This visit was a quiet Sunday lunch. We had a coupon to burn. This time we ordered the boneless wings (balls). Not as buffalo tasting we thought they would be considering how much sauce was on them. Then We had the calzone. We each had our own. I feel like I've had bigger here. They just didn't as filled as they have been before. Regardless the service from the only waitress in the place was prompt and nice. The food was hot and filling. Maybe it was just an off day.
(4)
Rob P.
Sam & Louie's wasn't on my pizza radar until a friend invited me to go. When you're inside and find a place to sit you figure out your order and go to the counter to request it. You also fill your own beverages. In that regard, if you have small kids it isn't necessarily the easiest arrangement. But the pizza came out and everyone agreed it was quite good. Their selection, speed and occasional Groupon opportunities, along with a great birthday club, make this a great place to go for pizza with the family, lunch with co-workers or just a relaxing stop on your way to somewhere.
(3)
Kelsey K.
I love the pizza here. Lots of favorites mixed in with specialty pizzas. The whole family will love it. It's a bit of a hidden gem since it's off the beaten path, but it's worth the trip.
(4)
H L.
We've been here 3 times because it's close to our house. But it's been gross all 3 times. Soggy greasy pizza, bad sauce, the lady server was a slob with an attitude, and 2 out of the 3 times they got my order wrong. We walked out the 1st time because no one ever came into the dining room. So, we left.
(1)
Sylvia D.
Bunch of us dined here after a movie and I had the lasagna. This was THE BEST lasagna I've ever had. It came with a salad on which I had the house dressing and the salad was also high quality with lots of stuff on it, not just iceberg lettuce which pleasantly surprised me. But back to the main course. Did I tell you I ordered lasagna and it was the best I ever had? Also, it was a large serving and there was enough to take home for another meal. Its not that you should go and try their lasagna---its that you must go and have it. Two other people in our group ordered one pizza to share but couldn't agree on what should go on it, so it came out with half being one type of pizza and half being something else. The pizza was huge, like a flying saucer---and looked delicious though I didn't try it as I was in lasagna heaven. But the duo that ordered it gave rave reviews. Upon questioning the server about the lasagna, she said it is made from scratch there and they make their own sauce.
(5)
Brett L.
Every time I go to this place for lunch I am always kind of stunned how few people are in this place right at noon when Tasty Tacos next door has a line out the door. This place has some very good lunch specials for less than $10. I usually get 2 specialty slices (you get to choose from about 15 different choices), plus a side salad (the Italian dressing is the best) and a soda for $9.99. The slices are big too, like the Sbarro slices you used to get in the mall back in the day. They have pasta, sandwiches and burgers on the menu which are probably okay too, but I dont mess around with that stuff because their pizza is very good. Thin crust, but not cracker thin with a good chew to it.
(4)
Angela T.
Sam & Louie's is one of my favorite places to eat pizza in Des Moines. Their pizza is served hot and fresh and tastes delicious! The service is fast, and it's never crowded. They also have a great lunch special with a slice of pizza and a salad - best of both worlds! I haven't ever tried anything else off of the menu, so I'm not sure what the other food choices taste like. I would definitely visit again.
(4)
Adam B.
After driving past this place many times, I finally paid it a visit, and I'm glad I did. Sam & Louie's may have immediately jumped into contention as one of my favorite pizza places in the suburbs. I like a thin crust pizza, and their crust is just about perfect -- not too crispy, not too doughy. The Sam & Louie's Special is a great rendition of a supreme pizza, and I thought the red pepper chunks were a nice touch. The perfect amount of toppings, cheese, and sauce. This place was not super busy at first on an early Friday night when I visited. It became comfortably busy as the night wore on. I had very exceptional service from our server -- she was very attentive to our needs. It was clear that management has re-emphasized service here, and it showed in a positive manner. They have a lot of deals and promotions running, so keep your eyes peeled for those and you can save a lot of money. Fair prices, good deals, great service, and top notch pizza. Give Sam & Louie's a try -- you'll be glad you did.
(4)
Lindsay A.
We've been here a few times before and were pleased with the gluten free pizza. Tonight, the gluten free pizza crust was different and undercooked. We called our server over and she was very accommodating and instantly offered us food while we waited for a new pizza. Thanks for helping us out!
(4)
Breanne H.
We were greeted right away and seated immediately. We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip as an appetizer and it was delicious! For our meals we ordered a stromboli and calzone. Both were very good as well. One downside to our meal was that the waitress was the only one working, so it took about 15 minutes to pay the bill. I would recommend this restaurant and go back!
(4)
Andy S.
I actually consider the pizza here as one of my favorites in the Des moines area (I know it's a chain). The only problems with this place are that the pizzas are expensive and the service is terrible. On multiple occasions I have called in a pizza for carry out, only to have the woman on the phone act like I was interrupting her night.
(3)
Brandon R.
Came at the recommendation of friends and got a smattering of apps and their Brooklyn pizza. Their fried pickle chips and chipotle ranch were delicious and the pizza was above average. Would come back again to try the other varieties.
(5)
Jessica L.
Finally checked this place out today - the pizza is good but nothing amazing. The cashier was friendly enough until she started complaining how long the day is and how she didn't want to work until 8 - this was around 1:45pm. The food was ready very quickly so that was nice but for the price, it wasn't too awesome. I might give it another chance for a sit-down dinner with some friends.
(3)
Andrea T.
We had heard about this place through some friends, ads on the radio and passing by it when we go to lunch. We had not heard anything bad about it so the next time we were craving pizza, we decided to try it out. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere. The walks have painted on bricks with "cracked" walls. The decor is mostly red with black and white accents. I spotted a large room in the back of the place that looked like it would be good for large groups. They also have a small bar area to sit at. When we got there, every table was taken or just being cleaned. There were also people ordering carry-out at the register. Their menu consists of some of the basic types that you would expect anywhere but they also had some unique selections. We ordered the 16" Manhattan pizza. I was not sure what a pizza with alfredo sauce, meatballs and canadian bacon would taste like but was very intrigued. It was awesome! The crust was hand tossed, it had the right amount of cheese and toppings. Delicious! The owner of the location personally delivered the pizza to our table and came back to see what we thought. He was very personable and you could tell he cared about pleasing the customers. This is right up there, if not above my other favorite pizza places!
(5)
Megan M.
My husband and I had a groupon for Sam & Louie's so we thought we'd give it a try. We ordered their cheesy garlic bread and an 18 inch create your own pie. The cheesy garlic bread was buttery with the right amount of garlic and the perfect amount of cheese. It was a perfectly cooked appetizer to start off the meal. The pizza was a proper NY style that folded well with a nice chewy crust and the proper amount of grease. The cheese was alright, but there could have been a bit more of it in my opinion. The sauce was sweeter than I'm used to and I just didn't care for it that much. I typically prefer pizza sauce with a little bit of spice and not much sweet. However, it wasn't as sweet or nearly as bad as Pizza Pit's pizza. I'm willing to give this place another shot, perhaps the sweeter sauce will pair better with a more Hawaiian style ham and pineapple. I will have to try their specialty pizzas next time I go. My overall thought: I've had better NY style pizza in Iowa (see my review of Joe's Pizza and Pasta in Ames). The cheesy bread appetizer and our waitress (who was attentive and very kind) bumped it up to 3 stars, but I'm willing to give it another chance with their recommended pizzas. I suppose I should also try their pastas too...Stay tuned.
(3)
Sherri O.
Don't waste your time. Terrible service, got our order wrong (we had just ordered one pizza), and our food was burned. We had to approach the counter since our server completely ignored our table. Ended up walking out.
(1)
Hugh J.
This place is just "ok". There's really not any highlight to speak of. Boring pizza choices. Boring entrees - frozen lasagna, spaghetti with sauce from a can, blah-iceberg lettuce salad, etc. One visit was enough for me. I would rather spend my money on a local pizzeria that has more pizzazz to their menu. I could name 5 local places easily off the top of my head that has more interesting food, more homemade food, more complex flavors, and better atmosphere. (I mean, come on...they have brick pattern wall paper on the walls here.) In summary, generic strip mall mega-chain blah boring pizza place. Not bad, not good either.
(3)
NIffer B.
We got a groupon and figured it would be a good place for a cheap dinner. We had the fried pickles, house salad and Hawaiian pizza (give me a break, I'm pregnant). We really enjoyed the pickles and the pizza, but there was nothing special about the salad. Probably would be much improved with a good dressing. The pizza was really pretty good and we managed to eat the whole 12''. Other reviewers are right, it's a fairly thin crust with a sweeter sauce. Service was great, nothing to complain about. Overall definitely worth a trip, nothing out of this world, but no major complaints!
(4)
Joseph D.
In brief, the pizza is very good. And the wait staff is very friendly as well. Unfortunately, for the amount of food you receive, the expensive price tag just isn't worth it.
(3)
Courtney T.
Atmosphere is strip mall-ish but food is good. Even their gluten-free crust is good!
(4)
Kris D.
Not a huge selection on the menu, but we thought the garlic bread and pizza were quite good. I'd definitely eat it again. The service was a little disappointing.
(3)
Jordan H.
Good crisp and chewy crust. Italian sausage is good, and I definitely dug the buffalo chicken as a topping. The sauce, though, is way too sweet for me. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad sauce, but it just throws some of these pizzas off. Friendly service and really a pretty good lunch special - 2 slices (pretty good sized) and a drink for $6. Check it out - if the sauce were a bit more on the spicy end I'd knock it up another star.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : 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 : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Kristyn M.
This visit was a quiet Sunday lunch. We had a coupon to burn. This time we ordered the boneless wings (balls). Not as buffalo tasting we thought they would be considering how much sauce was on them. Then We had the calzone. We each had our own. I feel like I've had bigger here. They just didn't as filled as they have been before. Regardless the service from the only waitress in the place was prompt and nice. The food was hot and filling. Maybe it was just an off day.
(4)Rob P.
Sam & Louie's wasn't on my pizza radar until a friend invited me to go. When you're inside and find a place to sit you figure out your order and go to the counter to request it. You also fill your own beverages. In that regard, if you have small kids it isn't necessarily the easiest arrangement. But the pizza came out and everyone agreed it was quite good. Their selection, speed and occasional Groupon opportunities, along with a great birthday club, make this a great place to go for pizza with the family, lunch with co-workers or just a relaxing stop on your way to somewhere.
(3)Kelsey K.
I love the pizza here. Lots of favorites mixed in with specialty pizzas. The whole family will love it. It's a bit of a hidden gem since it's off the beaten path, but it's worth the trip.
(4)H L.
We've been here 3 times because it's close to our house. But it's been gross all 3 times. Soggy greasy pizza, bad sauce, the lady server was a slob with an attitude, and 2 out of the 3 times they got my order wrong. We walked out the 1st time because no one ever came into the dining room. So, we left.
(1)Sylvia D.
Bunch of us dined here after a movie and I had the lasagna. This was THE BEST lasagna I've ever had. It came with a salad on which I had the house dressing and the salad was also high quality with lots of stuff on it, not just iceberg lettuce which pleasantly surprised me. But back to the main course. Did I tell you I ordered lasagna and it was the best I ever had? Also, it was a large serving and there was enough to take home for another meal. Its not that you should go and try their lasagna---its that you must go and have it. Two other people in our group ordered one pizza to share but couldn't agree on what should go on it, so it came out with half being one type of pizza and half being something else. The pizza was huge, like a flying saucer---and looked delicious though I didn't try it as I was in lasagna heaven. But the duo that ordered it gave rave reviews. Upon questioning the server about the lasagna, she said it is made from scratch there and they make their own sauce.
(5)Brett L.
Every time I go to this place for lunch I am always kind of stunned how few people are in this place right at noon when Tasty Tacos next door has a line out the door. This place has some very good lunch specials for less than $10. I usually get 2 specialty slices (you get to choose from about 15 different choices), plus a side salad (the Italian dressing is the best) and a soda for $9.99. The slices are big too, like the Sbarro slices you used to get in the mall back in the day. They have pasta, sandwiches and burgers on the menu which are probably okay too, but I dont mess around with that stuff because their pizza is very good. Thin crust, but not cracker thin with a good chew to it.
(4)Angela T.
Sam & Louie's is one of my favorite places to eat pizza in Des Moines. Their pizza is served hot and fresh and tastes delicious! The service is fast, and it's never crowded. They also have a great lunch special with a slice of pizza and a salad - best of both worlds! I haven't ever tried anything else off of the menu, so I'm not sure what the other food choices taste like. I would definitely visit again.
(4)Adam B.
After driving past this place many times, I finally paid it a visit, and I'm glad I did. Sam & Louie's may have immediately jumped into contention as one of my favorite pizza places in the suburbs. I like a thin crust pizza, and their crust is just about perfect -- not too crispy, not too doughy. The Sam & Louie's Special is a great rendition of a supreme pizza, and I thought the red pepper chunks were a nice touch. The perfect amount of toppings, cheese, and sauce. This place was not super busy at first on an early Friday night when I visited. It became comfortably busy as the night wore on. I had very exceptional service from our server -- she was very attentive to our needs. It was clear that management has re-emphasized service here, and it showed in a positive manner. They have a lot of deals and promotions running, so keep your eyes peeled for those and you can save a lot of money. Fair prices, good deals, great service, and top notch pizza. Give Sam & Louie's a try -- you'll be glad you did.
(4)Lindsay A.
We've been here a few times before and were pleased with the gluten free pizza. Tonight, the gluten free pizza crust was different and undercooked. We called our server over and she was very accommodating and instantly offered us food while we waited for a new pizza. Thanks for helping us out!
(4)Breanne H.
We were greeted right away and seated immediately. We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip as an appetizer and it was delicious! For our meals we ordered a stromboli and calzone. Both were very good as well. One downside to our meal was that the waitress was the only one working, so it took about 15 minutes to pay the bill. I would recommend this restaurant and go back!
(4)Andy S.
I actually consider the pizza here as one of my favorites in the Des moines area (I know it's a chain). The only problems with this place are that the pizzas are expensive and the service is terrible. On multiple occasions I have called in a pizza for carry out, only to have the woman on the phone act like I was interrupting her night.
(3)Brandon R.
Came at the recommendation of friends and got a smattering of apps and their Brooklyn pizza. Their fried pickle chips and chipotle ranch were delicious and the pizza was above average. Would come back again to try the other varieties.
(5)Jessica L.
Finally checked this place out today - the pizza is good but nothing amazing. The cashier was friendly enough until she started complaining how long the day is and how she didn't want to work until 8 - this was around 1:45pm. The food was ready very quickly so that was nice but for the price, it wasn't too awesome. I might give it another chance for a sit-down dinner with some friends.
(3)Andrea T.
We had heard about this place through some friends, ads on the radio and passing by it when we go to lunch. We had not heard anything bad about it so the next time we were craving pizza, we decided to try it out. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere. The walks have painted on bricks with "cracked" walls. The decor is mostly red with black and white accents. I spotted a large room in the back of the place that looked like it would be good for large groups. They also have a small bar area to sit at. When we got there, every table was taken or just being cleaned. There were also people ordering carry-out at the register. Their menu consists of some of the basic types that you would expect anywhere but they also had some unique selections. We ordered the 16" Manhattan pizza. I was not sure what a pizza with alfredo sauce, meatballs and canadian bacon would taste like but was very intrigued. It was awesome! The crust was hand tossed, it had the right amount of cheese and toppings. Delicious! The owner of the location personally delivered the pizza to our table and came back to see what we thought. He was very personable and you could tell he cared about pleasing the customers. This is right up there, if not above my other favorite pizza places!
(5)Megan M.
My husband and I had a groupon for Sam & Louie's so we thought we'd give it a try. We ordered their cheesy garlic bread and an 18 inch create your own pie. The cheesy garlic bread was buttery with the right amount of garlic and the perfect amount of cheese. It was a perfectly cooked appetizer to start off the meal. The pizza was a proper NY style that folded well with a nice chewy crust and the proper amount of grease. The cheese was alright, but there could have been a bit more of it in my opinion. The sauce was sweeter than I'm used to and I just didn't care for it that much. I typically prefer pizza sauce with a little bit of spice and not much sweet. However, it wasn't as sweet or nearly as bad as Pizza Pit's pizza. I'm willing to give this place another shot, perhaps the sweeter sauce will pair better with a more Hawaiian style ham and pineapple. I will have to try their specialty pizzas next time I go. My overall thought: I've had better NY style pizza in Iowa (see my review of Joe's Pizza and Pasta in Ames). The cheesy bread appetizer and our waitress (who was attentive and very kind) bumped it up to 3 stars, but I'm willing to give it another chance with their recommended pizzas. I suppose I should also try their pastas too...Stay tuned.
(3)Sherri O.
Don't waste your time. Terrible service, got our order wrong (we had just ordered one pizza), and our food was burned. We had to approach the counter since our server completely ignored our table. Ended up walking out.
(1)Hugh J.
This place is just "ok". There's really not any highlight to speak of. Boring pizza choices. Boring entrees - frozen lasagna, spaghetti with sauce from a can, blah-iceberg lettuce salad, etc. One visit was enough for me. I would rather spend my money on a local pizzeria that has more pizzazz to their menu. I could name 5 local places easily off the top of my head that has more interesting food, more homemade food, more complex flavors, and better atmosphere. (I mean, come on...they have brick pattern wall paper on the walls here.) In summary, generic strip mall mega-chain blah boring pizza place. Not bad, not good either.
(3)NIffer B.
We got a groupon and figured it would be a good place for a cheap dinner. We had the fried pickles, house salad and Hawaiian pizza (give me a break, I'm pregnant). We really enjoyed the pickles and the pizza, but there was nothing special about the salad. Probably would be much improved with a good dressing. The pizza was really pretty good and we managed to eat the whole 12''. Other reviewers are right, it's a fairly thin crust with a sweeter sauce. Service was great, nothing to complain about. Overall definitely worth a trip, nothing out of this world, but no major complaints!
(4)Joseph D.
In brief, the pizza is very good. And the wait staff is very friendly as well. Unfortunately, for the amount of food you receive, the expensive price tag just isn't worth it.
(3)Courtney T.
Atmosphere is strip mall-ish but food is good. Even their gluten-free crust is good!
(4)Kris D.
Not a huge selection on the menu, but we thought the garlic bread and pizza were quite good. I'd definitely eat it again. The service was a little disappointing.
(3)Jordan H.
Good crisp and chewy crust. Italian sausage is good, and I definitely dug the buffalo chicken as a topping. The sauce, though, is way too sweet for me. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad sauce, but it just throws some of these pizzas off. Friendly service and really a pretty good lunch special - 2 slices (pretty good sized) and a drink for $6. Check it out - if the sauce were a bit more on the spicy end I'd knock it up another star.
(3)