Leonardo’s Pizza by the Slice
1245 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL, 32601
Leonardo’s Pizza by the Slice Menu
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Drinks
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Salads
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Rolls
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Gluten-Free Pizza
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Calzones
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Pastas
Healthy Meal suggestions for Leonardo’s Pizza by the Slice
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Drinks
-
Salads
-
Rolls
-
Gluten-Free Pizza
-
Calzones
-
Pastas
Visit below restaurant in Gainesville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Gainesville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1245 W University Ave
Gainesville, FL, 32601 - Phone (352) 375-2007
- Website https://www.leonardosgainesville.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, 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 : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
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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Alana A.
I visited my friends in Gainesville recently and they swore by this place. I'm a huge pizza fan/critic and I had high expectations - and Leonardo's definitely met them. When I first walked in and saw the variety of slices, I was torn - I didn't know what to order. I ended up just getting plain ol' cheese and had no regrets. It was cheesy, fresh, and just simply delicious. My friend recommended the rolls and when I first saw them, I was hesitant. I was expecting your typical small, crunchy, greasy roll topped with garlic, but these rolls aren't like that. HOWEVER, I was pleasantly surprised! These rolls and doughy and warm and soft, and if you dip them in the sauces they give you, expect heaven. Seriously. The atmosphere is casual and very college-town like. Service is great too. Prices are BIT high for a pizzeria, but I can't really complain because the quality was great. Too bad this place is about a 6 hour drive from my house........ :)
(5)James J.
When I graduated from UF I also like to call that my graduation from a lot of other things undergraduate me was into. Cheap beer, cheap food, and cheap housing have treated me well...enough...but I started aiming higher. In terms of restaurants, no table service and grimy ambiances have lost much of their charm over me (not all: I like that feel now and again). Leonardo's Pizza By The Slice is a solid piece of pizza and a quick trip on tread from campus, but with a strong competitor in direct eyesight and lackluster everything I may say spend your dough elsewhere. The Space Less than 3 blocks east of UF and off of University, Leo's By The Slice is pretty easily spotted and arrived at, as they do have a private parking lot behind the building. The spaces can be kinda tight so maybe don't lug a goliath vehicle on over for a pie. Walk in through the front patio area of outside tables and you'll immediately see the available by-slice choices, with seating off to the left. Between the pace of the place and the crowd they're attracting, the clean factor always clocks in around "all-male 4-bedroom apartment on a Sunday" but the outside tables give a nice view of the hustle and bustle anyway. The Service Given that they don't actually come to your table, I can't expand on this too much except to say that I have dealt with pretty memorable rudeness at Leo's on one occasion. Seems as though we were dealing with an issue surrounding the availability of their garlic knots, and things got a little heated. The visit that instigated this review, the service was just fine, so I'll average it in-line with my star rating. The Food I've been to Leo's more times than I remember and convenience has always been the name of the game. Even with my last visit, we were literally driving and thought "oh yeah, they have stuff ready-to-go and it won't break the bank". Among the notable items are their garlic knots, which come with a side of marinara and straight garlic butter (no complaints here: bread + garlic butter = yes) and their "thick" slices (hard to find deep-dish in town, and no one else in the area has one to compete so you might as well get one). The thinner by-slice 'za options outweigh the thick pies by a lot, but with even a vegan one available no one should have any major qualms. Ingredient quality is pretty high, which is why whole pies have scary price tags compared to the approachable lunch specials. I'll say I like their sauce pretty well, though it's a bit acidic. And one other thing: their water straight tastes bad to me. Just sayin'. Final Thoughts "Get in, get out" pizza could do worse. The next step down in ambiance would be grabbing pizza out of the window .5 miles west in midtown, but that journey is surprisingly worth shlepping backwards in time to the days of old. For Leo's, I'll take the Millhopper location, sporting a more traditional dining experience, 10 out of 10 times. I will say they have the saving grace of using 3 of 4 taps for FLA beers, 2 of which are a Gainesville brewery. Might convince me to dine-in again down the line.
(3)Brandon W.
Always thought this place was good guess I was wrong horrible service and really bad food I will not go back I ordered the pizza salad combo salad was frozen and wilted with no dressing or flavor at all pizza was soggy and limp dripping in grease the best thing about the experience was the cherry coke lmao good try Leonardo's but you might want to lose the cocky hipsters
(1)Gloria S.
Convenient in location and prices for pizza slices if you are a college student, however, I am not. Near campus, you can walk here and cheaply eat a slice of gluten free pizza and GF beer. Old building with no heat, (hey. It gets cold here you know? For Fla anyway) it's a fast food type pay, then eat at the tables. Small tables and booths in a cozy L shaped sized room. Lots of choices written colorfully above cashier and kitchen to order. Nice staff. Like the healthy and vegan choices. Bad news is... One of the worse gluten free I've had, it's a thicker crust that is gummy. Tasted like cardboard that was soaked in water. Not much taste. The regular pizza wasn't much better. Not very hot either. Maybe it's because they sit out waiting to sell by the slice? Salad was creative but small portioned. Worse experience was this Caution ladies: unless you are a desperate blind drunkard, do not use the restroom. It is literally outside. You walk through the dining room to the back, turn right by the garbage and just when you think you are lost, it's to the right . Over rated, my family won't return when there are so many competitors around and we are no longer poor coeds.
(2)Deborah A.
First time to eat. We stopped in with our daughter after moving her into her dorm room. We were really impressed. We like the pizza, salad and rolls! Somehow we didn't get the garlic butter sauce but will make sure to get it next time. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is the eating area lacks personality and the restrooms are outside. We will be back!
(4)Laura Z.
Definitely passed our NY pizza test. Garlic rolls a must too! Now makes sense as to why so crowded with a crazy line when we got here. Worth it :)
(5)Caroline J.
I cannot believe that I have yet to review Leonardo's by the Slice. I am a regular here for the best of reasons. Do you want pizza in Gainesville at a great value, but maybe don't have time or energy for a big production? Leo's is the place. Easily the best pizza in Gainesville, this casual eatery is located on the corner of 13th and University, just next to campus. Here you will find a selection of pizza slices ready to be heated and consumed. Somehow, each piece is still fresh and delicious. The slice method allows you to mix and match, without being required to purchase an entire pizza. Leo's is a Gainesville staple, having served locals for generations. Stop in for lunch and enjoy the bustle of passerby on University Ave. The staff is accomodating, friendly, and speedy! My only criticism: Sometimes at night the pizza selection is diminished as they start closing down. I advise you to visit well before close to ensure you get the best variety of slices!
(5)Amaury Y.
This was one of the best pizza's I've had in a while. The pizzas were made fresh and tasted amazing. The service was fast, but a little disorganized. Definitely check out if you're visiting Gainesville or if you're from the area and haven't gone yet.
(4)Shane P.
Fun college atmosphere, service was ok...food was ok. Rolls were delicious as was the garlic butter, the pizza was just ok. Lots of food!
(3)Meghan R.
Going to Gainesville and NOT going to Leonardo's is just.... wrong! We were only in town for the night but decided that Leonardo's would be our choice for dinner. We were a little surprised at how slow they were for a Friday night, but it was in between summer sessions so most of the college kids were MIA. Since there was three of us we decided to go with a whole pie instead of by the slice. We ended up with a thick pie - the Big Leo. It included pepperoni, sausage, onions, green peppers, and mushrooms (which we left off). They told us it would be about 20 minutes for the pie to be ready and it took every minute of that, but it was so worth the wait. We got a medium but definitely could have gone with the small as we still had 2.5 slices left when we were done. It was AMAZING! The sauce to crust/toppings ratio was perfect. Most places I have to ask for extra sauce on the pizza and that was not the case this time. I haven't been back to Gainesville in quite awhile and this was just the perfect treat :)
(4)Claudia V.
This place is overrated honestly. When I went the cheese and toppings were completely sliding off of the dough, and the dough was soft as if it wasn't cooked all the way through. Also "infamous" garlic rolls? They were essentially burnt on the top, and absolutely not cooked in the middle. How is that even possible? Overall they were more greasy than memorable. These are definitely cheap for a reason. Even though all of these things were bad, the really spoiled cherry on this shitty sundae was the service!! They were so rude and hipster-like, they treated me as if they were doing me a favor by heating up the slice of pizza I paid for. On top of that after I paid for my drink, nobody handed me my cup. And I politely stepped aside and waited for them to do so. After several minutes the counter girl asked me if I needed help. I told her I was waiting for my cup, and she sternly told me someone would be right with me. As if I was pressuring her, or in some way being rude. I really wasn't, I was actually admiring their hand drawn menu. It should also be noted there was NO ONE in line. Anyways later she was the one appointed with the immense task of handing me my cup (which was right under her counter). I wouldn't recommend this place at all, its definitely a cult favorite in a bad way. Don't believe the hype!. The only way you can enjoy this place is if you're starving, and don't have a lot of money to spend. Maybe a cool place if you're drunk and it doesn't matter? Like a hipster dennys except for pizza? But with Satchels here, I cannot imagine why anyone would prefer this place. There are too many restaurants in Gainesville for people to put up with bad service, and sub par food. There are lots of places competing for your dollars, you really don't have to settle. Step up, or step aside.
(1)Jeanne D.
This is a great place for when you want a quick bite to eat in Gainesville. What I like most about it is all of the varieties they have available to purchase by the individual slice. This makes this a great place to go with almost anyone because they are pretty certain to find a type of pizza they can eat. The garlic butter and rolls are always good here too. This is in walking distance from the UF campus which is another bonus. The pizza selections are very interesting, they usually have around ten or so different types to select from if you want only a slice. I think eating here is part of the Gainesville experience!
(3)Beth K.
Really good. There are a number of restaurants lining the edge of the University of Florida campus, and near the corner of 13th street and University Ave sits Leonardo's Pizza by the Slice. As a professor now, I remember that this was the first place I ever went as a scared freshman. I still go back. The smell is still the same. Fresh baked pizza dough scent. Wish they made that as a Yankee candle! Atmosphere: Casual, eclectic, hipster vibe. A classic old Gainesville style with wood lining the inside and modern art dotting the walls. Almost has a studio feel. It's an "order at the counter" system and prices are fairly reasonable to the wandering eater. Food: Pizza is by the slice or by the pie, salads, pastas and best of all the pizza dough garlic rolls. They are golden brown on the outside and chewy, doughy and stretchy on the inside. Fun to play with and PLEASE DO try the garlic dipping sauce. - The pizzas have extraordinary ingredients here. You must try the Florentine pizza. It has really good feta cheese and mozzarella, spinach, roasted sliced tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, and oregano. - Other pizzas include Greek, Pepperoni, Portobello, Sicilian, Spin tom, Veggie, Sausage, Cheese and even Gluten free vegan. - Salads are made with a mix of fresh greens and toppings, and dressings are house made..excellent Raspberry and Balsamic if I do say so myself. One criticism that I do have and have ALWAYS had...is that the servers always seem to be in a slightly pissed off mood. Excuse m, but who spit in your hipster coffee? It sure was not me and a smile doesn't kill anyone. Overall, I absolutely recommend it. Enjoy
(4)Will L.
Just had the imposter on Millhoper. Tree their's in the trash and drove straight here.
(5)Mandy D.
I love Leo's. I know this is controversial, but I like their pizza better than Satchels. I just had a $3 pint of local craft beer. This is good stuff, Gainesville! Rolls are a must, and I usually get a florentine slice. Great value, fun atmosphere, and the bathroom really isn't that scary :p
(4)Brian A.
Parking is horrible but the food is worth it the new york stlye is spot on and the garlic rolls are made from Heaven
(5)Travis W.
I have to give this place 5 stars, even though I vastly preferred both the food and the experience circa 1998-2000. I crave the rolls and greek salads 15 years later!
(5)Madison E.
I give three stars only for the food. Food is really good. Customer service needs to be taught to the people running the front counter. Never any smiles or hellos even when its slow.
(3)Morgan L.
Oh the rolls. I don't care who you are or why you're at Leonardo's or what your diet dictates, get the damn rolls. Dip them in the garlic butter. Don't share them. And don't feel guilty for a moment. Leonardo's is a Gainesville staple. They clearly sell pizza by the slice which (in my opinion) is never as good as a whole pie. The pizza is solidly ok and I don't mind eating it. But I would kill for the rolls.
(3)Daniel B.
Pretty good pizza, but I'm a simple man so I always get cheese. What really makes Leonardo's unique for me are their garlic knots and dipping sauce.
(4)Matthew A.
I pretty much never review places but goodness this was terrible. The food got a 2 stars for being absolutely average but everything else gets a one star cus it's the lowest I can give. I paid 15 dollars for a deep dish 12 inch pizza (6 slices) with vegetables on it. With that kind of cost to product ratio I was expecting some damn good pizza. Well that was the opposite of what I got. It was the equivalent of getting a pizza hut personal pan pizza. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but not worth it at all for 15 bucks. Customer service also is at a one star; I ordered from the woman behind the counter who could not give half a damn about what I was saying or anyone else was saying. Halfway through the order she stopped to check her phone. Pretty annoying. So 25 minutes later, still waiting for my pizza, I go up to the counter to ask how much longer but end up standing there for 5 minutes while every person working there either walked by or ignored me and the same counter girl just kept looking over and then taking other orders before I could ask. Pretty rude. So I waited 35 minutes for a terrible 15 dollar veggie pie. Very dissatisfied. Also I'm pretty sure if a health inspector were to walk into this place it would be shut down in a matter of minutes. No gloves used, half baked pizzas sitting out for god knows how long waiting for you to order them, dirt and grease everywhere like the place hadn't actually seen a clean surface in years. Just gross. While waiting 35 minutes for my crappy pizza I saw a girl pick up her phone, handle cash, handle pizza, all without cleaning her hands or putting on gloves. If I ever go back there again I'd have to be drunk out of my mind with a total lack of sound judgment to guide my decisions.
(1)Patricia G.
I visited Leonardo's on a day trip to Gainsville and decided to grab a bite after my campus visit. I miss places like this from when I used to go to college. You couldn't get a pizza slice the size of your head and a soda for $5.50 anywhere in Orlando. Served in a large tray with paper it stared in awe at my giant pepperoni slice and knew I was in for a treat. The restaurant itself had a very divey feel. I liked it. The only thing I didn't like was the bathrooms out at back around the corner. They can fix that up a little better
(4)Carolina A.
Leonardo's is definitely one of my go-to places in Gainesville for pizza when I'm on campus. I can always rely on their slices, toasted when ordered so it's guaranteed hot, and salad to be made fresh daily. I typically order a slice, pepperoni or Hawaiian, with a small Greek salad (topped with their awesome in-house dressing), which is completely satisfying. It even comes with two of their rolls which stand on their own as one of the best I've had (with garlic and marinara to compliment!).
(4)Julie S.
The pizza is not good. There's no better way to put it. It's not horrible, and it's not at all good. It's just big pizza. So why would anyone ever go there? Well, Leonardo's has been around for a long time. In fact, why am I even writing a review? People don't go here for the pizza. They go here because they're in college, and it's a landmark.
(2)Alan W.
Caesar salad is bae!!!! I haven't eaten pizza in over a year. I'm pretty paleo, so after a month of having an inkling for pizza, I decided it was time. I had Greek and Meat Lovers flavors with my lover. The pizza is pretty good, not life-changing, but nothing to shake a stick at. The bread knots are good with butter garlic sauce. I hung out on the Leonardo's patio for a couple hours with my co-creator in domestic bliss playing shoot-bang-marry and we had a blast! The Leonardo's pizza flingers, cutters and ingredient distributors joined us on the patio to partake in break time with their tattoos and thoughts exposed. They seemed like a swell bunch. When baby-darlin' and I went home, I had a carb coma and was a certified dead person for several hours. I awoke after going toward the light seemed somehow unsatisfying. I presented clammy, only slightly responsive and took twenty minutes to roll out of bed. Leonardo's is super cool, and I think I'm going to go on another self-harming food journey at least once/month. THUMBS UP!!!!
(4)Dominick T.
Its definitely a college place, with all the charm. Plenty of students around chowing on pie. They have some local beers, great pizza and excellent garlic knots. Its a must eat place when you are at UF.
(4)Nadia F.
Good bread rolls and specialty pizza. Try the Florentine, it's my favorite! The service, however, is the reason for only three stars. They are rude and not sociable at all. If they could improve their service (perhaps add a smile or a small conversation) then they'd be much better.
(3)Luke G.
Great pizza and garlic knots! The garlic butter dip is amazing! I usually get two instead of the marinara. The slices are huge and are cooked on the spot so they're really fresh. Definitely one of my Gainesville favorites.
(5)Michelle M.
I have never had such bad service in my entire life. Blondie and hipster boy with glasses should be fired and not work in the restaurant industry. They were incredibly rude. It is important for a restaurant to have people working with a positive attitude. Today is November 2nd, 10 pm they just turned me away from ordering due to their nasty attitudes. I hope that these two workers are fired because I would never want to come back with these two people waiting on me. I tried to speak with management and they told me I was not aloud. I work in the restaurant industry and I would never have workers who treat the customers with such a horrible attitude work for me. You guys have great pizza but I will not support rude customer service.
(1)Tracy N.
Really enjoyed this place! I had a slice of pepperoni pizza with a Caesar salad and those delicious rolls. My boyfriend had the deep dish big Leo pizza. Everything was absolutely delicious and I would order it again! Parking is a bit hairy but to be expected in this part of town.
(4)Cassie R.
I LOVE Leonardo's!! I've been a UF student for a few years now but really only started visiting them this year, with my grad program cohort. Its convenient location is what sold me the first time, but the fast service (even when insanely busy from a bunch of students getting out from class), the casual but comfortable atmosphere, and the AMAZING food are what keep me coming back. A HUGE slice of pizza and some delicious rolls are only around $5-$6 - a fantastic deal. The pizza is great, but the rolls are the real star--I'm addicted to the garlic butter dipping sauce that they come with.
(5)Coleen T.
So I recently went gluten-free, and Leo's has an AMAZING gluten-free pizza! It's a great option for me and my kids when I don't have time (or am too lazy) to cook at home!
(5)Sheri R.
Food good. I had a slice of pizza and small salad. It was very casual with a comfortable atmosphere. You have to order at the counter and then they brought our food to the table. It was pretty quick.
(4)Zachary F.
The pizza is good, as are the garlic knots, however, it is nothing that blows me away, there are plenty of other places in Gainesville to get better pizza.
(2)Mike M.
Leonardos is a college dive bar pizza joint in heart of UF. We kept it simple ordered the 2 cheese slices and drink and a side salad. Salad came w 2 slices of homemade bread. Both were excellent quality. 2 pizza slices were 1/2 of a 14" cheese pizza. Pizza was hot, loaded w cheese & sauce on a freshly made crust.. Damned good pizza. They had at least 12 different bottled beers and 1/2 dozen wine choices. All were budget priced. It never professed to be more than a dive but food was 1st class. 4 Stars to us! Recommend w caveat-not really for the kids and bathroom in parking lot. Just roll with it!
(4)Bob D.
This is definitely one of the best places to eat pizza. I always recommend to all my family and friends when they come to Gainesville to eat at Leonardo's pizza. On top of the amazing pizza, I always get a few garlic knots on the side which are just as delicious. If you are traveling through Gainesville or if you live here and haven't eaten at Leonardo's, I highly recommend you do!
(5)Jeremy G.
I decided to begin a trip down memory lane to salute my favorite Gainesville spots before I even knew what Yelp was. I probably came here over a 100 times while I was in Gainesville. The pizza slices were thin, covered in cheese, and huge. However, the best part about this place is the garlic rolls. I recommend the half dozen. Dip them in the garlic sauce and then dip them in the marinara. Prepare for ecstasy. I once ate a half dozen of these on a parking lot stoop because I didn't want to have to share them with my friends. They are that good. Why are you not eating them now??
(5)Anon B.
This place has good pizza, but I (and you) should avoid it like the plague! Besides the rudeness of the counter girls AND kitchen workers, the food is not clean! I got a simple ceasar salad, so it was basically lettuce. Halfway through eating my salad I noticed, and THANK GOD I DID, a dead ladybug on a leaf of my lettuce.. I instantly got up and wanted a refund, however the cashier got an attitude with me, "so what do you want me to do about it?" I just wanted my money back, so before she thought it necessary to deem me my due funds, she consulted her coworker, who made the salad to begin with. I can hear them talking and he says, "oh he conveniently found a bug halfway through eating it.. he just wants free food." For some reason, the dude with the hairnet on his face (just shave dude, you work in a kitchen), remade the salad, probably due to the inherent miscommunication that was bound to happen between the air heads. He brings it out and says "DONT PUT ANY BUGS IN THIS ONE!" I immediately pushed it away and walked out with my cash in hand, and bitch on my side. You have been warned.
(1)Bret A.
Great college pizza by the slice joint. You choose from a variety of pizzas from basic pepperoni to Florentine, Veggie, Portabello, supreme, etc. the slices are big and filling. The garlic rolls are awesome!!! They come with garlic butter sauce and marinara sauce. This place is the best of what it is supposed to be - an inexpensive, filling college lunch at affordable prices. There is plenty of seating but the restaurant is popular so it does fill up. Parking is tight but available on site. Indoor and outdoor seating across 13th from UF. Yum!
(5)Keith B.
This place is an 'institution' for me having been going here since I went to school here back in the day...and there's not many places left from my era (no skeeters, no chiny takey outee)....the place is exactly the same, I just have changed. I took my family here as we were passing through on a road trip, one of my kids having never eating here. We had two pasta mari's (sauce is really not that good, and was too spicy for them). We also had a slice of veggie pizza (this was really good), and of course the rolls with garlic butter sauce. What I found disappointing is that the last two times I have eaten here my stomach has hurt...thought it was the meatballs last time, so I didn't get this time with the pasta. Maybe it's that sauce. Will I return? Hmmm....tradition vs so so food? Hmm...if i did return it's a pizza / rolls only place.
(2)Ernie C.
Food was cold upon immediate pickup. Spaghetti was poorly cooked and unappetizing. Do not recommend this place, quality has gone down in recently; the manners and attitude of the staff leave much to be desired.
(2)Landon E.
Nice, casual atmosphere, definitely a college-town type pizza place. The pizza slices are quite good and luckily come in a variety of different styles and toppings. There is also a decent selection of beer and some other foods, such as garlic knots. Great prices too. All in all, a good experience.
(4)Julie A.
This is one of those pizzas you can eat and eat and eat and you don't feel greasy or sloppy afterwards. I almost always order the same slice of florentine static.px.yelp.com/bphot… . Different types of cheese, spinach, and chicken on some thin delicious crust pizza. Yum Yum Yum! 5 stars! I took my son here a few years ago and he loved it, as well. Big thanks to my college buddy Shelly Ann for recommending I try the bread rolls and dip them in that heavenly garlic sauce. O MYLANTA! If I could bring a bucket of it home, I would! It had a nice blend of herbs in its light garlic flavor. Not heavy garlicky like the sauces you get from Papa Johns -- au contraire, Leonardo is an artist. 5 stars! I also got a smoothie here. Banana and mango. It was the first time the lady had ever made it. Oh darnit. Always the guinea pig, never the guinea. 2 stars for effort. On a side note, that nekkid dude with the crotch leaf in the logo trips me out. Hahaha. Another side note, I notice that a prior reviewer has checked off that this place is good for breakfast. Hahahah. Must have been a college student. Pizza for breakfast! Buono appetito!
(4)Dereck C.
This was the very first place I are when I moved to Gainesville. The pizza is huge, New York style, and you can get two slices and a drink for less than $8. My friends and I frequent this place for lunch, and we've never been left wanting. Also, bonus points - they have cherry coke on tap. Parking is a bit tight, but it's worth the hassle.
(5)Wesley H.
Great pizza and rolls but the worst night staff ever. I will never darken their doorstep again. I have traveled the world and it ranks as the most apathetic and downright rude service I have ever received. I have never had a cashier roll their eyes and visibly grunt when I make a reasonable request, such as what ingredients are on a pizza slice. I have never felt more unwelcome at a restaurant. This is the third time I have had this experience. Frankly I am surprised that with all the negative reviews their night staff gets that the problems still persist.
(1)Kyle G.
Good pizza. Good atmosphere. Parking, eh not so much. I'll most likely go to this place again.
(3)Nicholette M.
Not sure why this place is ranked so high. The service was very slow for a walk in pizza joint. All you have to do is throw it in the oven to heat it and throw it on a plate. We waited entirely too long for a slice of ready made pizza. Anyway, I've been all over the country and overseas. I've had pizza in NYC ( My fav) and in Chicago ( deep dish). This place completely missed the mark. to say that it is better than Satchels is ridiculous. Satchels overall has a better dining experience and better pizza. Leonardo's was not flavorful at all. I had the deep dish and it was like eating a piece of cardboard. I guess when college kids are hungry they will eat anything? I've had frozen pizza that tasted better than this. I will not be eating here again. I'll drive the extra miles to 23rd and rock with Satchels for sure.
(1)Elizabeth R.
I had only gotten takeout from Leonardo's in the past, but a week or two ago I ate at the restaurant. I can't believe how this place is able to stay in business with all the cleanliness issues it has. I went to the bathroom after I ordered the food...oh my god, it was the most disgusting bathroom ever. Its in the back of the restaurant outside. There is no lock on the door so I am absolutely positive homeless people use it because thats what it smelled like. I would compare it to a very very dirty gas station bathroom outside the back of the store. It smelled like a disgusting urine soaked bathroom and had toilet paper and grime all over the place. This bathroom is disgraceful. I cannot fathom how a food establishment would actually allow their patrons or employees to use it. Also, I ordered a salad as my main entree, they put a huge salad piled onto a tiny tiny plate. The dressing isn't on the salad so in order to toss the salad with the dressing you end up with half the salad getting knocked onto the table, its absolutely ridiculous. The pizza is served on a piece of paper sitting on a tray that they don't clean properly. The bottom of the tray is greasy and your hands get grease all over them. The people who work at the counter are also not very friendly and look very dirty with greasy looking hair. They also smell like BO. Also, one of the people working behind the counter was barefoot....so strange and gross. I will never go back, if a restaurant has such a disgusting bathroom then what other cleanliness issues are they skimping on??!! ew ew ew
(1)Kaitlin H.
Because it's a ten minute walk from pretty much anywhere on campus, a lot of students go here regularly. It's decently priced and pretty good, but be prepared for long lines and long waits.
(3)Howl P.
The garlic rolls are as good as everyone claims, and a great priced addition to your meal. The New York style pizza is also great, with a lot of different varieties available by the slice (including vegan options). I've eaten here 5 billion times. Go later in the afternoon to miss the lunch and supper lines.
(5)Laurie D.
I've been eating at Leonardo's for over 10 years and the pizza is exactly the same as always. As a poor college student, I used to always order the thick pizza slice, because I felt I was getting more for my money. Lately, I have taken to ordering their spinach tomato pizza on a normal crust. I have to say it is so much better than the thick pizza. The garlic rolls really are not that amazing, but rather it is the hot garlic butter sauce that is amazing. Leonardo's is the easiset place to get a quick meal, as long as you stick to the pizza slices. I also feel that it is one of the nicest places to have a meal by yourself. It can be a long wait for pasta dishes, especially if it is before or after a sporting event.
(3)Laura G.
The pizza here is consistently delicious. The rolls are dense and moist--and the garlic butter dipping sauce that they come with are so yummy. It's affordable and the service is usually pretty decent. I'm taking off stars because of the parking and the atmosphere. The parking spots are ridiculously tiny and I feel like some of the booths/tables are a little bit worn out and need some love. It's such a casual place though that it doesn't bother me too much and I will continue to come here when I want some pizza!
(3)Andrew C.
Visit Date: 10.24.2009 Delicious large slices of New York style pizza at good prices. I had a slice of Mediterranean/Greek pizza as well as a slice of the Mushroom pizza. The brownies were also huge and affordable ($1.50). The place is also in walking distance from the University of Florida campus, which is a plus.
(5)Sasha P.
Um yes. I do believe this is the BEST pizza in Gainesville. However if you are drunk in the downtown area on a Friday or Saturday night, Five Star will definitely do the job. But back to the GOOD stuff... I'm glad to say that I discovered Leonardo's Pizza my freshman year of undergrad. This is imperative to know because as a result, I got to enjoy this delicious eatery for 4 years thereafter. Leonardo's is a must for anyone who calls themselves a true Gator. If you haven't had pizza at Leonardo's, you are obviously not affiliated with the University. Leonardo's is attached to Bistro 1245... in part, it's because I believe they are owned by the same people. Like Bistro, Leonardo's is fully equipped with your hipster employees. The employees at Leonardo's aren't as social as the Bistro employees but who cares when you've got good pizza? The ultimate trick here is to go to Leonardo's about 5 minutes before closing time. Why you ask? Because this is when they try to get rid of all their pizza for the day. You can get 2 pizza slices for the price of one, or a whole pie for about $5. How generous are the employees at Leonardo's!? Oh, wait a second, the reason they have these specials is because they pocket the money for themselves. Or so I'm told. Anywho, I could care less where my two bucks goes so long as I have 2 slices of the Florentine pizza to myself. Other goodies... well the pizza is amazing, the slices are huge! The Florentine is my favorite. It's topped with basil, tomatoes and feta cheese. I've tried the garlic knots, both with the garlic and marinara sauce. The garlic sauce is too rich for my taste. I love garlic, but I'm not a fan of the butter coagulating in my arteries. So I opt for the marinara instead. I've had a salad here too which is your typical mixed greens salad. I believe it's the same salad form Bistro 1245. Good deal. Again, like I warned in my Bistro 1245 review, eating at Leonardo's is fun at night but eating outside brings the attention of your fellow homeless person on University. I prefer getting a booth. They are kinda small and fit no more than one skinny person but I like them. That said, the inside of Leonardo's is a bunch of tables and small booths. Nothing special. However, with pizza from heaven, I don't think customers are paying attention to the decore. I've seen cookies and desserts at Leonardo's but I haven't tried them. I'm always there for the pizza, as you should be! ;-)
(5)Eric C.
Just visited Gville after a couple of years away, and Leo's was my first stop. The Florentine (spinach, feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes) was as good as ever. Crispy, chewy crust and perfect amount of sauce. Maybe we just got a subpar batch, but the rolls weren't as heavenly as I remember. I fell in love with the rolls being hot and a slightly doughy in the middle. These may have just been a little overdone - not burned, but just bready. Nothing that the garlic butter or marinara didn't fix.
(4)Rob D.
I've been here a couple times. Once, just ordered a couple slices from the pizzas on display and garlic rolls. The vegetarian pizza-by-the-slice was awesome and the garlic rolls are to die for. The next time we came, we ordered a dozen garlic rolls and two 18" pizzas for a group of 7. They appeared to be quite busy at the time of ordering, and I think that showed in the food. One of the pizzas was clearly overdone with many of the toppings burnt and the bottom of the pizza charred. The other pizza was cooked fine and was very good. We didn't try to make a big scene about the burnt pizza, and you can't really change your gratuity since you pay before you receive your food. The pizza did come out fairly quickly, however. All in all, this is a great spot for pizza in a prime location on campus. I would recommend getting slices and DEFINITELY garlic rolls with the butter garlic sauce. Beats the hell out of other pizza options like 5 Star and whatever the hole-in-the-wall place is in midtown.
(4)Lanise A.
I came here a few times with friends, and once with my mom who would come on occasion as a student over 30 years ago. I once ordered a slice of the sausage pizza, and might I say it gave me a serious stomachache the morning after. The garlic knots aren't bad though. It's not overly delicious, but it's not crappy either.
(3)Helen S.
Walkable distance from the UF campus! I used to have class in the business school area and would grab lunch there. The pizza is fresh and their rolls are THE BEST!! Very affordable prize and there are plenty of seatings available.
(4)Jennifer P.
no lemons served here according to circle eyeglasses white boy . those workers were ungodly
(1)M J.
This place is overrated. I am not sure what the lines are about. The pizza is not that great at all.
(1)John S.
Having tried a few more pizza places in Gainesville, this is still my #1 pick. Why not 5 stars again then? Well, it would seem that its the best in Gainesville...only because the competition is incredibly lacking. Blue Highway, Satchels, Big Lou's, I Love NY Pizza...they're all decent but can't match the flavor and texture of Leonardo's Pizza by the Slice. The parking lot is really small and getting out of the parking lot is difficult because of the constant traffic at a very busy intersection... But its still the best we've got!
(4)A Z.
My go-to pizza establishment. Prices are good, and the quality is good. The rolls are fantastic, and that garlic dipping sauce is amazing. The only thing I don't like are the calzones. I haven't had too many calzones in my life, and maybe that's why, but I didn't like the supreme calzone at all... way too much cheese and grease for me to handle. Some people don't like it, but I enjoy the edgy look of the staff. It gives the place character. Also, pro-tip: Show up close to closing and they start selling 2-for-1 slices to get the stuff off the shelf.
(4)Nathan B.
Leo's- I love this place!! We used to come here all the time when I went to UF in the early '90s (Go Gators!). I seriously haven't been back in almost 15 years. I was driving from Tampa to Starke took a quick detour through Gainesville and realized I was close to Leo's, so I'd stop in and see what it was like. Fortunately, the place hasn't changed at all. I mean it is *exactly* the same as I remember it. They have super great, flavorful pizzas in all kinds from meat lovers to vegan. I had the Portabello, which totally rocked. Good salads. Great garlic rolls. A few other notes - Very limited parking, a small but good beer selection. Funny bathrooms that are outside in the back. It is really popular and sometimes there is a wait, but the staff is nice and the crowd is good-natured. There is a coffee bar with the espresso and cappuccino etc.
(5)C. J.
I don't understand why this place is so popular. The service is painfully slow, the seating areas are dirty (look for the bullet hole in one of the front booths), and the dine-in pizza slices are served on a piece of paper laid on top of a tray. The pizza itself is decent, but not worth the effort to get it. Location is the best this place has going for it. I've been here about 20 times in my life, so I think I have a handle on it.
(2)Coty S.
Relaxed casual atmosphere with tons of trendy scensters, so you can keep up with the new hotness. The people that work here are damn committed, they must be getting a kick ass 401K or something, because many of the people that work there have been there for the past ten to thirty years at least. I grew up here, since I can remember toddling around in my baby shoes and eating their amazing garlic rolls. Too bad they no longer put the butter on top of the rolls, too many health conscious people must have complained. I do miss the jukebox that they used to have, full of tragic alternative 80's songs that seem to bring back memories regardless of your generation. Now they play whatever they choose, but at least they do not blast it. The Greek slice is the bomb, and their Ziti is damn good. Their salads are to die for, especially the Organic with almonds and cranberries! All of the dressings are homemade and everything is very fresh. Their marinara sauce has changed over the years, and it is not as chunky and tangy as it used to be. Everything at fast food prices. I am also a huge fan of their vegan bakery items, such as their Vegan Chip Cookie ($1.50), they use ground nuts to beef up the protein and add depth to the flavor. So good! Check their website for photos of all these dishes as well as pricing. This is the only place in Gainesville that offers you the atmosphere of a punk club, an indie bar, a coffeehouse, hippie raunch, study hall, group meeting place, and a pizza/pasta restaurant all rolled into one. Try not to get spare changed to death by squatters out front. If you have ever been to Gainesville or just driving through and have not stopped here, shame on you.
(4)Crystal M.
I first tried Leonardos almost six years ago during my UF Preview. It was recommended by a high school friend who had it during his preview. I went there, all excited, and got the large slice. I had since never wanted to go back. However, I went back about 1 year ago when they had the BOGO sale after 10 or 11 at night, which they have since stopped. I got a regular thin slice and have since then been okay with going back, though prices are a bit high IMO. Not for the cheese, but for the other slices ($3.50-$4.00). So I went here with my boyfriend for a Friday night Gville treat. The parking is awful, as usual, but kind of adds to that Gville character, am I right folks? We got there and the line was back to the door. Seriously, a family was hugging the glass doors. It took about 10 minutes just to be able to order. We ordered a Spin Tom (spinach and tomato? that's a serving of vegis right there! ;) ), pep slice, 1/4 order of rolls (3 rolls, plenty for two) and a soda. It was less than $10. The order came out in about 5-8 minutes. We ate outside because it was beautiful out tonight. The Spin Tom was kind of TOO spinachy for me, and I forgot I hate fresh tomatoes and preferred roasted or sun-dried, and it had no sauce, so I poured the bread dipping pizza sauce over it and it because edible. Not a bad pizza, just my bad decision-making. My boyfriend's pep was delicious, greasy, thin, and crispy. Perfect slice. Wish I had gotten it. The rolls seemed a bit burnt, but it actually added a good crispy texture when dipping it in the butter sludge that is irresistible. Overall, for Gville local likability, it gets 3-4 stars. However, because I KNOW there is better pizza out there, just ranking it based on pizza, I say "Meh. I've experienced better." Like Dominos. Or Five Star. Or Blue Highway.
(2)Spooky T.
Great pizza, awesome crust, and the rolls are stupidly good. I'll be coming back here, hands down. It's a touch greasy and the line can be a little slow-moving, but it's definitely worth the wait. The only better pizza in Gainesville is at Leonardo's 706.
(4)Jim B.
So, popped in for a slice the other day, and this time was an improvement over the previous times. The wait staff was -really- helpful, friendly and efficient. The florentine slice was tasty, although for some reason Leonardo's reheated slices are dryer than most places that do the slice thing. Maybe they just need more cheese. Dunno. Again, the pizza probably rocks when its a fresh pie, but as single slices they are just average. This time I finally tried the garlic knots - they're probably to die for when they are fresh outta the oven, served cold - meh. Tip: get both the red and garlic sauce and dip away - freaking delish. I took 2 of them home, and after a few seconds in the microwave, they improved dramatically... soft and yums with the sauces provided. So, I'd like to bump them to 3.5 stars, but Yelp won't let me, and I just can't go to 4 stars . The service was 4 stars for sure. The cute bubbly blonde kinda makes me want to pop by every day, no matter about the pizza. :-) Oh, and they still have the MOST horrifying bathrooms in all of Gainesville.
(3)Kristen C.
Ahhh Leonardo's. You conjure up fond memories of me moseying on over after class with sorority sisters to grab a slice, garlic roll, and maybe a small salad, and chill amongst the hipsters and semi-business types. All of which were always delicious. Love it!
(4)Jessica A.
Once again, FUCK YES! Leo's was pretty much the only place I ate this epic weekend- rolls and salad. It's really all you need. That super deep-dish pizza looked amaaazing, but I didn't try it. See you next year.
(5)Ryan P.
Buy one slice, get one free last hour of business daily! The deal has died :( No more BOGO.
(4)Merinette S.
Oh Leonardos, even though you occasionally serve me pizza at a very questionable temperature and prevent me from sitting outdoors unless I wish to spend half my mealtime telling passing bums to f*** off, I can't hate you. You're a Gainesville staple, and one of the few places I am truly fond of. If you're not in the mood for pizza, try the balsamic reduction on a salad, and the vegan cookies, if they have them.
(4)Bryne Y.
I'm gonna have to come back and try something else, because I don't want to judge Leonardo's so quickly. In the mood for something a tad healthier, I opted for a vegan slice and has a hard time finishing it. In fact, the whole time I was choking it down all I could think was, "You know what would make this better? Some cheese." I know, I know. Anyway, that's what I get for wanting to be healthy and conscious at a pizza joint. I'll get the classic cheese slice next time and in all likelihood, enjoy it a bunch. Leonardo's also offers salads and a bunch of other non-pizza dishes, and as busy as this place got on the night I was there, the service was remarkably quick. They haven't won me over, but I'm willing to give 'em a second chance.
(3)Adam N.
This place deserves 4 stars on my list simply because they finally started making Gluten Free pizza. Great price too! $10 base + a couple bucks for a couple toppings (awesome selection of toppings). The pizza is delicious, large enough to get two meals out of it and the servers are nice to interact with. Plus cute. Well, some are. Not the guys. Anyway, I was ordering pizza there a couple times a week for awhile and I'm still hungry for more! I highly recommend it this place!
(4)Stefan S.
Returned to G'ville after being away for over 25 years, so the Leo's I remember had nice thick Sicilian-style rectangular slices that were the best I've ever had...anywhere. Hence, the first place I went to once back in town was Leo's By The Slice.... While the current product is above average, it's not as good as the original stuff. To me, it's more like something you would get at a boardwalk pizza joint...but not as greasy. I was so disappointed...that was the one thing I was really looking forward to. The Millhopper location is more like the original and my preference now, but most of the time I just want a slice or two. So I continue my search for something as good as the original. Pros: Still a funky atmosphere. Good value for the money. Definitely worth a look. Cons: Kind of doughy, could use more topping. Slices could stand to be crisped up a bit. Staff could brighten up a bit.
(4)Tom D.
Dear Leonardo's Pizza by the Slice, I am writing you today to inform you that your pizza place is totally rad, and you continue to serve the Gainesville area with some of the best, quickest food for some of the best prices in town. I visited you today and got my 'za on with a plain slice and a slice of Spin Tom. Spinach Tomato pizza without sauce is probably your best thing going, though I remember the satisfaction of ordering the garden salad and a 1/3 dozen garlic rolls and falling in love with you that day so long ago. If you would be so kind, Leonardo's, please inform me of how I can get my hands on one of your t-shirts that resembles the old-school Jawbreaker t-shirts with the Morton's girl on it. I would gladly pay to have one screen printed for me, shipped to Philadelphia and add some additional money for your trouble. It is probably the coolest thing I saw all weekend while visiting Gainesville. Yours truly, Tom D. post script: I probably shouldn't have given you that extra fifth star today, because I used that outhouse of yours, and it was a bit gross. Just letting you know. I hate cleaning my bathroom, too...
(5)F J.
Great hipster pizza place, really close to the northeastern edge of the UF campus too. The girl at the counter was super happy looking. Like, in a "I just smoked a bowl" dazed and content look. Had a thin crust and it was decent, if I was real hungry I probably would have had the thick 3-cheese thing. They re-heat pizzas when serving, and that is not exactly the best thing to see for some. Bathroom was out back disconnected to the restaurant, kind of unusual. Other than that, standard rustic hippie fare. They like tattoos here.
(3)LIsa H.
Good pizza, awesome salads! My husband and I needed a quick dinner on a Friday night and we found it at Leonardos. 4 stars for food, one star lost for the staff-with a too cool for school attitude but what do you expect from 28 year old pizza workers in a college town? Haha, oh well, next time I'm in Gainesville ill probably make a trip back to Leonardos.
(4)Simon P.
Overrated but still good. Bad service. Pretty good food. Tad overpriced. Great for people watching though...very trendy crowd.
(3)Allison H.
The pizza is good, not amazing. The rolls are delicious. Ambiance great.
(4)Analia C.
The pizza is always on point but their service Sunday was disgusting! The two girls were totally overwhelmed by the line. My boyfriend and I ordered two slices and bread. We got one slice and waited for his. We waited and waited finally 7 minutes passed and asked where is his slice - she apologized. I asked her if she can warm mine up since I've been waiting there and she did - with a dirty look to go with it!!!
(3)Mike W.
Overall, I've always liked Leo's by the Slice in part because they've always been there since I was in high school (if not in fact before) and they had served up decent pizza, pastas, and salads. However, tonight my boyfriend and I visited Leo's hoping to get a couple slices of pizza and then return to campus. It was about ten minutes before closing so I can understand that they were nearly out of pizza and also out of sausage for the pasta, but things went downhill from there. The girl at the counter had problems with the credit card scanner because, apparently according to her, they use the same phone lines for the card reader and various other functions of the business (voice? data? who knows? All I know is it took her forever to run my Visa card because she had to wait for an open line). Beyond that, my pasta was tough, my boyfriend's salad dressing had seperated out into vinegar and tasted of the same, and my salad tasted wilted and old. Ok, it was very close to closing on a Sunday night, but still, this isn't a fine dining establishment to say the very least but still they should be able to discern whether or not the salad is fit to serve and if not, calmly inform the customer you're out of salad: this close to closing, the customer will understand. He will not understand paying for a salad he cannot eat. To add insult to injury (or at least to very poor salad), the staff started blaring, as loudly as their sound-system would probably allow, very annoying drone rock . . . like I don't know what group this was, but it sounded like a cross between Thursday and Circa Survive (and I like both these bands) if their guitarist was playing only one note and their keyboards all got stuck on another note . . . horrible. Obviously, they wanted us to leave. However, when we ordered there were a number of other people still eating, and a few of them remained the first scant moments of the evil barrage of nasty sound. Leonardo's: You guys are a Gainesville and UF institution, you know that you're a college-oriented place. Don't be surprised if the week prior to finals kids come in late and order stuff at the last minute. Most of these kids are not only studying, but as in the case of my boyfriend, working retail at the holidays and therefore also dealing with customers at the last moment. We are all in this together: this is crunch time. Get used to it. Serve what food you have left that's in good shape, understand that people may linger slightly longer than you'd like, and deal. Oh, and please call up Verifone and order a credit card scanner that works. If you need another phone line installed, Bell South is just down University Avenue and I think they can help you guys out with that.
(1)Gianmarco P.
The pizza and such are nice. The only complaint I have is the pricing for the pasta. I particularly love Fettuccine Alfredo, but the amount i got for the price I paid (some 6$) was near sad. I was expecting a good portion, but I was served in a very small bowl that just looks big. And tat price was without chicken. Chickn would run me another 2$. While the service was great, the pricing for the non-pizzas could be a lot better.
(2)Carly J.
DON'T PASS UP THE GARLIC ROLLS!! That's the best advice I can give you about this place. The garlic rolls themselves are worth five stars. I've consistently had good pizza from here. They've never failed me! Always had fast service as well. The salad's are also delish and fresh. Good prices for college students.
(4)N M.
This is the best convenient pizza in G'ville, period. I grew up eating RI pizza and I am a complete pizza snob, so that is saying a lot. The only thing I've had in town that I can say is better is Blue Highway at town of tioga. But that is a fancy, sit down place almost out of town - by the slice takes the crown in G'ville proper. Better than Satchel's, and no wait. Always a line at the slice because it's so good. The various gourmet slices are great, but the plain cheese is really a work of art that needs to be met on its own terms. Yes, the punk rock kids who work there can be grumpy sometimes, but be patient with them - they are feeding UF one undergrad at a time. Cheap, quick, easy and amazingly good AND consistent (which is very impressive). How do they do it?
(5)Cristina S.
I don't know what all the hype is about.
(2)Chris V.
I went here alot because a friend of mine is vegan and swore by the garlic knots as his main food source besides krishna lunch. Its not bad for what it is. A pizza place that is walking distance from campus where you can hang out with a friend if you have an hour to kill between classes or something. Think upscale Sbarro's run by hipsters (and though it seems it, that was not an insult ha). The pizza is only 3 stars because it sits out until you order it, then heated up and served. I've gotten a whole pizza made before and its much better, though once again this place was made to run in and grab a quick slice. Alot of different options makes up for the fact that its not the freshest (they even have vegan slices). There are also snacks and desserts for sale. I will say that Leonardo's has the best and cheapest vegan cookie in town, especially for how large it is. I'm never super excited to go here, but at the same time I don't normally fight it. At least I can say their consistency is great, you will definitely get the same quality every time, which is more then I can say for most of Gainesvile''s flagship restaurants.
(3)Tu-van L.
The only pizza place I've been to that actually has oregano for you to add to your pizza. This place has some pretty tasty pizzas - I'm especially drawn to their greek pizzas. Their salads are good and their rolls with buttery garlic sauce are to die for. And they offer some good jumbo slice specials on occasion. Love you guys and miss your love."
(4)Christopher R.
Another place I used to live during high school and the years after. It is THE haven for the freaks of Gainesville. Give me your tattooed and your pierced and I'll give you the best pie you'll ever have. I live for the deep dish, thick and flaky crusts of the veggies pies. And dont you EVER forget those sweet, addictive god damned rolls covered in congealing, artery clogging, garlicky butter. YUMMO
(4)Paula R.
Don't know what all the hooplah is about with this place. I ordered a Pepperoni Pie and some of their famed Garlic rolls to go. I opened the pizza box and the pie was very reminiscent of a pie I might order from Papa John's or any chain pizzeria of the sort. The Garlic rolls were decent on the other hand, the garlic butter type sauce they provided was probably my favorite part of the whole order. However, I don't see myself getting pizza from them again.
(2)MeXOhXMe X.
They have a very convenient location to the university. The ambiance is relaxed and, as many other reviewers have said, very "hipster". The pizza is pretty good. It can sometimes be on the cardboard side, but it's not awful. I tend to lean more toward thick crust pizza, and theirs is thin ( individual slices at the counter, at least), so it may just be a matter of personal preference. The rolls they give are delicious, however, and probably my favorite item on the menu. They are (in my experience) always fresh, and I love that they give the option of marinara or yummy garlic sauce on the side. The pastas are pretty good. Nothing out of this world, but they hit the spot and are well priced. The portions are good sized too, and always fill me up. The salads are a wide variety of different vegetables and are alright as well. They are topped with some odd green stringy stuff that I always take off, but the rest of the salad is good enough to make up for it. They also have some good salad dressing options. The bakery items are okay. In my experience, my purchases can be a little dry, but besides that taste pretty good. The service, however, is not the best. I have waited for five minutes, just standing in front of the counter, and have been completely ignored. Other times I have been skipped right over. Sometimes I have had to wait ages for them to ring up my order. They seem to have a hard time splitting their attention between the pizza counter and the adjacent bakery/cafe counter. My food has never been messed up, though, and I have to give them credit for that. So maybe they do pay a modicum of attention to their customers. The location and price is enough to keep me coming back. The food is average but that won't keep me from joining my friends next time they want to visit.
(3)Rachel O.
Delicious rolls and pasta here! Nice atmosphere.
(4)Laurie L.
i graduated from UF in '09, but am luckily back in the 'ville for a short time to do a rotation at shands. i decided to stop by leonardo's for lunch today...holy YUM. i have officially confirmed that distance indeed DOES make the heart grow fonder. i ordered the usual: veggie slice ($3.50) + 1/4 order of rolls ($1.30). the rolls come with garlic-butter sauce and marinara sauce. both are equally amazing, so i say dip in BOTH. george costanza wouldn't approve but i, my friends, certainly do. i...not-so-easily downed the entire thing and have been in heaven ever since! currently contemplating my next leonardo's adventure (tonight is too soon, right?). go to leonardo's for lunch - you'll be glad you did!
(5)Jason R.
Great pizza. You can't really go wrong with anything here.
(4)Morena H.
Pretty good pizza, HUGE slices for a good price. GREAT garden salads which come with their rolls that are also delicious. The prices are pretty good, they have some deals like a garden salad, a slice of pizza and rolls for less then $10. The food is good, without a doubt, but the service leaves MUCH to be desired. Granted that the employees only take your order - no waitress service, thank god! but every time I come in, the girls at the front are ALWAYS grumpy. There's gotta be something in the water or in the air over at Leonardo's because those girls never smile, and they toss that pizza all over.
(4)So H.
This was one of the first restaurants I went to when I was a freshman at UF and could walk here from my dorm. They have pretty good pizza by the slice options and reasonable prices. They have two types of pizza - normal crust and a thick crust. I like their "Spin Tom" which is a normal cheese pizza with spinach and tomato slices. The thick crust is pretty good, but I try to cut down the carbs a little with the normal size. They also have yummy garlic rolls! These are usually warm and fresh baked. Marina sauce is supposedly homemade, it's good but is somewhat bland. The garlic butter is much better though. I usually dip my bread in a combination of them. They also have some salad and pasta options. I've tried the spaghetti and meatballs - it's alright. I'd rather go with the pizza over pasta though. This is a cute little pizza place with a hipster vibe, but very friendly to all types of people. It can get rather busy, especially for dinner time, so expect to wait in a long line to place your order. There is a parking lot, but it is rather limited, so it's better if you can walk here. It is next door to Bistro 1245 and they share some menu items.
(4)R L.
not very good, not awful.
(3)Viviana M.
Leonardo's has good pizza, better than most places around here. And the slices are really big so you get your moneys worth! Not to mention its 10 feet from campus so easily accessible!
(3)Gramley A.
A gainesville tradition. If i want thick crust I go here, but typically I am more of more of a NY style, but leonardos is great none the less
(4)Charles D.
Pizza's good. Garlic balls are excellent. It's cheap. You can discern all of this when you walk in, thus these reviews are pointless.
(4)Chad S.
Worst food in Gainesville! Stay away from the microwaved Alfredo, raw bread and dirty silver wear (all of it) disgusting. Oh, and make sure you are vegan or you will get a nasty look when ordering meat .... FAIL!
(1)Danny D.
Leonardo's, where the girls behind the register are as hot as the pizza. God, I'm lonely.
(4)Apara W.
Great cheese pizza, plenty vegetarian options. I have been there plenty times for lunch. Always liked it. Highly recommend.
(4)Angel B.
The thin crust pizza is really good. If I rated it any higher it would be sinful pizza. As it is, pretty good. Much better (thin crust) than any of the chains. Yum!
(4)Chris M.
Great place in the heart of Gainesville. The veggie pizza comes with huge veggies, all around great pizza and atmosphere.
(4)Brad A.
Good pizza, good garlic knots, funky atmosphere, hippie employees. You're best off just ordering by the slice; they have lots of varieties and toppings. My favorite was getting one thin slice (good) and one thick slice (really good) and a few rolls. All this and a drink for under $10 was always a winner. The baked goods (cookies, brownies) are also definitely worth a try. The help may look as stoned and useless as the workers at Pita Pit, but in this case looks are deceiving; they're only pretending not to care about what's going on.
(4)Maggie P.
The pizza is really good. I like mine crispy so i always ask them to make it "well done" and it turns out perfect. Ceasar salad is awesome, comes with rolls and delicious sauces to dip in. Only complaint is that they stop making the salads about 1 hour before close... why? Majority of staff is friendly and helpful. Only had one bad experience out of many.
(4)felicity b.
Their salad dressings are so good. Fresh. Yum. Their salads are also very good. Prices are fair. Staff can be questionable and the place is not always the cleanest. Forget about parking during peak times too. And the other reviewer is right about the pizza being not so great when it's not fresh. If you don't go at peak times it's not that fresh (usually). But those salads are so darn delicious!
(3)Gigi A.
Great food! Always a classic! Love their salads, and of course their pizza!
(4)Adriann J.
Love their garlic knots. I took my daughter here the other day and she had the Cheese slice w/ salad and I had the White, spinach & artichoke slice. My slice was absolutely delicious. It was actually fresh out of the oven which was a big plus. (Called the next day to see if they were going to make one that day but they said they weren't. Bummer) They usually have to reheat it once you order it. It tends to taste kinda Meh. The cheese was nice and bubbly, and the artichokes tasted fresh but who knows right? The one thing I wasn't head over heels for was the Ceasar salad. Um last time I checked a Ceasar salad came w/ ::clears throat:: Ceasar dressing?? At least I thought it did. My side salad @ $3.75 mind u was very small and dry w/ 3 croutons and a lemon wedge. The lemon was the only "dressing". So good pizza when it's fresh out of the oven, killer garlic knots & SUCKY Caesar! Caesar the day at your own risk!
(3)Evie W.
Reliably good pizza and salad. Great prices, fast, and convenient.
(4)Zaw W.
Great thin crust pizza for a good price. Pizza is inconsistent but amazing when it's done right.
(4)Joel F.
This place had some fairly tasty pizza, with the sausage having just the right amount of spiciness. I also enjoyed the perfect grease to cheese mixture. This isn't really someplace that I'd recommend eating daily, but it was good.
(4)Jenkitty C.
Good, quick and cheap. I dig it.
(5)Ryan W.
I first ate a Leonardo's when I moved up to Gainesville for college. I thoroughly enjoyed grabbing a decently priced thick pie and taking it home to snack on for the rest of the week. The food is decent if you don't mind often getting slightly undercooked bread, although I have on a few occasions bitten into entirely raw chunks of dough. They do have great salad, one of the few that I enjoy eating, and about a buck for 3 garlic rolls is a pretty good deal. Until recently I had no major qualms with Leonardo's, but for the second time in a row tonight, the business has outright lied to me. They run a deal every night advertised as buy one get one free slices an hour before closing, which would be a great deal. However, for the second time in less than a month I've been bamboozled. Two times I have called the establishment at 8:45 to make sure the deal was to start at 9, and have been assured that this was so by the employees. After getting in the car and driving there, my friends and I were informed by the employees that management had just decided to start the deal at 9:30 instead of 9. When confronted with the fact that we were told just 15 minutes before that it would indeed start at 9, the employees told us there was nothing they could do and their word would not be honored. I do not blame the employees, as I believe it was not their decision, and I do not expect them to risk their jobs to save me a couple bucks. However, I do have a serious problem with management that continuously goes back on their word and does not care about their customers. Leonardo's will try to fool you into thinking that they are some great, alternative business with a wall detailing their battle to keep the anatomical man's penis on their logo and their acceptance of tattooed and pierced employees, but the fact of the matter is that the only thing that they care about is your money like most other businesses. While what has happened is by no means the worst thing a company has ever done, I, for one, will never be eating at Leonardo's again, and will never recommend them to anyone. If you are looking for a local joint with great food and great service I would suggest Buddha Belly or La Tienda over Leonardo's any day.
(2)Dani W.
Great, cheap food to grab for lunch or something between classes when you're sick of Wendy's and Subway. Their garlic rolls with the butter sauce mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm delicious. I miss Leonardo's.
(5)K S.
Slice of pizza and a mountain dew is the perfect lunch. So good that I stopped having to bribe my friends with garlic rolls to walk there with me before/after games.
(4)Patrick S.
Probably my favorite pizza place in all of Gainesville. The rolls, portobello slices, and organic salad are all fantastic. The fact that the salad's organic doesn't matter to me, it's the different ingredients used compared to the normal green salad that make it the choice. Oh, the desserts are good too. Highly recommended.
(5)Charles L.
Who are these less than five star people? If you're looking for a casual, slightly-funky, college-style pizza place, this is the one. Any true Gator has eaten here many, many times, and is obligated to pass on the five star review for great varieties of pizza, funky atmosphere, and great Garlic rolls.
(5)Stephanie N.
LIke that you could get diff slices, prices aren't bad - but its no NY pizza. I got a classic mushroom & pepperoni pizza and my only complaint is that i wish my mushrooms were more cooked.
(3)Laura M.
Leonardo's gets a full five stars from me, but I'll admit that the last one is based on nostalgia. The place has been around for decades, and the Leonardo's group of restaurants is interesting in that each member of the "chain" is unique -- by the slice, deep dish, and 706 are completely different animals. I used to come here as a kid with my father, and it was funkier then, with more weird art, less matching furniture, and a ceiling painted like the sky. Still, I enjoy the greasy pizza and the OMG garlic rolls to this day, and come back whenever I'm home.
(5)Logan f.
Convenient and great pizza. Its a gainesville staple for heavens sake.
(5)