Valentino’s New York Style Pizzeria Menu

  • Starters
  • Soups
  • Salads
  • 12" Giant Hero Subs
  • Calzones & Rolls
  • Seafood
  • Pasta
  • Ravioli
  • Entrees
  • Baked Specialties
  • Pizzas
  • Specialty Pizzas
  • Wraps
  • Gyros
  • Beverages
  • Desserts
  • Kids Menu

Healthy Meal suggestions for Valentino’s New York Style Pizzeria

  • Starters
  • Soups
  • Salads
  • 12" Giant Hero Subs
  • Calzones & Rolls
  • Seafood
  • Pasta
  • Ravioli
  • Entrees
  • Baked Specialties
  • Pizzas
  • Specialty Pizzas
  • Wraps
  • Gyros
  • Beverages
  • Desserts
  • Kids Menu
  • Jessica S.

    I'm from NY and this spot has THE best pizza in the area no doubt. We sat for dinner and the server was very pleasant and helpful. It's def not a convenient place for us as we live around old town but we will go out of our way for this again.

    (5)
  • Asal N.

    Best take-out pizza in the area! I'm lucky to have them so close to where I live. Never had it delivered but they're always on time when I pick it up. They serve generous portions...in my opinion it is one of the best NY style pizza I've had outside of NY.

    (5)
  • Nelson H.

    The subs are good and the pizza is amazing. Better than a lot of supposedly "New York" style pizzerias you'll find in the area and even in New York itself.

    (5)
  • Hannah H.

    My husband and I came here to grab a couple of slices before we went home. Our previous experience at Valentino's wasn't that memorable, but still wanted to give them another chance! They have four locations (Alexandria, Sterling, Manassas, and Ashburn), and their menu offers items such as a variety of pies, wraps, gyros, heros, pastas, calzones, soups, and salads. The guys in there were very friendly; I did request my pizza to be extra well done (I like it nice and crispy), and they said that they will take care of me. While waiting, we tried their pink lemonade, and it was actually pretty delicious! Not too overly sweet, but with a nice little tang, you can actually taste the lemonade. Yum. I enjoyed my slice of the Sicilian, as it was cheesy, and a great ratio with the crispy crust. Amal, one of the employees, was so sweet and had a great sense of humor. I loved how they remodeled inside (the shiny tiled walls, the cute colored lamps, etc.; they even have a little fountain on their outside patio!). Definitely a great and a better experience compared to before, and a solid place for pie, whether you're dining in or doing a carry-out! :D +Sicilian slice +friendly staff :D

    (3)
  • Joe P.

    What can I say about this place that hasnt already been said?! The pizza is by far some of the best New York style pizza I've had outside of New York City. It's certainly the best in the DC Maryland and Virginia area! And I was born in Brooklyn so I know Pizza! Another thing worth trying are the wings. The chicken wings are actually pretty good. I order a mix of garlic Parmesan and spicy barbecue. They usually don't make it that way but do it for me and once those two flavors combine its actually quite amazing. The staff is very friendly, the place is exceptionally clean, and the immense amount of pride they have shows up in the quality of food that they serve. Don't take my word for it, go and try for yourself! If this is your first time, order the Valentino's Special pizza with no olives. I don't like olives but if you do, throw them on, it won't hurt. Enjoy!

    (5)
  • Marques J.

    I'm easily 6'3". I walk in to order a few slices and I'm ignored for about 3 minutes. Another couple walks up and puts in an order right away. Another customer lost as I walk out...good pizza tho when offered..

    (1)
  • Chris D.

    Let me keep this one short. Order the Chicken alla Vodka. Take one bite. Go to heaven. Enough said.

    (5)
  • Kay W.

    Went here and left with nothing. The place was not inviting. The pizza looked dried out anyway. Won't be back. I think these people read the reviews for people saying it's just like NY pizza. I would like to know if these people have been to NY city and actually had NY pizza. That pizza didn't look anything like NY pizza which I have had. I would rather drive to NY than go to this place. There are other places locally that have good pizza and service so this place isn't even on my list. I had only passed by . It's not about somebody kissing your behind for pizza, but customer service is a requirement in any food place.

    (1)
  • A A.

    I've had a yelp account for almost a year now and only have posted a review one other time because of a terrible experience at a doctors office. This is the first time I've had such a great experience I felt like I needed (and wanted) to write a positive review. We ordered carry out earlier this evening, probably around 6-630 and we arrived with the food hot and the manager threw in some garlic knots for us. When we got home, we had an issue with the order and called to tell them. Not only did the manager sincerely apologize, but he came all the way to our condo himself (even though we had picked our food up) to give us our money back and make sure we were satisfied. The food we have gotten from here has always been amazing, and now I can say the service and integrity of the business is as well. Definitely recommend.

    (5)
  • Patrice E.

    Not sure what exactly constitutes "NY PIZZA" I am not from NY but I used to take my girls there at least once a month to catch a Broadway play. I've had pizza in Times Square, Little Italy, and other places. No real consistency to what I'd call a "style" they were all different. Our favorite pizza was always Two Boots in Grand Central Station. So all that being said I don't know what the whole NY pizza is and what its supposed to taste like. But the pizza I got from this place today THE BOMB. The freaking bomb. Great majority of the time I cook my own food, I KNOW when food is fresh. This was the freshest pizza, the freshest ingredients. I ordered the "Papa Joes Pizza". OH MY GOD. Amazing. Big thick Sicilian style fresh dough topped with mozzarella and fresh cut plum tomatoes, onions and parsley. I didn't realize how huge it was going to be so we'll be eating this pizza for days. But that is okay with me. And. THEY DELIVERED. LOVE IT.

    (5)
  • Christina M.

    This place is everything I expect out of a NY pizza joint. We got some regular cheese, meat pizza, and a buffalo chicken pizza with garlic knots on the side. All delicious even though the garlic was more real and chunky on the knots than I've ever seen (comparing to boring ol' commercial pizza...). Probably wouldn't get the knots again, but I will definitely go back.

    (5)
  • Malcolm H.

    The food is delicious. Really. But I am just about fed up with the criminally bad service operation. Phone always busy, so I went over on Saturday and was told 35 min wait for 2 pizzas and a salad. The salad was 'up' and waiting after 15 minutes, just sitting there in room temp with feta cheese on it. The first pizza, plain cheese, did indeed come out of the over at the 40 minute mark. The second pizza, with toppings, clearly got either forgotten or slow-tracked. It didn't come out until the 60 minute mark. So at this point I have one hot pizza, one pizza which will be cold when I get home and one Greek salad where the Feta has been sitting out for 45 minutes. I mention this to the guy who seemed to be running the counter who comes back with 'well, we are very busy tonight, sir.' NO. Busy is fine. But you can't sync your operation well enough so that customers who are waiting don't get to see entire eat-in groups come and go in the time it takes you to make a carry-out order. Or, that 2/3 of the meal is not compromised because you dragged one pizza? Or maybe you don't lie and tell me 30 minutes when your guys are in the weeds and it's going to be at least 45? This kind of thing is not rare at valentinos and even though they have by far the best pizza in the area (it's not close) I am SICK of suffering through long waits and cold food based on poor kitchen execution.

    (2)
  • Sarah I.

    This poor rating is mainly in reference to my experience with Mo on Saturday night. I went in to grab a few slices and garlic knots and there was quite a line, but it seemed to be moving. When It was my turn, Mo asked what I wanted at the same time as another server (I didn't get his name as he was nowhere near as rude as Mo). I ordered a cheese and pepperoni slice and asked what quantity the garlic knots come in, Mo instead of answering said "How many do you want", at the same time the other server said 6 was an order and I asked for that and went to pay. When paying I asked if it would be possible to get a side of alfredo sauce to which he said yes and told someone to get it. I then stepped back to wait. After 5-10 minutes I stepped back up to inquire about my order to which Mo pulled my two slices out. They were clearly overcooked and I asked for different slices and was given a lot of arguments and dirty looks. When I asked about my knots, he told me I had never ordered them and would have to wait longer while he warmed them up. Very frustrated by this time, I asked for my whole order, hot or not to be put in a togo box, it was togo to begin with, so I could leave. I asked about the alfredo which had never been prepared and got that a few minutes later. All in all, I left about 30 minutes after arriving with overcooked or cold items and feeling like I had been truly disrespected by Mo. Suffice to say I won't be returning.

    (1)
  • Sara M.

    Pizza, wings and dessert were all delicious, one of best I've ever had. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is because the service was slow. Will definitely be back though.

    (4)
  • Ronald L.

    Valentino's makes great pizza. I was discouraged by the place because of an incident in its kitchen that both the manager and cashier belittled. The owner got involved once he found out what happened. He called me, gave me his personal cell phone number, and then met me in person to express his concern about the incident and also to report that it was resolved. I look forward to many more meals there.

    (4)
  • Julie H.

    I like Valentino's pizza. They offer many pizza options including Stromboli and calzones which I love. I would give it more stars but the staff can sometimes be a little slow with the service. The confusion behind the counter sometimes contributes to the slow service as they are often hustling around. This isn't New York style service for sure. Many people say this is the closest you will get to true New York style pizza in the Northern Virginia area and I have to agree...that is if they don't burn your slices.

    (3)
  • Alice W.

    How have I lived in Northern Virginia my entire life and not tried Valentino's until this past year? I'm not sure, especially because I used to take a zumba class in the shopping plaza. I clearly missed out because Valentino's offers some seriously good New York-style pizza. The boyfriend and I will usually order a whole, small pizza, either marguerita or their special (pepperoni, meatballs, sausage, peppers, onions, mushrooms & black olives). Pizzas are a bit on the pricey side, $17.95 for a small whole and $22.95 for a large, but considering it's good pizza, I can let that go. Slices are not jumbo-sized but certainly large enough. Ingredients are all fresh and tasty and crust is thin and crispy as NY-style pizza crust should be. This is a great little joint to satisfy your pizza craving. They also have other entrees, like veal parmigiana and lasagna, as while as wraps like grilled chicken caesar and even desserts like cannoli. Staff are all super friendly. The last time we popped in, it was 9:40 and we asked if we could sit and eat since it was close to closing time. Everyone said of course and even though we felt bad about being the last ones there as they were closing up, no one pressured us to leave by trying to send subtle signals like trying to sweep around us. Service here is great.

    (4)
  • Ivan M.

    I ordered a Buffalo Chicken pizza for pickup last night, and the employee who answered told me that my order would take about an hour to hour and ten minutes (this right here tells me that they have something that a lot of people want). When I got to the restaurant, I could see that they were slammed with business; I waited a couple of minutes and I got my pizza and headed home. On my way home I was going crazy because the smell was just soooo good. Once home I opened the box and I was just amazed at the size of the pizza and the slices; this truly is NY style pizza. Then I took my first bite and I'm pretty sure that I was in heaven, this stuff is delicious. Valentino's has made me a believer, and they have a customer for life.

    (5)
  • Denise R.

    If you want fu-fu pizza, this place is for you! They gave a good variety of "different" pizza sliced. If you simply want pepperoni with onions and green peppers... order from pizza hut! The price was reasonable. The service was quick. The payment process was a bit disjointed as one order taker insinuated that I hadn't paid for my order. While he was corrected by the man who took my money, it was a bit uncomfortable for a few moments. I would, however, recommend this place if you are looking for something a bit exotic.

    (4)
  • Eddie S.

    I give 4 stars because I haven't tried enough on their menu to make it 5-- However that being said, I'm a native New Yorker and just moved out here to Alexandria a few months back I must say this is the closest to NY pizza I've had since I've been here. (And I've tried a bunch) - I've tried some terrible pizza from a few different places but this place dominates them all. they're always faster with delivery than they say they will be - they may do that on purpose but pretty smart if that's the case. This is my go to pizza place

    (4)
  • Ashley P.

    What's not to love about this place? I'll tell ya! 1) Ordering. The employees are gruff, and act like they're on prison detail taking pizza orders. This rings true whether I order on a Thursday night, Friday night or Saturday afternoon. 2) After being quotes 50-1hr for my pizza, the delivery guy showing up almost 1.5hrs later, we are told he forgot our mozzarella sticks.And he's not coming back because it's 5.5miles away. Wait, what? He has the most distraught look on his face, like 5.5miles in Alexandria at 8:30pm at night is like some 66 deathtrap. Then he tells my husband that he was in Afghanistan so I'm a good person. I would get your sticks, but 5.5miles is too far. Okay, now you've got me. We're a military family. Sooooo, you really want to go there about discipline and ethics?? At this point, just get the sticks off my bill. I call to have them take them off my bill, and said gruff employee from above proceeds to tell me the delivery guy is already on his way back with our sticks. How when he just left my door less than 2min ago? He's still waiting on the elevator for pete's sake! (Mind you I wasn't thinking "pete" by now. Substitute with a more fitting word of choice). Then he puts me on hold. Then he says, "well they're on their way." What part of I do not want to have my appetizer delivered another 45min from now do you not understand Mr. Gruff Employee? Then, he passes the phone to the manager. The manager proceeds to cut me off. I tell him to let me finish, and I'm ready for bed. Not going to wait for the sticks to show up. Please for the love of God, take them off my bill. Finally,he agrees. 3) Said pizza was cold, and chewy. And burnt. It tastes like old 2hr food court pizza. Wait, Sbarro was better than this cardboard. You've got to be kidding me.

    (1)
  • Mike M.

    I am extremely picky about pizza since I come from New York and they definitely meet my expectations and more. They also sell pizza by the slice which is unheard of in Virginia for some reason.

    (5)
  • Reony T.

    Gonna keep this short and sweet. Best pizza we've ever had, and we're from NY too. Love the atmosphere and the music too. I recommended the plain cheese pizza, and getting a fresh pie. Not from the counter. You'll get the best taste possible. Delivery can take some time since they're so popular and the pizzas are made fresh. Just do yourself a favor and come here. You'll never go anywhere else for pizza, if you can get here easily enough.

    (5)
  • Kevin B.

    Just discovered this little jewel, although I've lived within a mile of it for almost 5 years. I can't believe I missed out! I've visited New York enough to feel the familiarity of the place. They do a great job and I'll be back!

    (4)
  • E J.

    I really like this place and the fact that it's close to home and they deliver is a bonus. This is now my go-to place for pizza. After a few hit or miss tries with the large pizza, I started ordering the small pizza instead. Perfect size and it's cooked just right. I've also had the chicken parmesan and chicken marsala here a few times and both were good, although recently the portion size has gotten much smaller. The pasta dishes I've had were not good so I stick with pizzas, subs and the garlic knots now. Don't get the salads either. Be prepared for abrupt (boarderline rude) service when ordering by phone and for an over an hour wait for delivery. I sometimes think they are trying to get you to not place an order when they tell you about your long wait. Always call ahead for pick up. They are not fast and you'll sit there wondering why it takes so long when there are 10 people just standing around behind the counter while one guy does all the pizzas. Better, nicer service usually found when you arrive for pick up.

    (4)
  • Michelle H.

    Love this place I'm from jersey/New York area and this is the only place in the dmv area that is legitimately NY style pizza trust me I come from pizza central and this is the closest I can get to pizza back home. They have good pasta too I love their baked ziti. :) Try it you won't be disappointed.

    (5)
  • Alison M.

    All my NJ/NY friends recommended this place for good pizza. Although it had a thin crust, I was not impressed. It had way too much tomato sauce and it tasted sweet! I'm really not a fan of an abundance of sugar in my pizza. I would not order pizza from here again.

    (3)
  • Ame E.

    Visited Saturday evening and it was very busy with both carry out and dine in. We ate In, service was a bit slow probably due to how busy it was but the waiter was pleasant when he finally got to us. We ordered the appetizer plate which nothing special was well worth the price due to amount given. Barbecue chicken pizza was very taste and wow was there a lot of chicken on it. White pizza was also very good buffalo pizza was spicy but good. Baked shells were good but had a lot of cheese in the sauce almost too much. I really liked how the place was decorated very simple touches with lighting and the tile on wall made it seem very homey. Defiantly would come back again.

    (4)
  • Tiffany N.

    I ordered bbq chicken pizza and garlic knots to go. They forgot about my order so I was waiting forever for them to heat up my food. Once I got home and opened everything, the garlic knots were burnt. Burnt garlic is not a fun taste. The bbq pizza was good, but nothing to write home to mom about. Poor service.

    (3)
  • Garrett S.

    This pizza is so money it could pay the rent... And I'm not even kidding. A few friends and I tried it last weekend and we ordered the large 20" cheese pizza. When it came, it was a glorious sight. I mean.... The slices don't even fit on my plates they're so big. Perfect crust, sweet but light sauce, perfectly cooked cheese. The bar has now been set. We also tried the steak & cheese and cheesy garlic knots. All were excellent, can't wait to try more from the menu!!!

    (5)
  • Archer L.

    The food is five stars, but the service is terrible. This is definitely a place where you want to have it delivered or do carryout. It's very disorganized and the staff is not very friendly and sometimes will flat out ignore you. We choose to carryout all of the time because of this. We usually order the Valentino's special, cheese steak fries (my boyfriend loves this), philly cheese steak, gyro salad and sometimes a dessert. Everything we have tried is delicious. This is the only reason why we keep coming back. This is the best place for pizza in Northern Virginia.

    (4)
  • Jena R.

    Love how they pack their Gyros full of meat!! They never disappoint!! The papa joes slices will forever be my favorite!! I had the Mo's and it was good but the Sicilian crust with Papa Joe's can't be beat!! It's is so good!!

    (5)
  • Worth S.

    The only reason this place is worth it is because the pizza is so fantastic! The service is pretty terrible. I paid and waited close to 40 minutes for two slices of pizza. No one acknowledged my presence at the counter until I said "EXCUSE ME" loud enough for someone to hear. No apologies for my wait or their mix-up. But damn it the pizza is so good!

    (4)
  • Raghu V.

    Brilliant!!! I'm from out of town and this made my weekend. The margarita is to die for. Everything looked fresh, authentic and delicious.

    (5)
  • Angie T.

    In my opinion, this is one of the best NY style pizza joints in the suburbs of NoVa. However, I think it only tastes amazing eating in on the spot. I've tried ordering a whole pie before and bringing it home and it just doesn't taste the same. And it's not the best day after pizza either. The best is when it's piping hot out of their oven. Super thin crush, decent size (not as big as a jumbo slice but not skimpy either), and nice and crisp on the bottom.

    (4)
  • Anthony F.

    I'm from New York, and the first thing I ever do when I go home is find myself a slice of pizza. This is the first place that ever made me feel like I was back in Brooklyn. Well worth the visit, employees were great and after the food was done they gave us 4 free slices of pizza since they were closing down soon. No place around ever looks out like that, I ordered one large and I mean a New York large and I got another half free. I look forward to our next visit, and the calamari was perfect.

    (5)
  • Opa O.

    Just moved to the area and wanted some pizza. I thought I would try out Valentino's because of the good reviews. But, I must say that I made an expensive mistake. The crust was hard (almost burnt). The so called fresh mozzarella cheese was rubbery and the basil burnt. The mozzarella stick were flavorless. The buffalo wings are just chicken. There was nothing I liked about my order. I would not recommend this restaurant. Basically, the food is way over priced and way underwhelming. Actually, since I threw my food in the garbage, I can say the food was terrible.

    (1)
  • Candace F.

    This place is getting two stars (as opposed to one) because the food is tasty. Our customer service on the other hand was terrible. We called in an order for pickup. The order was for two eggplant Parmesan subs with "the works" and cheese fries with no meat. The Menu clearly stated that "with the works" means to add lettuce tomato onion mayo. When we got home with the food the subs didn't have the works and the cheese fries had meat on them. We called to have the order refilled by the time we got there and the man (who was apparently acting as manager) told us that if we want the works we can come in and he will charge us extra for the works on our subs. He didn't even address the fact that our cheese fries were also filled incorrectly. When we got to the restaurant, the same man refused to refill our order correctly until we paid. He created a scene in the restaurant. We decided to just ask for our money back because we refused to pay extra for an order that was filled incorrectly by them. The few bites we had were tasty but the customer service is some of the WORST that I have ever experienced.

    (2)
  • Letta C.

    The pizza was pretty good. I like the huge slices and the variety. I agree with another reviewer that said the employees seemed as if they were working a prison line. I just wanted to feel a little more welcomed but other than that the pizza is good.

    (4)
  • Bettye D.

    I would give zero stars. I went in today not quite sure what I wanted I told the guy behind the counter I wasn't quite sure what j wanted. He said well you better hurry up we close in 3 minutes. He was joking but that is a crappy way to keep customers. I left. Don't think I will be back.

    (1)
  • Bill F.

    THE CLOSEST TO NY PIZZA THAT I AM GOING TO GET IN VIRGINIA...It's pretty damn close. Everytime I have a party I get their XL Pizza Delivered. It is the 2nd biggest pizza I've ever ordered and it always impresses everyone who comes over! $38 well spent. I can't stress this enough...THE BEST PIZZA IN VIRGINIA.

    (5)
  • Lisa S.

    Terrible experience from the start. Called in to place an order, they said 25 minutes. We live down the street so decided to stop at the store on the way. Got there 30 minutes later and were told they had given our order away because we were late. (5 minutes late!) We were told it would be another 30 minutes. I asked them to give us a discount on the food for the inconvenience and the owner came out to tell me it's our fault for being late. I told him to cancel the order, and his response was "good, I didn't even start making it yet". That was after 25 minutes of us waiting for our food in the restaurant. Will never return. This used to be our go to pizza place, but if we are going to get terrible customer service, I'd rather give my money to another establishment.

    (1)
  • chris t.

    my favorite spot for ny-style pizza. been coming here for years with the chicken alla vodka pizza and garlic knots being my regular go-tos. the creamy bbq chicken pizza is also delicious and you definitely can't go wrong going with the more traditional cheese, pepperoni or sicilian options.

    (5)
  • Mona S.

    This review is long overdue, but their pizzas are huge and delightful! My husband and I have been there several times, but the first was most memorable. We were starving, so ordered a salad, garlic knots (yummo!), and a large pizza. I think everyone in the restaurant stared/laughed at us; we certainly had a good laugh after the face of horror hit us when the large pizza took up the entire table. Needless to say, a large will feed 5. A large papa John's pizza is equivalent to maybe 3 slices from here. You must get the garlic knots and eat them while they're fresh and doughy, melt-in your mouth-good! One time I picked up our order and by the time I got home (less than 10 min away), it didn't taste nearly as good, even when slightly reheated in the oven. So, just eat there we've tried almost all of their pizzas and none will disappoint you. When it comes to location, it's easy access off of little River turnpike, but that darn signal light to get back onto little River turnpike is annoyingly slow and the area congested, especially during rush hour into late dinner time. So plan accordingly. Whatever you do, though, don't turn around in the shopping center, you'll never get out!

    (5)
  • Tia K.

    Pizza by the slice! And it's good. Not quite NYC, but darn close for NoVa. Staff members are friendly. I stop in frequently and pick up some to-go. Recommend!

    (5)
  • Jasmine A.

    My favorite pizza restaurant in the area. There are tons of options to choose from. I usually get the margherita pizza or Valentino special. The slices are huge thin NY style. It is a little pricey when you order a pie, but it sure does satisfy my pizza cravings.

    (5)
  • Enkhbolor G.

    Thanks a lot to MO! Exceptional handling of the situation! Great customer serves, to be honest, the BEST service I ever had in US!!! He even wrote happy birthday on the pizza for my little princess!

    (5)
  • Mark A.

    Valentino's has been on my list to try for some time and glad I finally made it in. I had a single slice with basil feta, sun dried tomatoes, and even though it wasn't as fresh as I'd have liked, their pies hold up well. After a quick reheat it was down to business and for a slice you wouldn't think would work with those ingredients, it certainly was good. If I were to do all over again, I'd have just ordered a whole pizza and taken the leftovers home. From the menu they have some great combinations and everyone eating in seemed to enjoy what they were having.

    (3)
  • Rohan T.

    I was actually looking forward to trying this place, but after I wanted to change the order, I was told that I was no longer welcome as a customer and was "banned." Quite ridiculous, but acceptable considering the quantity of other pizza suppliers, and the sheer ludicrousy of the situation.

    (1)
  • Arzo I.

    Place is awesome. Hubby and I come here with family all the time. The pizza is fresh and flavorful, our fav has always been the buffalo chicken with a little ranch on the side to dip. The grilled chicken caesar wrap is huge and so delish, pastas are great, subs are pretty big (enough to share) and the valentinos salad is so tasty and fulfilling (mozzarella, tomato, grilled peppers, basil and a yum balsamic/oil dressing). I've yet to try more menu items, bc I'm still hooked to the usuals :) Try the place now!

    (5)
  • J D.

    I've been coming to Valentino's for about a year now, and I go there frequently. (At least once a week, and now they know me by name, haha) Just to give you an idea of how much I like this place, I drive from Arlington to Alexandria just to pick it up. This place is ALWAYS busy; which is a great thing, but that leads to decent size crowds and sometimes a long wait for food (even if you order in advance). The service is average because of this; so many people running around behind the counter, the phone is ringing of the hook, people become impatient. I think if the layout of the place was changed, it would do WONDERS for this business. Having the display near the entrance way just causes a bottleneck with people trying to get in and out. Move the three booth seats to the other side (where the soda and boxes are) and put the display along that wall (where the booths are). It'll get people moved all the way inside and not hover over people as they are eating at tables. Just an idea. Again, I love this place. The pizza is good, salads are good, subs are good, etc Just have to deal with the craziness sometimes, but for a good food it's worth it.

    (4)
  • Ian P.

    A little pricy but definitely good pizza. I've ordered there a couple of times without any issues. Only negative worth mentioning is that sometimes they put too much olive oil on their pizzas when they come out of the oven. It's nice on the larger sized lighter topped pizzas, but it can get really greasy for smaller pizzas - especially for fattier cheeses like typical low moisture mozzarella.

    (4)
  • Diana E.

    I love this place. Been coming here for a while and pizza is still delicious and the staff is awesome!

    (5)
  • Kat M.

    I tried this place because of the ratings on Yelp and the fact that my fiancé and I were craving some good pizza. Unfortunately, we did NOT find that. It took FOREVER for us to get our food and the pizza was old-tasting.

    (2)
  • Drew S.

    I've been in a number of times. It's my wife's favorite pizza in the area. I have to say, these pizzas are HUGE. I can do some damage on a regular large pizza from some other place, but I can do two, three slices max here. Especially if garlic knots are involved. Just the smell of them is amazing. I have to say that this is the closest I've come to NY style pizza in the DC area. It's family run, and tastes great. My only criticism is on their pickup procedures. You have to hound them to get your order. It won't stop me from going back though, so take that as it is.

    (4)
  • Katie S.

    We started to order a pizza every month & it's yummy everytime. Small pizzas are a great value - we've had the eggplant pizza, tomato & garlic, & BBQ chicken. Excellent crust and fresh toppings. We've only ever ordered out so I can't speak to the atmosphere of the restaurant.

    (5)
  • Vance U.

    Best NY pizza I've tried in the DC area. Absolute madhouse Friday and Saturday nights, so bring patience.

    (5)
  • Michelle L.

    Huge NY style slices. Great pastas and salads. Authentic Italian Mediterranean. Fast service. Usually long lines for carry out, especially weekends but well worth it.

    (5)
  • Whitnee D.

    I have been there several times for their pizza which is fabulous. I love that every inch is covered with toppings with also a great amount of cheese. They also have fabulous cannolis. I do not recommend the tiramisu i felt like I was eating pancakes with syrup, not what I was going for. I just tried the spaghetti and meatballs last night which gave me a heightened level of respect for their food. It was superb! Besides the tiramisu the only other negative thing I can say which causes me to give 4 vs 5 stars is the girls at the register are HORRIBLE! Rude is an understatement. I usually leave tips with carryout and every time I do I cringe because they have that bad of an attitude ...clearly must be related to the owners or someone there. To end on a bright note they also seem to do a great job on delivery.

    (4)
  • Renee F.

    Being new to Alexandria, we're still trying to get our footing on our best options for take-out, date nights, et cetera. Last night we got onto Yelp to find a good mom & pop pizza shop, and sure enough, I think this one's going to be our champ. The lady who answered the phone said delivery would take an hour (a Thursday night), and it did. But the food was hot and fresh when it arrived which is all I really care about, and the delivery man was friendly, too. My gf ordered the BBQ chicken pizza, which I can't comment on for myself because I think BBQ pizza sounds gross, but she enjoyed it -- the BBQ is swirled together with ranch, her favorite condiment, so she was in heaven. It was actually really "pretty" looking, like a picture from a magazine. I had asked while placing my order if the meatballs were homemade and was told that they were. This turned out to be true. You can always tell if a meatball is homemade, mostly because they tend to be larger than store-bought frozen ones and imperfectly shaped. You could also see where the sides had been browned in the pan... nom nom nom. So, yes, they are definitely made in-house. The tomato sauce was a little on the sweet side which I'm not too keen about, but I don't really eat the sauce anyway when I order meatballs. I like to cover them (and I mean COVER them) with parmesan cheese and eat them that way. Next time we order from them, I'll definitely get another side of meatballs, gf will probably re-order her BBQ pizza (those still just seem so strange to me), and I'll probably order a small cheese or pepperoni pizza for myself (I'm boring and tend to stick with the classics). So for now, this is our pizza place.

    (4)
  • Kate B.

    No. Marguerita pizza - Bland. How is a pizza with cheese, garlic, tomato, and "fresh" (lies) basil on top bland? It doesn't make sense. The crust was good. I'm glad that I have garlic powder at home because that's the only thing that saved the pizza. Pesto pasta - What pesto? Tons of creamy with a tiny hint of pesto. Again, very bland. Really disappointed considering the four star rating. Stop letting me down, Yelp! I'd love to find a local pizza place that isn't a chain, but this is not the one.

    (2)
  • Marta D.

    Valentino's salad is delish!!! I didn't have high expectations for a salad from pizzeria, but this one looked and tasted like a larger appetizer from high-end restaurant. All ingredients were really fresh, tasty and very well presented. Well done!!!

    (5)
  • Mariam S.

    Friendly staff and management. I had their chicken tender and my friend had their pasta. It w

    (5)
  • Dan H.

    Above average! I was craving some Italian and got some basic penne with tomato sauce and sausage and it was reeeaallly good. I wouldn't call it cheap but they give you a good amount...and it's tasty! Now I really want to go back and have some more! I took it to go but I like the inside too. I don't really know what I'm talking about but it feels like a New York Italian place. Seems pretty legit.

    (4)
  • Geoffrey W.

    Pretty awesome pizza. It's fairly good New York style pizza, not 100%, but it beats out nearly all the others I've tried in the area. They offer a 20" pizza, which seems ridiculous since it can barely fit through a door without turning it sidewise. However, it has definitely come in handy a few times during large parties. Oh, and their chicken alla vodka pizza is badass. Vodka sauce on pizza? Uhh yes, perfect.

    (4)
  • Sasha H.

    As close to authentic New York pizza you ate going to get in Northern Virginia! Unfortunately it comes with the attitude, so I can't give 5 stars. Best pizza in the area- though a full pie (large style slices) will run $20. Dine in area feels like it is a hole-in-the-wall Manhattan. Delivery can take 60+ minutes. Pick up is normally 20 minutes.

    (4)
  • Brandy C.

    We have ordered from this place a few times but won't be doing so again. The delivery time is pretty average for this area, so an hour to wait for pizza isn't that bad... What IS bad is when the pizza dough is raw. This has happened the last two times that we ordered. The 20" pizza is freakin' huge (too big IMO) which is why I think that the dough is consistently raw. Their ovens obviously can't cook these pizzas thoroughly, or the people cooking them don't know what they are doing. Either way, nothing is worse than a HUGE piece of floppy, soggy pizza. Sorry Valentino's, but this pizza lover is going back to Paisano's.

    (2)
  • Camey S.

    Valentinos is our go-to pizza joint. Whether we're dining in, or ordering for delivery to eat at home, if we want pizza, this is the place. The pizza is just spot on. Fresh, hot, large slices, perfect pies for sharing, and delicious NY style thin crust. Maybe it's a little pricey, but it's soo worth it. You can order square or classic circle pizzas and a large is more than enough for a meal to share !! This little business has been around forever for good reason- it gives chains a run for their money! Check it out!! && get the side of garlic bread!

    (4)
  • Kat F.

    My sister lives a mile or two away from Valentino's, so I've had their food a million times. It's our go-to food whenever I babysit her kids since they offer delivery. That being said, I never get sick of this place. Their pizza is really the standout on the menu. Their veggie pizza is really incredible! Chock-full of every different veggie known to man, even people who don't really care for veggies will like it. I've had their calzones (which I probably wouldn't order again), salads and hoagies too. The pizza is really what keeps us coming back. If I lived in VA, I'd be here every day!

    (5)
  • Azeb A.

    I love valentino's pizza! The food is really delicious and the portions are really generous. We order from them every weekend and sometimes even durning the week. I'm giving this place two stars instead of a potential 5 stars because of this one incident. We ordered food and after about an hour we called to check on status of our delivery and we were told that our delivery guy called us and we did not answer so he left. Usually our delivery drivers ring our apartment and we buzz them in, so I asked if he would come back. When he gave me our food I did not tip the driver. The driver then proceeded to say "excuse me! You are not going to tip me! I drove all the way back! Do not order from us again!" Shocked by his rudeness and aggression I told him just leave sir and I walked back into my apartment to report this to the manger who began to laugh and said he would talk to him. I was shock and applied that someone would confront me in such a manner and felt very harassed and threatened. I also found it unprofessional that the manger would find this situation amusing, and would act so unapologetic and inattentive to a regular customer. I'm really disappointed by this incident and hopes valentinos does more to provide quality service to its customers.

    (2)
  • Rebecca W.

    I asked Google for the best pizza place in Alexandria and this place popped up. Great customer service. Friendly staff. Clean and relaxed environment. Oh wait, you probably want to know about the pizza. Lol. It was delicious! Hot! I'll definitely be back.

    (4)
  • Eric W.

    My wife, kid, and I were out for our usual Friday night pizza. Unfortunately, Café Pizzaiolo was out of power. We were on our way back home, when we remembered getting a menu from Valentino's, which had looked pretty good. After checking the Yelp reviews, we decided to give it a try. The first think that struck me was the sheer amount of pizza you could get by the slice. I saw at least: cheese, pepperoni, buffalo chicken, veggie, and Sicilian. If I were still in my 20's, that would have been wonderful. We ordered mozzarella sticks and a pepperoni pizza--a safe choice for the first time at a pizza place. The mozzarella sticks themselves were very good, with the right amount of crispiness to have the cheese melted but without being burnt. The sauce, on the other hand, had to have been from a can. The pizza was a completely different story. It was average--at best. It was also super greasy, even for pepperoni. The sauce didn't have much taste, and the pepperoni tasted as if it was pretty low quality. As the pizza cooled and the grease congealed, it started to taste pretty bad. My tummy had an even worse effect. The worst part was that toppings were $3.00 each. For that much I was expecting side to side pepperoni. However, there was less than most places give you. My final complaint is that the floor was really dirty. There was even a piece of ham below the table next to us that no one from the staff even seemed to notice. I know a lot of people like this place, but I'm sticking with Cafe Pizzaiolo.

    (2)
  • Lance C.

    Pizza is sometimes a presentation of contrasts. If you like different that, get a slice of Mo's Special (Mo was there to make it) and their signature Buffalo Chicken Pizza! Spike's WTP in DC has a few challengers. The BCP had one note, but did it ever do it well. All the best textures and notes of sauce and knobby landscape of chicken bits that were ALL TENDER (Not the slightest sign of chicken jerky here) Certainly Hot (sauce) Heads would want to sneak in their fav bottle of killer Cap'. Everyone else will enjoy the flavor (heat does not = flavor) and retain cranial integrity. Now, back to Mo's Special. What first caught me was a well cut chiffonade of basil evenly sprinkled on top. Under that, everything was nicely spaced so every bite had 4/5ths of the ingredients. This is good to get a little variety of tastes in every bite, but feeling something is missing. Easily regulars must want mo'Mo's (Moe's Special) as often as politics are heard from the booths. This NoVa foodie intersection, us certainly fortunate to have this gem on this side of the Potomac. Hey DC, slices are less than a fiver.

    (4)
  • Ben I.

    I love Valentino's! Hands down, this place has the best NY style pizza in Alexandria and the entire DC metro area. I will usually just get two slices of pepperoni for lunch every now and then, and I savor each bite until I'm satisfied. I really enjoy the slightly sweet-tasting sauce, among the generous toppings and crispy crust. Someday, I will have to try their calzones, pasta, and desserts. You really can't go wrong here ;)

    (5)
  • M M.

    I'm a New Yorker working in the area and I've been coming here for at least 5 years. The staff are efficient which is the most important thing. They may come across as gruff but then I'm a New Yorker so I like that no-nonsense attitudes. I've been trying various pizza's which are all delicious. I was a little disappointed in the NY style pizza as it was a bit sweet, but the Silician is awesome as are all the variety pizzas. The best is the chicken parm sub sandwich - it is the chicken parm sandwich I think I've had anywhere.. I was disappointed with their chicken parm and eggplant parms though - I would not recommend the entrees - tooo much pasta and cheese. The sauce also doesn't taste as good as it does in the subs.

    (5)
  • Soo W.

    My husband and I went there by a friend's recommendation (thanks Sal). My husband is the Italian food nut, I'm often times going for the ride. Who doesn't like some good Italian food? So we tried a little bit of everything. Garlic knots, hot chicken wings, Greek salad and their signature pizza (Valentino's Special). Cheese. Cheese is the key to any good pizza and they have good quality cheese. Also the garlic knots didn't just have some garlic sprinkled on it or smeared on, they are minced and oozing of garlic. AMAZING. By the way their "small" size pizza is most places medium size pizza. I lived around the corner from here for few years and never went there. Boy do I regret it. We plan to definitely go back!!! I forgot to mention two other things. We accidentally did a pizza quality assurance check - flipped a slice of pizza upside down...the ingredients stayed intacked!!! Only few slices of onion fell off. And bendy straws!!!! Bonus points for bendy straws. And they are not the weak plastic type either.

    (5)
  • cait H.

    This place is a gem. It's not the best pizza I have ever had, but it's the closest to authentic NY pizza I have tried in the area. That said, NY style is not for everyone and so if you're not a fan of NY style, you might not like this. The crust is perfectly chewy with a crispy crunch. The mozzarella and pepperoni tastes very fresh. The sauce is a bit on the sweet side though for NY style. Overall, very tasty. I went in wanting just one slice and ate half a pizza! The wait staff was really friendly and chatty. The folks behind the counter seemed to be busy doing things other than work which was a turn off. Luckily, I did not have to interact with them, so it did not ruin my experience. I can see how some of the comments are here, though, are totally valid and may have contributed to lower ratings.

    (4)
  • David L.

    Being new to the area I like to get away from the chain stores and fin some good local food. Pizza can be fundamentally easy to make but takes true skill to make remarkable. These guys nailed it! We had two large pies delivered and those slices were HUGE! And the crust was cooked to perfection. The only down side was ordering on a Friday night. They were busy and the delivery took almost an hour (but they were honest and told us this timetable before we ordered) I would recommend these guys if you're looking for good quality pizza!

    (5)
  • Sabrina B.

    Yum! If you like NY style pizza, this place does not disappoint! I tried this place out ?4 years ago when I read about it in a Washington Post article, and it was on point! They have renovated since then (I should have taken some pix to add to Yelp as the ones on here seem to slightly dated), so the place seems more 'bright' and clean. We were pretty hungry and needed immediate gratification so we ate-in this time. The waitress was so patient and friendly, I must say. We tried the garlic knots. My breath is still kickin'...good thing I'm already married. They were good, but lacked ?butter flavor ?salt. Not sure...something was missing. But don't fret - you forget all about it when your awesome pizza comes to the table! Delicious. Nice thin crispy crust. The sauce is perfect. Cheese is gooey without being plastic-y and sloppy. I love a good plain cheese slice. My husband gets giddy over the Papa Joe's slice. He will talk about it *all day*. I finally had it. It was good, esp since it's hard to find a great sicilian slice. I much prefer a good ol' plain cheese slice. Look around and you see a bunch of happy families out for a casual dinner - it's really great. Laughter and stories being shared, or giggling 5 year olds chomping on a slice as big as their head. Don't think twice about bringing the fam here even on a weekend night - they seem more than accommodating here.

    (4)
  • Yolande L.

    It's ok. I grew up in the Bronx and I'm used to great pizza- these guys were good. In NY we normally just order a slice of pizza- a cheese pizza and that's what I ordered from Valentino's. Eh, it was ok. The pizza tasted good, but no comparison to NY. The cheese was not up to par and the tomato sauce was too tangy. Maybe I'll give this restaurant another chance.

    (3)
  • Joi R.

    I normally do not leave multiple reviews, however, the service and pizza were exceptional. One of the employees (Mo) took my very large order yesterday and EVERYTHING was perfect for pick-up today. My entire team/staff raved about the pizza, which is a compiment considering a number of them are from NY and total pizza snobs. Everything was fresh and, as always, very tasty. I cannot say enough great things about this business, except that the service and product quality has remanined consistant for me... smiling faces, helpful people, and great food!!!! I will always do business with this restaurant.

    (5)
  • Sam B.

    My family LOVES the meatatarian pizza. I always pick up a large when I pass through the area. Once home we always reheat it in the oven b/c the pizza gets soft so fast. I also like their BBQ ranch pizza. You really can't get grub like this unless you are in NY. 4 stars for bringing a much needed NY style pizza joint over here. However, they suffer from terrible customer service. Manager is very aloof. Don't even bother when they are busy. They seem to have no idea what they are doing and you will wait FOREVER. I would knock off several stars b/c i've had awful experiences here...but the good food overshadows all of that.

    (4)
  • Gregory M.

    This is a solid pizza option for Northern Virginia. Grading on a curve and rounding up, I give the overall experience a 4 out of 5. The pizza sauce was awesome! The pizza had a great overall taste, but a little over cooked. If you enjoy a good pizza, give it a try.

    (4)
  • Giselle W.

    Really is the best pizza I have had in the DMV since moving here almost 6 years ago. The slices are HUGE, crust is thin and perfectly cooked and it's just freakin delicious. The buffalo chicken, BBQ chick and meatatarian are usually my go tos and ironically I usually like veggies on my pizza but those are so good I don't even care. I love that they deliver slices, it has let me try so many of their pizzas without having to commit to a full pie. Delivery usually takes an hour, which is what they normally quote. I won't order pizza from anywhere else now cause every time I did I would get annoyed and disappointed. Haven't ventured much past the pizza cause I feel wrong not ordering pizza when I call but the wings have a good kick. Could be a little crispier though. But the gyro is legit my favorite around as well. Valentino's is amazing, just do it.

    (5)
  • Jo W.

    Second time ordering delivery and Eli is just the best to work the phones there. He makes you hungry and makes the food sound so good you cant help but order all he suggests!! Oh but it gets better... lol I got lasagna which i couldn't eat right away so stuck it in the oven to stay warm. I am hearing my husband just moan in the other room so i go in only to see he is just euphoric about his meat ravioli. After one taste i knew why!! I had the same reaction when finally digging into my lasagna!! These wonderful friendly people went above and beyond and the delivery drivers are so nice you want to invite them in to share a meal with you!!! They really take all the efforts to make the customer happy so i didn't understand any of the customer service complaints i saw but maybe they were just too focused at that moment in preparing an awesome meal to kiss up!! lol Thanks Ya'll Now I am gonna try to get my buddy Eric on here to give y'all another shot!! lol (oh and try the creamed spinach!! taste like it is made to order and it is to die for!!)

    (5)
  • Hoon C.

    Now, they have some good pizzas! Generous sizes and toppings with a nice crust. Usually not a fan of pizza w/o meat but their margarita pizzas are really tasty. They use spring water for their dough and I guess it makes a difference because their crust is chewy and crisp. Some of the people that work there have a real NY/NJ attitude while others are really friendly.

    (4)
  • Ryan K.

    In my opinion the. #2 pizza on the area. Great flavors, good service just wish it was in a better location - it can be challenging to say the least.

    (4)
  • Mike C.

    Any new yorker already knows, the pizza around here sucks. However, Valentino's is the best around. It doesn't beat a NY slice but it's worth the trip to eat there. It's the only place I go to get a slice.

    (4)
  • Deborah D.

    We had them deliver food to our hotel and it came fast and hot. The Chicken Parmesan was a huge portion and the spaghetti sauce was thick and packed with flavor. We also ordered the wings and they were delicious!

    (5)
  • Clifford D.

    Absolutely NOT worth the hype! As a recent returnee from Italy back to the United States of America after serving 3 years in Italy this is not Sicilian pizza. Seems like just another run-of-the-mill location that lacks customer service. It took over 90 minutes to get a single pizza delivered to our house just down the street. I realize that they are very popular, but to tell someone it only takes 30 mins to deliver and then keep lying to us about the actual time it takes to receive the delivery after repeated attempts to contact the restaurant is just bad customer service. Luckily this was my only and last encounter with this place.

    (1)
  • Dana M.

    Really good pizza :)). Been there several times for take out. Good crust and fresh ingredients. Their salads are great too!

    (4)
  • Shannon A.

    Food good. Standard pizza, pasta, etc. 2 things that really annoyed me. There was a younger waitress sitting in the booth, just texting away on her phone and not helping with customers. The place is small with I think 4 booths and several tables. Everyone knows the booths are better seats. GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF THE BOOTH and leave that for the paying customers!!!! Nothing is more annoying. 2nd thing: They charged 3 dollars extra on a small pizza for pepperonis.

    (2)
  • Khanh N.

    As I sit here and wait for my pizza, my mind needs to be occupied to stave off hungry anticipation. The last time we ordered from valentino's the pizza came hot and fresh. The sauce was just sweet enough to balance out the saltiness of the pepperoni. We ordered a large which was humongous. My BF says the slices are size comparable to jumbo slice. We repeated our order complete with a large Greek salad to split. The ample portion included two dolmas. If only I had a fast forward button so I can magically make the delivery guy be here now.

    (4)
  • Mr.Food E.

    Staff may be a little to friendly and playful for some but i enjoy a little personality. So you might not get the best service but you will get some damn good pizza. I had a slice of the BBQ chicken pizza and a slice of the Meat Lovers and garlic knots. It was awesome the pizza I started with the meat lovers and it was so good after taking the initial bite in which I burnt my mouth I took another and proceeded to continue burning my mouth. I then transitioned into the bbq chicken pizza the sauce may have been a little sweet but it was good. Not your average oversized thin New York Slice of Pizza with grease dripping on to the plate but a damn good alternative. I will absolutely make it back to try some of the other flavors of Pizza.

    (5)
  • Becka C.

    Being from Long Island, I'm extremely picky when it comes to pizza. Valentino's nailed it! Not only is their pizza comparable to NY pizza, but they have garlic knots!! - if you are from NY you know what I'm talking about. Food is great and price is even better - if you like pizza, this is the place to go!

    (5)
  • Jessica T.

    My sister and I stopped by here for some early lunch and loved it! It's a very cute little place, and kinda small but the food makes up for it. All the workers are super friendly and nice and paying was quick and easy. Once we ordered our pizza and payed we sat down in a very nice big booth and chowed down. The slices of pizza are HUGE we both had one slice each and that was filling for us. We also got two cannolis to go and they look delicious! If we are ever back in the area we will for sure be stopping in again!

    (5)
  • Jason G.

    So, my wife convinced me to go back. This time we ate at the restaurant. Very noisy, and the staff was still slow. The pizza was better, though our extra cheese was once again, not extra. In fact, our extra cheese seemed to look like it had less cheese than the pizza at the table next to ours, where they ordered theirs with a normal amount of chseese. A definite low point was the desert. We had tiramisu...terrible. On the other hand, our waitress was very friendly. Wrestling with whether I'll go back. Its really conveniently located, but I'm just not sure...

    (2)
  • Nicolas L.

    Pizza is great. The owner, the owner's kids, the manager, etc. are more than a bit gruff and downright unfriendly. Delivery makes mistakes from time to time: - Cold Pizza - Uncooked pizza - Wrong order. Do not expect any discounts or apologies for their mistakes. The pizza is good, however the owner's attitude could use some adjustment. UPDATE/NEWS Flash: I recently went to Ledo's Pizza. I have to admit, they remain a cut above Valentino's. The pizza is jut better! What's more, the staff is a whole lot friendlier to boot!!!!! The only caveat, they are not conveniently located around the city of Alexandria. I will continue to frequent Valantino's however. Just a little less frequenlty.

    (4)
  • Genesis B.

    I'm going to make this simple. Do you like awesome pizzas? Do you like calzones that are stuffed to overflowing? Do you like your pizza to taste like legit NY style pizzas? Do you like your pizza slice to fit on 2-3 paper plates? Do you like your pizza to have some grease on it so that it drips all over you hand and face? Are you hungry after reading this and now want a slice of goodness? Then head on over to this place, put an order in, grab a chair, and eat awesomeness.

    (5)
  • Sandra B.

    After moving here from the NY area I can tell you that this is the ONLY place we know of that makes the real deal. THAT is what pizza should look and taste like. And The owner of this place knows it because he is originally from the NY area himself. So far, we have only had the pizza here, and it is as good as it gets. We will be back to try some of the other dishes in the future. After having some really awful pizza since coming here, this place is a godsend.

    (5)
  • Bryan P.

    Yeah, yeah yeah... "New York Style Pizza!" "New York Style Pizza!" It says that everywhere you look. I'm from New York, so I know. I've gotta say; that's New York Style Pizza! It's the next best thing to being back at home (it's shockingly better than many establishments back home). The smell, the taste and the feel take me back to my childhood. You start with the basic plain slice. You pick it up. The classic New York slice will crack down the middle and cause a thin layer of grease to run down your hand. The molten cheese is at an exact 50% ratio to the sauce. It all checks out! And they get extra points for having Sicilian slices as well.

    (5)
  • Shandy V.

    I gave only two star! The food was great! But the servers ohh my they're have a attitude!! The most important thing in restaurant is the service! I'm not totally happy to this store!

    (2)
  • Jesse C.

    The Buffalo Chicken pizza is awesome. All of the other ones I have had have been nowhere near as good. The sicilian pizzas were dry and made me remember why I am hesitant to try new things sometimes. A tip to keep in mind is that it will take a LONG time for the pizza to be ready. That is understandable given the heavy demand for their product. What I don't like is when you are told it will be ready in 30 minutes and when you arrive 35 minutes later you stand around for another 30 minutes for the second pizza to be done (the first one was on top of the pizza oven the whole time). In closing, the pizza generally good. I think the owners may be "fat and happy" and slacking on the operations and or management aspect of their business.

    (3)
  • KP M.

    A buddy of mine introduced me to this place and I have to tell you that it really is a great diamond in the rough! These are exactly the kinds of places I look for... Huge slices of pizza sold by the slice, friendly staff, fountain sodas, & it won't break the bank. Basically, what a pizza place should be. The dining room is small, but sufficient with some classic Sinatra tunes playing in the back ground. There's also a patio where you can do some great car watching if you are into that sort of thing (I am). On this visit, I tried a slice of the BBQ Chicken & the Buffalo chicken, both of which were awesome (even though I couldn't finish it all). The Calzones & Stromboli looked amazing too, but those I'll have to try on another day. To sum up, the food was fan-freakin-tastic & the people were nice! Next time I'm jonesin' for a slice, you can bet that I'll be back.

    (5)
  • Amanda B.

    This place has really gone down hill, over the past few months. The past couple of times has been disappointing. The pizza has just been ok, when it used to be great. But, the most infuriating thing is the lack utensils, with delivery. Not even a single napkin! How can you deliver a salad to a hotel without sending a fork? Basically, a complete waste. If I wanted to call room service for untensils, I may as well order food, too. I probably will next time.

    (2)
  • Juliet K.

    came here after reading reviews. Its close to my work (which we just relocated) so we are always looking for new and delicious places to eat. we did carry out order. and it was ready in 20 mins. 8 people .. we ordered two orders of garlic knots, two orders of large garden salad, the papa joe's sicilian pizza, and valentino's special large. we have a TON leftover.... so we ordered way too much. couldve done with one less garlic knot and one less salad. garlic knots: garlicy and soft served with warm marinara sauce. loved it. salad: lots of different ingredients. i loved that they put artichokes in there. lettuce seemed a bit wilted though. papa joes: this only comes in the sicilian option, which i actually really liked. the crust is a bit thicker but not too thick where its over powering the ingredients. valentino's: essentially this is a supreme pizza. i wish the onions were cut a bit smaller. it was hard to bit into, but other than that - oh man was this delicious. next time I might ask them to cut the slices smaller. it was a 20" pizza cut into only 8 slices. the slices were HUGEEEEE.. definitely will be coming back for more pizza with the office soon!

    (4)
  • Reba P.

    If you haven't been here before, I'm sorry. Because this place has the best pizza in all of Northern VA! The only people who can't like this place are lactose intolerant. And I feel for them. Everyone I know says this place is the best pizza in town and that's because it truly is! The owner is super nice and his staff is great. I love this place so much, anyone looking for a great meal should definitely try this place out! It's amazing!! Reba

    (5)
  • Michael F.

    Still the best NY Style pie in the area. They recently renovated the dining area and staff for the better. The order system is still a little convoluted and waits for to go pies can run well over an hour.

    (4)
  • Sami I.

    Great pizza but absolutely horrendous customer service. The people behind the counter seem to always have a bad day and never have I seen someone smile there. I really don't understand why they can't hire people who can actually smile and hold a regular conversation with people.

    (4)
  • Madeena H.

    So this place has good pizza but their service is honestly very horrible. I've come here several times in the hopes that I'll actually get a smile and a thank you but nope, that wasn't the case. Also they're not true to their hours. They close whenever they want, although their hours posted online are completely different. Very disappointed!

    (2)
  • Matthew S.

    Overlarge slices for a select clientele. That is, folks who are interested in gobbed on, not-so-artful pies. Now, don't get me wrong - it's not bad, it just isn't my cup of tea when it comes to pies. Reminds me a whole lot of any other chain that existed in a 1990s mall. I always try to introduce people to this and then other locations like Flippin Pizza and Stone Hot pizza nearby - the variety and taste choices in the area are crucial for determining if this will be a repeat eatery for folks. They can get pretty hopping at lunch time. The service isn't always the warmest.

    (2)
  • Sheri G.

    Dear lord, this place makes some HUGE pizzas! My husband came home with a 20 inch pizza, and it was housed in the largest pizza box I had ever seen. We've had it for 3 days and there's still leftovers in the fridge not because it tastes bad, but because each slice is the size of my head. The pizza was very good--cheesy, a bit greasy, with a soft, thin crust. The sauce was on the sweet side. It was a hell of a lot better than standard pizza chains such as Dominoes or Papa Johns and also much better than the pizza at Lost Dog. It's hard to compare it to places like Pupatella and Piola because it's a totally different style of pizza, so it depends on which style you like. They have some pretty unique toppings too; for instance, you can get a chicken parm or an eggplant parm pizza. We've also ordered some appetizers and entrees from here, specifically the fried ravioli (awesome) and the eggplant spinach and ricotta spirals with vodka sauce (also awesome). The portion size for the entree was very large as well, and it comes with a salad. I'm happy to be living near such a great take-out joint.

    (4)
  • Brittany F.

    Delicious food!! The BBQ chicken pizza was absolutely amazing! I've had the chicken princesa with spaghetti as well and that also was great. Will definitely eat here again! Great find!

    (5)
  • Fatima C.

    Nothing like home (NYC) but as good as it gets for this area. The garlic knots are meh and the pizza is on the sweet/salty- That's fine with me though. Warning: The average slice is like 4 bucks so make sure you pick out the biggest one.

    (4)
  • Virginia A.

    Yum-o! I love that they serve slices. You can get a piece of all sorts of heaven, today's was the meataterian and the margarita. YUMMMMMMMY

    (5)
  • Aaron F.

    The greasy and cheesy search is finally over. The Statue of Liberty outside had been staring me down for a return since I first pie'd up years ago, and Valentino's didn't fail to deliver (pun intended). I'm not a pizza snob; I just have New York friends who take every opportunity to denigrate this so-called pizza from the south. This is the first spot I've found in NOVA that will permit my inner-Jersian hubris and boorism to come out next time my northern friends come to visit. If you want good pizza in the Alex/Arl/Anndale area its not worth your time to look elsewhere for fatty-bo-batty slices. Their pizzas and slices are huuuuuge and the thin and crispy crusts keep me coming back. As others mentioned their customer service isn't great (and are curt on the phone) but they're working for efficiency, not necessarily to bring a smile. Because they're busy, and not a chain, allow a reasonable amount of time for deliveries.

    (5)
  • Keb V.

    A friend of mine recommended this place to me. As a fellow ex-NY'er, I was thrilled to hear about this place. I went there and the place was packed. I ordered a plain slice, a sicilian, and a meat lovers. I took it to go and was excited to eat some NY style pizza. I was underwhelmed and disappointed even though I did like the texture of the pizza. It probably was an off night for them. I will go back and give it another try in hope that they are better. I read another review about this place being hit and miss and I have a feeling I missed out this time.

    (3)
  • Vanessa W.

    I love Valentino's! We go there a lot for lunch; usually get something to go. Sometimes we get just appetizers... The chicken wings are awesome! Valentino's has the best wings around here. And I love their soup and bruschetta. Oh, and let's not forget the gyro salad!! The chicken princesa is one of my favorites as well. The subs are great, too, but my favorite food at Valentino's is the PIZZA!! They have such interesting choices and unique toppings. And not only does the pizza taste delicious, it also looks like a piece of art. The only issue I have is deciding which pizza to get!

    (5)
  • Sarah C.

    INSIDE Valentino's: ::::: Friendly, easy-going, quick staff ::::: 12-13 tables ::::: Nothing fancy but attentively clean ::::: If ordering entrees, pick a table and the staff will take your order ::::: If ordering pizza slices, go to the front to select, pay then pick a table and they'll say something out loud and look your way ::::: If ordering both, read the first "If ordering...." ::::: Hubs usually ate with someone who ordered an entree so he did not realize the routine until they informed us. No harm, no foul. ::::: New York-style pizza crusts make me sleepy -_- ::::: Sicilian-style pizza crusts are almost coma-inducing '_' ::::: Marinated chicken chunks on both the Barbeque Chicken and Buffalo Chicken pizza slices were tender and flavorful ::::: Barbeque Chicken pizza was loaded with cheese ::::: Is that ranch sauce with the barbeque sauce? ::::: Sprinkled red pepper flakes - comforting ::::: Buffalo Chicken pizza was drenched with (in my opinion) a mildly spicy tangy vinegary peppery orangy sauce ::::: Sprinkled red pepper flakes - more comfort ::::: My favorite choice, so far ::::: The carnivore....ahem, I mean, Meataterian Sicilian-style pizza was piled with fleshy proteins - name it, it's there....look at the pic ::::: Lots of meat + lots of bread = face hitting the table *_* ::::: My favorite topping was their cow . . OUTSIDE Valentino's: ::::: 12-13 parking spaces ::::: 3 (quick glance) gated outdoor patio-like table/seatings ::::: We will take advantage of that another time ::::: Next to Arby's.....like literally BAM!! right next to their mini parking lot ::::: Makes it interesting when backing out of the parking space . . . Far away, but still a fan. We'll be back for their entrees.

    (4)
  • S S.

    If you live in the area and want great pizza, this is the place! They have a lot of options as far as toppings go but I like to stick to the basics - cheese and pepperoni, none of that BBQ stuff. Their pizza is also HUGE! A small can easily feed 3 people.

    (5)
  • Tiffany S.

    Had some at work for a function and it was delish! Decided to try it on my own, one slice will fill you up... and it should for almost $5 a slice! I wanted just a pepporoni slice, but they had everything but that it seemed when I went. It was still good, greasy and big. Definitely not an everyday thing to eat.

    (4)
  • Oscar L.

    I placed an order for carryout, the lady on the phone told me it would be ready in half an hour and I was there on time. I have a lot of friends that have been to this pizzeria and spoke highly of this place so I thought I would give it a try. Not to mention because of their feedback, i immediately had high expectations as I walked through the door but I was wrong. As I came in, I saw a line of people so I stood at the end. I'm not sure if this was the line for carryout because as soon was it was my turn, the employees there just kept minding their own business. I even saw a few males kissing each other and I said to myself: WHAT do I HAVE to do TO GET SOME CUSTOMER SERVICE IN HERE? whatever happened to employees welcoming customers and actually HELPING the customer. I figured they were busy so I stood there and waited for someone to GREET ME AS THEY WAY IT SHOULD BE. But no, waited a few minutes until I got actually got fed up and told them I had a carryout. I really don't care if this place has the best pizza in east coast. Customer service will ALWAYS be number one when I visit a business. If I did not have a carryout, I would have walked out immediately. i will NEVER, EVER visit this place EVER again. Their pizza will belong in the trash and I would rather eat a pizza from the 7 eleven across the street because they actually GREET ME as soon as I come in. Perhaps if I EVER have friends invite me to come to this place, I will make sure I wear a costume or have a sign that says "CUSTOMER IN LINE, PLEASE GREET AND SERVICE."

    (1)
  • Lynn S.

    The best pizza I've ever had. My hubbie's from NYC and this is the only New York style pizza we've found. We've since moved and miss this place.

    (5)
  • anna s.

    Some of the best Sicillian pizza I've ever had. If you're lucky and they have the ziti pie available in slices, do your tummy a favor and get some! The reviews that say Valentino's is as close as you'll get to NY style in the DMV are legit--this place is the real deal. Stop reading my review and get over there! If they have ziti pie, could you get a slice for me?

    (5)
  • M P.

    As authentic as you can get for NY/NJ pizza! The slice is the size it should be!

    (5)
  • Chris S.

    GET A PIE OUTTA HEEEERRREEEE This is one of those place that does what it does well. I had no clue it was a chain, but boy is this place great. First the pizza pie's are HUGE. Very much Brooklyn style, and very impressive. Taste wise, they are deliciously greasy that is reminiscent of the pie's I used to get living in Queens. I love this place, the only problem is, they're over in an area where it's difficult to get to so I suggest having them deliver.

    (4)
  • Teresa K.

    Good food. Pizza was yummy; Caesar salad was fresh. Service was a little crazy. Nobody knew what we ordered. It took three people to get it right.

    (3)
  • Bernie G.

    I love this place! Great pizza, and great service. Sicilian pizza is hard to find in the area, and I am so happy to find it here. I have had it at other pizzerias and they can be doughy. At Valentino's it is exactly the way it should be!

    (5)
  • Christine D.

    Amazing pizza. My wife and I needed a simple dinner after hiking all day and just looked for something close. We really scored - the pizza was amazing, the sauce and crust were perfect and the toppings were amazing. We went back again after another day of hiking because it was so good.

    (5)
  • Ashley W.

    what's not to love about this place -- literally the best pizza on this side of the 14th St bridge..... so many amazing pizza choices --- great service -- family owned and operated and it shows..... -- simple sit down dining room -- very casual or easy to carry out .... huge NY style -- fresh ingredients.... I'm a huge fan of the margherita -- huge chunks of mozzarella, tomato and basil and the buffalo chicken pizza... -- the perfect amount of spice..... the prices are great here too --- I can never choose just one.... usually walking away with at least 2 slices to feed my inner fat kid! 5 stars aren't easy to come by -- but this spot is well deserving of every single star!

    (5)
  • Lia M.

    Confession: I have been cheating on my regular pizza place with Valentino's for several months. And Valentino's just does not compare. Sure, their pizza is good, maybe even better than good. But slice-wise, it is not as large or as thick. While I have more options at Valentino's, the pizza is greasier and the sauce has a slight aftertaste. Also, I don't think the cheese to sauce proportion is quite to my liking. Unfortunately, Valentino's seduces me with their many options and the fact that I want to love them. Really I do. Even though I can get it better elsewhere, a girl needs options. I will keep coming back, though I know I should not. It's like an addiction.

    (3)
  • Philip G.

    I've ordered food--and importantly, had food delivered--from Valentino's for several years. I live in Alexandria, off of Duke Street close to the King Street Metro. According to Google Maps, I live 4.5 miles away if you're coming up Duke Street. I've checked that distance multiple times (4.5 miles coming straight up Duke Street). Now, all of a sudden, they're saying that I live too far away for them to deliver to me. One explanation I got from the manager for the abrupt change in policy, after years of being a loyal customer, is that they only have five drivers, and the drivers have said coming to where I live takes too long. A) According to Google Maps, it's a 12-minute drive from Valentino's to where I live. B) Hire more drivers! Their food is pretty good, but I don't own a car and I'm not going to go there to pick it up. I can't believe that they think a 12-minute drive is outside of their delivery range. I'm never ordering from them again, because evidently, they'll never deliver to me again.

    (1)
  • Kaye N.

    Huge pizzas! And very tasty too! The price is great for the humongous pizza that you get..and their salads are tasty too.ordering pizza at work is what we love to do and valentino's is always on the top list:)

    (4)
  • Sarah L.

    Finally tried Valentino's after the Statue of Liberty beckoned to us on several trips through Little River Turnpike. The atmosphere is that of a small, cozy pizza place complete with tiered pizzas on display at the counter. Husband and I ordered by the slice: buffalo chicken and vodka chicken (him) and Sicilian and Greek (me). This is by no means a healthy meal (they are pretty heavy handed on the sauces, toppings and cheese, meaning lots of grease!) but man is it tasty! Their full menu probably has 15+ options along with calzones, salads, garlic knots and more. There are plenty more flavors I'd come back to try. Prices are a bit high, but the pizzas are huge. We paid about $20 for four slices and, although they were very generous and filling, the whole pizza is probably a better deal.

    (4)
  • Dmitry D.

    It's place isn't bad, it's definitely not the worse. But for all of you haven't been eating real NY pizza since you we're 8 years old or have you lived in an Italian neighbor your whole life. Well I have in Brooklyn NY and I wanted to I've this place the benefit of the doubt by coming here twice. But there is No way that this is New York Pizza. The pizza doesn't have that good sauce, which makes it perfect. They do out a lot of toppings on top but that doesn't make it good. Also there marinara sauce tastes like hey go to Restaurant Depot. It does not taste like a good homemade Italian sauce. I will have tried a lot of pizzerias here in VA and some in DC and here are some place that are way better and more better then this place. One place will surprise you as it did me. Also the prices for this place is outrages I don't know what kind of high class places some of you eat at but two slices anyone chicken roll should never cost 17bucks. And the chicken roll had soggy dough, and no flavor. People I'm a chef please try my top two choice that I put below. Luciano's ( in Tyson's corner mall or fair oaks mall) Costco Pizza(yes this is crazy but there pizza is the closest I've eat to NY) People trust me and try the turkey sandwich and the bacon chicken ranch roll I Costco also you will not regret it.

    (3)
  • Charles W.

    I'm just going to get right to the point: This is the best pizza in the DC Metro area, and it isn't even particularly close. As a born-and-raised New Yorker, I think I have a pretty discriminating palate when it comes to pizza. Unlike most places, their crust is not too crisp, but not too soft. The cheese is amazing, and you can tell they just don't use cheap sauce. Also, unlike most places, the slices are generous, but they're not ridiculous like that Jumbo Slice crap. (You can actually enjoy Valentino's SOBER. What a concept.) The ziti is also un-REAL. Also, the actual restaurant is authentically NYC-style. The people that work there are cool, but not so polite where it's fake and annoying. Bottom line, if you're a transplant, you need to get your ass on 395 and get some decent pizza. If you're not, it's the closest thing you'll get to NYC without getting on the Acela. P.S. If you eat your pizza with a knife and fork, I don't want to even look at you. USE YOUR HANDS.

    (5)
  • Alyson W.

    This is what I think of when I think of pizza. It's the best I've found in Alexandria. Note that their "small" is actually a large, and their large is "gargantuan" (the box is literally too big to fit in my [normal-sized] fridge). I only wish they'd deliver to my side of town. But, since they don't, I always get the garlic knots to eat in the car on the way home. Will keep coming back, for sure.

    (4)
  • Molly S.

    I live in Orange County in California, but every few years I fly back east to visit family. While staying with my grandmother, she treated my family and me to a pizza dinner at Valentino's. I have to say, this place served us the best pizza I have ever had (aside from Za's in San Francisco). The enormous slices were equivalent to about two or three Little Caesars' ones. We ordered half Spinach, half Pizza Bianca, or "white pizza." The Pizza Bianca seemed revolutionary to me, with three different cheeses (Ricotta, Romano, and mozzarella)and herbs: a cheese-lover's paradise! Even my grandma, an Irishwoman with selective taste, was a big fan. The atmosphere was family-friendly, and the waitress and cooks were cheerful and accommodating. However, the restaurant isn't the only place to enjoy these wonderful Italian meals. One night, my aunt and uncle ordered their lasagna and garlic knots (which they are often noted for), and we feasted in their own home. It's ironic that you can travel almost anywhere, even as far as the D.C. area, and find savory, traditional New York pizza. I definitely recommend Valentino's!

    (5)
  • Cathy H.

    I have been to NYC many, many times and have never had a slice of pizza there. Why, you ask? Well, on my way to any pizza joint, I'm always lured in elsewhere by soup dumplings, ramen, cannoli, etc. etc. That will change on my next NYC trip because I will have a slice upon arrival. I was told that Valentino's serves pizza closest to the kind in NYC, so I had to go. It was towards the end of the day, my friend and I felt we deserved greasy food post-run. She had her heart set on the chicken roll (imagine chicken parmesan in a calzone shell), which looked delicious, but I felt my introductory meal should be pizza. There were 4-5 one-slice options, including chicken alla vodka, margherita, buffalo chicken, BBQ chicken, and Valentino Special (pepperoni, sliced meatballs, onions, and black olives). I opted for the Valentino Special because I don't discriminate when it comes to toppings and love meaty, hearty pizzas. We waited approximately 15 minutes while the two items were toasted and knew there was a problem because it should not take that long to heat up pre-cooked food. Out came the items and, of course, they are burnt. My friend was too hungry to wait for another, while I deemed my pizza unacceptable and politely asked for another slice. They kindly toasted another slice. Despite the darkened edges, I really liked the chicken roll, but I would probably not come back here for pizza because I find the crust to be too crispy and thin for my taste. I like chewier, more foldable pizza. The sauce on Valentino's pizza is a bit on the sweet side as well, so if you prefer a more tart sauce, you will probably not like theirs. I can't wait to try an authentic slice in NY or NJ.

    (3)
  • Kevin L.

    This is the best pizza place I've found in the D.C. metro area in 4 years. Still on the lookout for a competitor to Raleigh's Lilly's. The pizza connoisseur generally finds one of two types of eateries in the District vicinity: standard chain fair (e.g. Papa John's, Domino's), or trashy pop-cult joints masquerading as sophisticated pie (e.g. 2 Amys). Valentinos's strikes the balance. They boast a full menu, though I can vouch only for the pizza and salad. Service was superb (even wished us a safe drive home.. a rare small-town gesture in this city), the atmosphere was relaxed, and the NYC paraphernalia was tasteful, not overdone. Had two pizzas: the spinach and the veg. Both had generous toppings and were supported by a thick, crunchy crust. Truly a healthy pie both in serving size and content (i.e., cheese wasn't greasy). Also had a Greek salad: huge and delightful, unlike salads elsewhere that are diminutive wilted heaps. Overall: quite satisfying.

    (4)
  • Will C.

    New York attitude without the New York taste. This review is for their cheese and pepperoni pizzas because Real Pizza Folk don't buy and review BBQ chicken pizza because that's a blasphemous California Pizza Kitchen creation. Pizza is far, far too greasy and oily. As you take each bite, you can feel the grease clogging through your system. I've had enough pizza to know the difference between good (light) grease and thick (I'm fvckin' heart attack now) grease. A good pizza should make you feel full and satisfied without making you feel weighed down. The cheese I like a lot. It has a nice clean taste. A good salty kick from the mozzarella. Sauce isn't bad. Very smooth, but lacking a lot of flavor. Problem is that it's layered on TOO THIN (or just heavily watered down) such that you're wondering if there's even tomato sauce on this pizza slice. On a plain cheese pizza, this is like sacrilege because all you have to go by are the cheese and tomato sauce-- so you feel like you're eating cheezy bread. The proportion just seems off. Dough is far, far too hard. Don't know what's in the Alexandria water, but the dough lacks that great combination of crispy texture, yet doughy foldable nature that is a hallmark of NY style pizza. But for the amount of oil wetting the crust, the crust would split in half instead of folding pliably like a proper slice should. The excess oil really saps much of the flavor from the toppings, cheese, and tomato sauce. Toppings did not taste fresh. This is Alexandria, so I can see why Valentino's thrives in a local environment where Papa John's and Pizza Huts average 3 star ratings. If I weren't a pizza snob, I would probably rate this pizza a solid 3 stars. But, I've had far too much pepperoni and cheese in my lifetime to be so lenient. The NYer attitude of the staff has no bearing on this rating. And, I've experienced worse. It's a pizza place, people. To my fans, THE PIZZA SNOB IS BACK!

    (2)
  • Danielle S.

    Great menu! Authentic NY style pizza and tasty pasta dishes. Home made meatballs were wonderful!

    (4)
  • Oliver J.

    This is New York Pizza over 200 miles away. I lived in Manhattan for three years during my twenties (still in my twenties), So I think I have the right to make that statement. This is my no means a gourmet pizza joint, so don't expect it. My pizza club ordered: Small House Salad: It was big, had veggies, nothing fancy. Small Cheese pie: Great... although we could tell a large comes out better... the crust and balance of it all. Large half sausage and pepperoni and half spinach: Effin brilliant and NY to a T. It's a big pizza too! Seemed like good quality ingredients because it wasn't too greasy. Chocolate Cannoli: Fab, yet nothing that will blow your mind. Con: No garlic powder or oregano. Fountain sodas are steep ($2.75) but bottomless.

    (5)
  • Ryan M.

    The best pizza in town. Any time we have people over we order at least one of the enormous large pizzas. It does take about an hour, but always worth it! Also, love stopping in for a slice at lunch time. Highly recommend it!

    (5)
  • Karen L.

    Honestly, I'm not that picky about pizza. Really, if something has melted cheese on it, it's ok by me. But even though I like most pizza, I only really crave NYC style pizza with its foldable crusts, greasy tops, slighty sweet sause mixing in with the salty goodness of the cheese and pepperoni. Perfect for a night in watching movies. Anyways, its no secret that DC doesn't really do NYC style pizza. So even with all the great reviews, I didn't want to get my hopes up. But yeah, tried it, loved it, and now crave it just like I used to crave pizza from our old neighborhood joint. My only issue is that their pizza sizes are kinda crazy. 20 inches didn't sound that big, but it's huge!! We're such gluttons that the 2 of us end up trying to polish off the whole thing in one sitting each time. No one should eat that much pizza. Even if I save a piece or two for the next day, I still feel like such a fatty. They also have a 14" which is probably actually the perfect size for 2, but like I said...we're greedy. It's so hard not to order the 14" when there is a 20" for only a couple bucks more. But, yeah..it's not Valentino's fault we have no self control.

    (5)
  • Nick M.

    It amazes me that there is so little good Pizza in the DC area. I mean, there are some good places, but there should be way more given our proximity to New York and Philly. Anyway, I really like Valentino's. It reminds me of the pizza I grew up on. I love the simplicity of giant foldable slices of cheese or pepperoni. I tend to to be a purist with NY style pizza, never more than 1 or 2 toppings at the most.. Valentino's has a whole display counter full of numerous different types of pizza, all of which I forego for the simple beauty of cheese pizza with a sauce of crushed tomatoes cut with a pinch of romano cheese, on a crust that is thin, but stable enough to fold and eat with one hand. I have always picked up my pies, so I have never dined in the restaurant so I can't really speak to the service.....though I will say that when you go to pick up your food, the staff is generally too busy to notice you and it takes a minute to flag someone down. In a town with few high quality pizza options, Valentino's is one you gotta get to. And Total Wine is in the same shopping center, so go mix a six pack of craft brew and eat up. Great way to spend a Friday night.

    (4)
  • Gia P.

    pizza is good. service is fast and the small restaurant is clean. However, don't get delivery, they are rude and blame YOU if THEY get the apartment wrong! At least when I called the Manager had the decency to apologize, something the delivery man was foreign with. Sad- we've been customers a long time.

    (3)
  • Mac O.

    I guess I owe Valentino's another star, seeing as how over the last year-and-a-half-ish husband and I have become regular customers. Sure, it's expensive. And yeah, delivery takes awhile to get here. But damn if Valentino's Margherita Pizza isn't the most impeccable example of its kind.

    (4)
  • Michelle N.

    Why the heck doesn't this place have 5 stars?! Hands down, Valentino's has the BEST pizza I've ever tasted in my LIFE! Boyfriend and I were introduced to this place by a friend and within the first 10 seconds of being in the restaurant, I instantly knew...this place would be divine. Service was pretty good, the lady cashier and a few other staff members were very nice and welcoming. Pizza toppings were bomb. Mushrooms, cheese, meat, sun dried tomatos....more cheese. They give you a lot of the good stuff and the crust is just perfect. Not too thick, not too thin, crunchy with a hint of soft chewiness. Ahhh. DC has shitty Asian food, but don't mess with the pizza! I will return as soon as possible!

    (5)
  • Mar O.

    It's not exactly NY slice, but it's pretty dang close. The service is unpretentious, the place looks like exactly the kind of neighborhood/family joint of your dreams, and you get good pizza to boot. Negative points for being at the worst intersection of all time (Duke and 395). Traffic at rush hour/dinner time is the absolute pits, so avoid at those times. p.s. I'm a fan of Whole Food's cheese slice and think it's probably tops in town. Who wants to fight?.

    (4)
  • T L.

    Great pizza. The Valentino special is delicious!

    (4)
  • Patrick K.

    UPDATE: This place's gyros are out of this world and they have like 20 lbs of meat on them, crazy big and delicious!!! WHERE IS THE ONLINE ORDERING Valentinos?!?!?!?!?!? $60 for two large pizzas but damn if they weren't worth every penny!!! Next time you're looking for gourmet pizza you'd be doing a disservice to yourself not giving this place a try. I'm amazed. Excellent food!

    (5)
  • crystal l.

    Amazing pizza even considering I got my food to go. The crust was like eating fresh garlic bread,

    (5)
  • Teresa J.

    Best pizza in the area hands down. Delicious crust, and the slices are always overflowing with toppings. My favorite pizzas are the Chicken a la Vodka, Pizza Bianca, Spinach, and the Buffalo Chicken. The buffalo chicken pizza is a staple in this household.

    (5)
  • A.R. P.

    What do you do if you are hanging out in Annandale and do not want to eat Korean food? Simple. Drive east along Rte. 236 (Little River Turnpike) for a few miles, take a left on Beauregard St., and have some pizza. Not just any pizza mind you but supposedly some of the best pizza in all of Northern Virginia (and, maybe, in all of the DC area). Valentino's is a purveyor of New York style pizza (which is noted for its thin, flexible dough and its light use of tomato sauce). They freshly prepare pizzas to order or faithfully sell individual slices too (as is the custom with New York style pizzerias). The option of having many pizzas to choose from is very accommodating for any group that cannot agree on just ONE pizza to order (which ended up being the case for me and my dining companions). Collectively, we ordered slices of the plain pizza, BBQ chicken pizza (my choice), baked ziti pizza, and the spinach pizza. When I bit into my slice of BBQ chicken pizza, I uttered, "wow..." First of all, it looked dazzling (with its alternating rings and strips of amber-brown and white that gave the pizza an "artistic" effect that was more reminiscent of a swirly dessert or an idiosyncratic sushi roll concocted by a skillful itamae). The amber/brown strip of color was actually BBQ sauce, and the strip of white was ranch dressing. Together with a generous distribution of grilled white meat chicken and gooey mozzarella cheese, this pizza really delivered (no pun intended)! It packed a great flavor (with the tangy sauces really complimenting the chicken and cheese very well). My only complaint was that the pizza was not hot enough (temperature wise). While the first few bites certainly were, the pizza tended to cool off rapidly as I did not wolf my pizza down immediately (but, instead, chatted intermittently or was otherwise distracted). Pizza sold by the slice is merely reheated for a few minutes in a big pizza oven (at an undisclosed temperature). I wondered how much better my already tasty BBQ chicken pizza would have been if we had gotten a whole pie of it--made fresh to order. Maybe, next time... The other slices, in my opinion, provided mostly mixed results. The plain pizza was...well, just plain. The baked ziti pizza was like a "carbohydrate bomb" (as the gluttonous tubes of ziti and smothering mozzarella cheese did not provide enough contrast to the pizza crust itself). The slice was just doughy and heavy and bland (especially, with only minimal tomato sauce to help it along). The spinach pizza, made with mozzarella and ricotta cheeses, offered some zip; but, it too was middling. As I had ordered the best slice of the bunch, I was happy with my meal (the others not so much). But, it was New Years Eve; and, we were ready to head out. Granted, we couldn't make it to New York or Times Square to ring in the new year in style (with the usual merry throng of revelers and the iconic glass ball descending toward the street). I guess, the consolation (a good consolation nonetheless) was having New York style pizza in Alexandria.

    (3)
  • Huggie H.

    Best Pizza you're going to find in NOVA. Wait times can be quite excessive though.

    (5)
  • Jonathan G.

    I ordered delivery, the call taker tried to talk us out of ordering the 30 inch pizza. Food is always good. I don't understand why the call taker would try to down grade the order.

    (3)
  • Erin D.

    OH MY GOD!!!! This place is absolutely PHENOMENAL!! The bread, the wings, the bruschetta and pasta....amazing!!!

    (5)
  • Jenna M.

    This place has the best pizza in the area. I have been there many times now and love the pizza. This past time I had the buffalo chicken pizza and the margarita pizza, which both were awesome. I gave this place 4 stars due to the employees that work there. They do not have the nicest staff. There is a girl there that looks like a wanna-be Snooki who has a bad attitude and was nasty to some of the customers. The other girl that was taking orders was clueless and forgot she put pizza in the oven and then was yelling at other people asking who put the pieces of pizza in the oven, when in fact in was her. Granted they were a little busy, but still there is no need to be nasty to your customers and yell at each other in front of your customers.... Overall, best pizza!

    (4)
  • Andrew U.

    This is the closest to an authentic NY pizzeria I've found in the Washington DC area, which in and of itself should let you know that the pizza is some of the best in the area. The location is a bit of a pain in the rear to navigate in and out of, and it is very tiny inside, but well worth the effort. They regularly have lots of great pizzas on display to order by the slice (some traditional, some a bit more exotic) and also do delivery and carryout orders. Like most NY pizzerias, they also have other great items like calzones, chicken rolls (a personal favorite), canolis, etc. Overall, the food tastes outstanding. Some of their pizzas can be a bit pricey to order compared to your typical chain junk, but it tastes much much better!

    (5)
  • Erika F.

    Okay so let me start by saying this. Had I not eaten Johnny's pizza before Valentino's, I would have said Valentino's was great. But seeing as how that's not the case, I'm going to say that Johnny's not only has more of cozy environment without awkward stares of boredom from the staff (like Valentino's) but the pizza is cheaper and fresher. My fav is the buffalo but the one from V's was heavy and greasy and the chicken tasted a little stale or too fried. I still put it above the other pizza places in the area but never above Johnny's. Maybe the owner from Johnny's whom is always helping his staff should stop by V's.

    (3)
  • Jennifer P.

    I was in search of a great local place to have an alternative when I'm too lazy to drive out to Arlington for Joe's Pizza & Pasta or Lost Dog Cafe. The food at Valentino's wasn't bad. We ordered spinach pizza, lasagna, and the mozzarella sticks for delivery. Two things to know about Valentino's: 1. The food was pretty good. Pizza was delicious, lasagna was ok... I've had better, but I've also had much worse. 2. The Delivery service was horrible. I understand waiting for delivery on a Friday night. I was quoted 45 minutes on the phone. That seemed reasonable. The place is only 15 minutes from my house, but again it was a Friday night. I started searching for alternative dinner plans after an hour and thirty minutes of waiting. When the guy finally arrived, the food was warm, but definitely not as hot as I would have expected. So if you decide to give Valentino's a try, I recommend dining in or carrying out.

    (3)
  • Matt B.

    Best place for New York style pizza in the DC area. Both the hand tossed and the deep dish pies are great. The pies consistently have the perfect balance of sauce, cheese and toppings. I usually prefer meat topping pizzas but their Two Tomato and Garlic Pie is the best tasting pizza I have ever had. Only thing that would make the place better is if they served beer.

    (4)
  • Stephanie M.

    I ordered the Chicken Parm yesterday. It was ok, nothing amazing. I was more amazed by the ridiculously poor customer service. I came in with a friend and the young lady who initially greeted us was really nice. However, some guy (medium-brown complexion, wore a fitted hat; I wish I'd got his name to post it here) took our order and he was a complete jerk. No eye contact, condescending and plain rude. Once our order came, he sat it on the counter and talked to a worker next to him for almost a full minute. He saw me looking at him and looked over at me three times during his "conversation" before calling us up. He was intentionally trying to get a rise out of us. Unacceptable.The food is not good enough for me to deal with this kind of disrespect when there are dozens of other places in this area that serves the same menu. I'll be going to Piasano's from now on. To the owner: please get your staff together before you continue to lose good business.

    (1)
  • Britt S.

    It's been a while since I've been. This is a great place to take out a couple of slices for lunch break from work. Their pizza is outstanding, and the crust is crisp without being a cracker, if you know what I mean. Perfect, bendable NY-style pizza. Not a fancy place, but their quality is unbeatable in the NoVA area. They are generous with the toppings. That's why I have to go 5 stars on this one. Quality is one thing, but if you put quantity also into the mix, I'm sold. Unfortunately, I don't live or work near them anymore and haven't had a chance to go in a while! Getting in/out of the shopping center it's in is a bit of a chore, but well worth it! Now, if they'd just relocate closer to me...

    (5)
  • Jennifer C.

    If you ever decide to order this food for delivery, good luck. They take over an hour and a half to get to you. And they couldn't care less.

    (1)
  • Melissa W.

    Wow! This place has amazing pizza. We ordered two large pizzas for a Saturday evening football game, and was definitely not expecting the size of the pizzas - they were huge! And so delicious. Will definitely be ordering again. Our order took about an hour to get here, but once it was delivered, we saw why. You definitely get a quality pizza from this place!

    (5)
  • Candy C.

    Didn't know where to order cuz there was a register and a bunch of employees standing by the oven with not much interest in even acknowledging our presence. The guy that was cutting and moving around was the only one who bothered and he was nice - just gotta wonder why so many employees don't have a thing to do. Now on to the pizza - I'm originally from NY and I cannot say it tastes like NY pizza, but I understand certain places in NY like super thin and saucy pizza. Its not for me.

    (2)
  • Sylvia M.

    Wonderful mouth watering ,Hawaiian Pizza and BBQ Wings!!!! Will call again for delivery and dine in is a must! Bravo!

    (5)
  • Nicole S.

    This place is super small. Right as you enter you can see an assortment of pizza slices to choose from or you can sit down to order a whole pizza or meal. We ordered two large pizzas, garlic knots and a salad. The salad and garlic knots were just ok. The pizzas had great flavor but turned soggy very quickly due to all of the toppings. There are a few items to choose for dessert - - all of which looked tasty. The prices are high, unsure why this Yelp! business page has one $ when it should be $$. I won't be back as I feel like this place was just "ok," in an area full of options for better tasting, cheaper food.

    (3)
  • Sarah S.

    After several hours of packing and organizing in Del Ray I was heading home and I was hungry. As I turned from Little River Turnpike onto my cut through to Columbia Pike I made a quick decision and pulled into a Valentino's parking spot. I had heard about this place from a few people but had never been and I decided today was the day. I walked in and was quickly mesmerized by the various gourmet pizza options. I was initially drawn to a veggie pizza with dried tomato pieces and feta but soon saw the BBQ chicken and Buffalo chicken. The BBQ chicken has alternating circles of BBQ and ranch sauces over chicken; it was beautiful. While I had thought I would get one piece and eat there I decided to grab a few and take them home on the pretense of sharing but let's be honest, it was for the purely selfish reason of getting to try a couple opposed to just one. Because I was taking these to some folks who are a little less adventurous in the food arena I ended up selecting four pieces which included the BBQ chicken, the veggie I mentioned, a meat pizza (not sure which one), and a white cheese pizza topped with fried chunks of mac & cheese. They were all really good although my favorite was the BBQ chicken with the cheese in second (I mean come on there was fried mac & cheese on top). Hubby gave the meat and cheese both thumbs up. The veggie was good too, don't want folks to think it wasn't. When you get single slices they put them in the oven for a little while, I guess to get the flavors going and make sure they are warm. While I was waiting I chatted with one of the staff and watched a couple of regulars come in. Some folks had pre-ordered while others were grabbing a slice. The customers I saw were diverse and happy to there. There is not a lot of seating but I can see it being a place to grab a bite if you worked in the area and wanted a little break with good eats included. The four slices I mentioned cost just under $20 but they are pretty darn big pieces and I did pick the more complicated pieces. The menu has a lot of stuff besides pizza. I did notice a couple of subs being purchased. Thankfully I had paid before I saw the cannoli because those looked really good and I wanted one, didn't need one but certainly wanted one. Perhaps next time after some Buffalo chicken pizza or another BBQ piece.

    (4)
  • Jennifer M.

    Pizza overall 3/5 stars. Cheese is fine, sauce is very good, just a lack of. The dough still needs some work. It can hold its own shape (which I find is a big problem with Virginia pizza) but the dough is very tough and the crust is very hard. I do like the "ny style" of buying pizza by the slice. Reviewed by a true New Yorker..

    (3)
  • Matthew G.

    Been coming here for years. Best Sicilian pizza I've ever had and I go to New York all the time. They also have a baked ziti pizza that they only make on certain days. It's amazing as well.

    (5)
  • Shannon V.

    I found Valentinos's when I first moved to the area 5 years ago. I was coming from NY so I was looking for a place that had that NY style pizza I loved. I can easily say Valentino's is now my go to for any pizza. This review is for the food, I have never eaten at their restaurant as I always get everything to go. If you are looking for pizza on a weekend be prepared for a bit of wait, however my order has never taken longer than 45 minutes for pick up (that was during the "big football game" too). I have never had a bad pizza, but I have to be honest I rarely stray from my usual buffalo chicken pizza. Sometimes it can be a little greasy but what good pizza isn't (that's what napkins were made for). I always get their garlic knots and they are always great. Lots of garlic and not too greasy. The sauce that comes with the knots is absolutely delicious and perfectly balanced. I have sampled quite a bit of their menu, including salads and other entrees, and have never come across a dud. I would also recommend their cannoli too! If there are any chocolate left you should snatch them up! Sometimes employees get busy here and you could stand around waiting if you do not take the initiative to let them know why you are there (pick up or ordering in).

    (5)
  • Hyunoo P.

    My fellow Knights have put in their shilling about this pizzeria. It's good, ok, we get that. But let's think about the post-pizzeria pizza (i.e., leftovers). And judging from the portions you get here, you'll most likely have plenty. Most important is the transportation vessel. If you've never given this a second though, perhaps you should consider the following situation: You're in your car and some find young thing gets in the passenger seat. Uh oh, foot smashed that flimsy Sobarro-inspired doggy box. Now your car smells like pizza and you're all alone. Fortunately, Valentino's gives you a hearty cardboard box that won't give so easily and also takes up an enormous amount of fridge space. Many people believe cold pizza is best the next day. This answer is wrong. Cold pizza is for lazy people. Why not have the slice relive its glory days with a few minutes in a 400 degree oven? You're only perishable once. Besides, pizzas with lots of toppings like eggplant, ricotta, buffalo chicken, etc. demand more attention than a quick scoot for box to chomp. Following my heating regiment, my pizza had the wonderful double-baked crispiness of the crust. The cheese was bubbling once again. And I felt like I had won something extra, something outside of the original arrangement. It's too bad you can't get those bad ass goblets to go. In the gentle light of the afternoon I was able to reflect on Valentino's offering in peace. The flavorful crust had achieved a zen-like balance between chewiness and crispiness. Most pizza places can get you either/or pretty well, but this dough was spot-on. The toppings can get out of control (and I mean that in the best way) to the point where you aren't really having pizza; you're having an entree spilled on top of bread! Bon apetit! I would be glad to go back here, but definitely with back-up because my car is starting to smell like pizza from KotRP events.

    (5)
  • Jamie M.

    Yelp rarely leads me astray, but dinner last night at Valentino's was not impressive. Gwen B. and I stood around the counter deciding what slices we wanted. Once we decided, we waited. And waited. And waited. There were at least six employees behind the counter that looked at us (then quickly looked away), but did not acknowledge us in any other way. So then we thought, well maybe you're supposed to sit down and order at a table. So we sat. And waited. And waited. Two employees walked by us and ignored us. So finally we tried the counter again and flagged someone down. The lady who rang me up didn't say one word to me...did she speak English? Who knows. I can put up with lame service if the food is good but my slice of margherita was beyond bland. I briefly considered throwing it away and going to Arby's next door. Was it an off day? Maybe their slices with sauce are better? I don't know, but I won't be back anytime soon to give them a second chance.

    (2)
  • Alexandra C.

    Best pizza and garlic knots I have ever found in Virginia. I always get just plain cheese and it is sooo good. Their sicilian is amazing too. I recommend it to anyone.

    (5)
  • JSTADOG K.

    Should have know it wasn't going to be good when you ask for a 1/2 dozen of garlic knots and the girl looks at you like you have 3 heads and ask "how many is that"? Then I had to wait an extra 10 minutes for a Gyro while the rest of my party sat down and ate. It was a special order "No Sauce" shame on me! After waiting and waiting I went back to ask where it was. It was just sitting on the counter getting cold. 1 bite and guess what I nearly puked out? Yep the sauce that I asked not to be put on. So I asked for my money back due to the fact everyone else was already done. I get the look like it was my fault! Oh and when I asked for my $5.00 tip back I was told they can't refund that. BULL SHIT! I'm done and will never go back. It's a shame to because I work at a dealer around the corner and usually order 2-3 times a week.

    (1)
  • Gwen B.

    Jamie M. pretty much summed up our less-than-stellar experience here. The staff was not attentive at all and the pizza was tasteless (I'm from New York, but still can acknowledge decent pizza --I've never had this bad). On top of that, I ordered a caesar salad and the caesar dressing was the Italian-type, not the creamy type. If i hadn't already paid for the salad, I would have taken it back. And this whole lovely experience put me out $13! Needless to say, I will not be going back here.

    (2)
  • adam s.

    Probably the best in the NOVA area that I've sampled. On the days that I crave it, it's a 5 star Pizzeria. The size of the pizzas are huge, and the sauce is on the sweet side. The garlic knots are good, but as another reviewer said needs a dipping sauce. Well documented on this site is the nicely portioned salads. The service has been between good and mediocre, depending on when we go. Nothing to write home about here for the waitstaff, but the people behind the counter are always nice, and one of the owners actually struck up a conversation with me once as I waited to pick up my order. Decor is acceptable for a pizza joint, but has too much shiny 80's cheesy diner-ish decorations for my taste. One of the best parts of ordering a pie here is the guaranteed leftovers! Re-heated Valentinos is still excellent, (especially if you have a pizza stone at home), but if I don't have time for an oven re-heat the microwave also doesn't destroy it.

    (4)
  • Celia W.

    The slices were as big as my head. The garlic knots were garlicky. The side salad was covered in yummy veggies and spicy pickled veggies. The soda came in an awesome giant goblet thing but the diet tasted like it came out of a dirty machine. The woman's bathroom is ridiculously girly. All in all, excellent pizza and excellent company.

    (5)
  • John C.

    Garlic knots live up to their billing. Pizza is NY Style and VERY good.

    (4)
  • Steve M.

    My wife and I were visiting DC with her father and mother to take them to see WWII memorial. Looked on Yelp to find an inexpensive Italian place that wasn't a chain and Valentino's came up. Reviews sounded good so popped it in the GPS and were off to find it. We were kind of Leary when we pulled into the parking lot but the reviews had been good so thought we'd give it a try. Wow were we impressed! We all had something different and every dish was excellent. We could tell everything was fresh(nothing frozen) and homemade. As others had said the garlic knots were great and the marinara excellent. The calzone I had was fantastic and the cheese mixture was unbelievable. Portions were huge. None of us could finish our entre'. If we weren't from Wisconsin we'd make this a regular stop.

    (5)
  • Tracie M.

    Good pie! I've had it twice and it was delicious. Meatball with sweet peppers rocks. The meatballs are sliced, just the way I like them. The crust is tasty, and the sauce and cheese are just fine. I do like my crust a little crispier so I'll order it that way next time. (When I re-heated leftovers the next day, the crust came out perfect after six minutes in the oven.) The delivery time was reasonable and the delivery guy was really nice. I would love to give this place five stars but it's pricey. A large two-topping pizza and a garden salad cost 36 bucks! To me that's a lot, but I just moved here from Pennsylvania where everything is cheaper. (I used to get the same thing for a little more than 20 bucks there.) I'll definitely be a repeat customer.

    (4)
  • Gibran M.

    best pizza Alexandria has to offer

    (4)
  • Jeremy R.

    I have only ever gotten delivery from this place. Never eaten in the dining room nor had the urge to. You know why? Because the delivery is always much faster than the time they give you when you call. I grew up in New York. I have eaten at many of the places considered the best in NYC. This place is the closest I can find to it in the NOVA area. The sauce is slightly sweet and well seasoned. The crust is the proper thickness and the pies have the right amount of toppings and cheese on them. On top of all of this the large pie is twenty inches. That's right two-zero. The one quibble I have is the pricing. I ordered two large pizzas one night, one plain and one with a few toppings, and it came out to about 50 bucks. What? Really? Fifty dollars? I hate to constantly make the comparison to NY buuuuuut, my order would probably cost half as much up there.

    (3)
  • Justin R.

    These guys probably make the best NY style pizza in the area. The restaurant is not the nicest, but it's all about the food here. Lot's of choices and everything I've had to date has been great. Good crispy crust and lots of awesome toppings pilled high.

    (4)
  • Yishai M.

    as a tri-state pizza snob - this place in the DC burbs ROCKS! The dining room is small as heck, and was completely packed the night I was there with the fam, but they were very accomodating and pushed a few tables together for us all (we had 8 peeps). The food was enourmous, reasonabvly priced and delicious! The pizzza was huge and tasty! If I lived around there I'd definitely be a regular.

    (4)
  • Pegah Y.

    Decent pizza place, with no frills but tons of topping choices. It's conveniently located right off Little River Turnpike in Alexandria and I recently got take-out from there. I ordered the small-sized Meat Worshippers pizza, which came with pepperoni, salami, ham, sausage, and bacon. Note that the small (14") pizza is actually quite large and can probably feed 2 people! I saw a family come in and get a large and it was enormous! Probably biggest pizza box I'd ever seen. My fiancé and I both enjoyed our slices of pizza - they were full of flavor, albeit a bit too greasy. The pizzas are a bit overpriced, in my opinion. A "small" runs around $20, depending on what you order, and a medium and could be around or over $30, depending on what you get. I think that's a bit much for pizza. Parking is decent - they gave their own lot, but I can imagine it getting crowded during peak times. Bottom Line: Delicious, but overly greasy pizza. Great options (and if you're as carnivorous as we are, the Meat Worshipper pizza is a good choice), but a bit overpriced for what you're getting. We certainly would visit again but it's not our #1 choice for pizza in the area.

    (4)
  • Adam F.

    You won't be disappointed. Great pizza and fair prices. Downside is that they don't deliver to my neighborhood so I have to do take-out. Better than anything you'd get from a chain.

    (4)
  • Alexandria A.

    Best pizza around! Totally recommend the all meat. Food is fresh and the garlic knots are to die for. Definitely a must try at least once!

    (5)
  • Meredith V.

    So I've eaten at Valentino's a few times now, mainly takeout. I brought the kids to eat inside once and service was terrible so I think it's safe to say this is mainly a carry out place. And that's what most people were doing. But as far as NY style pizza goes, the pizza here blows the pants off Johnnys over in Kingstowne, hands down. Definitely not as greasy as Johnnys. You may not like the service or atmosphere here, but it's some of the best pizza in Fairfax county.

    (4)
  • Juicy G.

    It was okay, but it was nothing spectacular. They get points for having some original flavors in terms of pizza, but it wasn't mind blowing to the point that I would go out of my way to have it again. We ordered a 20 inch Chicken alla Vodka, and what was probably the most disappointing aspect about it was that it didn't resemble the pie that was in the window behind the counter that they were selling by the slice. The pie that they were selling by the slice had chicken upon chicken piled high, covering every inch of it. The one we got had sporadic chicken, and not much at that. I wish one of our slices had half the amount of chicken that other Yelpers have shared a photo of. The sauce was good. It was definitely a nice flavored vodka sauce. The crust was also nice and firm allowing for each slice to be picked up without flopping over. Sadly though, it just tasted like a cheese pizza with vodka sauce for the most part. There simply wasn't enough chicken presence to offer much more flavor than that. Definitely a one and done place for me.

    (3)
  • Jamie B.

    This is the only New York style pizza place I have seen in the Alexandria area. I stopped in and got a Sicilian slice and some garlic knots. Had a very hometown feel. I grew up in New Jersey where there are lots of pizzeria and I was happy to support a local business. Pizza was decent I have to go back and try some more to give a better opinion.

    (3)
  • Paul D.

    Truly some of the WORST customer service I've ever experienced. I entered to pick up a call-in order, and was completely ignored, even though I was the only person standing at the counter. After standing there for several minutes, not one of the 8 employees milling around behind the counter said hello or even acknowledged my presence. So I asked if someone could help, and one of them snapped, "as soon as we've helped everyone else" in such a rude and condescending tone that I was taken aback at its pure brazenness. With no other customers ahead of me, he was telling me that he'd talk to me when he got good and damned ready and if I didm't like it, too bad. UNACCEPTABLE! I'll never go back.

    (1)
  • Toby R.

    Just came from NEW YORK, this pizza could hold its own against any pizzeria there. Awesome pie! Service was quick and helpful, easy parking too. Ordered a cheese and it was ready right when I got there. Got some parm and peppers and good to go. Decent prices too.

    (5)
  • Danny D.

    Wow, just found this place today after living here for 6 years in Old Town. Was on my way to see my doctor who is in this neighborhood and was starving. Stopped for a piece of pizza. Amazing! Just like the Italian Pizza that I grew up with. Forget the overpriced pizza of the more fancy trendy places. Take the quick trip from Old Town. Yum. The crust is perfect, the cheese perfect. Their menu is extensive. Next time I want to try the Pasta Fagioli soup. This is the most authentic Italian food I have had since the North End of Boston. I suggest you try it and make it a fav. Not fancy, but who cares when the food is this good!

    (5)
  • Rachel N.

    This place is close to my house so its super convenient and the slices are decently priced for how big they are. The Pizza is super good and they have a great selection with interesting topping combinations. My fiancé also really likes their Italian sub, but he adds banana peppers. Also the pizzas come in two sizes and they are HUGE. The service is hit or miss. Sometimes they have been super rude and sometimes super nice. Just depends on when you go and who is working. Recently, I got takeout for my mom and I when she visited after I bragged about the place. She thought if the pizza and subs are great then the pasta has to be too! WRONG! She ordered the $17 shrimp fettuccine and couldn't even finish it. The shrimp was so chewy and tasted like rubber. The sauce lacked flavor and tasted like the awful shrimp. It was horrible. No really, the shrimp was awful. I don't think we will be straying away from the subs and pizza again.

    (3)
  • Matt S.

    Top notch pizza. The customer service is just what you would expect from a traditional Italian neighborhood restaurant. I highly recommend the chicken a la vodka pizza and buffalo chicken pizza slices. This is my go-to spot in Alexandria!

    (5)
  • Natasha G.

    The pizza was very good; however, the workers on the front end constantly picked the pizza slices up with their naked hand. I requested to my cashier that the guy not touch my pizza with his hand after he touched the register keys, his chlothing, money, receipts, etc...the guy seemed to have gotten upset. He walked to the back and came back saying things like"i Can't take this. I need a couple of stiff drinks." Clearly, a lot of the staff think its ok to touch all over your pizzs abd expect you too think its ok. It's not.

    (3)
  • Jorge R.

    Ordered here a few times and its decent but I'm upset that now they won't deliver to me. They say I'm 4.3 miles away and I need to order a min. $100! Google maps says I'm 3.3 miles and 6 minutes away. I always leave a good tip so its not that.

    (2)
  • Magic Mark L.

    One of my favorite pizza places in the area, been there many times. I've seen some complaints on here about customer service. I disagree that they are unfriendly, but generally busy so they're not doing a lot of chit-chat. Don't go expecting to have your ass kissed by the staff. Go for the pizza. Is it the best pizza ever? No, this is not New York (I think it has something to do with the water there). But it is yummy. I usually go for the slices of regular cheese, the white pizza, or the Sicilian. In my opinion the sauce is a little on the sweet side, but it's still really good. Garlic knots good too - yum. If you have enough people, try ordering an XL one day to go...so so big....

    (4)
  • Sara H.

    Wished I found this pizza place much earlier. I just wanted a slice of pizza after a week of being sick with only chicken soup but didn't know of any place. I called Domino's for their specials but the lady on the phone was not so nice. Hunger struck and I got desperate. I started yelping, googling and found this great place which was just down the street. Loved the atmosphere! I got a slice of the pepperoni, two garlic knots and a cannoli. I was in heaven! The cannoli was the best ever. The pizza was great. The garlic knots tasted like they have been out for a long time. Perhaps some marinara sauce for dipping would have been nice. But no garlic knots next time. Over all, I'm glad I found a pizza place that sells by the slice and it opens late. Perfect for someone who comes home late. I'll see you again soon!

    (4)
  • Nadine A.

    Hungry for amazing pizza?? Go here! Not only is the pizza amazing.... They supplied me with boxes for a birthday party favor idea I had!!

    (5)
  • C M.

    The pizza is great & the employees are nice.. I would give them 5 stars, but the property is notably neglected. The plant growth outside makes it look like an abandoned property, and the bathrooms are dirty. With 10 employees hanging around during our visit, the neglect is not due to a lack of staffing... But don't put off a visit, the food is worth it. Mow and clean.

    (4)
  • Erin R.

    If you want crazy pizza options, Valentino's is a good choice. I went with a classic cheese slice and a vodka sauce chicken slice because when something that interesting is on the menu, you have to try it. I enjoyed the cheese, crispy slightly flaky crust and a good amount of grease, I'd order this again (but not over a slice of New Haven style). The vodka sauce chicken pizza was interesting. There is a TON of chicken on it, so much that it makes the vodka sauce somewhat hard to taste. The slices are large so if you're going with a meaty slice, 1 will probably do.

    (3)
  • Dave A.

    DC is good for a lot of different types of food but pizza is not one of them. Thank god Valentino's exists! Its one of the only places to get NY style pizza in the area. All I can say is me hungry me want more...

    (5)
  • Ned A.

    Really good food, I've been there several times they never seem to disappoint. Their pizza is awesome all around, fresh ingredients all the time and the people there are very friendly, I would definitely recommend anyone to give them a shot

    (4)
  • Art H.

    As soon as you walk in the overwhelming sensation of pizza takes over. A display of all the variations by the slice welcome you. I wanted to try them all! We ate in and did table service, Jon was great helping the kids pick out the different kinds of pizza available. Come with an appetite! You'll want more than one slice. And these slices are big! On your right side after Arby's. We parked on the side of the building, but it might be easier to pass the building and park in the strip mall parking lot immediately after Valentino's.

    (4)
  • Elizabeth D.

    Love Valentino's big slice pizza! It is pricey but well worth it. The pizza reminds me of my fave pizza joint, Lorenzo's located on South Street in Philly, except this place is right down the road from me and delivers. I also love their garden salad. The customer service is hit and miss, particularly with the person who answers the phone & takes your order. They can get snappy & borderline on rude, which immediately puts me on the defense. I try not to let it ruin my pizza mood but I'd appreciate it if I was treated like a customer instead of another number. Now where the customer service has been good is when I've had an issue after the food was delivered. One time I tried their shrimp fettuccine & for the price I paid it was not worth the quality of food I received. I spoke with the manager who was nice & refunded the shrimp fettuccine & provided a $10 off discount for my next order. The other issue was being double charged and the management worked to rectify the mistake. Overall, this place does have good pizza and is good at resolving issues, which is why I keep going back!

    (3)
  • Amber G.

    Holy Grail of pizza. HUGE, thin NY style slices that taste like slices of heaven. I've never actually eaten here, only ordered take-out for my office a few times, so I don't know that I can give it the full five stars until I've actually sat down there and tried more. But what I can tell you is that the meatball pizza is insanely good -- Meatball sounds weird, I know, but the meatball comes thinly sliced on top (not in little round balls like at Domino's) and is just sooo flavorful. TRY IT. Absolutely dominates Dominos/Papa John's/Pizza Hut.

    (4)
  • Fud C.

    I ordered chicken buffalo pizza. It took them over an hour to deliver, to add they kept pussyfooting about the status of the delivery driver. He's 5 minutes away turned to, he forgot to take the pizza on his way out for his deliveries. Which makes no sense because that's your job, to deliver pizza. To add the pizza was not cooked done. It was still very doughy. Never ordering from here again

    (1)
  • Antonio C.

    Not sure what the hype is about this place. Perhaps we ordered the wrong things on the menu, but was pretty disappointed. Compared to places like Tony's in Centreville this place didn't event come close. The Margherita pizza was sub par. The mozzarella was rubbery and over all flavor was not great. Also ordered the baked Ziti. The flavor of the sauce was good, but the didn't really have that baked consistency. I'm not convinced it even made it into the oven. If I lived close by I maybe would try this place again. But considering it's a bit out of the way I won't be coming back.

    (1)
  • Vanessa V.

    I lived in NYC and even there you can barely find good pizza anymore. This is the best Pizza in the DC metro area, period. Everything else I have attempted to eat is to much bread or just bad. This is the perfect New York pizza with the best bread - sauce - cheese ratio and nice crisp to the bread. I recommend going in for a slice and just stick to cheese. Simple and perfect. Others can be a bit to much and you lose focus on the pizza itself.

    (5)
  • Rebecca C.

    Tried it out as our first pizza experience in the area and I just wouldn't go back. Again, our measuring stick is authentic Chicago pizza from the REAL Pizzeria Uno's. The sausage was sliced in an awkward way, but we noticed that is just usually how folks do the sausage in this area. It wasn't tasty. It tasted like licorice. The pizza is gigantic is a plus. One of those experiences were you are starving and you got it home, paid for, and you eat it anyway. The other reviews were misleading. I dare say, Pizza Hut is 10 times better.

    (1)
  • Matt C.

    Best pizza in Northern VA, especially the Sicilian. A little expensive but worth the price so it became our regular place. Love the pepper onion or the spinach. Great in rebel flavor and very filling. The chicken special pizzas are also outstanding. The salads are only ok but the calamari is also solid. But try the pizza and you'll be hooked.

    (5)
  • Todd K.

    The pizza is cheap, and it is very filling and big. My problem with it is that it was a bit too greasy. Drip...drip...drip...haha. They have all the specialty pizzas with the excessive toppings all on display. And they have the usual plain pizza at $2.50 a slice. The owner is from NY, or at least he says he is. Until I find something better, this is probably the closest you might get to NY style pizza (NY style pizza according to the blog titled Slice Harvester). The hours are a bit underwhelming though, especially for a late-night pizza run. I had trouble finding this place the first time. It is right next door to Arby's FACING Beauregard Street. The entrance to the parking lot is off Beauregard - there is no lot access from the main shopping lot, unless you want to park next to Boston Market and walk over.

    (4)
  • Sandy J.

    Fantastic Italian at a very reasonable price. From the outside, the place doesn't look very nice, but the inside is cute and the food is great.

    (4)
  • Stacy T.

    Awesome place with delicious pizza!!! Highly recommend!!!

    (5)
  • Michelle D.

    Best pizza restaurant in the Area! After moving to Alexandria, we found it very difficult to find GOOD pizza places that was not domino's or supermarket bought. Valentino's is the only pizzeria that topped every place we've visited and above all... it's WAY cheaper than anything you'd find in Old Town (which IMO is often overpriced and not as good as this). One of the best things about this place is that they are not skimpy with the toppings! They add a lot of toppings which makes it even more worth your time and money.

    (5)
  • Naty N.

    Food can be good at times. The service has deff declined. Servers can be rude and take orders wrong. Calling in orders is very unorganized.

    (2)
  • Dereck S.

    Typically would give this place 5 stars but I have been noticing a decline in the pizza recently. It is by far the best pizza in the area and you pay for what you get. Dont expect no 7-11 $1 a slice. Good quality pizza, location kinda sucks and parking is not nearly as big as it should be...... but still a very good pizza.

    (4)
  • Tam B.

    I dont know if the guy working the counter was having a bad day or something but service with a smile does not exist here. They just lost me as a customer.

    (1)
  • Marianne L.

    Tina doesn't lie. There's something up with Valentino's pie. I dropped by shortly after her update and yes.... something is amiss with the Valentino crust. Its still thin and correctly cooked, but its like there is ZERO flavor. I don't know what they did to it or what ingredient they cut back / left out but the crust was a heartbeat above cardboard on flavor profile. I didn't have an issue with the sauce. Maybe it was a tad more acidic than in the past but that could simply be attributed to the tomatoes having a bit more bite to them. It just seems like things in general are having quality issues. My Valentino salad (fresh mozzarella & roasted peppers on tomato slices) was served on 2 completely not ripe slices of tomato and the mozzarella was awful and if my eyes had been closed I could have been fooled into thinking I was eating cold tofu. Last week - still smarting over my disappointment with the pizza - I decided to try the gyro and some fries. First - fresh out of the fryer the steak fries were excessively salty and they hadn't even been salted, so I have no clue what was up with that, but I won't get them again. The gyro was good sized with plenty of meat (mind you the meat is all pre-sliced and frozen, so don't expect fresh fresh here). There were plenty of fix'ens too: lettuce, red onion, taziki (wish there'd been more though), and tomato slices. Feta is extra though :-(. The gyro was pretty good but the meat was pretty salty. Dealing with the staff is still as stressful as it has ever been. Just thrilled that the last 2 times I've been in there the guy running the register and handling the cash from customers was also the guy making the food (and no - there wasn't a stop off at the sink beforehand). The girl manning the pizza slices seems to be unable to speak above a whisper (making for a lot of repeating and "what?" on the part of the patrons) and was completely confused by my order of a small mushroom and onion pizza - she keep looking for the pie from which to serve me a slice of that. Otto von Bismark once commented that those who are fond of sausages and justice/laws should never watch either of them being made. I think I will add food at Valentino's to that list. Their pizza is still the best in the area, so I'll keep going, but if the quality slips any further - it won't be worth dealing with the chaos that goes on behind the counter.

    (3)
  • Mireya C.

    I apologize for not writing a review sooner. This place is my crack dealer for pizza. OMG! It reminds me of home. I know, DC people that aren't use to NY or Philly pizza will say it's too oily. Suck it up! Run around the block after throwing back 2 slices. This place is God's gift to us.

    (5)
  • Si S.

    Good, quick Italian "comfort food"......What's not too love about that? The pizza crust is really as good as it gets. An amazing variety of pizzas by the slice.

    (4)
  • Buddha N.

    Garlic Knots!! do I need to say anymore???????? hahahahaa for that good NY Style Bigger then your freaking face slice of pizza, this is the place! Big as the sloppy greasy concoctions from Adams Morgan only able to eat when drunk jumbo slices,but Valentinos does it right with flavor and not greasy like other place. Fresh ingredients and full of flavor and for the right price.!!! Makes you want to pop out and start singing "When the moon hits your eye like a big-a pizza pie That's amore When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine That's amore Bells'll ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling And you'll sing "Vita bella" Hearts'll play tippi-tippi-tay, tippi-tippi-tay Like a gay tarantella When the stars make you drool joost-a like pasta fazool That's amore When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet, you're in love When you walk in a dream but you know you're not dreamin', signore 'scusa me, but you see, back in old Napoli, that's amore (When the moon hits your eye like a big-a pizza pie, that's amore) That's amore (When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine, that's amore) That's amore Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling ting-a-ling-a-ling And you'll sing "Vita bella" Vita bell-vita bella Hearts will play tippi-tippi-tay, tippi-tippi-tay Like a gay tarantella Lucky fella When the stars make you drool just like pasta fazool That's amore (that's amore) When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet, you're in love When you walk in a dream but you know you're not dreaming, signore 'scusa me, but you see, back in old Napoli, that's amore Amore That's amore"

    (4)
  • Joe B.

    They definitely have some pretty good pizza. The Sicilian square pie is our family favorite. The cannoli desserts are pretty good too. The cannoli filling seems store made and it's delicious. We are originally from Queens in NYC and I'd say this is one of two pizzeria's in the area that can legitimately claim NYC style pizza. We mainly order for delivery so I can't comment on the restaurant experience.

    (4)
  • Erin W.

    BAD customer service. We ordered delivery on a weeknight, and I live about a half mile away. It took an hour and a half, I placed several phone calls inquiring about the status of the delivery and when I explained that we still didn't have our food, they didn't believe me! I demanded a refund and they hung up on me. Although I quickly received a phone call back, they explained that their driver was pulled over and "offered" to throw in free dessert. It was like pulling teeth to get them to take any amount off the price. The food was alright, but I will definitely never give this place my money again. Not worth the hassle.

    (1)
  • Kendall D.

    This is THE best italian restaurant in Alexandria. It's delicious and they deliver! The food is not only delicious but their portion sizes are huge.

    (5)
  • Biso S.

    Those guys rock!

    (5)
  • Shauna S.

    We ordered from here last night. It was almost $40 for two small pizzas after an hour wait! They were really Greesy so we had to pat them down a few times with paper towels. I ate the buffalo chicken and it was DELICIOUS! Probably won't order from here again though.. way to pricey!

    (3)
  • LeighAnn G.

    Best pizza in Alexandria, if not the DC area!

    (5)
  • Lally L.

    We ordered from here because of good reviews on here and we weren't disappointed. Meatatarian was awesome and the large 20" was HUGE! Driver was friendly and accommodating with a secure building...definitely ordering again!!

    (4)
  • Keon D.

    Huge slices, wonderful crust, ridiculously sized sandwiches. The only thing I didn't like about it was the fact I drove past it like an idiot for quite a while hahaha. I enjoyed eating here and tried the meat lovers pizza and the buffalo chicken pizza. The crust on the pizza was excellent and had a great crunch to it. I used to go to school in NY and I can say this pizza does a good job replicating NY style pizza. Inside has a nice family atmosphere (which we probably helped ruin by being so loud hahah). It's a nice hole in the wall type joint where you can come to get pizza to go or you can sit down and a waiter will come and serve you. Service seemed decent for the size of our party.

    (5)
  • Alex W.

    Holy crap this place's pizza is good, but prepare your toilets. You will give birth to a ziti baby. My buddies and I ordered two of their large pizzas - one meataterian and one half ziti and half chick parm. These are grown dudes in their 20s that can put away food while watching football. We couldn't climb mount ziti-meataterian all the way. One slice is a cornucopia of food...it's redonkulous. I managed 4 slices, the other guys took down 2-3 slices. We still had a pizza to go... All of that said, I used to live in NYC and this is legit NYC pizza. That's the most important thing! It's solid.

    (4)
  • dan g.

    This place makes terrible pizza, the other food is just as bad. I had tortellini and it was over cooked (wet) pasta in a sweet gross sauce. The pizza sauce was definitely canned garbage, the pie was greasy and used fake cheese ( not quality mozzarella) . If a pizza place offers "buffalo pizza" thats your first clue to not walk but run away. If you want real coal fire brick oven pizza go to New Haven Connecticut to PEPE'S pizza, it's the real deal and is worth the ride and wait. I don't eat pizza anywhere else but PEPE'S. Do yourself a favor and do not go to Valentino's, just because a pizza joint claims the are "New York pizza" doesn't mean it's good. I've had terrible pizza in NYC too.

    (1)
  • Char C.

    The pizza is good...if you eat it at the restaurant. I lived less than a mile away and by the time (each time) it was delivered it arrived a soggy mess. I dint recommend dining in either because the staff is lethargic and the management is rude. On more than one occasion I've been surprised at the level of negative attitude I've experienced or witnessed. Beyond that, it's overpriced. I've taken my business to flippin pizza right down the street.

    (2)
  • E S.

    What happened here? After reading a ton of glorious reviews I was really looking forward to getting some great pizza and wow--crash and burn. Between all of us we tried four different flavors of the reheated by-the-slice pizza. They all tasted bland, like the high school cafeteria pizza. How is that possible to fail that miserably? I took two bites of each one of the slices and it all went into the trash. The place is a bit grungy, maybe the mistake is with ordering the by-the-slice? Get carry out and get the fresh made-to-order pie.

    (1)
  • Tony P.

    A NY style pizza establishment tucked in the corner of Beauregard St next to a McDonald's and the entrance to Landmark Plaza. (Note: the access to this place is not in the Plaza.) They have some specialty pizza by the slice or the round and square pies. The crust is nice and firm and doesn't get soggy from the sauce. The sauce is generous and the cheese is melted nicely on top. The PIG yelpers got a tasty buffalo chicken, eggplant and plain cheese. Some of the late arrivals also ordered a meatatarian that I wanted to try but was too full. I found the buffalo chicken very tasty. The buffalo chicken had a good tang and I added some additional blue cheese to make the flavors complete. The eggplant was also pretty good. They put a few generous dollop of ricotta cheese that was a great complement to the eggplant. The service was quite expedient and attentive. And even though people were trickling in the whole evening, the waitress got our orders and our pizzas out in good order. Overall, an excellent pizza spot at decent prices that should make this a goto place for any locals.

    (4)
  • Evelyn C.

    Bottom line: delicious pizza. Absolute shit service. We ordered a small pizza for carry out. Waited over 25 min with no update as to when the pizza will be done. Turns out our pizza was sitting for 10 min before we realized that it was done. No one had bothered to call out the order for pick up. Not only that, no one bothered to apologize for the error. Completely unprofessional. It's a good thing that the pizza was good. They need to have better communication within the staff and to the customers. Step up the training of your staff, Valentino's...your customers deserve better.

    (2)
  • Cathy K.

    Valentino's is cheesy, greasy, and delicious.

    (4)
  • April J.

    YIKES - COCKROACH IN SLICE OF PIZZA! This was my first and absolutely LAST time getting anything here! I only had one slice of plain cheese pizza and a small diet coke. I had a three bites and tore the slice in half. I saw what I thought was a small piece of hair like thing sticking between the cheese and sauce. I plucked it out thinking it was a ball of fresh basil and much to my horror it was a fully cooked cockroach! NASTY!!! I threw the little bugger on the plate and immediately brought it to the counter. Another patron said i should be refunded my money for the slice - which I was. Unfortunately, my cell phone was not working so I couldn't take a photo. NASTY!!!! and this is no way NY style pizza as i have never had any bugs in any NY pizza.

    (1)
  • Rebecca A.

    I get a pizza from here almost every week. We have been customers for years. Lately though, it has been terrible. They are the most inconsistent restaurant ever! Don't expect to get the same pizza each time. Sometimes it's perfect, sometimes it's undercooked, overcooked, super thick dough, too much cheese, too little cheese. It's just ridiculous. After being a faithful customer since they opened, I am officially taking a long break from them if not moving on entirely.

    (1)
  • jodi w.

    The owner (who said Omar was his son, not him) contacted me after my first review apologizing for the experience and this evening sent me a perfectly done pizza..on time. Hopefully my previous experience was a one time bad night for them, because on a good night, they are the closest thing to NYC pizza in dca you can find!

    (5)
  • Chris M.

    Valentino's is my favorite pizza place in Alexandria. For those over in Fairfax, I think it's comparable to Tony's in Fair Lakes. It's exactly what I want in a pizza. Hmmm...perhaps a head-to-head Valentino's vs. Tony's challenge? Aww yeah - do I dare to dream of such delicious decadence? Oh, I just might dare - yes, indeed. Since changing my eating habits a a couple years ago, I've tempered my gastronomic indulgences. I limit them to controlled outbursts in order to maintain my svelt (yet very manly) physique. Ha! Because of this, I resisted my Valentino's urges since '07...never seeming to get around to a pizza weekend - always favoring the discovery of a new Thai or Indian place instead. However, this weekend celebrated 3/14...National Pi(3.14) Day. Naturally, sweet dessert pies were on the menu, but I realized that a pizza pie would glorify this virtually meaningless and mathematically inspired broo-ha-ha. For the first time in nearly two years, Valentino's and I reunited. The flavor was just as I remembered. All those months of sacrifice, frozen wanna-bes and homemade experiments made the moment seem all the more glorious. With my hunger satisfied, nerves settled, Valentino's fix satiated I can recommend the place without reservation. 5 stars - thank goodness for this pizza. Is it your favorite? Who knows, but it's worth a try. I've never dined in the restaurant...always carry-out...always quality time between me and Valentino's on my sofa...the way it was always meant to be. Happy Dining!

    (5)
  • Christina M.

    Go anywhere but here...The ONLY reason I give any stars is because the food is decent and the staff work very hard and are pleasant! The unscrupulous owners are why this pizza-addict from NJ, who only wanted to find and support a local pizzeria that served slices like home, has had to boycott this place FOREVER. During my last visit (over a year ago now), after dropping a couple of bucks in the huge tip jar by the register as I always did, I asked one of the counter staff whom I regularly tipped if she shared the tips from the jar with the cooks etc..she expressed softly that the owners actually take all that cash. (I had found it difficult to frequent this place already bc the owner who is usually there, 40-ish mediterranean-ish creep, is such an overtly disrespectful boss to the employees he lurks and looms all over...just gross behavior full of arrogance.) He overheard this young woman telling me the truth about said tips and became pretty aggressive with me that it is the owners money and they feed the staff, that is enough. ICK! He makes my skin crawl and it's pretty clear people fear him, not a smile ever exchanged with anyone and this owner. Part of a family-style pizza shop is atmosphere. This place has negative energy, misrepresenting the purported NY style it claims. If owners aren't honest w/ customers (ie: TIP jar implies what goes in, goes to the service staff) then imagine how they treat employees? I used to bring family there from out of town and was a regular weekly patron. It was actually a relief once I committed to this boycott though! Karma will come around for this guy, just not soon enough.

    (1)
  • Gio D.

    Its better than Dominos but that's about it. Nothing really speacial here. If you want some decent pizza, go to Pete's in Arlington.

    (3)
  • John B.

    Best pizza in the area. The table service leaves can be slow and inattentive, but as a longtime customer, the food has been consistently good over the years. The Valentino Salad is a good twist Caprese salad.

    (4)
  • Adrienne B.

    I just paid $40 for a takeout 20' pepperoni pizza, 14' extra cheese pizza and 12 garlic knots. It was worth every penny. The slices were huge and the garlic knots were oozing garlic. I just wish they delivered to the house.

    (5)
  • Michelle B.

    The pizza is really good for what is in the area. I'm originally from NY, so I love NY style pizza. Valentino's is probably as close as your going to get. Now, I must admit, this pizza is a little too stuffy for me. Its like gourmet NY pizza, so I'm not always in the mood. I have not found that special crunch in the crust and the flavor in the sauce that I am looking for. Maybe the pizza restaurants in the area need to start shipping H2O from the NYC to get the desired result. Just a thought.

    (4)
  • Jessica K.

    We were loyal customers of Valentinos for a long time because of the quality of their pizza; however, their customer service leaves something to be desired. We waited almost 2 hours for a delivery order that came luke warm at best. When we asked to speak to the manager, he pretty much blew us off and stated it was just the way it happened to be that night. The food is ok, but definitely not worth the hassle of dealing with the staff.

    (1)
  • Mira V.

    I've passed this place every day for almost 2 years and had no intentions of ever trying it. With the cheesy Statue of Liberty on top of the building and the location I was kind of weary of their products. However one cold night I didn't want to cook and my husband who isn't fond of the typical chain resturants (pizza hut, papa johns etc... ) suggested this place. After looking at a few yelp reviews we decided why not. We did pick up, and when arriving i was surprised to see the place pretty full of all different people. We order Garlic Knots, Hawaiian Pizza and Margharita pizza. The Garlic Knots aren't anything to scream about, they were ok, i prefer pizza hut bread sticks. However the Hawaiian pizza was really good, whatever ham they use and pineapple are all fresh. The margharita pizza was also pretty good, i'm not a fan of big slices of tomatoes cooked but aside from that personal opinion everything else was really good. Even my husband enjoyed it all. All the pizzas we got were thin crust, (not sure if there is any other option). The price is a obviously more than your typical chain but that was figured. I think for all three items we paid $40 (both pizzas were small) which one small would be plenty for two. If we (aka I) crave pizza again we'll be sure to come here. Ps if you like to make food at home, they sell handmade dough. They said a small would be $3, cant wait to buy some and make homemade garlic cheesy bread.

    (4)
  • Jon K.

    3.5 Stars..... This place is right up the street from my place, I mean this is totally walking distance for me. I should and could go here more often but I don't. I've probably ordered at least a dozen pizzas from this joint and I gotta say they do a damn fine job. The pizzas have fresh ingredients and are made well. They are tasty too. It bothers me that they don't have thin crust pizzas here because I really like thin crusted pizza. They have a wide variety of pizzas as well and you will feel full after eating 2 or 3 pieces. This is NOT the best pizza in the DMV area as some try to indicate in their reviews. It doesn't compare to places like Petes or Flippin Pizza. However, they do a damn fine job. I don't think this joint is worth seeking out, but if you live in the area try it out it's good!

    (3)
  • Heather F.

    I was so excited when I stumbled upon this place. As a transplant from NYC, land of the best pizza in the world, I didn't think I would ever find pizza in the DMV that could compare. But these guys do it - and they're from Queens, NY - so that's a win win right there for me. It feels like you're walking right into a real NY pizzeria. I try to make it here twice a month at least to dive into a little piece of home. I talked to one of the owners when I was there the second time and he was incredibly awesome (Met's fan!). You want to taste real pizza? Come here. Please stop eating Dominos, Papa Johns and Pizza Hut! It's offensive to real pizza everywhere.

    (5)
  • Gary K.

    Great NY style pizzas. Very creative 'by the slice' choices as well. Would be 5 stars if their prices weren't as high as they are, but they know they can charge it so they do.

    (4)
  • Amber S.

    We are such regulars that the delivery guys recognize us! Eating in the restaurant is nice too, I just prefer to eat at home. The BF swears by this pie, and since he is from NYC I value his opinion. Personal favorites are the white pizza and BBQ pizza. The BF always orders either plain cheese or chicken with vodka sauce. The subs are good too. Definitely worth the $$!

    (5)
  • Jonathan S.

    We have been customers for several years. My husband even had Valentino's cater my birthday 6 years ago. Today's experience was disappointing. I ordered before leaving work and stopped on my way home. As soon as I walked in, I paid and then proceeded to wait. It was twenty minutes before the young man at the cash register asked what I ordered. He knew what I ordered when I paid. Well, he discovered that my order was ready at the time I paid. I made a comment about the pizza being cold after sitting on top of the ovens for so long. The same young man assured me it was not cold because it was on top of the warm oven. I got home less than ten minutes later. The soup and the pizza were barely warm. Further, the "Valentino's Salad" supposedly made with Roma tomatoes was a disappointment. The tomoatoes were not Roma nor were they ripe. We will continue to go to Valentino's because we enjoy their pizza, but this was a bad experience. If you order carry out ahead of time, ask the staff to check on its status. Don't assume the cashier will check. This young man could use some additional training and curtesy.

    (2)
  • Jennifer C.

    Pizza was flavorful and delicious, I've only tried the Valentinos special ( basically meat and veggie ) and the bbq chicken pizza. The garlic knots are delicious too. The gyro was OOKAY and the pasta was just okay. Order the pizza.

    (4)
  • Monica M.

    Every time I go to a friend's house who lives near by, this is a must-have drive by spot! The pizzas are GINORMOUS - seriously, a slice fills me up - and they've got lots of great options on the menu. The crust is crispy and delicisous. The ingredients always taste great - especially the motz. ooooh the motz. The staff is always pretty curtious to us when we're there as well - even if they're busy, they're good at multitasking to get you what you need. Minus one star - if you are on the Annandale side less than a mile away, they won't deliver to your house.

    (4)
  • Sara W.

    I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon to see if this location had a nicer staff than their sister location, Johnny's. I ordered the exact same thing that I ordered at Johnny's. The food was good, but not as good as Johnny's and the staff was just as rude. There were 9 staffers that just stood there the whole time I was there. Not sure what they need so many for. I won't be back to either location. Rude staff outweighs the taste of the food especially when there are so many other pizza options from which to choose.

    (3)
  • Nina B.

    This pizza was pretty darned good. I loved the variety of options they had, including the chicken vodka sauce pizza, and the mango curry pizza. I wasn't brave enough to venture in that direction in my first visit, as I'm a believer that the true way to find if the pizza is any good is to taste a simple slice of cheese. And, I was very happy. The dough was well made, the pizza had the right amount of cheese/sauce mixture. I only take a way star b/c the service was mediocre. For a place as busy and popular as this is, I would think they would have their service system down. Instead, it looked like chaos behind the counter while the lines got longer. Hopefully I'll join the next UYE outing here!

    (4)
  • Colleen G.

    If I could give it 0 stars I would. We ordered and confirmed our address in Alexandria. An hour later the driver calls us because the store sent him to Falls Church. When I called they were rude and had absolutely no idea what they were doing. Needless to say we will not be ordering or going there ever again!

    (1)
  • Chris S.

    Everything about this place is BIG. Big signs in the front exterior (big statue of liberty), big toppings, big garlic knots, big prices (about $4.50 a slice), they are reppin the BIG apple, but most importantly big pizza! I went during the lunch rush hour and the place was packed. I was lucky enough to snag the last parking spot near the entrance. All the indoor seating was taken, so I took it back to my workplace. The service there is NY style which I really like. They were cutting to the chase with no BS. Exactly how pizza joints are in NY. So they have the NY feel going for them. I can respect that. I got the buffalo chicken pizza, bbq chicken pizza, and a garlic knot (garlic bread in a bun). The buffalo chicken slice contained huge buffalo chicken chucks that were a tad spicy and tangy. YUM. The other slice is the bbq pizza which featured circular bbq and ranch swirl patterns all over the pizza. Both were amazing! The slices are gigantic and delicious. They do not skimp on the chicken. Everything I ordered was very good and I will probably go back there in the future.

    (4)
  • Gregg B.

    Is it good? We drive out of our way for just a slice of pizza & pass probably five other "pizza joints" to get here. A 5 if compared to other pizza. There always is plenty of 'by the slice' choices as well as a whole pie if you want to wait a little while. And the ultimate compliment, we take our tourist friends here when they want to have good pizza.

    (5)
  • Heather G.

    Valentino's - hand to God, the best pizza in the area. I also have a love affair with the penne alla vodka (though not the chicken alla vodka pizza - I don't like mixing up my food genres). Garden salad - ginormous. Tasty. A must. Garlic knots - tasty, garlicky goodness that will make you need to stay away from kissing people Lentil soup - I hate most beans. I adore this lentil soup. Pizza - gooey and heavenly.

    (5)
  • Nick S.

    This is far and away my favorite pizza in the DC area, without a close second. I live in DC and make several trips a year out to Alexandria just to stop in at Valentios. I've been coming here for 9 years and will continue to do so as long as I'm in the area. They have a number of specialties that are excellent (the best buffalo chicken pizza ever, for instance), but treat yourself to a slice of their cheese pizza and you won't be disappointed.

    (5)
  • Jenn N.

    I am from NY, born and raised. I moved to the DC area in 1999. I lamented the fact that I would have to eat chain pizzas for the rest of my life. Heck, I've even driven home from NY with whole pies in the back of my car in winter to savor the flavor. I had wanted to try Valentino's 6 years ago but was put off by the silly parking lot (I had shopped there before). But when they opened a Rita's nearby, I was able to finally convince my wife to go and we've been going faithfully ever since (25 min drive one way mind you!). I can only speak to the pizza, really. I've never ordered a salad nor an entree. The garlic knots are great, when they aren't burned. But the pizza... Oh. Em. Gee! 1. Fabulous sauce. It is a bit sweeter than sauce in NYC, but it is still great! 2. Slices are huge. 3. We always order a large cheese, but sometimes have a Buffalo Chicken or Moe's (too many onions IMHO). It's never been bad! The only complaint I'd have is that the staff when you call in aren't the friendliest. Makes me truly feel like I am in NYC ;) We don't order from anywhere else. We're a bit outside of their delivery area, but it's well worth the drive. Makes for great leftovers as well (use the toaster oven, not microwave though!).

    (5)
  • Marisol S.

    Will come back! Pizza was good but I was pressed with bruschetta!!!

    (3)
  • Hengyi H.

    One of the best pizza places in the area. My favorite is actually the veggie pizza, which tastes AMAZING. The carnivore and vodka chicken pizza are also very tasty. Portions are great! Highly recommended if you're tired of the regular delivery places.

    (5)
  • Hector S.

    Being from Queens, NY, I am pretty critical of so called "NY style pizzerias" but as far as the food is concerned this place gets it right. Their customer service can be "better" though and I am being nice by wording it that way. They tend to get real busy, and if you are placing your order by phone you can be forgotten about.

    (3)
  • Scott H.

    We absolutely love this place. We are outside of their delivery area, so we have to do the carry out. We have eaten here 3 times now, and every time we have enjoyed it and it was good. On our last trip, I actually went in and got the pizza, and I had no idea they had all of those choices. It was great. I can't wait to try other pizzas.

    (4)
  • Ray P.

    I'm amazed that I overlooked this place for years. Maybe because it's in a parking lot that was designed to induce traffic congestion? Maybe because it looks quirky from the street? Get over it and just go. You'll be rewarded with some of the best pizza you can find anywhere. The margherita is stellar, the white pizza is heavenly, and the meat-eterian (use your imagination) will feed an army. If they had a liquor license and a location in Bethesda, they would take over the world!

    (5)
  • James C.

    Always good and always friendly. Love to go in and grab a quick slice of pizza. The entrees are actually fantastic. Try the meatballs either over pasta or on the pizza itself.

    (5)
  • Gary C.

    I have traveled all over Northern VA and beyond in search of the best NY style pizza. If you too have made a similar search, well then your search is over! This is the place to be! Hands down some of the best pizza ive ever had IN MY LIFE! Not to mention the resturant is clean and the staff is friendly. Their specialty pizzas are very creative. I recommend the BBQ with the Ranch sauce on it or the Chicken and Vodka. If you wanna keep it simple, the plain cheese is also excellent. When you go, be sure to order some Garlic Knots! Hungry yet? Good, hurry and get your butt to Valentino's and tell em Gary sent you!

    (5)
  • A A.

    I'm giving Valentino's NY Style Pizzeria five stars because I do believe it's as good as it gets in it's class. I also can't find anything wrong with it and I've had it well over 20 times. When I first called to order delivery for a big fat extra large size pizza, half pepperoni/sausage and half cheese, they told me we were out of their delivery range. I must've sounded so bummed (and hungover), that they felt bad for me and decided to deliver. Well, I'm sure they've made their money 10x over from us. Their slices are huge and their tomato sauce is great. The pizza sits in that big delivery box and the greasy goodness seeps through the box on to my counters. The slices are so big I can do the fold up and feast away. As long as they keep delivering to my area, i'l keep patronizing. And now, I close this review with a deep thought: Being that they are situated right next to Arby's - I wonder if next time I order I can talk them in to scooping up some curly fries from across the street to top the half side of cheese?

    (5)
  • Lizzy Z.

    I thought that The Italian Store cornered the market on kick-ass NY-style pizza. And then I ate at Valentino's. I spent my summers in the NY-metropolitan area and lived in Manhattan for about two years. I know NY-style pizza...and I am so incredibly delighted to find out that not only is Valentino's as close to authentic as you'll find in this area, but it delivers to my home. I'm in love.

    (5)
  • Valeria W.

    We used to order for delivery and it is great but today we went to have dinner with our little one and we had anamazing time. It is a one of a kind place. Pizza is delicious. Good service. We ordered a 2-litter diet coke which for me is a plus. They are family friendly. Very comfortable. Great service. We are coming back.

    (5)
  • Mike C.

    I am a local, born in the district and grew up in Arlington. My wife is from Staten Island new york. For years I have argued that we have great pizza in NOVA and have taken her to many places to prove it. I had little success until I took her to Valentinos for the first time. Their pizza is fresh and sold by the slice as well as in whole pies. They make their dough on site, and run their oven nice and hot, giving the crust a dry solid finish on the bottom. The pieces are huge, two is a big meal, and satisfyingly floppy. Be sure to fold them in half. They also have great calzones and turnover type pockets filled with flavorful sausage and peppers or peperoni and happiness. Be hungry when you get here but don't let your eyes get ahead of you and enjoy!

    (4)
  • Edgar H.

    Pizza here is great and so are the garlic knots. BUT! Beware if you come in and order right before one of the restaurants "friends" decides to show up and they request the same slice as you, you won't get your pizza. As a matter of fact they just give that slice to the "friend" and complete forget about your order! Every time this happens I have to admit that their service sucks for the day. Any other day, all goes well.

    (3)
  • Courtney F.

    I came into Valentino's because the shopping center it is connected to has 1 way in and 1 way out, and there are always a small country worth of people there at any given hour. I was impressed by the selection of pizza and menu options. I got the Chicken Vodka, the crust was perfect and the vodka sauce seemed a little oilier than some that I've had, but it adds plaque building character. So thumbs up!

    (3)
  • Tiana W.

    The pizza is incredible. I'm thrilled to have already found a neighborhood gem. I'm excited to try the rest of their menu! What makes a good pizza: - The Crust: Oh my god that crust. I am always hesitant of "New York Pizzerias" trying to replicate that flaky crunchy but thin New York Crust because it always comes out either insanely dense (I'm talking to you "We the Pizza") or oily and floppy (a la admo). This crust. is. amazing. Perfectly crunchy, flaky and holds up despite the MOUNDS of toppings. - The Toppings: I couldn't see the sauce. Nuff said. Plus, the variety of veggies they put on my pie was a great surprise! Eggplant? Yes please! - The Sauce: Perfect combination of salty and sweet. Again, so many places "over-sweet" their sauce. Next time I have to get just a plain pizza to really appreciate its tastiness! See you next month when I finally get through this giant 20" pie I just ordered!

    (5)
  • Jen M.

    A surprisingly good pizza in a shady strip mall near Landmark Mall. Back when we lived in the area, we frequently got takeout/delivery from the place folks in the area raved about as the best NY Style Pizza in the area, either by the slice or a whole pie. Nice staff and the pizza really is great. Our favorites were the Papa Joe's Pizza, Tomato and Roasted Garlic and even the Baked Ziti Pizza. Try the Garlic Knots, Valentino's Salad and Fried Ravioli too.

    (4)
  • Jennifer B.

    The pizza here is great! Can't wait to get back!

    (4)
  • Adam G.

    Who says you can't find real NY Pizza in the DC area. As a born and raised new Yorker, Valentino's is as close as it gets to the real thing without having to drive 5 hours to get the "original." Must be that these guys are from Mineola, LI --- they understand how to make great NY Pizza. I've been going there for years and will continue to do so. You guys are the best!

    (5)
  • Karen P.

    The pizza here is decent but the people who work here need an attitude adjustment. I don't appreciate seeing someone roll their eyes at me or being ignored by 5 people behind the counter for at least 8 minutes to pick up an order that is sitting atop the oven. On the positive side it's nice to see a place where you can get pizza by the slice.

    (2)
  • Robert M.

    Best Pizza in all of Alexandria! You cannot find a better pizza place with more choices, exquisite flavor, and NY-style quality. Also very very affordable! They have many kinds of toppings of pizza here (like Pesto and White pizzas too), and there are soo many good ones. Sicilian Pizza slices are great! Definitely worth going to and sitting down to eat as it has a very friendly and hangout sort of atmosphere. Nothing too fancy or too pretentious, this place is perfect. Great place to take groups of friends and cheap for the family/kids. Better than Monterey's and Z's.

    (5)
  • Michael H.

    This was the best pizza restaurant a few years ago, but it's gone downhill recently. I went in the store to buy two slices of cheese pizza. I sat there waiting for my two slices to be heated up. 25 minutes later, 4 or 5 customers walked in behind me, placed their orders, got their orders and left the store. I sat there by myself, with the cashier and waitress staring at me. No one asked if my order had been taken, no one seemed to care that I was waiting there. Clueless. After 25 mintues, I went up there and politely asked for my money back. They were apologetic, but seriously, there was nobody else in the restaurant, why would they not cater to a customer who's been sitting in their store for 25 minutes and ask them if they were okay? I gave them a chance and they failed. I will not be going back there ever again. They gotta learn how to run a business or perhaps the owners should teach their employees how to manage customers properly.

    (1)
  • Abbe J.

    I am not exactly picky when it comes to pizza, but this pizza is by far the best I've had in the area. The pizza we had was half plain and half of it had toppings. Surprisingly, I preferred the plain pizza. With ingredients this yummy, you don't need all the other stuff on top of it.

    (5)
  • Ryan C.

    The pizza tasted of Olive oil and bread. I tried salt, pepper, garlic salt and red peppers to try to bring out some kind of flavor. I had the Philly style and the Roma tomato and mozz pizza. I tried my girlfirends pizza and it was mildly flavorful. Goat cheese, spinach, Sun dried tomatoes. I'm sure it would have been better, if it wasnt sitting in the window. I have been a chef for 12 years, and I have never once served a patron the quality of food I recieved today. I love New York style pizza. What they serve, is far from it. Unfortunately we will not be visiting a second time.

    (2)
  • Mia N.

    It's all right. When I go to NYC, I can never get enough of pizza. However, this pizza I crave once or twice a year only. Something about the sauce that is too sweet compared to the real NYC pizza. We bought one today, and I could only eat 1 and 1/2 slices. Mind you, I am not a tiny, but I love love love the greasy pan Veggie Lover's at Pizza Hut more and can eat 4 slices in one sitting. We average on 2 to 3 times a month at Pizza Hut. I decided to go back to Valentino's. For $16 for a regular cheese it ain't bad b/c it is HUGE. But it's just a little bit too much on the sweet side for me. A better pizza is Flippin Pizza down Little River Turnpike, 10 minutes from Valentino's, but the problem with this place is that the pizza is not as big as Valentino's and we can finish a whole pie and still not feel full.

    (3)
  • Stefanie C.

    After reading the YELP reviews I decided to drive out to Valentino's in search of a real NYC slice of pizza. Valentino's was definitely pretty close and tasted okay but it still wasn't comparable to my favorite pizza place in NY. I also thought it was a little expensive. Was it worth the trip? Yes. Have I gone back? No. Will I just wait till I drive back up to NY to feast on a delicious slice of pizza. Yes.

    (3)
  • Myrna M.

    GREAT Pizza at GREAT prices! I'm so glad Yelp lead me here. I spent no more then $5 and got full. California girl enjoyed their Moe's special.

    (4)
  • Eric D.

    I arrived around 11:30 am to see a bunch of delicious looking pies staring back at me from behind the protective glass. I decided to have two slices, and the guy behind the counter suggested the Valentino's Special and the Chicken a la Vodka. I started with the Chicken a la Vodka. Nice thick pink sauce, plenty of chicken, hmm... but what's with that crust? Since this place is touted as being "New York Style" I was expecting something thin that is both crispy and chewy. What I got was something more similar to a rice cake. Too thick... too stiff... too crunchy... and there was no chance this thing was going to bend or fold. What a shame! The chicken a la vodka topping was pretty tasty and deserved to be partnered with a decent crust. Next up was the special. This slice at first appeared to be your average combo pizza, but I think the only meat on this thing was gyro meat. Well, I love gyro meat, so this slice should be good, right? Nope, though it wasn't the meat that was the problem. The veggies were what ruined this slice. The onions were still quite raw and potent while the green peppers were way overcooked and mushy. How the hell does that happen? Now take all that crap flavor and put it on a crap crust. What do you get? Yeah... you guessed it. A blah review on Yelp. Honestly, this slice reminded me of what I used to get at Sbarro as a teenager, though if I had to choose between the two now I'd rather have the Sbarro slice. I can't quite figure out why so many people seem to think this place is great. Maybe I went on an off day or at an off time. Maybe the problem is ordering pizza by the slice instead of getting a fresh pie. Maybe the people that like this place are the ones who think Dominos, Pizza Hut, and Papa Johns make a great pie too! All I can say is that I'd rather spend more money on a great pizza from Cafe Pizzaiolo, 2 Amy's, Red Rocks, or Matchbox. In fact, once the new Red Rocks opens in Old Town Alexandria, I'll probably forget this Valetino's place ever existed.

    (2)
  • Bob T.

    So I am fan of Valentinos Pizza. The owner and his somewhat gruff family are from New York and import the water to give the pizza that unforgetable New York taste. This is good pizza! But here is my complaint. When you go to Valentinos for a slice they always have the same poor selction of slices with vodka chicken or barbeque chicken or some other silly California style combo. Well this is NOT New York pizza. No respectable NY pizza parlor puts barbeque sauce on apizza. The only meat on a NY pizza is pepperoni, meatball, italian sausage or maybe bacon if t is Canadian. The only sauce is tomato based pizza sauce. Chicken doesnt go on pizza. So for Valentino's to get five stars from me they need to serve the traditional italian pizza by the slice. If you are ordering a whole pie you can get any topping you want. The restaurant is a nice traditonal NY parlor which is cozy if not small. On a very busy night you mig have to wait fo a table.

    (4)
  • Michael F.

    From the outside it does not look like much but you'll be amazed at how good the food is. We had a sampler platter with fried ravioli, mozzarella sticks, fried chicken strips, and calamari - I don't do fried food but everything was done just right and nothing was greasy. The knots are also AMAZING!! And then there is the pizza :-) WOW....let's just say we left stuffed and very appreciative the love that went into making our Margarita pizza (we added pepperoni and feta cheese). I cannot wait to go back, again & again!!

    (4)
  • Kim S.

    Why is that whenever you call for delivery or whenever the person on the other end picks up; they have an attitude, or that I was imposing on them. It would be nice to get a friendly answer on the other end instead of drabby person on the other end of the line. That is why I rated them 2 stars. I will let you know how their pizza and salad are after I get my order...

    (2)
  • Jamie W.

    Not being a New Yorker I can't give you a definitive thumb's up on the authenticity of Valentino's pizza, all I can tell you is this is my idea of a perfect pizza crust! I had a slice of the chicken alla vodka, and it was superb. My son had the Marguerita and my husband tried a slice of two-topping (pepperoni/sausage); they both loved their choices. The three of us split an order of garlic knots (6 knots for $2.75) and they're terrific. All in all, a very enjoyable lunch.

    (4)
  • Michael E.

    Best New York style pizza in the area. Hands down. Once you have this you will never go crawling back to chain pizza joints again. The fresh dough and perfectly flavored marinara sauce is what does the job. Its a perfect casual pizza joint. I found it hilarious that another reviewer was irked that the staff spent so much time schmoozing with customers and not attending the line. You gotta expect that with a local kinda vibe. Craving New York style pizza? Go to Valentinos.

    (5)
  • John R.

    Personally, 2 Amy's is the best pizza in town. But to each his own. I came here a few times because it was so highly rated and I thought I must be missing something, but I think I've had my share of Valentino's. Next time I'm jonesing for some great pizza, it will either be Angelico's or 2 Amy's. To start, I hate when the waiter/waitress upsizes your order without asking. I ordered the garden salad to go with a pizza. I didn't realize there were two sizes of salads. Obviously, I didn't mean for the salad to be my whole dinner, she brought me a large. Fine, because it was mostly iceberg lettuce and was worth picking around. It had loads of of pickled cauliflower, carrots, etc. Luckily, I really like giardiniera, so I was happy with that part and the loads of feta. The pizza came out and I have to admit, I was blown away by the size. Figuring I'd take home pizza for leftovers, I ordered the large and it was HUGE. The kind of pizza where 2 slices pretty much makes a meal. I had the Valentino's Special, which was a mix of veggies and meat. All in all, the pizza wasn't bad, I just wouldn't describe it as the best pizza in my life! The crust was thin and crispy and was actually really nice. On a previous visit I ordered the premade slices and was underwhelmed, which is why I decided to pay more on this visit and try a fresh pie. The toppings were a mix of good and bad. Sausage was delicious, peppers and mushrooms were fresh, the onions were overwhelming. As for the sauce and cheese, they didn't blow me away, which is what I look for in a pizza. It always boils down to the sauce and cheese. Sorry, but that's my vote.

    (3)
  • Michael F.

    Valentino's produces pizza in the same style you find on every street corner in NYC. It's a thin crust which is lightly toasted on the bottom just so that the pizza has enough rigidity to support the toppings and have a nice crunch when you bite into it, without being dry or hard. If only they were opened late enough and closer to home so that I could pop in here after a late night bar crawl. The quality is uniformly excellent and their pizzas are frequently topped with fresh herbs. While you can't go wrong with a simple pepperoni or cheese pizza, I think the real strength of Valentinos is their more creative pizzas. My favorite is the barbecue chicken pizza. Additionally, while Valentino's is unapologetically a pizza place, one of their often forgotten strong points is their pasta and sandwiches.

    (5)
  • Karen D.

    Pizza is good. Price is too high. Staff is rude.

    (3)
  • Andrew P.

    Absolutely best pizza i have had. This is right around the corner from my house and my wife and i used to go here almost every weekend until our pants started not fitting anymore. I absolutely love the pizza and the girls behind the counter are fantastic they even know what pizza i want when i come in. You have to try the baked ziti pizza or the chicken ala vodka. I highly recommend as my family and freinds ask for it by name when they come to visit. Oh yeah and the slices are huge if you can eat more than two you are a monster!

    (5)
  • Heather S.

    One word. Phenomenal. Not just pizza. Huge variety of bakes, pastas, salads, subs, wraps..ugh I could go on. Just go. Go now and go hungry!

    (5)
  • John D.

    I think is the best ny style pizza I ever ate in the whole world. I ordered the Valentino's Special and it was HEAVEN! The Large Size is the biggest in the area and the ingredients flavors were good! Very fast service. I ordered to pick up so it takes 15 minutes. Definitely I'll be there soon!

    (5)
  • Craig R.

    I love me some pizza as long as its good that is. This review based on Pizza alone and that pie being a plain cheese. One of my five favorite pizza joints in the NOVA area and have frequented this establishment on multiple occasions. FYI-I have no interest in reviewing a pizza which is not 4 stars or better. Why you ask because why would I continue to eat something that is not the best. NY style pie with hands down the best dough/crust I have eaten, OUTSTANDING. I am not a fan of sweet tasting sauce and while the sauce has a hint of sweetness it has fantastic flavor and ranks right there with Luciano's as my personal favorite. I like the cheese however it is not as gooey as I would like (I have never eaten in the restaurant). All three ingredients make for a very good pie and I am fairly certain that any die hard pizza lover would have a hard time finding fault here.

    (4)
  • Jason W.

    Well for me this place is hit or miss. I've never been to it's location, I order delivery . I will say that there pizza is the closest thig to NewYork pizza I've been able to find in this area. On to the hit or miss though, I've gotten some very good food fron Valentino's but I'd say 1 out of every 3 times I order I get food that reflects people who just don't care about quality. I don't under stand how I can order the same dish and one day it is fabulous, and the next very bland and boring to say the least. For example I like to order the linguini with clam sauce. The first Rome I got this it was great, full of flavor about 5 to 7 baby clams in the shell on top and the pasta was cooked perfect. However lately is has been very bland, the clams are full of sand and just plain bad. So this is my box of chocolates pizza joint, you just never know what ur gunna get.

    (3)
  • Stephanie S.

    Pizza is good. Service is BAD. This is the closest thing I've had to NY pizza since I moved to the area. My husband and I both really like the pizza even though it isn't as good as NY. That being said, delivery takes FOREVER! You might as well order it when you're not hungry and you'll be hungry by the time it arrives. When I call, the lady always says about 1 hour. But it always takes longer. We had guests over for dinner one Saturday night and it took almost 2 hours for the order to arrive! It was so embarrassing and I even ordered way before they got here. It doesn't even take that long for the busiest pizza joints in NY to deliver. It's really frustrating. They aren't even apologetic for it taking so long. It seems like they have the impression "Well we're just soooo good that we have a lot of orders. So just deal with it." If you are really hungry and need food delivered in a timely manner, DON'T order from here. However, if you can wait two hours, it's worth it. EDIT: We ordered from here again for delivery. We knew it would take a long time so we ordered before we got really hungry. Although it DID take as long as we thought, the delivery guy apologized for it taking so long and gave us a free bottle of Coke. He was really nice about it. The last delivery guy never even apologized. So, hopefully next time we call for delivery, we get the same guy. Pizza still tastes good.

    (4)
  • Shonette G.

    I love this place. I am a New Yorker by birth, from Brooklyn. I've been in NOVA for about 4 years and before I found this place I just didn't eat pizza unless I was back home in NY. This place is the closest you will get with the DMV to NY pizza. The owner is from NY and that's why. He has made other weird pizza to please the locals but the basic cheese pizza with garlic knots are the boom. I don't eat pizza do many place else but here. Love it.

    (5)
  • Orquidea R.

    New York Pizzeria away from NY.....It's a nice cozy place on the Little River Turnpike area in Alexandria. After receiveing so many flyers at my door, I have to pay a visit that I do no regret. I love the meat calzone, done to order!!! Its just cheesy and meaty and the garlic taste is just the perfect match for this dish. The slices of pizza are very hearty as well.....Not your traditional down the block pizzeria!!!!

    (5)
  • Antonio C.

    We found this gem by accident. We have been here 3 days in a row now best pizza south of NY. We ordered a pie to go, then we decided to have a slice before we got home. When we got to our house we had no pie. We ate it all before we got home!

    (5)
  • Rachel S.

    As promised....I'm back to update my previous review! I decided to give Valentino's another go and the sauce was right on this time...not sugar-y sweet! I really think maybe someone mistook sugar for salt that day when they were making the sauce. Thankfully it seems to be a one-off mistake. :) This time...we ordered a plain cheese pie with extra cheese....soooooo good....it's not exactly NY pizza, but as close as you're going to get, outside of going to Arthur Avenue. It's a little more expensive....but it kinda balances out when you realize you're getting a gargantuan pie! YUM.

    (5)
  • Mark V.

    ~3.5 stars~ I've been going to Valentino's for years, but even though it is the closest thing to a New York Pizzeria in the whole close-in NoVA suburbs, I just can't get too excited about it. Yes, they have some pretty decent pizza and even better subs, but I always leave slightly disappointed with the place because it could be so much better. In a nutshell, even though the owners are originally from New York, they are not Italian. So they have no more than a superficial understanding of New York pizza and Italian food, and it shows. The crust is not chewy, the sauce is not fresh-tasting and the cheese is cheap, yellow and greasy. If you want fresh-tasting, high-quality cheese, you will have to visit Paisano's, although their crust and sauce are far inferior to Valentino's. In sum, this pizza is fine for Northern Virginia, but I just can't get too worked up about it, especially at the prices they charge for it. However, their hot subs are much better, and the reason why I stop by on occasion. These oven-toasted behemoths are worth the price for sure, whether you dig into their eggplant, meatball or chicken parmesan subs. The only drawback to the subs is that they use the same cheap, crappy mozzarella cheese that is used on the pizzas. I like to pair them with one of their decent soups or creative salads. Skip buying soft drinks here, as they are a rip-off. So a trip to Valentino's is worth it when the urge for a hot sub hits, but if you want pizza that tastes as good as it looks, prepare to be somewhat disappointed.

    (3)
  • Timothy W.

    Listen I'm from New York, I'm talking Long Island. I saw this place on yelp read the comments and got excited as you can tell I'm extremely disappointed. It tasted like cheap pizza. I orders the Sicilian style with pepperoni, the bread was tough the sauce had a sweet taste and everything else was almost tasteless. Also one more thing I had to wait over an hour! Not worth it your better off going to dominos! It might be in the shape of NY but not the taste, a real insult.

    (1)
  • Hermes O.

    The best pizza I've eaten in my life! Amazing. I'd have this flown to me in boulder if I were a billionaire!

    (5)
  • Kimberly K.

    Garlic Knots (6 pcs) + Slice of Chicken alla Vodka _______________________ Win Win My taste buds were happy and so was my tummy :P

    (4)
  • Brad P.

    Don't come here for atmosphere or warm fuzzies from the staff. However, do stop by for some very good pizza at a price a little higher than many comparable establishments. Your taste buds will thank you.

    (4)
  • Susie J.

    My sister took me to this place, and O MY GOSH!!!!!! This is the closest to NY pizza you can get! In fact when i ate the slice, i thought i was in Brooklyn again. Seriously good pizza!

    (5)
  • Jess A.

    I really wish I could write a good review. Still have yet to find a good pizza place near us. This place was a total let down from the Greek salad that came with balsamic dressing, I'm pretty sure I ordered a greek salad. Than the loaded potato fries which were disgusting. The cheese used was a processed nacho cheese and undercooked bacon. And to top it all the pizza was horrible, crust was like card board and burnt. The sauce was too sweet. Whoever said this place is New York style has been mistaken. I thought it was going to be something great given previous reviews, they are all very misleading. I definitely will never order from them again. Total disappointment.

    (1)
  • Jay B.

    Is this even the same restaurant I ate at three or four months ago? How is it even scientifically possible to go from the best NY style pizza in northern VA to the salty, soggy, sloppy crap I ate the other day? Seriously it was some of the worst pizza I've ever eaten in my life. They cut down the meat of the BBQ chicken by 75 percent and replaced it with two ladles of sickly sweet BBQ sauce and ranch. The Mo's special was basically the same salty crap they laid out on the supermarket bread they called bruschetta with more salt from the sundried tomatoes and feta. Both pizzas were just soggy and soaked in the middle like someone took a piss on it, but somehow they managed to let chicken get dry and turn into salty cardboard. What made this worse was that we had to beg our waitress for water refills since we were essentially ignored most of the time. It was like bizarro world...just a few months ago this same waitress was super attentive, the pizza was packed with juicy chicken, and the crust somehow managed to remain crispy, and the sauce was minimal. Everything was so fresh and delicious. I don't remember anything from here *ever* being so salty...it was like they took the pizza I ate a few months ago and left it under the heating lamp this entire time to serve it to me today. I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe this was an off day, but pizza that bad is unforgettable and deserves its own review. Such an epic fall from the top that it's almost unbelievable.

    (1)
  • Gloria S.

    I have just a couple of questions? What happened to the great garlic knots that Valentino's use to have way back when? Also, what happened to the wonderful antipasto salad they used to serve.? Both of these items I'm questioning have changed, and not for the better. I used to pay extra for the gardinera they put on the salad, now they don't even put it on the salad anymore...and the garlic knots used to be fat and fresh, now they taste frozen or pre-made. I remember the old Valentino's. The restaurant is still good, but when you've been in the business as long as I have, you notice these little things from a place you like to frequent, and when they start to slide, you know that's just the beginning.

    (4)
  • Brian S.

    The sauce is sweet and tangy, the cheese is smoky, and the crust is floppy. As a bonus, you're right next to a total wine. Getting out of that shopping center is a pain in the butt, so just stay cool and find the back of the line of cars.

    (5)
  • Gabe O.

    Great Pizza ... HORRIBLE customer service. And no, I never expect to get my butt kissed, but I do expect someone to at least show a little enthusiasm and some courtesy. I know things can get busy, I know customers can be annoying, but good god. Staff acts as if you are bugging them, and that makes for a less than idea experience for me. Probably won't go back because really, I don't think anyone from this joint cares if I did! C'mon Valentino's ... every bad review says the same thing. Good food, bad customer service. That's an easy fix man.

    (2)
  • Christine O.

    Review is long overdue! I love this pizza place!! Great food - great prices. I wish their delivery range was wider... their pizzas are thin, delicious and they use fresh ingredients. Their pasta dishes are very good as well. Prefer to carry out since the restaurant doesn't have much of an atmosphere. Beware if you order a whole pizza, the portions are huge! One time I got the sicilian marinara pizza and though it was too salty... should've known with all those tomatoes! LOVE to go back here again. Thank goodness it's near my house.

    (5)
  • Kendall N.

    Been there several times, always get the pizza. Tried to mix it up tonight with the veal Marsala. Bad choice. Service was the typical slow to react for seated patrons. Ordered the veal and Hercules salad. Salad came out was pretty good for a place like this. The veal came out and...I got the impression it was made by someone who read a menu description for veal Marsala and tried to create what they thought it would be. Or a guy trying to throw something together in someone's apartment with whatever he could find. I mean, brown gravy??? Really? Over breaded veal?? The breading soaked up all the brown gravy and was an unappetizing mess. The veal was sinewy and more the consistency of minute steak. I I totally don't get this. Wouldn't it have been easier to make actual veal Marsala? The portion was huge as most things here are. I might try some other dishes later but for the most part I recommend sticking with the pizza, which is still great.

    (3)
  • Nicole j.

    I love the food....minus the fact they don't have tortellini (what Italian restaurant doesn't have tortellini?) I order often for delivery....but tonight they failed me. Didn't bring my garlic bread...a $40 order and they forgot garlic bread. I also ordered extra sauce on the fettucine....because it's dry without it (apparently sauce is a hiding with the tortellini)...and nope didn't get that either. I called, and they are sending the garlic bread but the guy on the phone seemed so confused about extra Alfredo sauce. Needless to say...no Alfredo Sauce so I got dry fettucine, and cold garlic bread....this is my last order....shame, I never had the pizza...and never will...

    (2)
  • Abdul T.

    The lady that answers the phone to place an order is horrible at customer service , she never gives you a chance to speak ... I call there all the time and when the guy answers its always pleasant and he takes his time to understand what your order is ... So if you call there and she answers , ask for some one else to place your order if you get the chance !!!!!

    (1)
  • Julian S.

    Mediocre at best. Not good pizza for eating in the traditional NY style.

    (2)
  • D S.

    Been back a couple of more times since and it's still good. The staff seems to have warmed up a bit, so maybe I caught them on an off day for the first review. Definitely recommend trying them.

    (4)
  • Jeff M.

    Valentino's is as close as you can get to a NY style pizza in the Washington, DC area. There are dozens of pizza places near where I live, but this place is worth the drive. I recommend going to dinner on Monday nights as it's easier to get service and a table. I've also been there on Fridays and Saturdays and the place is packed! Good food, reasonable prices and decent atmosphere.

    (5)
  • Brooke B.

    Small place was kinda iffy about going but my boyfriend insisted it was good. Boy was he right. The garlic knots are delicious the staff is super nice. Tastes very homemade

    (5)
  • Paul D.

    Whoa! I think this place might actually rival The Italian Store? Their plain pizza is as close to NYC as you'll get in these parts. So, I'm really impressed. I'm going to have to do a direct comparison one of these days, because It almost tastes like The Italian Store! Also, they have weird pizza's by the pie or Slice. My buddy got a slice of Lasagna Pizza, it was so dense, he could barely eat his other slice of plain. I got a slice of the Buffalo Chicken, which is just bread with Buffalo Chicken drenched in hot sauce. I could barely eat it all, and although unique, it wasn't as outstanding as my Fresh-out-of-the-oven slice of plain pizza. mmmmm.... Thin and slightly crispy, excellent quality Sauce, Cheese, & Dough. I ate the crust like it was a bread stick. Killer Pizza! Love this place, located right next to the Arby's w/the old sign. Get a Whole pie. Because fresh always beats buying a reheated slice, and you are going to want to have leftover pizza from here the next day.

    (5)
  • Kham A.

    Best pizza in VA...I tried other pizza places in northern Virginia, but this place is the best one so far.

    (5)
  • Katie D.

    This place deserves nothing less than 5 stars! I sought this place out because they have good, classic white pizza which seems to be tricky to find around DC. It did NOT disappoint! My stubborn boyfriend had to have a large square pizza (all to himself); it was also fantastic! We ate it for days! We also just had to try the garlic bows, which were perfect. The service (at first) was a bit iffy. Though I would've given it 5 stars regardless (the food was that good), our server really blew me away. He had forgotten our garlic bows as an appetizer and forgotten to put a topping on my pizza (which I'm not sure he ever realized). It was no big deal to either of us, yet he was kind enough to throw in two free desserts of our choosing! The cannolis-DELICIOUS! Thank God this place isn't closer to our house or I'd visit every week!

    (5)
  • Kevin J.

    Best slice I have had in the area. Thanks Valentino's Super friendly as well, I chatted with one of the employees (maybe the owner?) for a 10minutes while I was waiting for my food.

    (5)
  • Hong K.

    I like this place for the large,, and I mean large pizza. The parking is a pain since you can only enter from going north on Beauregard. If you are going south, you should do a U turn after your cross Duke street or turn into the shopping center before the restaurant and drive out from the gas station. I have only been here for lunch during the weekday. There was no wait and 19 dollars for that large good pizza is worth it since it will fee 4 people easily. Pizza is close to NY style,, not quite but almost there.

    (4)
  • Bill P.

    I've tried them all in VA MD and DC........this place is my FAVE!!!!! Kitchy staff ambiance and blackened Statue of Liberty adorn the place with pics of NY and artwork. BUT the delicious looking slices under glass make this place a winner.....chicken and vodka and meatball on top of a cheese slice.....these guys are like mad scientists creating slices in the middle of the night. Ate there yesterday HUGE veggie slice adorned with brocholi and all kinda of veggies daughter had pepperoni and mushrooms GREAT PLACE will be back again and again :)

    (5)
  • Jennifer L.

    Yum yum and more yum. Don't let the pizza in the title fool you. This place has great Italian food in general. Their garlic knots are to die for! Pizzas by the slice offer everyone a chance to get what they want and they have so many varities I have yet to try them all. The rumor is that they ship their water in from NY to make the dough. If that is the secret ingredient then it works because it is the best!

    (4)
  • M A.

    Excellent pizza, the best I've been able to find in Northern VA. 3 NOV 09 Update - Sorry Valentinos, you're still great (especially your Special "everything-on-it"), but my heart now belongs to Lost Dog Cafe pizza. I had to try them a couple time to make sure it wasn't a fluke, and I've been converted. The awesome beer selection helped.

    (4)
  • Peter P.

    I think this is the best pizza in the area. It has the traditional pizza shop feel with the food/pizza on display. The slices are huge and the crust is thin. I like the sauce, and the toppings are different from your typical pizza chains. I usually eat the valentino's special, lots of meats and vegetables. You can eat in or take out.

    (4)
  • Faith F.

    I had the veggie pizza and it was sweet. Not like, dude, totally awesome sweet pizza, but like actually sweet to the taste. The crust was think and a bit crisp, which I liked, and there was a good sauce/cheese/toppings ratio. But that was about it. Flavors were bland and I really didn't like the sauce being so sweet. However, it was a bargain. Huge slice, small drink & a garlic knot was like $6. I also tasted the Vodka Chicken (good, but where was the cheese?) and the BBQ, which was my favorite but it isn't really pizza, kwim.

    (3)
  • Pep P.

    Okay, so I am hoping this was a bad night for them, but the pizza my hubby and I ordered last night was not very good. We ordered a large Hawaiian pizza and it was less than stellar. Just to note, the delivery charged seemed to be high- I believe they charged $3 to deliver, the total price of the large pizza was $23 and some change. That is alot. We had no idea the large pizza was going to be so freaking huge though, next time a small would have been fine. First off all, crust makes or breaks the pizza and the crust/dough was awful. Part of it tasted cooked, the other half tasted flaky almost. It had no seasoning or taste and was not forgiving when you bite into it. Also, I do not like eating pizza where immediately when you pick it up, the sauce, cheese, and toppings fall right off. So I basically had to eat my pizza as if I was eating chips and dip. I have been to Valentino's and ate inside and I remember the experience being much better and the food being a heck of alot tastier. I doubt we will order from here again but will at least try and give them another shot by eating at their locations and trying a different slice or two. My pick for very good pizza is the pizza joint in the Kingstowne Shopping Center (where the Shoppers and Bungalow's is), every bite was euphoric and that is the way you expect a slice of pizza to taste!

    (2)
  • Bill B.

    We visit Valentino's each time we go up to Alexandria. Pizza is great . . .crust, sauce, toppings . . .

    (4)
  • Brian H.

    Big pizza slices and reasonably priced. Garlic knots are good but need a dipping sauce. The bbq pizza was good. Did not like the white pizza. It did not have much flavor. Have to go back to try other flavors and pasta.

    (3)
  • Richard G.

    My wife and I are both former New Yorkers (born and brought up) and we eat pepperoni pizza (small -- it's HUGE) here every Friday that we can. This is as close to New York style pizza that we have ever found in Northern Virginia. It can't be beat as far as we're concerned. We have also shared their Greek salad and garlic knots when we have been really hungry. It is a wonderful, large salad with the added touch of stuffed grape leaves. If you eat here, you must be patient because they are nearly always busy so the wait staff are always fully occupied. THE WAIT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WORTH IT!

    (5)
  • Sara R.

    My review is for pizza only, as that's all I've ever eaten from them. I definitely have them in my phone, even though we moved out of the area. Best pizza (aside from Big Bite) in Alexandria area, in my opinion. We always order a large pepperoni pizza as it tends to get really $$$ if you order more toppings or one of their special pizzas, which are deelicious, too. Delivery did take over an hour every time we'd order from them when we lived in Alexandria (right down the street from them), so I do agree with Lindsey R. - pick it up. We call in an order whenever we know we're going to be in the area (stopping at Rita's for a few quarts of water ice). We have been dining-in and the service is friendly and the restaurant isn't too packed as most people just come in for take-out.

    (5)
  • Michael S.

    Hailing from the Midwest, I've a soft squishy spot for Chicago style pizza. Putting my preferences aside, this is a tasty pie. But first things first. The garlic knots. Garlic and butter divinity. These morsels sent from above are alone worth ordering. I can only imagine how stellar they would be right out of the oven. After only whetting my appetite more from the knots, I tore off a giant slice of pizza and crammed a monster bite down the hatch. Cheesy and good. The dough and crust merry well with the toppings in a balanced pizza taste assault on your buds. Again, Chicago style with its bucket amounts of cheese and toppings are more up my alley but trying a different strain of the pizza virus was a good choice. Without finding a monster deep dish pizza joint around here, I think I'll be ordering from here until then. A solid 4 stars. *Sidenote: New Yorkers hating on this place is cliche. You've all done it. We get that you're pizza elitists. Congratulations. Do you want a cookie? Or slice....?

    (4)
  • sarah l.

    Huge fan. I've been picking up your basic cheese pies (a good NY pizza needs no toppings) for over 2 years now. For around here: great thin crust, tasty sauce and good cheese. Reminiscent of NY pies back home. Can't comment on other meus items or specialty pies......can never order anything but cheese pizza -- it's THAT yummy.

    (4)
  • Alpesh J.

    Great pizza by the slice. not the cheapest pizza around but certainly one of the better places in the area for pizza.

    (3)
  • Elizabeth S.

    This place is great for a pizza fix, especially since they sell it by the slice. It can be pricey for whole pies and entrees but the portions are huge and great tasting. I especially love their vodka sauce! It can be tricky to get here, especially during dinner time, but it's worth it. I've also tried the delivery service and it took about half an hour, which I felt was reasonable. I've never gone there for a full sit down meal but I highly recommend it for grabbing a slice of some of the best pizza in the area.

    (4)
  • Dana Z.

    youtube.com/watch?v=FZlu…

    (5)
  • Chris G.

    I've been here a number of times since my last review, and it's always fantastic. I'm writing this update, however, to say that the overcooked chicken on the buffalo chicken pizza was an isolated incident. I've had it twice since then and it's been very good. Definitely throw this place some business if you're in the neighborhood.

    (5)
  • Kate T.

    This may not look like a thumbs up type of eatery from the outside and despite the fact they serve Instant lemon flavored iced tea- I actually love this place! Once slice of their Gourmet-style pizzas is enough to satiate the hunger of most reasonable people. My father got the Lasagna, (of course I took a taste) and I can say that it was also *very* good. I'll wager that just about anything you get (aside from the instant iced tea LOL) will be fantastic. A definite A+.

    (5)
  • Gregg O.

    This is the best authentic New York-style pizza place around. Please ignore the likes of Domino's and Pizza Hut and give this place a try instead. You honestly won't go back! My favorite is the chicken pizza with vodka sauce--amazing! They have other Italian specialties, including some standard pasta dishes worth a try. I like the lasagna, ravioli and manicotti. Salads are somewhat standard, though the up-gunned caprese salad (Valentino's Salad) is a good starting point...especially with fresh tomatoes currently in season. Eating in is an option, although the interior decor isn't that appealing. This place used to be a donut shop, so if you are looking for ambiance instead of good food, you might want to choose elsewhere. Overall, Valentino's is a great neighborhood Italian restaurant. The food is good, the portions are large (save half an entree for tomorrow's lunch), and the price is right.

    (5)
  • Dr. Noel G.

    Easily the best pizza in DC! I have eaten there many a time, great pizza/food and the owner pays attention to the details. My only knock would be the $$, around $$ 17 for a pizza pie but still a cheap meal by comparison to feeding a family. Gets crowded, order ahead. Garlic knots are good too. Chix cutlet parm great. Bring an appetite. Ohh, I am an ex-NYer so this is really good pizza.

    (5)
  • Peggie A.

    Sometimes you need a pizza fix and this is where I go when I need one. Why? The pizzas are huge, there's a variety of toppings to choose from and it's relatively close to my home/office. The issues? getting in and out of the shopping center/parking lot where it's situated is a NIGHTMARE. That, of course has nothing to do with the restaurant -- but be prepared during rush hour you're going to add significant time dealing with the madness. I think the decor is a little chintzy, but it's also more or less homey. They don't have an ABC license so you'll not be having any vino with your pizza. My sister and brother-in-law introduced me to this place -- she loves it for the meals like chicken parm. I think the chicken parm is too overly sauced and cheesed, but to each her own of course. We've gotten large cheese and pepperoni pies delievered on Thanksgiving eve and they were a HIT! I couldn't believe how much pizza we had and that the kids ate it all! This is good pizza, probably a little bland, and not necessarily the freshest ingredients - meaning it's probably all frozen and the cheese is likely packaged in big old containers...but the kids like bland and it fills em up. I say if you want pizza that will fill you up, that you can order take out or by the slice in the store, it's not a bad place to go. The staff can be more interested in talking to each other than you during slower times (last time I was there around 4:30pm) and they were sort of making fun of a guy who had just left after filling out an application -- I thought it was petty and rude, but then again, I've been bored in my jobs too... So, you want pizza? You're in the Landmark area? You don't mind dealing with the parking lot and you want some variety - try out Valentino's!

    (3)
  • Chris B.

    A lot of people rave about this place, however I am not one of them. I will agree it's one of the best in Alexandria and that's not saying much. The pizza never tastes the same it changes from week to week. It's also either burnt or under cooked. Their other dishes are ok, nothing to write home about. Bertucci's in Old Town blows this joint out of the water! It is better than pizza hut and the other $5 pizza places. Their large pizza is freaken huge!! Oh, the garlic knots are good! Delivery is SLOW, every time I order pizzy for delivery it's cold and I only live 3 miles away. With the exception of Bertucci's it's the best mom & pop pizza in this town. NY Pizza? No! NY Pizza style? Yes. It's worth trying because it's not bad.

    (2)
  • Ralph F.

    Pizza is good, but not great, the garlic knots really aren't all they're cracked up to be, and the service leaves something to be desired. If you're having it delivered, be prepared to wait...and wait...and WAIT. If I'm gonna order Italian, I'll hit Delgado's instead.

    (3)
  • Andrea T.

    Best NY style pizza south of NY! Totally worth the drive down I-395 from DC. I should know. I'm a NYer :)

    (5)
  • Monk E. R.

    Valentino's set the gold standard for NY slices in the DC area. I make the 1-hour round trip at least once a month for a 20" pepperoni. The crust is perfect, the sauce tastes like tomatoes, the cheese gooey, the slices floppy. I have yet to try their combo pizzas because I just can't pass the perfection that is the pepperoni. This isn't gourmet wood fired pizza. This isn't DOC-approved margheritas. This isn't $28 nine-inch slices of burnt pizza soup. This is what you'll find on most street corners in NYC and almost nowhere in downtown DC. This is a bulletproof, consistently made product. If there's a better NY style pizza around DC, I haven't had it.

    (5)
  • Laura F.

    The DC metro area, in my opinion, is completely lacking in the good pizza department. Valentino's is the only place I have found that produces pizza that I would proudly take any New Yorker to. I truly believe that the fact that Valentino's delivers to my house has greatly improved my property value.

    (5)
  • E S.

    Since writing my first review, this place has certainly improved, a lot. White pizza is my fav. Service is still slow but worth it. My bf gets the buffalo chicken pizza and loves it. I still don't like their mushrooms (even though I LOVE mushrooms), they taste like they are from a can.

    (3)
  • Courtney R.

    4.5 stars. They are no Astoria, but they come damn close. Minus a half star because it irritates me whenever I pay over $20 for a pizza. The crust is the stuff pizza dreams are made of: floppy, chewy, but crisp and crunchy in spots, nice resistance and lots of dough bubbles like I like it. The sauce is a tad sweet, and I love a little sugar in my marinara. The ingredients/toppings are fresh. I prefer my 'roni a tad crispier, but when it comes to N.Y./Philly style pizza I always go for plain cheese anyhow. I just happened to sample a bit of the Welshie's side, with peppers, pepperoni and onions atop it. The service was a bit slow, but nothing to get pissed about. I had to wait a little longer because when I phoned in, the girl taking my order didn't ask my name (and I didn't think to give it), so they had my order labeled under "Virginia," not ever thinking it was the name of a state instead of a girl that popped up on their caller ID. A simple, silly error--the kind I make daily. Easily forgivable. They have an astounding selection of pizza--from chicken alla vodka to meatball to the usual suspects. You can order a pie or choose from the wide selection and order by the slice. They offer thick-crusted Neapolitan pizza, too, but I don't think I could deviate from ordering the thin, floppy, gooey goodness that brings back a childhood full of summers spent on the Jersey shore.

    (4)
  • Kate R.

    i'll have to agree with my sister on this one 4.5. it's truly the most "new york style" pizza i have had (and none of the chowhound banter of "what KIND of NY style pizza" the kind of NY style pizza want, that's what kind!) I'll still pick vace over this place, but it was quite delish. I picked up two pizza's for a client meeting, and they were the biggest pizza's i've ever seen. We got a cheese and a pepperoni, but the menu was pretty intense. the sauce was nice and sweet and the cheese had a the NY style layer of light grease, the client was impressed, and that's all i was really going for. The lunch rush was a show, there wasn't really any rhyme or reason to what was going on, i had to wait with all the folks ordering their food to pickup my order as the line was completely out the door and folks were NOT budging to let people in. That tacked on a 20 extra minutes, but not really the fault of the valentino's staff. it's a bit of a trek, but well worth it if you're in the mood for some delicious pizza.

    (4)
  • Jim S.

    I'm a big fan of the chicken vodka pizza. Very tasty. As a side note... one of the manager guys totally looks like he is a cross between Bono and someone from the Sopranos with the goofy blue raver sunglasses, and goofy gold chains. Very amusing. I'll bet the middle school chicks at the 7-11 across the street think he's hot!

    (4)
  • Lindsey R.

    Being a native new yorker, I tend to be picky about pizza. This place is delcious. I actually have the number saved in my phone...a little spinsterish, I know, but worth it. The garlic-knots are fairly orgasmic but you will be on the eliptical for the next 4 days trying to get over the guilt of eating them...but it's still worth it. Delivery takes a fairly long time usually, so I would suggest carry-out.

    (4)
  • Brendan J.

    I'm no expert on pizza and don't eat it very often, but based on the many good reviews of Valentino's, I decided to check this place out. This place is the first pizza joint in a while to leave me with massive pizza cravings. The selection of ready to go slices isn't as vast as Tony's in Fairfax, but they still have a good selection. You can order at the front and bus your own plates or get table service. I haven't had the table service, but the server at the table next to us seemed helpfu. One sort of odd thing is that several of the available pizzas aren't actually on the menu. We just pointed to slices that looked good, but I'm still not sure what the one I had is called (red and yellow bell peppers, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, and feta with tomato sauce base?). Upon a subsequent visit I learned that the other one we tried was the Greek pizza (spinach, olives, and feta with a ricotta cheese base and topped with dolmas). I guess you can always ask if you aren't sure, but it would be nice to know all the options if you're ordering ahead for pick up. The pizzas are very tasty. They are sort of heavy-handed with the garlic if that isn't your thing, but it was fine for me. The crust had a great crispiness to it. The square Sicilian pizza is huge; seriously, it fits exactly to the carry out pizza box. A bit greasy though. I didn't notice the same level of greasiness from the other pizzas. Probably a personal preference, but I prefer the round Neopolitan pizza with the thinner crust to the thicker, bready Sicilian crust. I guess same goes for the garlic knots. They were also a little low on flavor and just tasted garlicy. Perhaps it just needed a bit more salt or some cheese. The staff were all very friendly on our visits and we never experience any rudeness. The person taking our order even remembered us on the second visit when we came for pick up. Although maybe that's because it was two days after the first visit.

    (4)
  • David B.

    Best NY-style pizza, which means best pizza, in the DC area. When I read reviews that say something like "I came here because I heard they have great NY pizza, but then my pineapple-bacon-anchovy pizza wasn't that great." This means you don't know NY pizza (hint: we don't put pineapples on it!) Get a plain cheese, get a sicilian, get the breadsticks--not as good as the best NYC places, but wouldn't be out of place there.

    (5)
  • Blake P.

    I've had the pleasure of dining here twice and I'll make it a point to go back despite my displeasure with the shopping center it's in. First time was chicken parm and garlic knots with a killer side salad (just huge). Dish was pretty good but I've had better. I've been encouraged to try it again so I'll update the next time. Best garlic knots I've had in the area too. Second time was for pizza and this was the real champ here. About the only bad thing I can say is that the pizza doesn't reheat real well but it shouldn't be a problem because you'll probably want to eat it all up there. Only real ding against the place is the staff. Both times I've been there it's been less than stellar, first time was better than the second where we sat with empty water glasses and waited for the bill. All in all a very respectable place to eat and darn good pizza for the area.

    (4)
  • Nicole R.

    Let me start off by saying that there's a big round sticker on the counter by their register that says "People Love us on Yelp". My kind of place, huh? Boyfriend took me here... has been raving about their pizza for years and since we were in the area last night, we figured we'd give it a try. We took it to go, so I can't really rate the service (everyone there seemed nice enough) but the pizza was great. Dan had a slice of pizza with sausage and I got the Margherita. By the time we got home it was a bit cold, but so worth it nonetheless. The slices are huge - perfect for a meal (I really wish I had gotten a salad... would have been super perfect). IMO, the prices for a slice are a bit steep, Cheese Pizza is fine at $2.35 but ours were around $4 each... meh, not bad, but I would have rather paid less! Looking at their menu now (yes, I took one to facilitate my review-writing), it seems that their prices are pretty decent; appetizers are a bit pricy but in this economy, that's happening everywhere. Small Pizza (14"): $10.95 Large (20"): $14.95 Square (Sicilian 16" x 16")" $17.95 All-around decent prices for great NY pizza. I'll definitely be going back to try their Gyro, which they claim to be "The Best in The Business- With Lots of Meat"... Go, eat pizza, and enjoy!

    (4)
  • K H.

    Valentinos was great. Pizza slices are huge, prices are decent, and the restuarant was surprisingly nice inside.

    (4)
  • K T.

    Valentino's, I love you. I always feel you are slightly pricey, until I start eating and realize how much food it is... And the quality! Staff always running around looking confused and chaotic, but if you go in with patience, it's worth it!

    (4)
  • Becki G.

    Decided to write a review because we actually ordered food and all the others talk about pizza. Highly recommend the valentino's salad. Delicious!! Chicken cacciatore was good but nothing fantastic. We picked up the food but had to wait on hold for 10 minutes. Seems like others comments about service are right on.

    (4)
  • William L.

    This is one of the best if not the BEST pizza in the dc nova area. The pizzas are huge and flavorful. They have a great variety of different types of pizza and they are all great! I usually do not order plain cheese pizza but cheese pizza is the only thing i order at Valentinos because the tomato sauce and cheese they use is sooo good you do not want any other toppings interfering with the great delicious taste. They also serve pasta and other Italian/ Mediterranean food which are good but they don't compare to their pizzas.

    (5)
  • kate d.

    This is the best pizza in the area. I have a hard time not eating something in the car when I bring it home. All of the pizza slices are really good- the soup is wonderful and the garlic knots are a dream I hate to wake from! However it takes forever to get your food and sometimes the counter service is less than great. Even when the owner is there the staff just seems to be having a good time with each other. But the food makes the wait worth it! the first time you go in it might be a little intimidating - but it is worth the trip! be prepared to spend almost $5.00 on a "gourmet slice"

    (4)
  • Rob S.

    When we first moved to Alexandria, we checked Google for a good, non-chain pizza delivery place. We found Valentino's. Four of us ordered a large cheese pizza, and boy were we (pleasantly) surprised. Valentino's offers legitimate New York pizza, which means, among other things, that a "large" pizza is humongous. The pizza itself was delicious -- probably the best I've had outside of New York City. The crust is thin, crispy, a bit sweet and flavorful. The sauce is delicious. I can't figure out what it is about Valentino's pizza that makes it so delicious, so there must be a secret ingredient. (Note that Valentino's also has a spinach white pizza that's great, but for some reason it doesn't have the magic ingredient in the cheese pizza. Maybe the sauce?) After many calls to have Valentino's deliver, we went to the store once to pick up our pizza. It definitely doesn't have much in the way of ambience -- it's basically a takeout place with seating -- but the food is good enough that this probably won't matter. I'm lucky enough to be in Valentino's delivery area, but if you're a New York refugee looking for good pizza, it's worth the trip.

    (4)
  • Stephen G.

    If you want genuine NY Style Pizza, this is your place. You can purchase pizza by the slice or sit down and have a meal. The fried calimari seems fresh and not overcooked/rubbery. The size of the pizzas is very generous. A small pizza is a large anywhere else! The pizza sauce seems homemade and there are lots of toppings. The service is not the best. I went in the other night and interrupted the girl at the counter during her texting (sorry I came in and wanted to have something to eat). Our waitress left for an extended period of time and was very slow in delivering the check. But the food came fast and hot. The food was good. The service sucks, but the food is why I am a customer.

    (4)
  • Brad S.

    Good pizza ... that about sums it up. There aren't many traditional Philly or NY-style pizza places in the DC area, in fact, this is really the only one I know about. I enjoy very much their "traditional" style topping [e.g. pepperoni, meat lovers-esque, cheese] but some combinations border on the obscene ... chicken, bbq sauce, sour cream, chives, ham ... really now, if I wanted bbq chicken I'd slap on an apron, drop a few berquets on the ole'webber, and make my own. Don't get me wrong, very good pizza, period. I am not a fan of the, everything and the kitchen sink style of toppings, and some of their pizzas (about 60-70% of the pre-made ones) are indeed too much. The calzones are a bit over-cooked and slightly too greasy ... some of the pizza also should have grease listed as a main ingredient, however, if you wanted healthy you wouldn't be eating pizza to begin. Basically, keep you expectations in check, order a simple pizza [pepperonia, meat, chesse] and keep a few paper towels handed to blot the grease, but for what we have to choose from, definitely tops pizza in Alexandria.

    (3)
  • Stephanie M.

    Valentino's is certainly worthy of Five Stars in my book. I was exposed to Valentino's when my boss ordered this pizza for the office one day and I my heart has been with it ever since. Once you eat this pizza you will forever judge any other slice that dares come your way against it. Salads are also great as well as the garlic knots. Surprise item for me was the giro which was fantastic and huge. Get the feta cheese as they are not stingy.

    (5)
  • Greg M.

    The management at Valentino's kinda remind me of "The 300" parody episode of Southpark. I gladly overlook this, because they have without a doubt the best NY style pizza I have found in the DC area. The secret, I am told, is the bottled water which is used to make the crust consistent and delicious. Toppings vary widely from the conventional (Margarita, Pepperoni), to the unusual (chili mango chicken, pork bbq), to the amazing (baked ziti pizza!). The one constant is their fantastic crust, which holds up well to heavy toppings. While it doesn't age well, if you reheat your pie in the oven rather than the microwave it will be just as good the next day. If you're visiting for the first time, don't call ahead. You're better off getting pizza by the slice so you can see what looks good that day. It will probably be hard to choose. Other places have good pizza (Paradisio, Two Amy's) and probably a better atmosphere in terms of going somewhere, sitting down, and having a meal. But damnit, sometimes you just want a big ole slice of NYC style pizza instead of that arugula-topped neopolitan stuff. Unfortunately, they have a very limited range for delivery, but pick it up and you can go to Total Wine in the same parking lot while you wait!

    (5)
  • Jim B.

    I starting reading reviews of this place after I caught Lyle B's review on Yelp's front page. His line of "the BEST pizza in the DC area..." caught my eye and I made a note that I needed to eat there that night. Little did I know that my girlfriend (she's a doll) happened to be crafting an email at that exact same moment, suggesting Valentino's for dinner that night. I damn near soiled myself when I saw our identical suggestions. I made a note that we must clearly spend way too much time together, and that I needed a fresh change of undies. Well, regardless of the fate that brought me here, I'm glad it did. This is a fantastic pizzeria. A wide selection of large slices caught my eye as I came in, but I finally decided on the beautifully-striped BBQ chicken. . . and a slice of the white pizza as well. A guy's got to eat, right? Now the varieties aren't just gimmicky extras that they throw on. These are well crafted pieces that taste amazing. Excellent dough with cheese and toppings that stay in place, but without feeling like that coagulated lunchroom cheese pizza you use to get for a dollar. Add to this an order of garlic knots and an orange fanta, and I don't have a care in the world. The dining area was well-kept and bussed, filled with patrons engaged in friendly conversation, which just added to the overall appeal. I'm just glad my girl was driving that night, because after two slices, I wasn't focused on anything other than taking a nap.

    (5)
  • Beverly S.

    Amazing pizza!!! My boyfriend is from NY and he never likes the pizza that I bring home..but ever since we've tried Valentino's he wants to go there all the time! It's just like when we go to the spots in NY to get pizza. Great!!!

    (5)
  • Stephen d.

    This is the most authentic NY style pizza anywhere outside of NYC! Nothing, I mean NOTHING beats these pies! Can't say enough about how freaking awesome this pizza is.

    (5)
  • Matt R.

    The five stars means it's as good as it gets for Northern Virginia pizza. Having grown up in NY in a town with over 10 pizzerias I feel that Valentino's is the best pizza in the Northern Virginia area. It makes me home sick when I go in there. It reminds me of my childhood when I would walk down to the corner pizza shop for a slice with my friends. It has that NY feel with the large display of pizzas when you walk in. Try the garlic knots and you will not be disappointed. I would also recommend the pizza bianca (white pizza) , buffalo chicken pizza and the chicken alla vodka. The white pizza is made the way I remember with ricotta cheese and mozzarella not like the "white pizza" you get at other places where they just use cheese and garlic sauce. Desserts are good too. Try the cannoli after enjoying a few slices.

    (5)
  • Josh B.

    What can I say? I stopped by for a slice after the movies, and wasn't disappointed. Yes, I grew up on NYC pizza, but I'm not a snob. Valentino's was great. I went for a slice of the odd looking striped BBQ Chicken, and one plain cheese. The place is big, clean, and efficient. There's plenty of parking too. The only complaint I have is that it cost $7.25, a bit pricey it seems. Pizza is becoming gourmet food I guess. I'll be back, and you will too, if you're in the neighborhood and like good pizza.

    (4)
  • Jacob B.

    Best damn new York style pizza in VA hands down. The employees are even bout it like new yorkers. Never had a bad experience here. Goodnight!

    (5)
  • Kevin D.

    Pros: Best pizza in the area except for maybe Albertos in DC Cons: Delivery stops after 9:30 and drivers have a lower IQ than the pizza toppings. Place itself is tiny and always busy so not great for eating in.

    (5)
  • Nayef I.

    Hands down one of the best places in the dmv area. When i walked in, I felt like i had walked into one of the pizzeria restaurants on the side streets on ny city. I had a slice of cheese pizza and a chicken alfredo pasta, it's 4 days later and i am still thinking about how good my meal was. The staff was friendly and very knowledgeable of the menu. All in all it great expierence, great food, and as close as u can get to NY style pizza without being in NY.

    (5)
  • Jack S.

    Very good! Rarely disappoints. Friendly service and a great, big pizza. Homemade dough and pasta really make this good. Location and decor could use an upgrade, but it doesn't detract from the food. I would LOVE to see them open another location in Shirlington or Old Towne.

    (4)
  • Jonathan V.

    Here is the issue. I am a New Yorker. From New York. I was born there and I worked in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx for 15 years. I am a pizza snob and I freely admit it. I usually don't like fancy things with crazy toppings. I like thin crust cheese pizza and a coke. I tried the cheese pizza. It was eh. A lot of oil and not flavorful at all. I could taste cheese, but not sauce or crust. The sauce did not have much flavor at all though it was a good consistency. The crust was decent with a nice crunch, but as I have mentioned not too much flavor. I also broke down and I tried the BBQ chicken pizza. Disaster. It started out well, but they put ranch dressing under the cheese. It became very thick, gooey (not in a good way), and the crust became very soggy. I couldn't finish it because it became rather unappetizing as it cooled. It tasted more like ranch pizza with some BBQ sauce than BBQ pizza. So overall Valentino's makes an attempt, but honestly if people say this is JUST LIKE BK or NY pizza it's because they don't know any better.

    (1)
  • Mashhood K.

    Best pizza I've had on the east coast outside of NYC. A little pricey but I think it's worth it to satisfy a craving for great pizza.

    (5)
  • K B.

    Good thin pizza and meatball sub. Don't go inside. They deliver, and the food is very good. The bruschetta, surprisingly, is excellent. But have it delivered. The inside of that place is chaos.

    (3)
  • Joni H.

    This place lives up to its name. They actually do have real New York style pizza, unlike other places that claim to have New York style pizza but don't even come close. Best pizza in this area hands down.

    (5)
  • Barbi H.

    OK, we tried to find a New York style pizza joint closer to our home, had heard & read great things about Valentino's, but it just didn't pan out. Here's a synopsis... SERVICE? Horrible. 1 other customer when we arrived, with 8 (not exaggerating) employees (or owners) behind the counter. We were never greeted, offered a table or asked what we'd like.! Bad idea. (p.s. If you (or your parents) own the place & you have no intention of working, get out of the way!) So after we inform the "group" that we'd like to order slices, we sat ourselves down & waited. We observed that the 1st customer was being served, but we had to pick-up our food from the counter. FOOD? After eating my stomach was so upset (& I eat pizza all of the time.) My b-friend from the NY/NJ area didn't even finish his Sicilian! OVERALL? Seriously, at $20 for 2 fountain drinks, 2 plain slices, 1 Sicilian & 1 veggie pie slice this place is way overpriced & it upsets your stomach! Try Tony's in Fair Lakes, instead.

    (1)
  • Ken L.

    Quite simply, this pizza is excellent. Delivery takes forever (often at least 1 hr) but they are up front with you about it taking this long. The pizza doesn't always arrive hot, either. It doesn't matter. The pizza is AWESOME!

    (5)
  • Valencia W.

    It's weird how I've been in the Alexandria area for so long and never noticed Valentino's. Well it was a perfect day outside and we really did not want to move our cars from the office nor walk anywhere so we searched for places that deliver. It was one of those lazy days. We found a menu and I ordered the Veal Pizziola. My only gripe about this place is that the person whom I spoke with had absolutely no idea what was going on. I mean seriously, the experience would have been so much better had I not had to repeat myself 5 times and say that there is no need to split a check if one person is paying cash and another is credit--OH, and the fact that I was told the delivery guy doesn't accept cash. Oh boy...moving on, I was really surprised at the amount of food given. The Veal Pizziola was quite a hearty meal and there was so much. My coworker got the Sicilian Baked Ziti and shared the same opinion about the amount of food and that his was very good as well. I was told the pizza's are really good so next time I'll have a pizza. Overall it was a good experience and I would recommend it especially if you're having one of those lazy days when you want your food brought to you--this place would be worth it.

    (3)
  • Jonathan Z.

    pizza is really good and worth the price. It could be a little less but its still good. If you are hungry and just happen to be in the area, stop by and grab a slice. It is pretty quick service. Try the buffalo chxn pizza, hella good!

    (5)
  • Nicole F.

    1st time visit - Only reason not 5-star is the service appeared disjointed. But you are coming here for pizza - and it was delicious. We ordered the Valentino's special and it was loaded with fresh toppings. Not too saucy and dough just thick enough to hold everything - I will definitely be going back to try some different pizzas.

    (4)
  • Sabrina W.

    5 stars all around. I love there pizza and pasta. Come hungry leave happy.

    (5)
  • Jay C.

    If you are ever in DC metro area it is worth coming to this spot it is awesome. Margarita pizza is insanely good!

    (5)
  • Andrew F.

    Personally, I believe that Valentino's makes the best pizza in the DC area. I like 2 Amy's, Pupatella and Comet, but I love Valentino's! The standard pizzas are great (plain cheese et. al.) and the fun one's (Mo's Special!!! Buffalo Chicken!!!) are just a flavor party in your mouth. Valentino's does not go for "gourmet", and the ambiance in the restaurant is ... well, thank goodness everyone is friendly! So, don't go for ambiance or "gourmet". Just go for the flavor.

    (5)
  • Jessica M.

    yummy!!!!! reminds us of NYC. we get our fix here in the mean time. please build another location by ft Belvoir;)

    (5)
  • Kori B.

    Even though I live in Alexandria, my restaurant outings tend to be focused only in Old Town forgetting, that there is indeed other neighborhoods if I just explore a little bit. Thank goodness for Yelp and all you wonderful people telling me that just a few miles from my house is the second best pizza I've ever had. (I'm from Chicago, I will NEVER call New York pizza the best, sorry guys, let the comments begin.) It was rainy and cold and I wanted something that I knew would fill me up, so I went for the baked ziti pizza and a order of garlic knots. There was so much garlic on the garlic knots that when I opened the box my eyes watered and friends moved away, but wow were they good. The pizza slice was huge and made me disgustingly full, and my friends jealous. The staff here is uber friendly, and the guy behind the counter, very New York, called me "Doll," which I thought was cute. I'll definitely be back.

    (5)
  • Mike A.

    Just ordered the real italian meatball and cheese. Has not arrived yet, I can't wait. I know it's the best!! Killer NY Pizza!

    (5)
  • Maya C.

    Ohhhh Valentino's...what heavenly sauce do you use for your buffalo chicken pizza...I've been guilty to have gone several times to this place even though I am closer to DC, but well worth it. Your buffalo chicken pizza rocks as #1, the garlic knots are soooo greasy, but so tasty, I feel like a bad, bad girl! The shrimp scampi pasta very buttery as garlicky as it should be. Do not even bother to count your calories at this place, but sooo good. The slices are HUGE! and priced around $3.50 Your gyros are LARGE and delicious, but I thought you would automatically add feta cheese, not charge extra! Your staff is always on the move...just like watching the action! Is lunch time...I wonder if no one will notice if I disappear for a while...

    (5)
  • Mme T R.

    This pizza is ok, slightly better than average, but certainly not a true New York style pizza. At least they have large triangle pizza, but they still have not mastered the sweetness in the NY style pizza sauce. Good effort though.

    (3)
  • Jamie W.

    Food= SO GOOD Service= 50/50 We love this place and are definite regulars. Never had anything bad. The service behind the counter is slow, but the quality of the food definitely makes up for this. Can sit down or order @ the counter, Delivery too :-) Originally from NY and this pizza definitely holds its own! Best pizza in NOVA, by far

    (4)
  • Alyce M.

    I found this place on Yelp and headed there for dinner on Saturday night. It was crazy busy in there so the service was pretty slow but it was well worth the wait. We ordered the Papa Joe's pizza and it was SO good. The garlic knots were yummy too. I can't wait to try the other pizzas! Thank you again Yelp!

    (4)
  • Justin S.

    Valentino's is the 1st inexpensive restaurant I've been to in the greater DC area that would hold it's own in New York. The food is wonderful, the prices are fitting, and the menu is expansive. Valentino's has a great regular pizza, but if you want to kick it up a notch, they've got some cool specialty pizzas too... want it Russian? Get a chicken vodka pizza! Want pasta AND pizza? Get the baked ziti pizza. There's a ton of pizza options. Beyond pizza, Valentino's offers good pasta dishes, subs, sandwiches, salads, and a very tasty gyro. The greek salad and chicken vodka pizza are my personal favorites here. The decor is inexpensive and tacky. The service is average. Both help round out the atmosphere. Valentino's isn't trendy and isn't pretentious. Everything here is exactly as a great pizza place should be.

    (5)
  • Derryk A.

    Oh where O where is this Valentino's at? I here in Landmark shopping center it's a mess they are doing some major construction or destruction here. Em mm there's Pizza Hut I know this couldn't be what they are talking about. @(*$*&#^^ it, going to make my way back around get back on Beauregard (how southern plantation is that for a name) and see where I had screwed up. Sure enough it is right next the Arby's barely could make this place out driving past and I have my glasses on! So there is the group of fellow Yelper crew on the back end or front of the place seated at a long table. Our huddle masses talking loud laughing louder and acting up in the place. A rowdy lot are we, however our server was very much on the game. For every late arrival she was there to see to what they needed extra plates? check. Extra napkins? Check. Drinks? Check. Flatware? Check. MORE PIZZA? Check check and double check. I found their pizza to be as large as a full moon and just as tasty. The meatatarian and the buffalo chicken filled the bill on my side of the table. Wow two slices and I'm just about full. Usually it takes 6 or 8 slices of that regular stuff from those other places. This however has got to be the best pizza I've had in about a year. It was fresh out of the oven nothing that has been around for the past week and definitely not frozen. The crust was light and toasty the aroma carried to the table seconds before the pies arrived. Ummmm smells good ummm taste even better nice cheese. Oily of course what do you think happens when you melt cheese but not too oily like that cheap cheese whiz that you would find on lesser quality pizzas. The buffalo chicken good flavor that allow you to taste the chicken. People seems to think that they are in competition and try to out do one another on who can handle spicy hot better. It's not about that it's about just the right amount of zest to make the flavours pop out in your mouth not slap the taste out of your mouth. So no problemo here on my end, no overly dramatic showdown with the staff. No "yuck so bad that I threw it against the wall" actions here. Nothing but honest to goodness really good good pizza with all the trimmings. My only grip is this place is too far from my home in Silver Spring to come all the way out here regularly. Four and a half stars, need better signage from the &@#%$^ road so someone like me can see it better.

    (4)
  • Mariam B.

    I am from NJ and moved here 2 years ago, and this is by far the best pizza in Northern Va. It still doesnt compare to NJ/NY pizza but it is by far better than any other pizzeria in Northern Va. I love the buffalo chicken pizza w/bleu cheese!

    (5)
  • D G.

    To think, just a mere six months ago I would have given this place 4 stars. Being born and raised in NY city I know a great NY slice. When I moved to NOVA two years ago, I was thrilled when I discovered this place. Yes,it came pretty close to a great NY slice. Unfortunately, Valentino's has been on a slow, downward spiral for the last six months. What was once a clean establishment has now become a stage for waterbugs that apparently love pizza as much as I do! That's right folks, during my last visit, I had the pleasure of coming face to face with a huge waterbug that obviously had much to eat that afternoon (belly side up). Management took notice but failed to do anything about it. Of course, I had already eaten half of my soggy, greasy, super sweet pizza when I noticed the waterbug. Dead waterbug + lousy pizza + terrible customer service = dump! Not sure if it's under new management, but it definitely has gone downhill. It was good while it lasted...

    (1)
  • jane s.

    I used to love this place. I've live in New York City for 5 years and this pizza is some of the best I have had. The service used to be great but I've noticed a big change recently. There are a bunch of young boys who work in the front and absolutely fail at customer service. The guys at the front are arrogant young ignorant kids who think they are to cool to work. My last two visits when I checked in to pay for my pizza the young "kid" says to me, "I don't know what to tell you, we are busy". I thought that was strange comment and all he had to say was your pizza will be ready shortly. My last visit when I arrived to pick up my pizza they must have lost my order because they gave me a dumb look. When he asked the pizza maker he pulls out an already made pizza from below the counter and heats it up. As he is pulling the pie out of the oven, he drops part of the pizza on the floor and as a solution they pick another three slices from the already made section and heats it up to replace the part that fell on the ground. This was the last straw. Although the pizza is usually good the service is lacking and is enough to keep us from coming back. Please bring back the old employees. Those kids working at the front are ridiculous.

    (1)
  • Xanthia C.

    The food was delicious! Nice over the phone service and a quick delivery. I will definitely be ordering from them again!!

    (4)
  • Tiffany S.

    How did this place get so many good reviews? The pizza was okay. I mean, definitely better than Sbaro's, but so is cardboard. What I remember is that this place is DAMN expensive for what it is. I'm not about to pay $5 to a tiny slice of pizza unless it's really good, and this pizza, unfortunately, is just okay. My husband and I spent almost $30 getting 2 slices each and a soda. For that you might as well go out to a real restaurant. And again, if the pizza were good, it would have been worth it, but this pizza is nothing to write home about.

    (2)
  • Kenrick J.

    Closest thing to NY style on the Virginia side. Don't go when busy, your order will get mixed up. No free refills on fountain drinks is restaurant suicide. When I was kid in Manhattan, I used to get a jumbo slice and drink for 3 dollars....The Pizza is good with many varieties and unique arrangements. Garlic Knots for life son.

    (3)
  • K I.

    Ridiculously delicious pizza! Huge slices and a multitude of choices (in the couple of times that I've gone in there has always been at least 10 to choose from). Some people say that their slices are a little pricey but their basics (cheese or pepperoni) are really reasonable. My first time in I decided to buy a few slices and take them home with me, they're so big I could only eat one so I wrapped the others in foil and put them in the fridge. Next day, preheated the oven to 300 degrees and popped them in for a few...they still came out delicious and the crust was just a skosh crispier (which I don't mind at all). Out of the handful of varieties I've tried, I'd have to say that the Chicken alla Vodka Sauce is the best (though it looks the most disgusting, to be honest). Though they also make a MEAN cheese! I have yet to try anything other than pizza but the desserts looked quite tasty as well. The staff is really friendly, including the owner (though on my second trip in he seemed really tired and like he was spacing out just a little bit because he was being over-worked; nice guy so I hope he can get a few more hours away from the biz). Inside the restaurant is small but is clean and has lots of light from all of the windows. They definitely show their pride for NYC and I love that part of the atmosphere of this place. They deliver too! I think the minimum is $15 but not sure what the mileage radius on delivery is though when I inquired as to how far out they go I remember him saying that they have a certain range but might go further depending on how much pizza was ordered.

    (5)
  • Stephen W.

    I really want to love this place. Their pizza is fantastic, and their garlic knots are a must-have. In fact, most everything I've had here has been delicious. So why only three stars? The service is TERRIBLE! Now, mind you, I've never dined in, always carry out. When I call, at least one of three things happens: 1. The line is busy, 2. I am put on hold immediately (not even so much as a "can you please hold?" and 3. The person taking the order has to repeat it 3 times because she's not listening. When I go to pick the food up, it gets worse. Never, and I mean NEVER, am I asked "may I help you?" Despite the fact that there are usually 3-5 "hostesses" working the cash register, they're always chatting with customers who are apparently either personal friends or regulars, maybe both. So, invariably, I have to ask "can you help me?" I've a good mind to write them a letter. It's really sad when excellent food is undone by something as simple and low-cost as basic politeness. Shame on them.

    (3)
  • Pete H.

    I think this is the best pizza in DC and some of the best ever. Big slices, good mix of sauce and cheese, friendly staff. Always busy, and they don't have an abc license so you can't eat in and get a beer, so I usually just get it to go. Pepperoni and sausage pizza is terrific, the bbq chicken is good as well. My kids love it too.

    (4)
  • Edwin V.

    I'm originally from Brooklyn and grew-up on the best pizza in the world. I recently moved to the area and craved a real, authentic slice of pizza. This is the best New York Style pizza I've had outside NYC. The sauce is a little sweet for my taste but I don't want to complain too much, it's still great!!

    (5)
  • Rick G.

    Second favorite NY slice in NoVa, behind the Italian Store. I actually like the crust here more as it's more consistently cooked until it can hold up to the toppings. The sauce tastes a bit cooked and does not quite hold up to the Italian Store. Still, worth drive to from McLean for the pizza. The Valentino's Salad with roasted Roma tomatoes is worth seeking out for the delicous oily acidity with toasty roast flavors.

    (4)
  • Carlos D.

    I have been going to Valentino's ever since they opened up. I am a native New Yorker where pizza is a dime a dozen and finding the best joint is a must. On average most pizza places in the D.C. Metro area sucks. So, when valentino open up several years ago I was in awe because I finally found a place I can go to and appreciate a wonderful slice of pizza. Well for the last 2 years and especially the last year the quality of the pizza has gone down hill. I no longer frequent there because the pizza has lost it's luster. The owners used to be there almost every day and now they are nowhere to be seen. Staff are very withdrawn and sorry those pizza prices are also way to high. I hope for a come back but until they get back to basics I won't be going back.

    (2)
  • Katie R.

    My husband and I tried Valentino's last night and I'm not lying when I say their Baked Ziti pizza was one of the best things I've ever eaten and that my husband and I are both sad that we only just found this place! We've been looking for good pizza since we've moved here in August and are so glad that we've finally found it. I had a slice of the Baked Ziti pizza and my husband had a slice of the Mo's Special. We also shared a side of Garlic Knots, which were also very tasty. Seriously, try it; you won't be disappointed!

    (5)
  • Michelle E.

    Not bad. Not great. That's about all I have to say about Valentino's. Their sauce is way too sweet and their crust not nearly salty enough. Other than that, it's fine.

    (2)
  • Sean N.

    Yum. Great pizza. Delivery is fast. Its great that you can just walk in to get a slice. I've enjoyed all the pizza I've eaten there. Only thing lacking is the salads. They're the kind that are all romaine and the proportion of toppings to lettuce is not enough. Also, there's usually a puddle of water at the bottom. But, then again, I don't really go there for great salads. Their pizza is great and that's all that really matters. I haven't tried any of their entrees, and don't know if I will.

    (4)
  • Eric H.

    This is the best NY style pizza I've tried in the area. Very thin crust, although on a few visits it hasn't been very crispy. Usually it's pretty good though. The cheese blend is good, but the best part is sauce, which has really good balance and tastes just like the sauce at my favorite places back in the Bronx. The garlic knots are great too.

    (4)
  • Keisha D.

    I still adore Valentino's but for the love of Yelp do not get delivery. I literally live within walking distance *think less than a mile* and it took 1 hour for delivery. The kicker is that the delivery driver refused to bring it up to my place because he had been towed before. Huh?! I had to go down to curb to meet him where when pressed for a reason he confessed that he hadn't been actually towed in this neighborhood but somewhere else. Uh yeah and who tows a car with flashers and a delivery sign. Good Grief. So just go pick it up and avoid the drama and the driver's flashbacks of long ago tows.

    (5)
  • Jimmo X.

    The pizza was pretty decent considering it was sitting out for a while. Garlic knots are filling. The service was not so good -- a lot of time spent schmoozing with customers, even though people were standing in line.

    (3)
  • Viet D.

    Hmmmm....what's the big deal about this place? I bought pizza by the slice, one cheese for my 2 year old and one with everything on it and Meh is all I have to say. What disturbed me the most was that while they were warming up my pizza, a waitress came over to where the slices were and asked someone who seemed like the boss if this one particular pizza was suitable to for a child to eat, since I guess the parents requested that the pizza not be so hot. The waitress then touches the pizza crust of the pizza and since she isn't so convinced that the pizza was cool enough, she asked her boss and he touched then pizza, both with bare hands might I add. He says its ok and then she takes that slice of fondled pizza to the table of the unknowing people. That disturbed me, and I don't think I can eat there again. What happened to using gloves or a spatula? Gross.

    (2)
  • Kirkles A.

    Definitely the best pizza I've had in the DC area. It's always loaded with toppings and has great sauce and a perfect crust. I particularly like the pizza a la vodka, a pizza covered in chicken and vodka sauce. It may not sound apetizing, but it's sublime. If you're a local, I'd highly suggest that you swing by and give this place a try.

    (4)
  • Bob S.

    Take this from a Jersey guy, this place is the real deal. Best crust in Northern Virginia and DC. The basic cheese pizza (the ultimate standard) is very, very good, sauce is sweet and delicious, cheese just right. I'm not a big fan of all the excessive toppings, but this is a hidden treasure for those of us displaced Yankees looking for a good pie!

    (4)
  • Lisa W.

    We just moved to town and stumbled upon this place through yelp, and we love it. They are quick, really friendly, and the pizza is fantastic.

    (5)
  • Frankie V.

    Overrated. Is it the best pizza in the area? Probably. Is it the closest you will get to NY pizza in the area? Probably. Is it 5-stars "Woohoo! As good as it gets!"? No. Is their advertising gimmicky? Yes. I go here all the time. When I want pizza, this is where I go. If you're in the area, this is the only place I recommend you get pizza from. It's really good, I certainly enjoy it. I reserve my 5-star ratings for restaurants that really deserve them though. The customer service here is far from impressive. I get ignored be the staff sometimes, other times they don't speak clearly and are rude. You can sit down and be waited on, that is nice. Most of the pasta dishes here are pretty good. The pizza, although good, doesn't have the crust I expect from a NY pizza. Also, a lot of the slice pies that are already prepared look very old, especially the specialty ones. They reheat them when you order, but they don't reheat well. I suppose this could also be an issue with the quality of the cheese. They advertise that they use spring water and that they make fresh dough six times a day, and all of that sounds very impressive. These guys definitely aren't cutting any corners with the quality their dough, but the places we all love to go to in NY are. In NY they're not using spring water or making fresh dough six times a day and that's the way everyone likes it. Outside of NY, pizza just isn't the same. This place is no exception.

    (3)
  • Jake M.

    I'm not going to let the fact that I fall 450 miles outside of their delivery range (give or take ten or so miles) detract from rating them my favorite local pizza joint by a mile (or 450). Extrapolate things out as far as possible on a cosmological scale, and it's like they are right next door. So whenever my chums suggest getting the best neighborhood pizza my particular neighborhood has to offer, I don't hesitate and immediately dial down to Alexandria. This is why the good Lord invented private jets people. If only they'd install a helipad on the roof, then we'd really be cooking!

    (5)
  • Mike J.

    Love the pizza at this place! I put it up there with Ciro's out in Centreville. Sauce is excellent, and they bake the pies so the crust is nice and crisp on the bottom. The result is not too thin like some high end chains, and not to thick and doughy like the national places. We've dined in and carried out, but its kind of small and gets crowded if you are planning to eat in, so be warned. I haven't had as good luck with the pasta dishes. They are fairly average, but I agree with previous reviewers that they make great salads. All in all, this is a great place if you're in the area.

    (4)
  • Wendell B.

    Just got a large Valentino's Special and the pizza was just ok. Maybe it was a rough night, because the service was not much better. There were about 15 people in the kitchen, with about 6 actually working. The others were just standing around, while I waited, seeing my pizza sit in the box uncut and getting cold. There was no line in front of me, I had to finally ask for some help. The pizza itself was ok. The toppings were great! But the crust was not good; it had a cardboardy texture. I don't think I will go there again, surprising considering the excellent reviews by others.

    (2)
  • Anson P.

    My brother and I were sitting on the couch playing xbox when it occurred to us that we needed to eat something...and it had to be done before the Kimbo fight. I suggested Valentino's because it had some pretty good reviews. Back in the day, this used to be one of my favorite donut shops. I ordered up a slice of the Valentino's special and the penne alla vodka. My brother ordered up a slice of bbq chicken pizza and the ravioli alla vodka. The slices are pretty big. The Valentino's special was pretty much their supreme...onions, sausage, pepperoni, peppers. Pretty good. The crust is somewhere between thin crust and pan. It doesn't curl as easily as true NY slices. The toppings were tasty but only an ok pizza sauce. The penne alla vodka was meh. Not very much flavor to it. Those of you from the NY-NJ area are likely to be disappointed. I tried some of my bro's bbq chicken pizza and it really wasn't all that great. There was a decent amount of chicken. They had alternating strips of ranch dressing and bbq sauce, neither of which were very good. I would avoid this slice. The raviolis were meh, in the same nothing to write home about sauce. 4 dollars a slice of pizza and 10 bucks for each pasta dish. This is where I make a confession. My appetite did not bring its A-game and I was essentially a prepubescent girl tonight. I did not finish my pasta and required the use of a take home container. All I had for lunch was half a chicken. The shame, the embarrassment. Not as embarrassing as Kimbo getting knocked out in 14 seconds by a dude with pink hair, but still. The service was good and this is a real casual place. If you want to dine in, you just grab a table and a server will come to your table. If you want to take out, you wait in line. They do it NY style where they have pizza sitting out and you can order up by the slice. Their 20 inch pie is one of the biggest that I've seen. Will I be back? Definitely, but I will be sticking to the pizza and trying some of their other toppings. I will be in training to take down the 20 inch pizza by myself.

    (3)
  • A B.

    I feel like maybe this place isn't as good as it used to be...I went here this evening for the first time in years. I felt like there was less selection to choose from in the slice department. I walked out with two garlic knots, a chicken roll, and a sicilian-style slice with parsley, red onion, and tomato on it. The slice was the highlight of the bunch...the garlic knots were just too pungent for me this time around. I don't know what happened. And that's probably what anyone that will come within 10 feet of my hot breath will say tonight, as well. Don't get me wrong...this is still good pizza and some of the best in the area. Perhaps my expectations are just set too high. But minus a star because I ordered a sub for someone and asked for it cold...but they had warmed the bread, which the person I delivered it to wasn't too happy about. They also said there was way too much mayo. But the fresh mozzarella on the sandwich was very appreciated. I wish that this place was open a bit later, was slightly less crowded, and had a larger delivery radius. Then I'd like it more, and eat there as well.

    (3)
  • Frank C.

    Unlike everyone else, I AM an expert on pizza, so there. No, Just kidding. However, the DC area sadly lacks in decent pizza, especially Gourmet types. BUT Valentino's is the lantern in the nights. Sporting a Scaled Statue of liberty on the roof and an austere inside, the pizza is large, hot and fresh. You can load it down or skim it down to peperoni and it's all good. The dough avoids the typical DC error of being either too sweet or just plain flat on the palate, the sauce, as plain and delicious as Audrey Hepburn's basic black dress. Order an Extra large with four toppings and you'll be eating it for breakfast and lunch the next day. Seriously, whoever decided that 14 inches was a large? The big fat drawback? No delivery and crammed in the most inconvient shopping plaza in the free world. On par with the Italian Store Pizza, if you know them. So there you go from an expert.

    (5)
  • Feedmedc ..

    Cost: $2.35 Size: Pretty filling but you might need an extra half slice if you're really hungry. Taste: Cheese, crust and sauce is a winning combination. This slice delivers in a nice tasty package. Atmosphere: Casual and clean with indoor and limited outdoor seating. Serve yourself for slices and table service for everything else. What was I looking for? 1. Pizza by the slice. If you can't get it by the slice it's not New York style. There aren't a lot of places around DC where you can get it this way. I'm not including the big slice places. You need to be able to walk into a pizzeria, oogle the slices behind a glass display, pick your favorite, and add a soda. Valentino's actually has signs in front of its selections telling you what you're looking at. When getting a slice from NYC you just point to what looks good and hope for the best. I guess you can't always be 100% authentic. 2. A perfect combination of cheese and sauce. When I eat a slice I want to taste the sauce. I'm not talking about slathering it all over but instead tasting a rich tomato sauce. It shouldn't be buried under a wall of impenatrable cheese. Valentino's has this perfect combination. 3. The crust. A real slice of NY style pizza has a very distinct crust. It's not a crispy thin crust or a deep dish Chicago style crust. Why do all New Yorkers seem to fold their slices in half? The crust makes us do it. If you don't fold it the molten lava cheese will ooze out and burn your hand as well as your tounge. It's crunchy where exposed but floppy where covered with cheese and sauce. Does Valentino's do this? Here they fall short. I've seen people fold their slices but it's just for show and not for necessity. The crust is not floppy in the right places. As it's not New York and just the style I'll let it pass.

    (4)
  • Kari G.

    As someone who grew up outside of Philly and lived in NY, I am definitely critical of all pizza in the DC area and had found now that had ever been suitable. This is the best I've had to date, though when I got my pie last Friday the crust was a tad too soft for my taste (slightly too floppy to fold appropriately). But especially when compared with the garbage of chain restaurants or the over-priced, poor tasting "gourmet" pizza I've had since living in this area, it's good stuff.

    (4)
  • Matt S.

    Used to work close by so decided to try it. Amazing pizza, and amazingly it isn't as expensive as I thought it would be. One of the biggest pizzas I've ever bought, definitely going back for more! The staff is very nice, very helpful in choosing toppings (which by the way are really big once on your pizza). I would recommend this place to anyone wanting to try an authentic pizzeria in the Alexandria area.

    (5)
  • Don C.

    Food here is great, as many people will tell you; probably the best in the area. I live in Arlington, so i've always picked up my pizza or chicken parm sandwich and have been happy doing it. As I found out though, eating-in is a much different story. We didn't feel like waiting to get home to eat, so we walked in, sat down and ordered. All of a sudden, you realize that you're competing with the hundreds of people who are calling in their orders for delivery and pickup. Doesn't matter that you're there waiting for your small cheese pizza for an hour while the rest of your party is enjoying their entrees. The waitresses were nice, but definitely couldn't advocate for the eat-in customer. There seemed to be some tension between the front of house staff and the back of house staff. You do think there would be some priority for eat-in customers, but I guess since most of their business is take-out/delivery, that's where they've decided to place their focus. The eat-in dining experience certainly ruined any expectation of enjoying the food for me. So definitely eat their food....just don't eat it there.

    (3)
  • Lorne L.

    Great place. Clean, neat, friendly and the food is really good. I prefer the pizza with tomato sauce on it, as the white pizza needed a little spice. It's a little hard to get to, but worth the effort

    (4)
  • zev l.

    I am a born and raised New Yorker for the last 21 years of my life. I moved to VA for work after college and struggled to find DECENT pizza in all of VA. I tried Ledo's,and a few other local places, and the only thing that I found any enjoyment out of was Jumbo slice in DC. I came across this yelp page today, and decided to take a trip there with my roommate and our lady friends, and it was incredibly worth the gas and mileage on my car from Tysons Corner. I would even say its better than many places I have encountered in NY. Overall amazing experience and would recommend to ANY new yorker dying to find a memoir of home.

    (5)
  • Nick M.

    Pizza is pretty good , close as I have seen to real NY pizza. Have eaten here a few times. Not the best service but that's not what I come for.

    (3)
  • Anissa A.

    Great pizza with a great amount! They have a variety of different styles. The pizzas are also HUGE which is great for a big group. The space is pretty small but if you come at a good time it's nothing to worry about.

    (4)
  • Zare R.

    Big slices. Only had the cheese pizza so I'm looking to try one of the specialty pizzas next time. Pretty thin. No greasy flavor!!

    (3)
  • Wayne S.

    Really good pizza when ordered fresh a lil expensive. They sell by the slice but who knows how long those slices have been sitting under a heat lamp before you arrived. Service is kind of slow, but mainly because the place is so popular.

    (4)
  • Christine V.

    Valentino's is one of the things I miss most since moving away from the Landmark area. My boyfriend and I used to split a Large 20" cheese pizza on the reg. We didn't need to get toppings. It was good the way it was. If we didn't eat it all in one sitting it was just as delicious cold for breakfast.

    (4)
  • Jake T.

    The pizza is absolutely delicious. Best NY style pizza you can get in the DC area. Only complaint is the service is very slow and not too friendly, I guess they're trying to make it authentic to New York haha! Proof that the pizza is so good because regardless of the staff it's always busy.

    (5)
  • Andrew P.

    For the DC area, this place is really good. Pizza by the slice, spinach and white being my favorites. To really appreciate their pizza though, you need to order a full pie and eat it immediately. Like my pops always says, "Nothing like hot pizza." The staff is very nice and I've never had any issues. Prices are reasonable. I ordered from the menu, and the chicken parm was very good. Italian Store pizza is slightly better, but Valentino's is not nearly as crowded and they have a wider selection. Speaking of selection, they have some non-traditional slices, buffalo chicken, baked ziti pizza, barbeque, which I have not tried. Now make no mistake, if you have been to NY and had real pizza there, you may be slightly disappointed, but like I said, for DC, this place is awesome.

    (5)
  • Russell Y.

    After reading the reviews here and on Chowhound, I thought I would see if all the raves were warranted. I was not disappointed. The pizza was *so close* to my childhood favorite (you'll have to peek at my reviews to figure out where that is), and the service was OUTSTANDING. No really, our waitress Sousha was attentive as can be. The pizza is huge too, and dirt cheap for the size (20" classic cheese = $14.95.) A keeper for sure, and as someone once said, "A'll be bach!"

    (5)
  • Zabet G.

    Unexpectedly great pizza! We ordered the small veggie pizza, a large salad, and the calamari. The calamari was fantastic, very flavorful and still crispy even though it was delivery! The salad was full of veggies, not just the standard pizza place salad with lettuce two slices of tomato and some cucumber. The pizza was also LOADED with veggie toppings! I definitely recommend this place and I'm ordering delivery from them again!

    (4)
  • poonam n.

    omg.... best pizza and pasta ever.... it was a experiance i will never forget..... went with my family and friends and food was superberb!!!! thank you.....you guys are awsome... ....i won't be going anywhere else agian... keep up the good work.. =)

    (5)
  • A H.

    My husband and I stopped on the way home on a recent Saturday night. We had not been in awhile and we love their pizza. We were VERY disappointed in the current state of the restaurant. I picked up 2 placemats and some napkins off the floor so we could get to our table but I figured maybe they had some small children at the table and just hadn't gotten to cleaning it up yet. The service was slow, my dinner came out 7 minutes before my husbands (he ordered baked ziti, nothing exotic) and the dining room was dirty. They had plenty of help but 8 of the 12 tables needed to be bussed (I overheard one of the waiters say "we really need a busboy" so I know it was not that they did not notice). There was food on the floor near 2 of the tables. I don't expect overly attentive service in a pizza restaurant but we did not get our drinks til we were almost done with our meal. I did ask for the manager when we left and pointed the mess in the dining room out to him (not that he could not see it for himself) but he did not seem overly concerned. I hope that the kitchen is cleaner but it will be awhile before we go back. Very disappointing, used to be a great place.

    (2)
  • Dan C.

    As a native New Yorker, I was pleasently surprised to find this place. After chatting with the employees I found that the owner actually worked in Manhattan pizza places for 30 years, which explains the thin crust and sweet sauce. Our cheese slice was excellent, but I thought the much vaunted buffalo chicken slice was overkill. Would definitely go back. Oh, and as an added bonus, they deliver!

    (4)
  • Jermaine M.

    Stick with the pizza, and not the wraps. Had one for lunch, and it was very saucy, two types of chicken in the Greek wrap (fried and grilled). The grilled chicken kind of tasted as if it had rib meat. Remember the consistency that McDonald's chicken nuggets used to have? Yep, that consistency. Not sure if they use the same chicken on their pizza, but the grilled chicken is def not a good look.

    (2)
  • Allen H.

    2nd best slice I've had since moving from NY/NJ area to DC metro area. 1st being Tony's in Fair Lakes. I've only ordered large pies to go from Valentino's though. 1.5 of these huge slices and I'm stuffed. Definitely give you tons of toppings and dough. The crust seems more bready than I would like but still good. You do pay a premium however - their large pies with a couple toppings - 20 bucks easy.

    (4)
  • Jessica C.

    I haven't been here in a while, but this place is hands down the closest thing to New York Style Pizza in the DC area. perfect ratio of crust: chesse:sauce. Plus they have tons of toppings. Since I am a New York transplant, I try to stick with the Cheese or Pepperoni, but the other options are quite interesting as well. So many of the area pizza shops equate New York style pizza with size of the slice, i.e., the bigger it is the more New York style it is. But Valentino's has captured the size with the authentic flavor of classic New York Pizza. The staff is quick and professional, and I could tell they use very fresh ingredients. I have had the Gyro here also and it is phenomenal, it is gigantic, no way to finish in one siting, it is stuffed with lamb, fresh veggies.. totally wonderful. a definite place to go if you are a pizza lover

    (5)
  • Hend I.

    ok, I ordered from that place because of Yelp reviews, Honestly I didn't like their pizza, it was a delivery order took over an hour to deliver even though they are not that far, and when the pizza arrived it was not that hot. I didn't like the taste much, the pizza was a little saggy topping and cheese was falling apart . I might give them another chance, just for the reviews .

    (3)
  • Jonathan N.

    The first time we got pizza here, I was mad to have paid so much for two pies, but when we got home and four adults barely made a dent on them, my opinion changed. HUGE pizzas. New York style, so it is thin and foldable. A solid slice of the Big Apple down here in Alexandria.

    (4)
  • Amy S.

    valentino's is a place that me and my friends often go to after a night of football or just laying about. Though not the classiest place it's one of those restaurants that you have a soft spot for. The pizzas are great for their price.

    (4)
  • Tater T.

    The location is hard to find, the restaurant seems chintzy, and the inside decor are so-so. The great thing is the pizza is always tasty and they have a variety of toppings. They sale by the slice or a whole pie. It's a great place if you need to get something to eat quick but if you order a pie make sure your really hungry or feeding a decent size group. The pizza's are LARGE.

    (4)
  • Lindsay S.

    you know valentinos used to be our go to delivery spot. but lately, it has been very disappointing. we just got a delivery order this afternoon that was below mediocre. my husband's sub was soggy, the lettuce was brown, and had a lovely hair in it. we ordered soda and they forgot it. and the fact that it took over an hour to deliver is ridiculous. i'm sad to say that we probably won't be ordering again from valentinos any time soon.

    (2)
  • Long L.

    This place is the best bang for the buck when it comes to pizza. Being inexpensive is just bonus the pizza there is delicious. You have to keep your eyes open or you'll miss the restaurant or maybe I'm just blind.

    (5)
  • Kay S.

    This place is always busy. Parking is tough, find a spot., it's worth it. The pizza slices are huge the service is good. You can sit down or order at the counter NY style. The bake ziti pizza is great and the cheese pie is tasty. The pizza pie sizes are huge we have a large family it's good bang for your buck... Prices are reasonable.

    (4)
  • Chris P.

    I've eaten pizza in many major cities around the US (including THE New York style pizza in Brooklyn - can't think of the name right now) and I must say that Valentino's is exceptional. They have your normal pizzas and toppings and they have specialty pizzas that kinda remind me of CPK, but not nearly as creative. It didn't take my girlfriend and I long to skim through the specialty pizzas and pick out the Baked Ziti Pizza. The small pizzas at this place are like large pizzas anywhere else and the large is 20" in diameter. We got the 20" baked ziti pizza and it was amazing. We also got a small white cheese which was also great. If pizza isn't your favorite, they have plenty of pastas to choose from. The service wasn't superb, but then again it wasn't bad either. I heard that they deliver locally (although I can't confirm that), but unfortunately we live in Arlington, not Alexandria, so we wouldn't be able to take advantage. This place definitely has my vote!

    (4)
  • sarah a.

    I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. how is this place getting such good reviews? first off the the staff was horrible. we waited nearly an hr and a half for a large pizza and an order of garlic knots. its turns out that the pizza was just sitting there and they didn't realize it. besides that we got the pizza home and it tasted disgusting. we tossed it out. there are much better places in the area...this place really is nasty.

    (1)
  • Carlos P.

    Friendly service. Great crust. Quality ingredients. Bold but balanced flavors on the pie we ordered. I'll come again.

    (4)
  • Kim T.

    Great pizza! My hubby is from NJ and is very particular about his pizza. Valentino's is by far the most authentic NY style pizza in the area.

    (5)
  • Melinda C.

    Ok. This place supposedly brings spring water down from NY to ensure that the dough is the same. Being from NY, there is always something different about the pizza anywhere else. I always stop here for a quick snack - a slice to go, but find the parking and the impossible legal U-Turn to be the biggest bummer ever. The guy behind me ordered 'a plain slice', and I turned around and said he was the only one down here I've met that knew what 'a plain slice' was, and we had a special NY pizza moment together. At least this place doesn't ask what a plain slice is! The sauce is a little sweeter than I would like but the crust is great, and I can ask for whatever toppings I want. Sometimes i will park in the shopping mall behind and walk around the back (eek, be careful of trash), so I don't have to deal with potentially breaking the law, trying to get my pizza home while the crust is still crispy.

    (4)
  • Chris B.

    After all these positive reviews, I was expecting better. The crust, in particular, was pretty weak. Weird crackery texture, almost like it had been reheated.

    (3)
  • James C.

    Never been to the restaurant, but I've done delivery several times. The best pepperoni pizza I've had in the DC area yet - really does remind me of the pizza I used to get back when I lived in New York. I've never had anything else there.

    (5)
  • nat t.

    I loved this restaurant! The service was excellent, and the pizza was superb. Best pizza I've had in the NoVA area. You can buy by the slice or get a whole pie.

    (5)
  • Ka-Loon T.

    One of the better NY style pizza places in Northern Virginia, Valentino's boast an overly NY decorated dining room, which gives the pizzeria feel that I haven't been in for a long time. The pizza is really good, and the service is much better than any pizzeria I've been to in NYC. But considering I usually go to buy a slice and get out places in NYC, don't expect too much. The crust is really something. Everytime I finish a slice, I just can't help but finish off the crust as well.

    (5)
  • Ross C.

    Easily the best pizza in the DC area.

    (5)
  • Brian S.

    I have only ordered delivery here but it has been far and away the best pizza I have eaten in this area. It is more of a New York style pizza and maybe New Yorkers would find something to complain about but my wife and I think it is fantastic. I will say I tried the garlic balls and wasn't that impressed but I assume they would be better if you were eating at the restaurant versus delivery. Definitely try this place!!

    (5)
  • Michael T.

    Please ignore the ninnies complaining about the service. Sorry guys - not every place can be a Fridays and no there's not a coaster-pager so that you can go shop at the Gap while you wait for a table. You people don't deserve good pizza. Also please ignore Mr. Hipster who called this place cheesy. Gee, it's as if he thinks the Valentinos crew didn't realize that they were playing to type by putting a big honking STATUE OF LIBERTY above the sign. I'd say they are in on the joke and reveling in it. If you're so concerned about where you're seen eating a slice, go try that crappy place in Adams Morgan that only tastes good after you've stumbled your way out of some overpriced nightclub. Valentinos is, in short, glorious. Every week I encounter the same friendly faces behind the counter that my wife and I have seen since the place opened. These guys do things their own way, which means a mix between counter service and table seating. You want a slice? Order at the counter and take a seat. You want something else from the lengthy menu (a sub, pasta, salad)? Grab a table and they'll take care of you. There are never less that eight or ten people behind the counter (sometimes more) and I can't imagine how it works, but for them, it does. For me, chicken a la vodka is the star of the by-the-slice menu. Plain is also a good choice, but might be a little sweet for some palates. Garlic knots are another star - delicious. Valentino's dough is made fresh in-house using bottled spring water, one of their secrets. There's nothing fancy here but you can instantly tell the people who work at Valentinos care about the food they make and the people who they serve. The place has character and so do the people. Go at lunch or dinner to make sure you've got fresh pies coming, although be warned - it will be crowded! My only complaint is that I wish Valentinos was open later - they close at 9 I think.

    (5)
  • J B.

    Great pizza! One suggestion though, order a fresh pie -- the stuff behind the counter looks appetizing but it really doesn't hold up to reheating. The garlic knots are a garlic lover's dream.

    (4)
  • Daniel R.

    This is pretty good pizza although I cannot get passed the price. Where iIgrew up in New Jersey / New York a plain (cheese) pizza cost $11. Valentino's gets $16 per pizza plus $3 per topping! A 2 topping pizza is $21, thats crazy. The pasta is okay, the marinara is way to sweet. I put some sugar in my sauce when I make it but not like that.

    (3)
  • Peter D.

    As a native NY'er for more than 30 years, Valentino's is hands hands-down the best NY style pizzeria in Northern Virginia that I've been to. It is clean, the staff are friendly (in a NY way) and service is relatively quick. The decor leaves something to be desired, but you will get the feel of what it's like to eat in an authentic NY pizzeria. Bono (as my friends and I call him) manages the front end and is very efficient and makes sure the food comes out hot and to order. There is a large variety of pizzas, delicious garlic knots, and other pizzeria fare (like calzones). The prices are reasonable, especially since the portions are very large too! My favorite is the buffalo chicken pizza since it tastes and even looks like buffalo wings dipped in blue cheese. I've never had anything else other than the pizza and calzones, but based on the consistent good quality of the food and service, this is the place to go for NY style pizza!

    (4)
  • Mario B.

    I started coming here 3 years ago and still a big fan.. Order any slice and you will definitely love it. One true testament to a pizza place is if they can get a simple margherita right, and they nail it. People who works here are always accommodating, especially Moe and Victoria.

    (5)
  • Renon G.

    The pizza here is tally good. My only hangup is that it's do overly greasy to the point where you have take napkins to pat the grease off. Outside of that, no complaints.

    (3)
  • Johnathon G.

    Ordered from here a few times and they do have a few decent meals. Unfortunately the customer service appears to be lacking either lack of understanding English or simple poor communication skills. Don't bother with special requests like extra items or alternative toppings there is a 50/50 chance it'll come out right. Also if they don't seem to understand you the first time they won't understand a 2nd and will hang up on you on the 3rd. Tldr: food is ok but don't expect good service

    (2)
  • Candice M.

    Between the two of us, we got 3 slices of pizza, garlic knots, and cannolis. I regret nothing. We tried the barbecue chicken, chicken alla vodka, and Mo's special. The crust is delish. Boyfriend loved all three. My fave was the Mo's special, which happened to be vegetarian. Just has a lot of great flavors. Chicken alla vodka was great, especially topped with chili pepper flakes. BBQ pizza was good. Tastes like sweet BBQ sauce so if that's your thing, go for it. Garlic knots are amazing...I could eat those daily. Cannolis are good. They'll fill a cannoli craving if you have one. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 10
  • Mon : 11:00 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : Yes
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : No
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

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.

Valentino’s New York Style Pizzeria

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