's cooked just enough on the inside to where it's creamy and tender... Thats what this crust is like! Best pizza I've ever had!
(5)Mark B.
First time there for lunch today with friends. They had been before, I have not. It was great pizza and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. From what I understand the wood fire pizza oven is imported from Italy by way of New York. It was formerly used in one of Mario Batali's restaurants. The sauce, meets and cheeses are fantastic and if you love authentic Italian pizza as much as I do you need to check this place out. The service is good. Of course at lunch it can be busy but the service is good. They do not want you to wait but know the food is good so you should. Chef-Owner, Justin Piazza, assured us he would secure a table for us quickly despite the heavy Friday lunch crowd. Thank goodness my friends faces are regulars, he came out of the kitchen to greet us. I had the Montanara, and it was so good. My friend had the Italian Stallion and it was also fantastic, great for meat lovers. I would like to go back and seriously, try one of everything on the menu. They intend to add outdoor seating with a railed patio that runs the store front which will be nice.
(4)Jeff A.
Yelp didn't let me down. Very good, authentic (and authenticated) Italian bistro. Good service nice atmosphere.
(5)Ted M.
Coming from New York, we're pretty fussy about pizza, and this place was one of the better spots we've found in the Valley. I'd call it better than Bianco, maybe on par with Grimaldis, but not quite as good as Pomo or Il Bosco (note this is not necessarily family consensus). Prices were reasonable and the service was prompt and pleasant and very friendly -- we were a little pressed for time before a comedy show, but had no problem making it on time. People seemed to be having a good time in this joint -- not a bad place to get ramped up for an evening downtown.
(4)Neela B.
Burrata and the Italian stallion pizza. Trust me. Just let it happen. Waitress was bubbly and sweet. Recommended a great bottle of Barbera wine. True neopolitan style pizza with a chill, laid back ambiance. We had a ball!
(5)T A.
Amazing pizza...hands-down, the "best" pizza in Phoenix...yes, better than some of the more well known places in town (won't mention any names) And not only are the ingredients top notch, the pizza oven they use (a very expensive import) bakes the pizzas in record time...wow!!!!!! Love this place and my new favorite pizza joint!!!
(5)Duane H.
Had the Italian Stallion pizza. It was very good and took about 2 minutes to arrive at my table after ordering. Would definitely go again.
(5)Jessica G.
WOW!! I debated even writing a review. I don't want to share any of the limited number of seats!! I came here before a comedy show and was just driving around aimlessly looking on yelp at random places with good reviews. I sat right at the bar in front of the wood burning pizza oven, ordered the Italian stallion (don't forget to ask for basil and oregano!!) and a glass of wine. The pizza was incredible!!!! The sauce tastes just like my Italian grandfather taught me to make. The crust was devoured and even ate all the little meat crumbles off the plate. The servers were all very nice even with it being so busy on a Saturday night. Will definitely come back!
(5)Julie M.
I was really excited to eat here. My husband is a huge proponent of downtown areas. Me, a little less. It was busy downtown maybe a game going on. Parking was a little dicey and although there is parking available on the street and a small lot across the street we still found the parking a little challenging. It is certainly not a deal breaker. We started out with the Palle di Riso. I thought they were light on seasoning and had one small piece of rapini and mozzarella. They also left a bitter after taste that I attributed to oil that was dirty. The tomato sauce was also lacking flavor and was very flat. We next shared the Rucola salad. We added the prosciutto which was a $2 up charge. The salad was lovely. The prosciutto was very good and very good tasting. The arugula was sweet and nutty. We chose the napoletana because of the more unusual ingredients. It was good and salty which you would expect with capers, olives and anchovies. I would have like to have seen more basil on the pie. The basil did a good job balancing out the saltiness. Again I thought the pie sauce was a little tasteless and the cheese in the pie was a tad light. The dough was Excellent. Some of the best I have ever tasted and I hail from the east coast. It was really the best thing about the pie. The wine list is mostly Italian and we found a Malbec that was nice to drink. Would I come back? Probably not. There are other pizza joints I have enjoyed a lot more. I usually agree with howard on his reviews. Unfortunately, this one didn't meet the mark.
(3)Monika W.
I love these guys! Pizza is wonderful, owners are very community oriented. The owner shared on my last visit that the new parking meter rules downtown actually make visiting easier as US Airways event owners can no longer tie up spaces for the night. So if that kept you from stopping in...give it another shot! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Bryan N.
Outstanding! ...Not really much more I can add to that :) Fresh, delicious and ingredients that are TOP Quality ! I am not affiliated with the restaurant or staff. ENJOY!
(5)Kyle v.
This place had amazing food that came fast. Our group ended up getting about 4 extra meals just to try as many things as we could.
(5)Lukas N.
Was there for opening day for lunch. Best pizza I have had in years. The ingredients are fresh and nothing is heavy. The staff is quick and friendly. Great for business lunches and dinner. I plan on coming back often.
(5)Venus J.
Possibly some the of most fresh ingredients I've ever had on a pizza! I literally watched them shave the meat. The sauce tasted like mouth watering vine ripe tomatoes with fresh herbs and spices. Fresh is so incredibly important when going out to eat and this place did it just right! The service was OUTSTANDING! Our server John even had such a wonderful Italian accent when pronouncing the true to Italian specials :) the cook came by more than once to ask how we liked our pizza! The atmosphere was comfortable, neatly decorated and not to big. I highly recommend brick oven pizza from this place if you are in downtown. Hands down the best pizza I have had in a long time! A+++ for the service and fresh ingredients!
(5)Jennifer O.
The Husband and I went here on our self made 'food crawl.' We has already gotten some monkey bread and an (awful) sushi roll, we were looking forward to some pizza. We had been waffling between going here and going to Pomo, but decided to go here because it was closer and we figured they would be about the same. When we got here, we only had to wait a few minutes for a table. The service was prompt and friendly. We decided to just get two items here and cut out the last place on our crawl. We ordered the arancini and the fried pizza. The arancini sounded really good..... but it was really bad. It was not cooked enough, the cheese in the middle wasn't melted at all...still cubes. The meat was in one clump, not mixed into the risotto as I would have thought. The frying oil may not have been hot enough because the arancini tasted like it was just full of oil.... pretty gross. We did eat it anyway as we spent 8$ on it, but I would not recommend it to anyone. Then our pizza came. Again, wasn't cooked long enough. Really? The cheese wasn't melted. Did they not see that? The sauce was cold and tasted like the can. The fried dough was, again, way too oily, probably because the oil wasn't hot enough. It was like a bland greasy doughnut with unmelted cheese and can tasting tomatoes on top. So gross. I took most of it to go and gave it to a homeless person. That plus a couple of beers was like 45- 50$....what a huge waste of money. Will not be back.
(2)Chris F.
Had great reviews, however there is much better quality in other competing pizza restaurants. Service was more interested in Whatever drama was happening amongst employees that night and was outside on front sidewalk most of the night. Plus, they don't have a full bar and was out of just about every beer on their menu. Pizza was good, however is comparable elsewhere with fresher ingredients and better service and more selection Overall, there is better places to go, but edible.
(2)Vicky Y.
The service is not as good as its food. The waitress forgot to bring forks to is until we asked. She seemed to feel not interested in her work that day.
(3)Aaron K.
Great Pizza!!! Had the Margherita and Salciccia pizzas, both were excellent. Great service as well, super friendly waitress and the rest of the staff was super accommodating. Only thing I was kind of missing, and it's not a big deal was the lack of beer on tap, preferably a local craft brew type. Would love to see some local breweries represented. Other than the lack of beer on tap this place is the shizz!! Will be back for sure.
(4)Giancarlo N.
Wow wow wow. Exceptional service and over the top good food. As a guy who grew up in Italy (summers) this is THE most authentic Italian pizza I have had on this side of the pond. Host, waiter, and Matteo (from Italy within the past two years) were so genuine and warm. We had the Rocco and it was amazing. The Nutella dessert was incredible.
(5)John G.
Best pizza I have ever had...period. Great service and cool ambience. Don't miss out!
(5)Sarah A.
Best pizza in Phoenix!! Justin Piazza and staff go out of their way to make everyone feel like a VIP, and the food is beyond compare. The Italian Stallion is my favorite, but don't overlook the others, either. The sausage/rappini/smoked mozzarella was outstanding!! Be sure to leave room for dessert, too. Both the cheesecake and the Tiramisu will rock your world. Outstanding food, friendly and professional service, casual atmosphere, and reasonable prices make La Piazza Locale a must-go location for downtown eating.
(5)Cory R.
As a self-diagnosed pizza elitist, I fully endorse this fine establishment. I have often said there are 3 cities in which you can purchase an amazing pizza - Naples, Manhattan and Chicago. I stand corrected - time to add Phoenix to the list. This gem of a place imports everything from their tomatoes (San Marzano) to their cocktail ingredients (Campari, etc.). The resulting pies are as good as anything you'll find in Naples, maybe even better because you don't have to deal with the autoestrada to get it. If you are in Phoenix, go here - I will every time I'm in town.
(5)seth g.
Excellent downtown spot...Great pizza, salad and sandwiches. They have pasta but have not tried it yet. The star here is the pizza here get one and share or eat a whole one yourself you will not want to work after but you will be satisfied for sure!
(5)Bret T.
Great food, great pizza, great people. I love this place. Thankfully opened closer to where I lived in downtown phoenix. I would eat here every day if I could.
(5)Larry G.
Just ok at best. Went there before a suns game. Place is small and not very cute. The pizza was ok but I had better. Won't be back
(2)Darrin D.
So I have had all the local pizza places (Pomo, Bianco, etc.) and this by far is my favorite. Dolce Diavolo hands down best pizza ever! Chilies and honey on top! The best!!!
(5)Sean M.
Wow! A gem and a find. These guys know what they are doing. Got a margarita pizza and it may have been the best I've ever had. The crust was a little chewy but in a flavorful way and the sauce and spices kicked in with subtle timing that speak to their expertise. Great interior and staff. I can't wait to return.
(5)Adolfo C.
Today is my 3rd time in 2 weeks this place id awesome one of the best pizza if not the best in Phoenix
(4)Paul B.
Having eaten a few times at Pomo, I awaited the opening of La Piazza Locale with much anticipation. We like Pomo so much that another AVPN approved pizzeria had to be a good thing. We were really disappointed. Where Pomo is both classy and warm, this place was low rent. The waiter was not particularly knowledgeable about the food and didn't seem to care that we were in the restaurant. The pizza was not all that great. I realize that this type of pizza is not the same as what people are used to, but we have some other examples in the downtown area of what it can and should be (Bianco, Pomo, CIbo) and these pies were just too thin and soggy in the middle, most of the dough was devoted to the edges and a bit too charred. I had the unfortunately named Italian Stallion and was not impressed. When we had some left over we had to flag down the water and ask for a box, after which a styrofoam clamshell - too small for what was left - was dumped on our table. There were none of the little desert-ish extras that make Pomo so special. I had hoped, particularly due to its location, that this would be a great place for dinner before a Diamondbacks game, but we are not likely to go back.
(2)Nicole S.
My family are regulars at La Piazza Al Forno in Glendale and whenever we get downtown we make sure we stop by to see Rachel or Justin! We love love their pizza's. The Italian Stallion is the bomb. Great family owned restaurant and SO much better than Bianco ANY DAY!!!
(5)Michael P.
We totally enjoyed our dining experience. From the moment we walked in the door, we were made to feel special. Everything was delicious from the wine, salad and of course, Matteo's masterful pizzas. Bravo!
(5)Alex V.
Wow, this place... walked here from the convention center and am so happy I found it. Had 8 people in my party and every single person got amazing food. Great service, too, highly recommend.
(5)Michael P.
Very creative and flavorful pizza. Not the typical recipes you get at the big chains. They also had some tasty Italian beer that I'd never experienced before. Excellent, friendly service. The only negative was a family sitting nearby with a 2 year old. The parents thought she was Shirley Temple as they let her roam around the restaurant yelling at the top of her lungs. Nothing the management could do.
(4)Miclo L.
Taste of pizza excellent but it arrived lukewarm on the table and the dough was "mushy", wet and not cooked enough. Nice place with helpful waiters but we came to taste the pizzas that were described as great by the Arizona Republic food critic. Too bad but we will not go back
(2)Carmela R.
I will give only one star, but that is even too generous. We were excited to go and try La Piazza Locale after hearing positive reviews. It was the worst pizza we had ever eaten in our lives. We come from an Italian background, my husband was born in Sicily. They advertise San Marzano tomatoes, but we saw cans of Nina's tomatoes in the hallway. You can purchase these tomatoes at Sam's club for $2.75 for #10 can. The pizza was raw and inedible. No one approached us to ask what was wrong. We ate one slice a piece, then asked for the check. The waitress packed the pizza, but we left it behind. I will never eat there again. I would highly discourage anyone from eating at this establishment. I am embarrassed that they would call themselves Italian. Carmela R.
(1)NO C.
Really enjoyed our meal. We did takeout one night and it held up well also.
(4)S C.
Had the Italian Stallion and it was great. I liked this place better than Bianco in terms of pizza. The salad was a bit bland though. I would definitely recommend checking this place out!
(4)