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Name: Piola
Address: 1550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA, 22209
Telephone: (703) 528-1502
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.56

Piola

1550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA, 22209

(703) 528-1502
Store is closed

Piola Menu

Gli Antipasti

Bruschetta

Linosa

Caprese

Italia Unita

Valle Dei Templi

Polpettine Piola

Polenta & Ragu

Vita Sana
Le Insalate

Verde & Co

Garibaldi

Dannunzio

Ligabue

Toscanini

Aristotele

Calvino

Lollo

Roka Cabana
Le Pizze

Margherita

Marinara

Moderna

Italia

Rossa

Diavola

Capricciosa

Pavia

Quattro Formaggi

Tonno & Cipolla

Braccio Di Ferro

Reggio Emilia

Como

Venezia
Le Pizze Bianche (white Pizza)

Copenhagen

Ankara

Lisbona

Lipsia

Salvador

Buenos Aires

Lubiana

Malta

Beirut "zaatar"

Sparta

Tours Spinach
Le Pizze Napoletane

Regina Margherita

Pompei

Chiaia

Pozzuoli

Mergellina

Portici

Burrata
Carne E Altro

Carpaccio Aida

Carpaccio Nabucco

Pollo Piola
I Dolci

Tiramisu

Profiteroles

Torta Nera And Gelato

Crema Di Papaya

Coppa Piola

Panna Cotta

Gelato Alla Giulia

Healthy Meal suggestions for Piola

Gli Antipasti

Bruschetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Linosa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caprese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italia Unita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Valle Dei Templi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Polpettine Piola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Polenta & Ragu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vita Sana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Le Insalate

Verde & Co [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garibaldi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dannunzio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ligabue [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Toscanini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Aristotele [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calvino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lollo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roka Cabana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Le Pizze

Margherita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Marinara [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moderna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rossa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Diavola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Capricciosa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pavia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Quattro Formaggi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tonno & Cipolla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Braccio Di Ferro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Reggio Emilia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Como [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Venezia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Le Pizze Bianche (white Pizza)

Copenhagen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ankara [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lisbona [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lipsia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salvador [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Buenos Aires [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lubiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Malta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beirut "zaatar" [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sparta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tours Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Le Pizze Napoletane

Regina Margherita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pompei [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chiaia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pozzuoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mergellina [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portici [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Burrata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Carne E Altro

Carpaccio Aida [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carpaccio Nabucco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Piola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
I Dolci

Tiramisu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Profiteroles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Torta Nera And Gelato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crema Di Papaya [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coppa Piola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Panna Cotta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gelato Alla Giulia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Arlington for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 4817 Lee Hwy )

Arlington Rooftop Bar and Grill ( 2424 Wilson Blvd )

Visit below restaurant in Arlington for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 4817 Lee Hwy )

Write An Anonymous Review

Ellen K.

I've been to Piola several times in the past and enjoyed their pizza and pasta. I was excited to try the "unlimited gnocchi" which is a special advertised for the 29th of every month. However, when my sister and I went to Piola today (the 29th) our server "Gabriela" informed us that while it was the 29th, they were not doing the special because of the marine corp marathon scheduled for tomorrow. We had arrived for an early dinner and noticed a "Pizza Happy Hour" card on each table, which read that everyday except Sunday pizza was discounted from 5-6pm. When I asked Gabriela about the pizza happy hour she said that it was also not today, also a result of the marathon. This seemed beyond sketchy so I showed her the card on our table saying that it was for today, she said that she had to go and check. What is going on with Pizza Piola? The server was beyond sketchy and rude!
(2)
Paul R.

Three friends and I went for a weekday lunch. I had the Firenza(?) pizza with sausage and porcini, along with a side salad. The salad was nicely done and about the right size. It had chopped veggies mixed with fresh greens. They also brought sliced bread out but I think that's overkill when everyone is getting pizza at lunch. The thin crust pizza was tasty and not greasy at all. I wish the crust had been a little more charred but I can't complain. Service was very quick and accommodating. My only complaint is that they won't give separate checks or split a check among more than 3 cards. This eliminates any tought of bringing a half dozen or so folks over from work. On balance it's worth going back.
(4)
Tara G.

A local favorite! Very good pizzas... and there are a zillion to choose from or create your own! I have never had any of the other dishes besides pizza - and the smoked salmon with basil or spinach is fantastic. Nice location with big windows facing Wilson Blvd. I like the decor - fun and colorful. The service is always very nice as well with minimal interruptions. We usually have to ask for the bill which I like to not feel rushed, and they keep a close eye on you so simply looking up will give them the que that you are ready to ask for something. I've only been there during lunch so I haven't experienced the super deals I've read about, but I felt like it was still a good value for the great food. I'll definitely have to go for $6 pies sometime!
(5)
IH K.

I know some disagree, but I really like this place. The decor is a bit tacky, but it seems to draw in the unpretentious crowd. We came for happy hour and were pleasantly surprised that we managed good seating, food and service. This is the type of place to go when you want to get away from arling-drama without having to leave the area. It's not a hip hangout, but that's exactly the appeal. Hidden gem.
(3)
Daniel B.

Really great pizza. Classic Italian. Best deal here? The Sunday all-you-can-eat pizza deal for $15 where they have 10 pizza's that they select and you can choose from as they circulate the room.
(4)
Alan C.

One of the best happy hours in the rosslyn area. Cheap beers and free appetizers during happy hour, Just make sure you find a good spot or all the food will be gone before it gets to you. The servers are very attentive and make sure your glass is always full and tries to make sure people are not missed when the free food comes by.
(4)
Aimee V.

Best service, best food, best atmosphere!
(5)
Tim W.

I always have a good time at Piola. When my office was on Wilson, we would take full advantage of their Happy Hour. Great crowd which is filled with young professional who are enjoying a few beers or a glass of wine after their '9-5'. AND... Free Hors D'oeuvres served with every drink! It's between the Courthouse & Rosslyn metro stops (convenient). GO!
(4)
Deanna J.

Really good pizza! I recommend the parma pizza-excellent, the best pizza I've had in a long time. I tried the lipsia pizza-the shrimp was a little too fishy for me. They run deals, currently offering: Mondays-Wednesdays Between 3pm-4pm all pizzas $5 4pm-5pm all pizzas $6 5pm-6pm all pizzas $7 Fridays and Saturdays After 10pm any pizza & beer combo for $12
(5)
Tony C.

I was originally skeptical of this place when it moved in, but it has proven not only to have staying power, but consistently improving. Every time I go, I have a better experience. Rotating the featured art by local artists is a very nice touch by the management. The pizza hour from 5 to 6 every day features $7 pizzas of any kind, which is great. The only problem is that a lot of folks who don't work or live right nearby probably can't quite get there in time. Also, the weekend late-night beer & pizza combo for $12 is a great call for winding down your night. The Ragusa pizza with bacon & gorgonzola combination is a must try. Other menu all-stars are the Diavoli (spicy pepperoni) and the Chieti with fresh chicken and arugula. While I doubt many folks will go out of their way to come here, it's definitely worth stopping in if you find yourself nearby. If not, more for us Rosslyn locals!
(4)
Jennifer C.

Pizza dough is bland, ingredients are okay, it's nothing to write home about. The atmosphere is cramped and feels a bit cold. Service was lacking. They try to market themselves as serving authentic Italian pizza but this place is blah. The only pizza that is worse than this is Little Ceasars and maybe Chuckie Cheese Pizza haha. They should donate their brick ovens to a restaurant that knows how to use them.
(2)
yvette r.

This place is alright. Rosslyn is a pretty lame location for anything other than office buildings, so my expectations have never been high. Still, I have been here three times because it is close to my office building and the food has been fine every time. If you are into value, the best time to come is happy hour and order a pizza plus drinks from the happy hour menu. If you don't want to eat pizza, there are no real deals to be had. My arugula salad (i needed veggies!) was $8. It was a plate of arugula with some parm on it. the only dressing option in the oil and basalmic they serve with the bread. The service is just okay. Nothing to write home about, but the last time I was there the waitress did refer to my male friend (with a beard, mind you) as a woman. It was all very odd. Sitting outside is better when it is open because you are outside and not looking at the craptastic art that Piola puts on the walls to sell for artists who should not quit their day jobs. If you are looking for better pizza and a better drink menu, take the time to o to Pizza Paradisio across the key bridge in Georgetown.
(3)
Fred K.

Great spot, very lively crowd! Seated quickly with no reservations despite the crowd. Their quattro formaggi was excellent (folks often skip on the Gorgonzola but Piola doesn't), and the waitstaff very attentive...so no complaints. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Greg G.

I've been to Piola once for lunch and had the 12 inch sausage pizza. The crust was definitely the best part -- it was thin and crispy with just the right amount of softness that it didn't seem like cardboard. The quantity of sausage was about right, but unfortunately it was a little bland. The quantity of cheese was also about right, but it too was rather tasteless. The sauce was decent, but it could have had a fresher taste. Overall, the pizza was alright -- three stars is probably a little generous, but it was slightly better than most (but certainly not all) other pizza options in the DC area.
(3)
Ashley V.

Piola is one of my all-time favorite pizza restaurants. It's chain, but the chain is worldwide with maybe 20 total. I've had the lasagna - which is a huge helping and super tasty, but my favorite is the Margherita Pizza - a simple pizza, but they take it to a new level. The basil, cheese, and tomatoes are fresh, and then the wood-fire oven is an excellent touch. The Sarajevo is also good with ricotta and a variety of cheeses and the Greco - a Greek-style pizza is also delicious. I have never seen so many variety of pizzas to choose from. And, it looks like they have an excellent Happy Hour. I have yet to make it there for one, though! It's not exactly a cheap lunch, but I always end up taking half the pizza home with me for either dinner that night or lunch the next day. Be prepared to take some home, or split a pizza with your friend.
(4)
Wendy L.

After a long, long day where we hadn't eaten very much, my friend and I decided to hit Piola for the all-you-can-eat special for $15. I was absolutely famished, so a buffet style pizza place was exactly what I wanted. The selection included a number of vegetarian options (my friend is a vegetarian) such as the four cheese, margherita, etc. There were also a few meaty options for me like the pepperoni, chicken, etc. I wouldn't say any of the pizzas stood out among the other pizzas or even more generally, but since I was starving, I absolutely devoured them. My favorites were the pepperoni and the margherita. I'm not sure if it was just timing, but in Brazilian churascaria style, they seemed to bring out all of the vegetarian pizzas (cheaper, more filler!) first and then the meat pizzas. I didn't have enough will power to resist some of the early pizzas, but when I did further down the line, they were more than willing to bring others out for me. As some people mentioned, the decor is a bit on the tacky side, but it's clean and bright and the service was quick.
(3)
Pablo G.

Overall my lunch was great and the service was awesome.
(4)
Kim T.

Pretty good place, and great place during pizza hour. Mostly friendly service, and the selection of pies is good. Happy hour is also fun (and crowded), with good snacks at the bar area and good prices.
(4)
Nate C.

The pizza is great and they have some really good starters. Great change of pace to the usual delivery pizza options. If you choose to dine in, you won't be disappointed. The service was very friendly and I really liked the atmosphere. I haven't been there when they have their specials, but the prices seem very fair.
(4)
Antony C.

Great place for pizza. Had the Funghi Mista which mixed button and porcini mushrooms. I added some pancetta for some salty. Specials. 5pm-6pm pizzas are $7. Happy hour has discounted beverages. Sundays has all you can eat pizza 5pm-11pm. 29th of the month is all you can at gnocchi. Service was quick and friendly. Really liked the casual ambiance. Will definitely be coming back to try more of the menu.
(4)
Billgrolic G.

Pizza was soggy and uninspired. With so many better options (Pete's, Italian store, even ledos), don't know how this place is still open.
(1)
Eric P.

Some of the best pizza I've had in Washington, DC. Pizza Mart? Terrible. Ledo Pizza? Overrated. The only minus about this pizzeria is that it will hurt your wallet. Piola definitely fits the yuppie vibe of the neighborhood. The restaurant has a very modern look to it and of course the star is the flame-powered brick oven in which all the pies are cooked. After being seated we waited a long time for service. And there was only two other groups in the place! When our server finally came to our table, she didn't seem too enthusiastic about serving us. I don't think I saw her smile once. But I was really hungry too think anything about it so I ordered my food. I ordered the classic margharita pizza (fresh mozzarella, mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil) for $9.50 and a Stella. I figured I should go along with the Italian theme of the place and order the closest thing to an Italian beer on the menu. Well it turns out after 10PM Piola offers a special, any pizza and beer for $12. Which is good because normally a beer is $5. My buddy ordered a pepperoni pie with a sprite. He was disappointed when they brought him a can of sprite for $2.50. You can get a whole case for that price! Anyway, our pizza came out and they were cooked perfectly! The crust was soft in the middle and crunchy and charred on the bottom and sides. The sauce was tangy and the cheese was rich and tasty. I really enjoyed the pizza. The server never once offered to refill my water or beer and again took a long time to give us our bill, even though there really wasn't anyone else in the place. I struggled between giving Piola three and four stars. The service was poor and the food was a bit pricey, but I really enjoyed the pizza and hats off to them for taking a chance and offering some brick oven pizza in an area which is sadly lacking in those type of pizzerias. Go for the awesome pizza...and not much else.
(4)
L S.

Piola is on speed dial. A simple call in order on my way home from work and wham bam thank you mam I can enjoy a European style pizza take away. The atmosphere is diner cool with a touch of Euro. I always order the Margareta pizza and it has never disappointed even if I spell it wrong. This place is perfect for out of towners who you want to impress but don't want to spend too much money on. Its good stuff.
(4)
David K.

We were lured in by their offer of free pizza at happy hour. Every 30 minutes or so, someone walks around with a pizza and everyone can grab a small slice of pizza. It was fine, but not what we expected. The bar is stylish, and the drinks are very tasty. I recall having quite a few mojitos here during the summer months. The pizza here is good but not great. For a place that specializes in specialty pizzas, I found their choices lacking. I think it beats Pizzeria Paradiso, but loses out to Armands, Matchbox and 2 Amy's. Even Pizza Movers might be better. The ambience is good, it is generally very crowded, as it gains from the lack of restaurant choices in the Rosslyn area. This is one of those places that pipes in too lound house music, which I always found distracting and annoying. Are there really people that want their conversations drowned out by annoying beats and electronica? If you want a little bit of the club scene brought to your pizza parlor, then here it is. For me, that's not what I was looking for and will pass on Piola in the future.
(2)
Derek H.

I've only been here for the Sunday "all you can eat" deal so can't vouch for the normal day-to-day prices and quality, but I'm a huge fan of the Sunday deal. For something like $15 you get to try something like 10 different pizzas. The servers roam around like a Brazilian Steakhouse offering you new slices until you're completely full. Sure, for the same $15 you probably could have ordered a full pie and had some to spare for later, but you don't get to try all the wildly different types of gourmet pizza this place churns out. Service is A+. The warehouse, spartan, decor is kind of a turn off though -- it's trying too hard and they do pump a lot of music -- which has pros and cons here. Pros being it drowns out a lot of the Sunday families with their kids. Cons, well, it's thumping techno music.
(4)
Kathy H.

One of my favorite happy hour spots after work. They have great wine specials and they pass out free food during happy hour. Pizza, bread, olives and even lasagna! Lunch is also a great deal. Get a pizza and salad for $10 and take some home for dinner.
(4)
Michael K.

Great pizza, great drinks, great service. I've eaten at Pete's down the street, and it's comparable, but Pete's is more expensive--and at Pete's you have to pay first then get you're food delivered, a little odd considering you drop 60 bucks on a pizza, appetizer and pitcher of beer. At Piola I haven't tried a pizza I didn't like, and all the pizzas are fired to order, making it very fresh. Last time we went I decided to forgo the delicious Aristotle salad and save room for the tiramisu, and it was very good. I highly recommend Piola if you like a true euro style atmosphere and pizza!! My favorite pizza is the Greco, it has olives, Ive also tried the margherita and the piola, and those are fantastic too.
(5)
Jess K.

Someone explain to me, pleeeease, why you would go to Piola on all-you-can-eat gnocchi night and NOT order gnocchi? I thought this would be something that only gnocchi-haters or the completely oblivious would do but instead it seemed like we were the only ones in the restaurant gorging ourselves on gnocchi. I am so confused. Anyway, the AYCE gnocchi costs about $12.50 and boy is it fun. There are four options: tomato sauce with basil, tomato sauce with ham and eggplant, tomato sauce with ground beef, or four cheese. The four cheese was our absolute favorite but it is quite filling. When we sat down the waitress asked if we wanted to try all four kinds and if she should put in the order right then. We said no but the down time between servings made us more full so maybe we should have said yes. Also, there were happy hour specials on drinks. The red and white wine options were $4 each. I can't wait to try out the AYCE pizza night on a Sunday but an event that happens 4x per month just doesn't seem as exciting as an event that only happens once per month. Check it out on the 29th of whatever month it is in which you are reading this review!
(4)
Katica K.

Piola. Oh Piola. What a gem in the culinary sink-hole of Rosslyn (seriously - I live here, lots of people live here - why aren't there more restaurants?!) Piola has a fantastic happy hour ($4 Sangrias if I remember - red and white variety) and they walk around the bar w/ free appetizers (think: small slices of pizza and sandwiches). They used to have a cheese and bread platter on the bar all the time but last time I was there they didn't seem to have it. The pizza is great - lots of varieties with some interesting mixes. However, I was disappointed by the gnocchi. I haven't tried the other pasta dishes. There is also plenty of outdoor seating when the weather is nice and it's very comfortable. Pretty good service. I've have friends who once worked there and still rave about Piolas, so you know it's got to be good!
(4)
Rachel B.

While I appreciate that they re trying to maintain the diversity of brazilian pizza, they lost some flavors along the way. There is a large variety, and lots of choices, especially for the adventurous pizza-goer... But over all the crust leaves a bit to be desired. Love the caipiranias and the fact that they carry cachsa. The dining room is large & because of the loft/ high ceilings the acoustics are horrible. Service is mediocre, But I would not dismiss it as a place to bring Some friends for drinks and munchies for happy hour after work.
(3)
Janet H.

Came here for HH on Wednesday. HH starts at 4:30 and goes till 7 or 8pm. Beer $3.50, wine $5.50, sangria $6. I had a white sangria and it was pretty good. Could use a little more alcohol in there though :P Around 5pm, they started bringing out free bar snacks like fresh bread pieces, mini sandwiches, and I hear they also do pizzas but I left before that came out. Overall, I thought it was a pretty chill place for HH. Not the cheapest HH prices but the free snacks made up for it :) I would probably come again.
(3)
Bridget Q.

The pizza was delicious....Not overly priced and they had something for everyone.!! The wait staff was ok. Not overly friendly....and not particularly timely, but not horrendous. I would say check it out!
(4)
Henry L.

Lasagna was pretty good. Cops Piola and cappuccino was better.
(3)
Ina C.

Best happy hour? Really? If there's space for you at the bar, you can enjoy discounted appetizers and drinks. But if you're seated anywhere else, you're only eligible to get a special deal on drinks. $3 beers, $4 glasses of house wine, $6 cocktails. Not bad. I highly recommend the strawberry caipiroska was to die for! The crushed strawberries added a nice touch. I was a little disappointed because it was tasty but seemed weak...but I was proven wrong. :) We also ordered the #50 pizza (The Como with tomato sauce, mozzarella, Parma ham and porcini mushrooms) and #211 (Bruxelles with mozzarella, ricotta, fresh tomato and basil). I liked the Como better, but it was still just okay. The piles of ricotta cheese on the Bruxelles was kinda weird. I'd much rather go to 2 Amy's for pizza. I don't think I'll be back...
(2)
Yule K.

Piola is an Italian pizzeria chain, which is to say that it is a pizza chain based in Italy, though most of its branches are located in South America. Initially, I was a little leery about going here, but in the end, I have to say I was won over. I ate outside on the patio, which was lovely, but managed to get a peek inside: high ceilings, self-consciously trendy decor, and a weird red toned color palette. But, I've seen worse. The pizza itself was actually pretty good. The thin crust had a nice bite...not too chewy, but not too soft. Moreover, unlike many other pizzerias, they held back on the cheese and sauce. The Piola pies had just enough of the creamy mozzarella and the tomato sauce to prevent the crust from being too dry, yet also avoided being too gummy with excess cheese or being soupy with excess sauce. Unfortunately, I ordered a pie that came with smoked salmon and ricotta on top of the mozzarella and tomato sauce, and while the salmon was actually good, the ricotta was piled on too thick. I had to scrape the excess off. But, having tasted the underlying pie, I would imagine that ordering a more traditional pie from Piola would provide a rather satisfying gustatory experience, especially for a restaurant located in Rosslyn.
(4)
Phuong N.

I've been here twice - both times to try out the gnocchi. Very tasty, and the only reason it got the push to 3 stars. My first experience was good. Service was good, food was really good (try the ceviche). good sized portion. Did you know? on the 29th of every month it's all you can eat gnocchi for around $15. That was the main reason for my second visit. But the catch is - THEY prepare gnocchi in various sauces and spoon out a portion for you...a SMALLL portion. When the bowl comes out, they ask if you would like a portion or not. So if you're unimpressed with the combinations, you're just not eating. i guess this time was a fluke - but the service was SO SLOW. It took them 15min to get our drinks, and the gnocchi was coming MAYBE a bowl every 10min. So it felt like we were always waiting for another scoop of gnocchi. But i'm sure that was due in part because we were getting small scoops. But i must say, it was tastey.
(3)
Honey S.

I went to Piola last night to meet friends for sangria and apps. This place was super cute! It wasn't busy for a Saturday night at all so we sat at the bar and had a good amount of privacy. I had the white Sangria's which were yummy. The price wasn't bad at 7.50 but I heard you can get them for $5 on their happy hour specials. Our bartender was very attentive and friendly. My first app was the mini shells stuffed with chicken and corn but that was just okay. I wouldn't order it again but it was big enough to share. I also ordered the smoked salmon with basil or spinach...that was good. This place has a really cute patio outside to sit during nice weather. I would definitely recommend it.
(4)
Kathy T.

We enjoyed the pizza here -- the wood fired crust and the variety of toppings were great! We had the meatballs as an appetizer - they were OK, the sauce was good but the meatballs themselves had an odd texture - kind of like there was too much breading mixed in... Definitely go for the pizza, though!
(4)
Jessica C.

This is my edited version of my Piola review. Tonight I ordered the "Piola" and enjoyed it way more than my prior pizza. My husband got the "Italia" and it was pretty good. The thing is, my husband and I like really bold flavors and both of our pizzas were good but the flavor was very mild. Even after adding the red peppers and oregano. I think a lot of the pizzas would be better if they offered some sort of balsamic reduction, or at least more basil. It's good, it just needs something to push it over the edge. I also felt that for around $10 per pizza they should put more toppings on the pizza. My pizza was vegetarian and barely had any sun-dried tomato or basil. The crust is still honestly some of the best pizza crust I've had. I also had the best Arnie Palmer ever.
(4)
Bill M.

Good thin crust pizza not like the cardboard type I am used to. The service was good.
(4)
Tina K.

I loved the pizza at this restaurant - I went here for dinner in Wednesday night and they $2 glasses of wine for ladies all night long! I ordered a pizza with avocado, jalapeÃ±o and tomato and it was fantastic. The crust was thin and crispy although they also offered other types of pizza as well. One of my friends ordered the Como Pizza and loved the prosciutto and another ordered a classic margherita pizza and was completely satisfied. The only issue I had was our waitress who was pretty rude and uninformed. She didn't know what the specials were for the evening and told us that their weren't any instead of going to find them out. We thankfully found out whatnot was and was able to enjoy the wine even more!
(4)
Jack F.

Piola is a pretty decent pizza parlor with a lot of pizza pie selections and topping combinations. It's definitely on par with the likes of 2 Amy's and Pizza Paradisio (which I think are fairly average too). Piola is certainly a great restaurant selection if you're near the neighborhood but it's not something that comes to mind as a destination restaurant. That is, I don't specifically travel to Arlington for the sole purpose of Piola. [Original Visit: 2009]
(3)
Matherine G.

Disclosure: this is a nostalgic date place for us so slightly biased...otherwise read on! Positive: Great location with a very easy walk from Roslyn or Courthouse Metro stations. Great patio area which allows you to people watch. We've always had great speedy and friendly service. As for the food, they offer an extensive list of items but we have our favorites. We go for their wood-oven pizza which is large with a thin crust. Try the quatro-formaggio! Negative: Caprese salad is generally disappointing yet still refreshing. It shouldn't be difficult to find tomatoes that are juicy and in season. Overall: This is a great place to eat for date night or with a group of friends. Very reasonably priced and the food will definitely satisfy your palate.
(5)
Ari R.

I really like the neighborhood vibe of the place and their gnocci is very good, the best gnocci I ever had was at a cafe in called Taza d'Oro in Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv. Anyways, all their art is done by local artist which graces the walls of the restaurant. Very friendly staff and very good desserts. Highly recommend!
(5)
Beth L.

I came with my fam for din the other eve and enjoyed the atmosphere - spacious and comfortable - with a nice bar area. The pizzas were great and we loved the choices of entree salads (one with tuna and white beans, another with chicken and fresh mozzerella) also nice that their entree salads are all made available in smaller portions). The service was suuuuper-friendly too, which is always appreciated.
(4)
John M.

I was going to give it 3 stars but I read some other reviews and it reminded me of what I did not like and it outweighed what I did like. I got a sausage pizza and 2 Peroni's (beer) with tip for $31. The service was fast and the pizza tasted good but it was more like a regular pie with a few pieces of sausage then a sausage pie. When I say pie it is a personel pizza not a big pie by any means. They have Italain names and they try to impress with the pizza combinations but the prices are way too much. The crest is so thin which to me means they ae saving money on that also. What I really hated about this place was it's deception. They have Italian sayings on the wall and they try to have pizza that are real Italain but a real Italian has probably never set foot in this place. Hispanics are making the pizza and they probably don't speak English. The watresses act as if they are hip and trendy but I just want some fat Italian serving me. This is more or less for idiots who think Olive Garden is Italain. I went to the Piola in Sao Paulo Brazil and that at least had people of Italain heritage serving you. I must say DC is not a bad city but the food is only so so to me. But so many idiots who want to be cool and hip and trendy come here so they will keep selling the pizza to make a huge profit and these morans will keep coming like it is friggin Naples.
(2)
Laura J.

went there with some girlfriends to see what the hype is all about. the pizza was good we tried the beirut (highly recommend) and the lolo salad to share. the salad was disappointing. Not only was it lacking in taste but it was incredibly over priced for arugula and shaved cheese. The big shock was how perverted the hispanic (Im pretty sure he was hispanic) manager was. we sat all the way in the back by where they make the pizzas and we over heard him make some very inappropriate comments to other employees. I feel especially sorry for all the girls who have to work with him. I def woudnt let my daughter work there. overall the experience was nice (wouldnt go out of my way to eat there again) but im glad i went. I really like the art they had around the restaurant.
(2)
Allison R.

It was very good overall between the food and the service. I was surprised how loud it was inside and definitely wouldn't want to go here on a date, but I liked it for a more casual evening! I didn't expect it to be quite that loud inside, the bar area was really loud, but luckily the noise level lowered near our table. The pizza was great as was the pasta. We had 2 pasta dishes and a pizza at our table (3 people total). They were all good, the pizza stood out the most to me from our dinner round. The dessert was phenomenal. We ordered the Tira Misu and the Marscapone cheese with guava paste and both were out of this world - great way to end an evening!
(4)
Amir K.

nice environment. live jazz( laud one). I had a nice Italian pasta with delicious sauce. they offered wide range of drink. nice place for fancy gathering.
(4)
Melaine P.

I tried Piola last night for the first time after an extensive search for a casual venue, good food, and a place to catch up with my best friend. Oh, and I'm lazy and didn't want to switch metro lines, so Rosslyn was the preferred location. Upon arrival, my first thought was, "Oh, this place is next to Cafe Asia." There was a healthy crowd of people dining al fresco, but the muggy weather and impending thunderstorm convinced me to sit indoors. The thunderstorm indoors was deafeningly loud: entry-level happy hour patrons, tired parents with screaming children, Rhianna wailing out a tune at dance club volume level, clinking glasses, you get the idea. The music was so loud, I actually had to yell my drink order to the waitress. In their defense, the music was turned down to "just loud" after a few minutes, maybe somebody complained? Service: Over-friendly, but I think she was new. She had several tables besides ours, including a large group, but we never had to look for her. Drinks: Upon arrival, I was informed of the happy hour special: $3 beers, $4 house wine, $5 cocktails. Pretty good, although the house wine was on the lower end of the drinkable scale. Apps: Ordered off the special menu, which was a list of italian cured meats and cheeses. I ordered the prosciutto, semi-hard cows milk cheese, and a heavenly brie-like cheese. I was impressed with the parma ham's flavor, although it would have been more convenient in served in several small slices instead of two long strips. The cows milk cheese was pleasant, but a bit forgettable. The rosemary focaccia was very good as well, with a nice crusty flavor and baked-in fresh rosemary. Pizza: We ordered the Ortomisto (veggie) and the San Daniele (parma ham...we added fresh tomatoes). The Ortomisto was tasty, not super impressive by any stretch. The San Daniele was a soggy mess, made just okay by the parma ham. Truthfully, I felt both pies were a little bland, and as such, overpriced. Put it this way, I would have taken Z-pizza over Piola any day. The Bar: we saddled up after our meal for a couple more drinks. It was full but not crowded, and the general vibe was friendly. It appeared there was a crowd of regulars (cut to air kissing). Overall: Good place for an after work happy hour or with a group. I probably won't be back without the former or the latter.
(3)
Eva G.

Oh how I hate choice! Isn't it so much easier if a restaurant really only has one "edible" item on the menu or just one item period...? Well, this would be the wrong place to come then because the pizza selection is HUGE but oh so good. THIN crust just the way I like it. Definitely will come here again to try others although mine - I forget the name - with carapccio, arugula and brie could have used a ... errr... flavor... The wine selection is a bit limited. There was one ROARING (literally!!!!!) happy hour so I assume their drink selection otherwise is phenomenal or fabulously cheap? The service was so, so... our server said the order "got lost in the system" after we waited for 1/2 hour plus... but no free nothing or serious apology... he was also eager to turn over our table once we were done eating although there were plenty of tables... yep. They can use some help with training... .. don't come here for a romantic date since the noise level is quite high so you will find yourself yelling across even a small table... not so romantic (-: But really, the pizza is good! (-:
(4)
M - G.

I walked into Piola expecting great things which, looking back, may have been my downfall. Since it was happy hour and we wanted pizza, we ended up being the only ones at a table, which was a little awkward considering the size of the restaurant. The decor was pretty loud, and straddled a confusing line between retro and modern. The service and drinks were the restaurant's saving grace. Their servers were really nice, and took time to explain items on the menu without getting annoyed. After trying a strawberry caipiroksa for the first time, I wanted to put on sunglasses and lie in the sand. The muddled fresh strawberries sweetened the strong alcohol flavor to create a refreshing drink. However, I was frowning down at my Honolulu pizza even before tasting it. The crust was burnt around the edges, and the invisible layer of cheese was covered in paper-thin slices of deli ham (thanks, but no thanks). I soon realized that they likely overdid the toppings to make up for the lack of flavoring in the pizza. I even declined bringing the leftovers home because I knew I would find them in my fridge six months later, still uneaten. A night of all you can eat gnocchi...really? There is a reason you don't see gnocchi in the buffet line--it is heavy and best to be savored in small amounts. Bottom line: Piola is not worth the walk up the hill from the Metro.
(3)
Katya R.

For the lack of options in Rosslyn, this place is pretty good and one of the only places to go for Happy Hour. I have been here a number of times for work Happy Hours (a better choice than going to the Continental) - it does not get unbearably packed, free appetizers are served during HH and drinks are strong.
(4)
El G.

The thing I like about all the reviews on Yelp is that people on here really take their reviews seriously. I like that. This is a Pizza joint. I guess it's supposed to be serving Brazilian pizza, but Brazilian pizza this is not. Brazilian pizza is horrible and eaten with Ketchup. This pizza is good. Whatever your taste, whatever your mood, you will find a pizza for you. The server I had this last time was somewhat apathetic to my orders and comments. Maybe he was waiting to get off. I don't know. Pizza came out quickly, was made from fresh ingredients and most importantly, was very good. We'll be back.
(3)
Allen H.

This place has a really good thing going for it...any pizza on the menu and a beer for $12! We had just heard about this the night of and after an evening of laughs at the Improv, we had to make a stop for a cheap pizza and nightcap. For $12 you wouldn't really expect much but the pizza is truly a great deal! They have a huge selection of pizzas to choose from so it's really good for any type of pizza lover! As had been mentioned before, the decor is a little different than usual restaurants but I liked it and thought it to be pretty neat. Again, a full pizza big enough to split and a beer for $12 is mighty tough to beat!
(4)
Mary B.

Great sangria happy hours!! Love Love Love their cheap red sangria's during happy hour. The bar is not big, but a good place to meet friends if you work/ live in the area. The pizza is thin crust, delicious and fresh. The desserts are the only thing that I think are really lacking. Overall: great for 6pm happy hour and bite to eat with friends.
(4)
Frank H.

Headed to happy hour and had a good time. Sort of wannabe modern atmosphere. We were there on a Thursday night and they had a pretty good FREE spread of Brie, Parmesan, and blue cheese with sliced bread. Also they were giving giving out samples of their margherita pizza was pretty good. It had a good crust and excellent fresh mozzarella cheese. Therefore free food equals good happy hour. i would definitely go to whet my thirst.
(4)
Ken R.

Good pizza for a neighborhood resto.
(3)
Shelley T.

Food was delicious but we paid 45 bucks for 2 pizzas and two cans of coke. Think that about sums it up! You really need to be craving a good quality wood oven pizza to fork over 14-20 dollars/pizza but I have to say I'd do it again, just not frequently.
(3)
Joe G.

Definitely don't order the pasta. I had the salmon pasta dish and it was a bit dry... the sauce was bland and left something to be desired. The pizza is good, but nothing amazing. Two Amy's is definitely your best bet if you are looking for great Italian pizza in DC. Also, the decor was strange. Trendy italian? Huh? Finally, the food came out very quickly - almost too quickly. We had barely opened the wine bottle before the waitress was on top of us with our dishes. All of this being said there aren't many other dining options in Rosslyn and the prices here are pretty reasonable. Also, although I've never been to the happy hour it sounds like a pretty good deal - definitely something to check out.
(3)
Martin B.

About a 3.8. We needed some sort of food, and the first suggestion was Piola (my father had been here before). We headed down K street and over to Rosslyn for some munchies. Piola's a peculiar place, because it is a chain restaurant that covers a lot of Latin American countries. But it's Italian. I can't explain it. Service was satisfactory. The waiter and server were friendly, but the service was a bit slow which it shouldn't have been considering we were one of the few parties there. But again, the folks were friendly which is usually more important to me than speed. For starters I had some bruschetta and some bread. The bruschetta was tasty, but I'm not a fan of toasted bread. The bread that came in the basket was marvelous though; nice and soft. It went well with the olive oil. My entree was the cheesy gnocchi. The gnocchi were small, but the serving was hearty. There was LOTS of delicious gooey cheese, including the almighty brie. I'm a man who needs a lot of food to get full, and I was quite satisfied with just three fourths (or perhaps five eighths) of the plate... and then I finished it off just to be sure. I also had a slice of my father's pepperoni pizza. The crust was similar to Matchbox's pizza, and the pepperoni was quite spicy. We passed on dessert and had some cappuccino which was fine. Overall a pretty good restaurant. The atmosphere and decor is cool, and Piola has an extensive menu of pizzas. They also apparently have a Pizza Sunday where from 1700-2200 you can eat all the pizza you want for a flat price. Not destination dining, but if you're in the area and need something Italian you'd do fine here.
(4)
megan c.

Just tried to order delivery and were told we were out of the delivery area.... I live only 3 miles away in crystal city.
(1)
Determination S.

For us Piola is the best PIZZA place and we also love their Europian music. It offers superb overseas-like atmosphere and a great happy hour! However, the only reason I am sometimes reluctant to go there is one of their bartenders, who is ALWAYS rude and cold, and as a regular customer I do not appreciate it. Unfortunatelly, I do not remember his name, but I know he is from Bulgaria. No prejudices, he is just simply an UNFRIENDLY bartender. We have been there many many times and were always provided with the perfect service in the dinning room and other bartenders are outgoing and frinedly, but for the one. I still recommend Piola to everybody. Piola's pizza itself deserves 5 stars only, I only took a star for a "wet-blanket" employee.
(4)
Cadence R.

Any place that gives pizza will more than likely get at least a 3 star review from me, so just know my bias up front! Piola won points for the thin crust deliciousness as well as having carafes of sangria. Anything in carafe form is automatically better in my opinion. And if that carafe has good sangria in it then it is definitely better. For dinner I had pizza with mushrooms on it, I know, not too fancy, but it was good. I ate the entire thing and didn't feel disgustingly full afterward. All and all, a great experience!
(4)
Dan G.

Awesome outdoor dining, and $7 for all pizzas from 5-6 every day except Sunday (that's the all you can eat day). My go to is the Honolulu, but the Rio De Janeiro is equally amazing. I've only had pizza here, but the rest of the menu looks good too.
(5)
Katherine S.

I love Piola!!! Their pizza never disappoints and is always so fresh and delicious. I highly highly recommend Piola to anyone who loves fresh, high quality brick oven pizza. I hope they open up more branches in the DMV area!
(5)
Ken L.

Normally this place is ridiculously expensive, however during their late night hours, they give you one of the best deals you can find in the area $12 for any pizza + 1 beer. Regular prices are $14 for a pizza + $5 for a beer (learned that after slamming back a few). Favorite dish: The Brooklyn Pizza - broccoli, feta, mozarella, chicken on a New York pie. Goes down very well with a beer. I've tried 7 of the other pizzas, and they all taste about 2.5 star quality, the Brooklyn however is a 5. The other pizzas are strange mix/matches of cheese, meat, pie that all taste about the same. If not for the late night menu, I'd give this place a 2.
(4)
Tommy_n_Loretta C.

check this place out for their pizza happy hour! You can get a $14 pizza for $7!!!!! Amazing!
(4)
Justin W.

Pretty good all around. I wasn't expecting much more than a clubby California Pizza Kitchen but the pizza was actually quite delicious. the crust was especially nice and tasty. Prices were OK, certainly isn't a NY type of pie. More along the lines of the other brick oven pizza places int he area. Spicy salami is fantastic topping, and, as the name suggests, it is very spicy. Wait staff were friendly and attentive. The only complaint I have is that the clubby music is a bit much. I didn't know if I was getting dinner or if I should be snorting something in the bathroom.
(4)
Ana R.

Not my favorite pizza joint in the city, but a close, close second. Their menu is expansive and very European - if you are an order-at-home kind of pizza lover, this may surprise you. I happen to stray from the chain delivery joints and favor establishments such as Piola, which offers its customers more daring varieties than the typical pizza restaurants do. First, toppings are very fresh and generously proportioned. I love it. I've enjoyed the Margharita, the Firenze, and the Parmi and have even more on my list to try later. Why I frequent- It's great for groups because this is a place where it is hard to run up a large, unfair tab. Pizzas are pretty evenly priced and with the drink specials lasting throughout the restaurant and for longer than most places, the totals never reach outrageous amounts. More on the drink specials- seat yourself at the bar while you wait for friends and enjoy $4-$5 specials on a good variety of drinks (beers, wines, sangrias, cocktails) and you'll also get to sample pieces of pizza that the staff bring out for the bar crowd to nibble on while they wait for a group/seat. As far as generous happy hours go in the area, this is one of the most, by far! Major bonus- you don't have to sit at the crowded bar to take advantage of the specials, they are available throughout! Flavor is good, atmosphere can get loud, cleanliness is so-so. All in all excellent flavor, decent prices, lots of fun.
(4)
Lillian W.

I tried their pizza here and I definitely am a fan. The prices are reasonable and the portions are huge. One pizza is enough for two to share. The interior is festive and it's great for groups. Definitely recommend if you are in the neighborhood!
(4)
Neal W.

I've been craving Piola pizza for some time now. Too bad there isn't one near where I live. The atmosphere was pleasant enough, and the wait staff met my needs. Where this restaurant excels is in its pizza. This is good considering it's a pizza place. They have a huge variety of pizzas, and I'm sure they are all delicious. I actually just ordered the pepperoni pizza, but it was some of the best pizza I've ever had. I can't wait to return.
(4)
Wendy B.

The first time I went to Piolas, it was for AYCE Sunday w/ some friends, the atmosphere was nice, the food was great, and everything was awesome! I decided afterwards to treat the b/f to it and again, enjoyed myself! It's been such a great place, even the mother-in-law enjoys it! The crust is thin and crunchy, just how I like it! Their Margarita Pizza is insanely awesome! And, although it is a coffee place, I must compliment their coffee as well! It is a good strong coffee! The service sometimes is a crap shoot, I've had times when the service has been great, the waiters have been totally attentive, but then, I've had times when the waiters seem to forget we're there. Regardless though, the pizza is amazing!
(3)
amy m.

This was located near our hotel so we went there twice. The pizza was good, could have used a little more sauce. My kids enjoyed it. Small place and tables are close together, but overall would recommend for the area.
(3)
Dawn M.

I'm giving Piola a 3 based solely on the great wine specials during happy hour. I'd like to go back to try the pizza or gnocci, because I was highly unimpressed with the free hors d'oeuvres.
(3)
Ryan S.

Piola is a pizzeria with about 20+ locations worldwide. My first expose to Piola was in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This location in Rosslyn was established roughly in the fall of 2006, and is the first (and currently only) to the DC metropolis. Despite the company being Italian (their corporate website has a .it domain), this particular location seems to be heavily influenced by Brazilian culture. You will often find a live Brazilian band playing in the bar area, and I can't think of a better place in the city to order a Brazilian cocktail. Acoustics are poor (as is with its next door neighbor, long time resident Cafe Asia), so conversation can be difficult. The decor is modern and very cool. I've been here twice in the past year for dinner and once for drinks at the bar. Service has always been friendly, however a little slow. If you are looking for an American style pizza, don't come here. Their pizza is much more like pizza you will find outside of America, which I find to be excellent. The pizzas are fired in a brick oven, and are thin and crispy. The toppings in particular are ingredients rarely found at an American pizzeria. If you like variety, go on a Sunday evening and order the tasting menu. They choose about 8-10 of their specialty pizzas, and you can eat all you like. You have to wait for them to come around to serve the slices, so you should expect to spend a long time on the meal. The only reason I don't eat there every week, is I tend to over eat when eating pizza, so I limit my exposure.
(4)
Michele D.

I didn't have anything to drink, yet I was drowning in a sea of confusion! I was the first to arrive for last Friday's happy hour and tried to get a table outside. The crowds were all next door at Cafe Asia, which meant lots of open tables at Piola. Yay! No. I asked if I could get a table for 6, but was told I couldn't get one until everyone in my party had arrived. Okay. Once we were all there, we decided to sit inside. The bar was muy crowded, so we elected to grab a long table along a wall. This is where the confusion came into play: if you were at the bar, you could get happy hour prices on food. If you were at the tables, you could only get discounts on drinks. Huh? I lived super large in getting a caipirinha. It wasn't bad, but surely no comparison to the ones I had in Rio. *sighs at memories of Rio* We ordered 2 pizzas since we planned on moving to sushi after wards. We got the Como (which tasted great with the porcini mushrooms and parma ham) and the Bruxelles (which was good, but the ricotta was odd). The place was okay; don't know if I'd return. The pizza wasn't bad at all but I wouldn't go out of my way to have it again.
(3)
Clara L.

I came here for their weeknight happy hour, so I can't comment on what this place is like at other times. First off, they have pretty decent prices for HH. The strawberry caipiroska I had, was delicious and only $6 during HH (4-8pm) and the $3 stella artois bottles weren't too shabby either. I was excited that they give away free appetizers like pizza and cheese during their HH's, but a very infrequent event. I only saw the guy walk around once with a tray of mini pizzas, though the one piece of pizza I got was pretty good. The place was on the crowded side and being in the commonwealth, people were smoking at the bar. boooo! The decor/atmosphere was a little "too trendy" for me to want to stay there as well. I felt no desire to stay beyond the HH specials period, so once 8 o'clock rolled by, we finished our drinks, closed our tabs and moved on to a different venue to continue the "happy night".
(3)
Carolyn V.

My parents took my roomies and I out to eat here last night. Great service, an absurd amount of different kinds of pizza, delicious food, and completely reasonably priced. Definitely coming back here on another Sunday with the roomies to do the unlimited pizza tasting deal (try as many and as much of different kinds of pizza for only $15.95....bring your appetite!!) SIDE NOTE: I had this pasta cividelle (sp?) - penne with a cream sauce, tomato, rosemary, and parma ham...TASTY!
(4)
Tommy W.

Came here while in DC. Good pizza. I had the 14.95 all you can eat pizza. They bring to you all their different types of pizza dishes to try out. The pizza that stood out was the RIO DE JANEIRO. It was creamy chicken flavor that really was scrumptious. My other two buddies enjoyed their gigantic cal zones as well. If I were back in DC I'd eat hear again.
(3)
Christina C.

I love happy hour at Piola. Its a good setup for meeting a group when you dont know how many people are coming. great prices on drinks and they pass around yummy FREE appetisers. if you stay past happy hour you can get a pizza at the bar. I like the diabola. the crust is super thin and the peperoni is spicy!
(4)
Allison S.

Great happy hour with a fun atmosphere. The wait staff bring around different pizzas for you to sample. And the pizza is probably the best I've had in DC!
(4)
LaMarr D.

For pizza, this place is different, in a good way, and it has a pretty cool atmosphere. It's the perfect "after-work, happy-hour spot." However, I was not awed by it. Nonetheless, I plan to go there in the future. Net-net: it was just right.
(3)
Allyson S.

I am a total pizza snob. Having lived in Italy for a year, plus traveling back every year for 10 years since, I don't think of American pizza the same as Italian pizza. They are two completely different foods. Piola serves authentic Italian pizza. It has a great thin crust, yummy fresh toppings that aren't piled on, and it's cooked in a wood fired oven. If you love pizza in Italy you will love pizza at Piola. I personally stick to the Bologna or Capricciosa (artichoke hearts, mushrooms and maybe ham). Fantastica! The place plays good "international" contemporary music - with a nice crossover from Italian to Brazilian. The staff is always friendly and willing to make small changes in food orders upon request. Plus the price of the pizza is exactly what you pay when in Italy. You can't beat it. They also have some great specials - Sunday night pizza specials, a great happy hour that lasts till 8pm, and others as well. If you want Italian pizza and can't afford the transatlantic flight I highly recommend Piola! (My Italian friends who travel in the US say the same thing too....there's another one in Miami that's the same thing).
(5)
Tiny B.

i love going to piola for happy hour! both the white wine and red wine sangrias are very tasty. i've had the pepperoni pizza and the pizza with basil and tomatoes and enjoyed both. sadly, they got rid of their happy hour food specials. the ambiance is laid back and the decor is fun. the service is great! our bartender is always friendly and attentive. definitely check out piola if you're in the mood for pizza and are in the rosslyn area.
(4)
Claire O.

I just tried out Piola for the first time. My husband and I arrived, were seated immediately, and proceeded to wait and wait. Many servers and bussers came by to help out the customers to our left and right. It wasn't until the 8th person that finally someone acknowledged us. And even then he turned as he was leaving with dirty dishes to ask if we'd been helped. We ordered two pizzas. The pizzas were cooked quickly, which was nice. The quality of the pizzas were okay. I like the thin, brick-oven crust. But the pizzas are over-cheesed. Especially since we ordered the Piola pizza which advertises fresh mozzarella...which they serve with not fresh mozzarella as well. What a waste! We liked the Rimini pizza better than the Piola. The pizzas are filling (a result of the abundance of cheese) so we had leftovers. After waiting for 15 minutes for our server to notice that we were done, we asked him to box up the remaining slices of pizza (1 slice of Rimini and 2 slices of Piola). He came back with a small styrofoam container. We opened it up because we were surprised that all 3 slices could fit into such a small container. Well, they can't. He shoved the slices into the container. The Rimini was on the bottom which meant that ricotta cheese got all over the Piola slices above it. And the top slice of pizza was folded in half and smushed into the slice below it to get it to fit. Outrageous, especially considering that there are cardboard pizza boxes everywhere. So that's the rundown. I don't recommend this place. The pizza is only okay, and the service is outrageously bad!
(2)
Jason C.

Anyone who gives less than a 4* here has no idea about their happy hour menu. Let me tell you about the specials that make this place an insanely awesome place for HH...and probably the best in the entire DMV area. 1. Free appetizers at HH. They will come around with pizzas, pastas, and sandwiches for 2.5-3 hrs during hh. As long as you order a drink the food is free. 2. If you do a yelp check in and spend more than $10 on anything (including HH drinks), you get any pizza on the menu for free This is a fantastic deal. Where in the entire DMV can you get this kind of deal? Tell me one place and I'd be happy to go there instead.
(5)
Mel L.

We pass by this place all the time, and finally came to check it out last Friday. We ordered: + Ortomisto Pizza: nothing really worth mentioning about this. Basically just some veggies on a baked dough. + Vita Sana: we really like quinoa so we got this dish. Again, not impressed. There is nothing horribly wrong about this place, but I can't see myself coming back here. Sorry, Piola, first impression was bad, and therefore, no second chance will be given.
(3)
Venkata M.

What's to like here: - Huge variety of pizzas, I mean huge. You'll go bonkers - Very tasty food. One of the best spaghetti I've ever had. - one of the very few places you find a Caipirinha, fantastic! - spacious interior and outside I mean, think about it. How hard is it to make spaghetti, right You boil the pasta and add the marinara, sprinkle some Parmesan and VOILA!!! You have a very mediocre tasting lunch. But the spaghetti here somehow tastes fantastic. Wonder what the secret ingredient is. Meh: The service can take a while, not a big deal though
(4)
Justin R.

One of the best happy hours you will find. They walk around serving you free pizza and aps. FREE. Wine and pizza are reasonably priced, and their weekly specials offer TONS of food. Even with large groups, your bill is never unbearable. Service is always attentive, and the place is always clean and not to loud.
(4)
Carter S.

I have eaten here a few times--at the tables outside, the bar area, the normal sit down area, and take out. All are so so good! One specific memory of this place comes to mind: I had been visiting some museums in DC and came back to Rosslyn tired and starved. The boyfriend and I came here, sat outside, and immediately had a bread basket brought to us, followed by some much needed white wine! It was heaven. Their pizza is really good and their pasta is great as well. If you are craving some fresh Italian food, this place is the perfect spot. The inside is nice and casual--so avoid if you are trying to find a "fancy" Italian place. Their happy hour is also fabulous. I swear you can have like a total meal just while sitting down with a couple of drinks! What's not to love about pizza and beer?
(4)
John B.

They have a nice Yelp deal; check in and check that out. The menu is straightforward Italian; pretty much all wheat and cheese delivered in various different ways. Oddly, this location does not allow you to customize your pizzas, at least when ordering online (the D.C one has a wide variety of unusual pizza toppings). However, I was hungry and not picky, and something called a Prato, a pizza with shiitake and arugula was quite satisfying, the sort of earthy/zippy combo I wish more restaurants would offer as a specialty pizza. Not cheap, even by the standards of our region's numerous trendy pizza places, but it's a nice restaurant and one of the relatively few places worth checking out in Rosslyn's concrete jungle.
(3)
Nishi P.

I had heard about the DC branch from a friend and went to this location in Rosslyn one night to meet up with a friend. We decided to eat here after reading some Yelp reviews and finding out that they offer an amazing check-in deal: one free pizza with a $10 purchase. Almost unheard of! Their happy hour deals are pretty good, as well. All cocktails are $6, and I believe house wine and beer were around $4. We didn't sit in the bar area, so we didn't get the advantage of free appetizers as others have written about, but we weren't really concerned about that. Instead of worrying about appetizers, we went straight for the pizzas and ordered the Houston and the Sparta. The pizzas came out fairly quickly from the oven, and we tucked in right away. All I can say is delicious! The Sparta was a standard pizza, but was topped with what were definitely kalamata olives (not regular black olives, as was written on the menu) -- that, coupled with goat cheese, made for a salty bite. We took the olives off, and the pizza was perfection. The Houston was topped with fresh (not pickled!) jalapenos and fresh avocado, and they were not stingy with the toppings. It was soooo spicy and so good; definitely our favorite of the two pizzas. We sat for quite a while there, and we didn't feel like the staff was rushing us to get out. In fact, we had several people come to our table to fill up our water and to check on us. Great service! After the free pizza deal from Yelp, our total came to $30 for 2 cocktails and 1 pizza. Not bad at all! We had leftovers, and they were delicious for breakfast. I had heard about their all-you-can-eat gnocchi on the 29th of every month, but their all-you-can-eat brunch for $20 was a new discovery. I will definitely be back for both of those things, as well as for just a regular outing for great food!
(5)
Debbie L.

They have a great happy hour with reasonably priced food and drinks. The happy hour section of the restaurant is fairly spacious, and the free food applies to all seats, even those not at the bar. During happy hour they will walk around with thin slices of pizzas and other small bites. The free food flow is frequent at times, and occasional at others. It's great to order a drink or two, share a pizza, talk about life, and munch on whatever comes by!
(4)
Kat A.

Came here again for pizza brunch and loved it just as much as the first time! While our waitress was slightly MIA for the first 10 minutes, either the owner or manager (not sure which) promptly attended to us. After that they came to check on us every 10 minutes or so. Thanks so much for good pizza and attending to your customers. Still a must try for pizza lovers in the area!
(5)
Tim B.

To be honest I find the food a bit over rated and the beer selection to be quite weak BUT you can't compete with their happy hour! if you can squeeze into the vat area all sorts of apps and small pizza slices will get passed around. it's easy to accidentally eat a full meal because they do not hold back. I also appreciate the good attitude in their service. Def worth checking out, I've been at least 3 times over the last year.
(4)
Jen F.

I wanted to give this place more stars, but the quality of this pizza was one of the worst I've had in the area. I came here with a party of 10 and I ordered their Honolulu pizza (basically a Hawaiian pizza). It was probably the worst Hawaiian pizza I have ever had! No joke, the. worst. They didn't chop up the pineapples, so there were 5 huge round slices of pineapples as if there were STRAIGHT out of a can. They also placed ham slices throughout the pizza and didn't have it finely chopped. It made the thin-crusted pizza extremely soggy. What a disappointment. Save your money and go to another pizza place located in Clarendon.
(1)
Lisa T.

Love this pizza and their meatballs are awesome! Great spot to walk to if you are caught having to stay downtown in the hotels. The Osaka is a great mix of Shitake and spinach, the Funghi Misti, a sautÃ©ed mushroom mix, was an awesome one too! Husband enjoyed the Ortomisto with the eggplant, peppers, broccoli and spinach. Fun selection of drinks too; give the Vodka Strawberry Caipiroska a try, it has a nice fresh kick to it. Also, I like their hours, they stay open a little later than most other food options in the area. When you get caught up hiking all over town they are a great spot to end a late night.
(5)
Trang H.

I've been to Piola a few times since I work across the street and the food has not disappoint. I went here for the first time during happy hour. They had half-off pizza, drink specials, and free appetizers! We got the Hawaiian pizza, sangrias, and stuffed ourselves with the free apps that the waiters were carrying around. They were all delicious! The second time I had the Carolina chicken pizza which has barbecue sauce and shredded chicken. I also got the pesto gnocchi because of the half and half lunch deal. Will be back because I love the thin crust pizzas here!
(5)
Andrew A.

Best carbonara pizza ever! Wonderful atmosphere, wait staff, and speedy. Love that they stay open late.
(5)
Laiana B.

I love piola because they offer some great options of pizza , specially with "Catupiry" that is a soft cheeses . It's delicious and I always ask double of Catupiry because it's never enough hahah They unfortunately removed SÃ£o Paulo from the menu but they still have Rio de Janeiro and Salvador .( both with Catupiry on it ) I normally ask to remove the pulled chicken and add some corn on the top and as weird as it sound tastes amazing , I swear . For brunches I prefer the piola in Washington, D.C. They have the patio outside and for spring has been amazing
(4)
john o.

Great as always! Open late and good specials! Be sure to check in for a free Pizza.... Also, they deliver. The Honolulu and carbonara are two of our favorites.
(5)
Lia M.

I'm definitely a Piola fan. I think their pizza--with a very thin crust, lots of cheese, and not a ton of sauce--it tasty and one of the better area pizzas (especially once you take the Neopolitan style pizzas out of the comparison). Their topping combinations are interesting and there is a good variety to choose from. The happy hour is fantastic though--$5 wine and $6 cocktails, with $7 pizzas and free pizza, olives, and other snacks at the bar. I've not had cocktails at this location yet, but the happy hour wine is fine. I've always had friendly, fantastic service here.
(4)
Jerica D.

After leaving a play at the Kennedy Center during a week night my hubby, daughter, and I were so hungry and looking for a late night family friendly spot. I found this pizza spot on yelp and decided to try our luck here. We were immediately greeted and asked of we would like to sit outside or inside. We chose to sit inside. It was very cute inside with a nice set up. Out waitress immediately greeted us to take our drink order and said she would be back for our pizza order. When she came back I asked her how the pizza works and she said all pizzas are only personal pan. They have signature pizzas but the pizzas start at 11 dollars for a basic personal pan and go up. We end up ordering 2 pizzas which was enough for us 3. You can see the chef make the pizza if you sit in the back and they have the fresh dough already rolled and out on the counter ready for your order. Our order only took 15 minutes or shorter. It was a slow week night and our service was pretty fast. Our waitress was very nice. But when we asked for Parmesan cheese she started sprinkling it on our whole pizza, and we just wanted her to bring it out for us to put on at our own discretion(she had previously brought out crushed peppers and basil in shakers and we assumed she would do the same for the parmesan). She also forgot to mention the Wednesday night special which is ladies night and after 6pm the house wine is 1.99 for women! Talk about winning! I discovered the special because I read the table promotion. In all the service was still good and our waitress was tentative and nice. The place was nicely set up and clean. You have the option to sit in door or outdoor (weather permitting). The pizza was good and fresh but they only have thin crust but it's more like a thin hand tossed. I don't appreciate having to spend 11 bucks or more on a personal pan pizza. But if you are not to hungry 1 pizza can feed two people. Not the best pizza place to me but worth a try and a cute pizza joint in Rosalyn.
(3)
Gerald M.

YUM!!! When we approached this place people were pouring out with to go orders. When we went inside it was PACKED! The lunch specials are reasonable but even better...I checked into YELP and got a FREE PIZZA offer with a $10.00 purchase. Our bill wound up only being like $11.00 with leftovers!!
(5)
Sue M.

Their happy hour deals are pretty good. All cocktails are $6, and I believe house wine and beer were around $5. We didn't sit in the bar area, so we didn't get the advantage of free appetizers as others have written about. My husband loves the thin crust pizzas with meat and arugula. I love the all-you-can-eat gnocchi on the 29th of every month, where you just get spoonfuls of gnocchi with different sauces until you burst. My favorite is the salmon and cheese sauce. They also have an all-you-can-eat brunch for $20 on the weekends until 3 pm. I might want to try that sometime.
(4)
Beatrice G.

I want to give this place a 2 star, but then I remember I can't blame everything on the bartender who was barely cracked a smile or a friendly "hello". The hostess and waitresses seemed more engaged and were definitely working hard to make sure that customers were seated and food was served. I had the Cancun pizza and it was tasty. Salmon and cream cheese is something I would have never expected to put on pizza. And I'm use to much more dough (my plump behind shows it) but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I would recommend this place for carryout. Personally I don't think it's a spot that you should schedule for date night! :)
(3)
Randi W.

To say the restaurant is "good" is doing the place a disservice. I arrived this evening to my hotel after a long day of flying from LAX. I was smelly, tired, and grumpy. And all I could think of was some good spaghetti to make me feel better. This restaurant came recommended from the front desk at my hotel as the best place for Italian food. And they deliver? Hallelujah! I called and ordered the Fettuccine Bolognese and The Penna Carbonara and a small salad (gotta have a backup for dinner tomorrow). The man on the phone said it would be 30 minutes. These guys came Nascar quick, it was more like 20 minutes. The food was HOT. Like burn your tongue hot (this is a good thing) and AMAZING! Bolognese reminded me of a delicious homemade sauce my aunt used to make. They give you yummy bread too, and EVOO + Balsamic Vinegar for dipping! Very impressed with the quality and speed of service, which is I'm sure why they are highly recommended. Will order from again before I leave town!
(5)
Mindi W.

* This review is only for their happy hour * I should not have eaten a coffee mug full of almonds for dinner at my desk before going to Piola's happy hour last week. As part of a group of 20 coworkers, I showed up to Piola ready to snag one of their $5 house wines and drafts. After the third server came by with a tray of appetizers (FO FREE) I congratulated my boss on putting together such a cool after-work get together. "Um. I didn't even tell them we were coming." Yep. That's just their happy hour - trays of free samples (more than I could eat) of three kinds of pizza, caprese rolls, gnocci and flatbread sandwiches for like, two hours, just getting passed around while you stand there. It was something else. I had a martini because it's the obnoxious thing to do, and it was decent. Nothing to write home about, but strong and dirty enough. The servers are delightful. The lighting is fun. The bathrooms are clean. I'm going back.
(5)
Catherine T.

Pizza is delicious, the drinks are great and the location is easy to get to. For me this has been a go-to spot for a while now, it's pretty reliable in quality and you aren't breaking the bank.
(4)
Sonj H.

Super yummy pizza! I wish I could send a bunch of boxes home with me! quite possibly the best pizza I have ever had! the salad was nice and refreshing, I was less keen on the beet salad but it was authentic Italian, all of it. That and a couple peronis makes for a delicious casual bite.
(5)
Angie J.

So happy to see Piola in DC area. We decided to try Piola last night because our typical Arlington pizza spot had a long wait. Upon arriving to Piola, we realized it was the same restaurant we ate at in Fort Lauderdale FL about six months ago. ... we ended up so happy the other place had a wait! If you're familiar with 2 Amys in DC, which is my absolute favorite pizza, this place rivals it. I remembered the FL location being really crowded, long wait, live music so we were pretty surprised to walk into an almost empty restaurant. The waitress mentioned she was new, but was very knowledgeable and friendly. She told us all about their happy hour and brunch specials, which we will definitely go back to check out. We started with a salad and meatballs to share, then split a pizza (spicy salami, onions, peppers, and mushrooms on 1/2). They say the pizzas are individual sizes, but we shared one and we're both full. I looked around and didn't see anyone eating their whole pizza (although I'm sure I could had I not had the appetizers). Everything was all just as good as we remembered and we cleaned our plates. We did dabble into Profiteroles for dessert, which were heavenly (lots of chocolate sauce). Now that I know they do delivery, I'll be eating Piola a lot more.
(4)
Crosby R.

HAPPY HOUR makes this place SO worth it! Lunch service is laughable though. I wish I could remember that server's name but it was just so bad! She seemed miserable to be there and wouldn't let one of my friends there get dressing for her salad? Refills were slow, etc etc. I asked about the rio de janiero pizza that other yelpers rave about.. She said "Ummm... its like goopy cheese randomly on pizza?" I decided to trust yelp since she sucked so bad, but goopy was a good adjective for it. The chicken on the pizza was good, but overall the pizza was really bland and way too weird-goopy-cheesey! I don't know how to explain the goopiness now that the waitress described it that way. I tried my friend's pizza and it was really good though!
(3)
Fred L.

The pizza was "ok". Quattro formaggi was tasty but I didn't like the crust at all. But they had Guanana soda - that's a win. The service was horrible though. I won't be back.
(2)
Katharine G.

We ate here last night. I love the pizzas here, especially the cheese they use is delicious. I had my usual margarita pizza with Greek Olives, my husband had the Honolulu which has ham and pineapples. He always orders this--good mix of ham, cheese, pineapple with a good crust. We also had their house Sangiovese wine which is quite good for the cheap wine. The place was pretty empty due to arctic temps, but there was a group of 10-yr-old boys in the far corner having a birthday party dinner with no adults around. They were pretty well-behaved and it was nice seeing a bunch of kids just enjoying themselves without a bunch of helicopter parents hovering over them. A nice pizza party birthday like we used to have as kids instead of elaborate parties with moon bounce and hired clowns. Thank you, Piola, for the nostalgia.
(5)
Stephanie P.

We just moved into the area and took a break from moving to have dinner because we've heard so much about it, and I have to say I was extremely disappointed. We had a reservation, walked in and before we were asked if we'd like to be inside or sit outside we were rushed off to a seat in the very loud inner restaurant. Then our server was horrible, she barely spoke English, told us it wasn't happy hour (it was 630) and rushed us to order. Then I had to ask repeatedly for more water and she came to fill up the table's but as my brother lifted his glass to get more she turned and walked away. Whether she was being rude or oblivious, I don't know. Aside from that, the food was decent. Seems like you should really only go there of you want pizza. I'll go again, but I really hope I have a better experience.
(2)
Chelsea B.

This happy hour is amazing! We got a free pizza when we checked in after buying a couple happy hour drinks and we enjoyed their free appetizers at the bar! Great atmosphere and really nice staff!
(5)
Demetria C.

Really liked the prosciutto pizza .. Ordered for pickup and it was ready very quickly. Lovely thin crust, many options that I will certainly order in the future. Will definitely go for lunch/dinner another time.
(4)
Tamika B.

Was in class on this lovely Saturday and decided to try this place out with my classmate while we were on lunch. They have an extensive list of speciality pizzas and the descriptions aren't bad but I was not sold on the pizza. I forgot the name of the pizza I got but it was a white pizza and it was okay. They had a $19 brunch special going on which was all you can eat and drink but everyone at the table had to get it. I would not run back to this place but I would give it another shot. Service was good and I like the brick oven style to the pizza.
(3)
Jackie C.

This place is average at best. I got the margarita pizza and it came with NO tomatoes! I was starving so I ate my food, but I won't be back that's for sure. Overall I was pretty disappointed.
(1)
Vladan I.

The pizza was cooked to perfection with not to much sauce and just the right amount of topings I ordered the pavia and it was well worth it. Ive been there 8 times before and what makes it so worth it is that the restaurant has locations in Italy and that makes this restaurant authentic italian.
(5)
Alisha C.

This place deserves a solid 4 star rating for two main reasons: 1. THE PIZZAS AND 2. THE HAPPY HOUR! They have a ton of pizza options to choose from, so something for everybody! And the happy hour is great because while you're downing your drinks they keep coming around with free samples of their food. Just make sure to go early if you want to ensure getting seats at the bar area for you and your crew, and to scoop up some food samples before others start coming and take both!! I can't tell you the number of times my co-workers and I came here for happy hour and left with a nice buzz, as well as a full stomach (from all the food samples they brought around)! Free meal with my drink specials....Yes Please! Don't mind if i do! ;)
(4)
Matt L.

Had a great experience today for brunch. Amazing deal at $18.99 for a you can eat pizza and pasta. The selection of dishes were abundant and very tasty. I had the carbonara pizza, gnocchi with tomato sauce, and the dessert pizza with Nutella and strawberries. The food came out fast and was incredibly tasty. The drink specials were very well priced for $16 for a pitcher of mimosas and other alcoholic beverages. One star off for an unclean bathroom experience with a broken toilet. I alerted the staff and assume they got to fixing the issue right away. Overall very happy!
(4)
Chrissy V.

I had a pizza on their outdoor terrace. It was OK but nothing spectacular. I've had much better pizza at 2Amys and Menomale.
(3)
Ella R.

I'd been meaning to try Piola for 5 years, and Piola seemed like one of the best options in Rosslyn, so I got take out. I ordered online, and there was a weird ordering mistake that was a website error. My boyfriend called and Piola quickly resolved the issue, so that was good. Unfortunately, the pizza was not. Admittedly, I did have high expectations after wanting to try it for so long, but I was disappointed. I ordered a margherita pizza and a pepperoni pizza (the diavola). The margherita was just a cheese pizza with a few pieces of basil thrown on top, while the pepperonis on the diavola were unappetizing. The pizza itself was soggy, and the cheese was very thick and gummy. Oddly enough, it was more like the pizza at a jumbo slice pizza and looked nothing like the pictures (even the ones on yelp!), so it could have simply been a bad day.
(2)
Elliott E.

Came here in early May and was disappointed. Ordered pizza, asked for it to be crispy and it came out floppy and undercooked. Asked for them to throw it back in thr oven to which the pizza cook refused as it would 'burn' the pizza. Told the waiter to let me worry about how the pizza turns out (I happen to like a firm pizza with some char). They finally threw the pizza back in. It was a slight improvement and I wasnt about to argue. End of the meal comes and I ask for an Americano with cream and they tell me they don't have cream. An Italian restaurant claiming to not have cream anywhere in the place? I cancelled the order, paid, and won't be back.
(1)
Lesley G.

I love this place! There are around a hundred pizzas to choose from (all really good with awesome ingredients), as well as a great selection of pastas and appetizers. This is also the only place that I know of that has Caprinha's on the drink menu, and they are great! A big draw for me is the unlimited gnocchi once a month. It's for just a bit more than a standard pasta dish and you get a scoop of gnocchi with unlimited rounds of different sauces on them. Love it!
(5)
Adrian A.

Personally I have never set foot in a Piola. I typically do delivery and order the same thing regularly. I typically order Bruschetta and Gnocci. The Bruschetta is large and filling and the Gnocci topped with a cheese sauce. This sauce is made with more than four different cheeses. It is amazing! Very good upscale delivery Italian. Love Piola!
(4)
Ian H.

To start, I'll save this trip experience till after I provide the meat (lovers) of what you need to know for their NOW, all-day-weekend-brunch option: - special menu of select Piola pizza/pasta favorites (all-you-can-eat) - do NOT get this confused with Ci Ci's or Joe's style AYCE restaurants PERIOD - $16.95 is the weekend "brunch" price - order something more than just the MARGHERITA (Arlington are favorite) - ask the server about special pizzas as well as which dessert pizzas are available - they have PLENTY of drink options but stayed with H20 on this outing With the intentions of channeling our inner-Turtles Saturday, my brother and I decided to nod the classic characters (Raph is my go-to, BTW) by enjoying pizza prior to seeing the newest, live action incarnation (opened August 9). I immediately suggested Piola as he had never been but knew I was a fan after telling him about my previous brunch and HH trips. We arrived shortly after their 11 AM opening and were immediately sat. Our waitress came over with menus for both regular and brunch, explained all have to order brunch if one does at the table and discussed the new menu once we said brunch was our choice. My brother and I are not picky at all so we decided to start at the menu top and work our way down through both the pizzas (revised options) and pastas (new addition). By ordering four pizzas and two pasta dishes every time a new round was brought, we had an almost a never-ending-rotation of personal sized pizza and pasta abundance until we had eaten the entire pizza menu (select pastas). Mind you, this is when they opened and not during a busier time (probably around 12:30). Furthermore, we did not just sample (BIG eaters), we did eat all that is ordered so be mindful to not waste (they remind you on the menu as well). Lastly, never once did we feel rushed, hurried or uncomfortable while there as business began to pick up. I tipped extra for THAT aspect alone! Provided you may not be able to try all available, my favorites from the brunch menu include the following: -Moderna (yes, true shaved grana padano cheese topped; ORDER!) -Bruxelles (have a pizza or two between the Moderna and this one) -Carbonara (quality breakfast'ish pizza) -Rio de Janero (get your brotein with this chicken topped option) -*avacado* pizze' (is not the name of the actual pizza but couldn't find the name) -pastas (Fettuccini Carbonara, ravioli options (all), spaghetti (meat sauce) -skip the gnocchi if you are stomach space concerned -ALL desserts (Nutella, peanut butter/banana, apple were the three pizza options) I continue to frequent Piola and enjoy getting both novelty pizzas available in the area as well as the most dough for the money! I had too... ENJOY!!!
(4)
Zach M.

One of my favorite pizza places in Arlington. The pizza are delicious (although a little pricey).
(5)
Eric J.

Nice little taste of Italian. Plenty of variety of pizzas to try!
(3)
Emily D.

The pizzas here are great! There's not many choices in Rosslyn so this a solid option. They also have pastas and salad. On wednesdays they do a special on the wine for ladies and it's very affordable. It's sometimes taken a few tries to get the wait staff over but overall a good experience.
(4)
Karla Y.

Great pizza. Really enjoyed the Napoli. The waitress was nice but a little slow because she was taking care of many tables. I had a yelp coupon for one free pizza which made the experience better
(4)
Marie B.

This was the first place we ever ate when we arrived here. I ordered a pizza which, being French and Italian, this place did it spot-on! My husband ordered an Alfredo pasta dish but it was really nothing special.
(3)
Nabeel A.

Nothing special. Nothing extra ordinary. A quick spot for quick standard food. Margarita Pizza was decent.
(3)
Rebecca F.

I've been here a few times now and their brunch and happy hour are great deals! The brunch is unlimited pizza and pasta and the happy hour they walk around with food. Keep in mind this branch doesn't have bottomless mimosas!
(4)
William T.

We visited for lunch while in town for a medical appointment. We ordered pizza and a combo platter (pizza and chicken Parm). The pizza arrived on under 5 minutes (thanks to the 600 degree brick oven!) And the combo dish a couple minutes later. Everything was excellent!
(5)
Miriam S.

Piola was alright--nothing special. My dad was visiting DC and staying at a hotel in Rosslyn. He wanted something close to the hotel so we decided to go to Piola. Dad ordered the Regina Margherita (Pizze Napoletane), of which I had a slice, and I got the Verde & Co. regular salad. I made the mistake of not ordering any protein on my salad so I was still a bit hungry, but the salad itself was good. The pizza was warm and tasty, although the cheese was a bit chewy and the whole piece came off when you tried to take a bite of it. Overall, yummy pizza but nothing special.
(2)
Jen F.

I came to Piola for the all-you-can-eat pizza brunch for $16.95 and it was super tasty. The all-you-can-eat features a wide selection of 8 inch pizzas (smaller than your typical) with four slices a piece. All Piola's pizzas are thin crust. It was an awesome deal if you (and everyone else at your table) feel like being obese since everyone has to do it to participate. I'm shocked this place doesn't get more crowded on Saturdays and Sundays. Shamefully, I tried most of the pizzas on the menu. My favorite was the Cancun. Topped with salmon, cream cheese, and capers, how does one go wrong?? It had the perfect saltiness and cheesy flavor. Each and every pizza was good in its own unique way. The nutella dessert pizza was also bomb, but it needed more strawberries. The white sangria was tasty. Our table sampled both the red and white. Don't expect to get drunk off of it though- its mainly fruit juice with some mango and MAYYYBE some white wine in there, somewhere. The service was very good. I'd come back again.
(3)
Pratik P.

Quick update! Piola, please make sure your hostess (or whoever picks up the phone) knows what's on the menu! I had a complete nightmare ordering takeout one night simply because she didn't know if 1) the pizza existed on the menu 2) the price 3) and how long it would take to make. On top of that, I was placed on hold and she never picked up! I called back again in 4-5 minutes hoping for someone else and the SAME exact thing happened to me: I called, she picked up, went through the same issue again, then never got any answers. I ended up going to the store and ordering at the bar. That worked.
(3)
David C.

Made a reservation on Piola's website for 4:45PM. Arrived at 4:54PM due to traffic and was told by the hostess that we lost our table because we showed up late. She offered to sit us outside and we reluctantly agreed to be seated there. But she tried to sit us at a table that was in the sun and we asked to sit at a shaded table instead as every table but one was available. But she told us that we needed to sit at a table around the perimeter so that our 'pet' could sit outside the seating area with us. I nicely explained that our 'pet' is a service dog because she obviously didn't see the bright yellow vest on the dog that stated "guide dog" and she didn't care to see the card i was carrying in my wallet that stated the same. So i asked to speak with the manager, in part because i now realized why she refused our reservation inside the restaurant. After waiting 5 minutes for the manager to come by, i decided to go inside to see if i could find him. Coincidentally, he was waiting by the door but when i told him i asked the hostess to send him my way, he replied that was the first he had heard of that request. So first, thank you for reading this far. Second, we made a reservation, drove from Fairfax and paid to park our car - only to be turned away because they don't understand the laws that govern the accessibility and requirement of service dogs. Don't patronize this place!!!! Contrary to other comments, their food is not good and their staff is ignorant, including the manager. They don't deserve your business and there are many other great pizza places around -- Pizzeria Paradiso, for one.
(1)
Christopher O.

Big toppings, thin pizza, and lots of space. Modern feel with almost no waiting. Even being a fan of deep dish style pizza I loved the food. On compliant is the pizzas had a bit more grease than even fast food places do. I would swing by here at least once no matter what your tastes in pizza are.
(4)
Sydney L.

My experience here wasn't bad, but it also was not great. We went after work and lucked into happy hour where drinks were $5-7 and pizzas were $7.89 (or something like that, just under $8). We split the Quatro Cheese pizza and the white pizza with spinach and chicken. Cheese pizza was incredibly greasy and the bottom was pretty burnt in some places. The chicken was dry and the Brazilian cream cheese they use has an odd flavor. Thankfully the pizzas were cheap, so I'm not too disappointed, but I won't be going back.
(2)
Keren C.

This is great pizza. Hands down. The COPENHAGEN is beyond good. The drinks aren't bad, either. I plan on trying out Lucky Gnocchi Day soon.
(4)
Amanda J.

Huge menu with a big selection. Some great options for vegetarians and vegans too. The atmosphere is really fun, and the location is convenient.
(4)
Sylvie S.

Piola in Rosslyn does a really fun happy hour. We went on a Tuesday and the bar was fairly busy without being overwelming. There was a good mix of ages, all folks just getting out of work, many in groups. It's loud enough that you don't have to listen to the conversation next to you and quiet enough you don't have to yell. The drink portion of the happy hour was fairly standard. I believe the Peroni's were about $3.75 and the house wines were about $4.75 or $5.00. There were multiple special mixed drinks that ran around $6.00 for hh. The wine was meh. Typical house varieties but nothing to write home about. The part that makes this a steal is the passed hors d'oeuvres. For being free, they were passed frequently and were good! We had some gnocchi, two different types of pizza, and a wrap with avocado thingamajiggy. The pizza had decent cheese and the dough was pretty good too and the gnocchi meat sauce was great! The seats around the bar is the only really negative criticism I have. They were too shallow, so you had to literally perch on it and the tables were too close to the legs (bolted to the floor) so it was awkward for positioning. I think this would be a good first date spot. Easy to talk to get to know someone and casual enough to keep things light.
(4)
Jonathan P.

Food was pretty good though server was incapable of splitting a check - though he took 20 + min to make that determination
(1)
Suzanne D.

Someone please help these servers. It was so disorganized there. Manager would come to our table & asked if we needed anything. Not sure whether he relayed this information to our waitress because twice she didnt bring our requests. Slow service. Cant understand why because there was certainly enough people working there.
(2)
Selina M.

Great brunch!!! We got to try all plates ( small plates) and had bottomless drinks. The waiter added bloody Mary's even though they were not on the original menu. He even allowed us to order food after the bill was closed. Great place to eat, good was amazing!
(5)
Jeremy P.

I just ate a spinach and ricotta pizza that had one flavor. That flavor came from the soggy packaged frozen spinach that was on it. Who charges $14 for a tiny pizza and doesn't use fresh ingredients? Two stars for fast delivery.
(2)
Allison P.

Great happy hour at Piola. Red Sangria was tasty and enjoyed the free hor d'oeuvres. Service at the bar was quick! Looking forward to returning more often for happy hour.
(4)
Justin J.

Love, love LOVE Piola ! Their pizza is of the artisan variety, and all are tasty. I believe there is a special where they are half off after 5pm ? My favorite dish is the gnocchi pesto, it's never disappointed me. It's a great place for a quick lunch, for happy hour, and especially right now for watching the World Cup.
(5)
Karen S.

The food and service were pretty good. We had the Margherita pizza and the meatball pizza. We asked to leave the basil off of one but it was left on. Other than that mixup, the food and service were very good. The pizza is made very thin, which was a bonus. This hot spot is definitely one worth trying.
(4)
BenjamÃn S.

Having visited Piola several years ago, the only memory I could muster up was that I had, in fact, eaten here once before. But after passing by several times and smelling from as much as a block away what can only be described as a cloud of deliciousness, I found myself once again dining here. I'm not going to complain about the service; we were a large group, and there was only one waitress serving us. Some things slipped by, but not enough to elicit a complaint. Sadly, it's the food that warrants a 2-star rating. I ordered one of their more exotic (brie, beef carpaccio, etc.) pizza offerings, with fond memories of my last medium rare brie burger dancing in my head. How could such a combination fail to impress? By going overboard with the ingredients- but not the ones that counted. What was served to me was more akin to a pie than a pizza; the carpaccio and tomatoes were piled on approximately a half-inch thick. The carpaccio in particular was present in giant hunks that were impossible to eat as served and had to first be dissected into manageable portions. Conversely, the brie was underrepresented on the pizza. Or maybe there was an appropriate amount, and it was simply overwhelmed by the (stronger) flavors of the tomatoes and carpaccio? Surely this will be a mystery that haunts me to my grave. While I can certainly appreciate generous portions in certain contexts, on top of a gourmet pizza is not one of them, and certainly not when it includes (cold) raw beef products.. and this is from someone that once accidentally ordered and then purposefully consumed a one-kilogram plate of seasoned raw ground beef. Piola, tune down the toppings- less is more, and quality ingredients speak for themselves. It was only after scraping off approximately three quarters of the toppings that I was able to salvage some enjoyment from my meal.
(2)
Diana S.

This place was really nice about accommodating our group of 15+ for a friend's going away party and even let us get separate checks! I know we were a bit of a pain so I bump them from 3 to 4 stars just for dealing with us ever so politely. I had the Firenze pizza which had tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, and sausage. It had a nice crust with perfect sauce to cheese ratio but the toppings were a little sparse compared to some of my friends' pizzas. I don't think the Firenze beats the pizza at Pupatella (another Arlington Neapolitan style pizza joint). Piola does win with a bigger space, happy hour drink specials at the bar, and a decent pasta and salad selection if not everyone you're dining with wants pizza.
(4)
Melissa M.

One of the best happy hours around! Though the food and prices are great at any time of day. Outdoor seating is nice, too! As a resident of Rosslyn, I'm so grateful that this restaurant is in the neighborhood. My roomates and I are regulars at Piola, and it never disappoints! Been meaning to get there on the 29th for the unlimited Gnocchi ... hopefully, we'll make it soon!
(5)
Chuck J.

Piola is a self-consciously trendy fashion pizza joint in the Roselyn business district. The drinks are overpriced, and oddly named, but well presented. Service is excellent. the pizza is available in over 20 veggy varieties, but only about 4 for meat lovers. The crust is thin and light. Overall, I'll eat here because it is across from my office, but it is overpriced. For better, cheaper pizza, try Vace's in Cleveland park, or Luna Grill at 17th and P, NW.
(3)
Hunter Z.

Personal favorite. Pizza is cooked in a traditional oven. Like their Hawaiian pizza the best. Very good environment. Not extremely crowded.
(5)
Amy H.

Eh...... First of all, do not, I repeat, DO NOT go here if you are with a large party. We went last Tuesday night (1/14/14) and I can tell you I will never go again. I have to say I have never seen such a Keystone-Cops like table service in all my years of dining out. To start things out, one of the wait staff tipped the appetizer plate he was holding behind me and spilled a significant amount of mozzarella liquid down the back of my shirt. He barely seemed to notice, and needless to say, neither he nor anyone else from the restaurant offered to get me a napkin or any other remedy for the situation. Once the food came, it was followed by random people yelling out orders at all of us...and not even necessarily the correct names of the dishes. Uhm isn't that what the ordering pad is for? I was served last, and was given a pasta plate with large mozzarella pieces in it, even though I had (a) requested no cheese and (b) even if I had, it was supposed to be Parmesan. They pretty much had given my plate to someone else and were trying to pass this one off as mine. Not cool, man. Any who, I had to sit an extra 10 minutes while they made up what I had actually ordered. Once it got there, it was most certainly not worth the extra wait. I won't even start about the incredibly confusing state of parking in the area. We had to settle for the Safeway parking lot which was nine dollars. Since we were there as a large family group in town for my grandmother's funeral service at Arlington, I was hoping for a good experience to help buoy us through to the next day. That was definitely not the experience I had.
(1)
Aida J.

They have good food here, service is not the best, but acceptable. I would recommend the pizza here. It's good!
(4)
Calvin Y.

Many vegetarian options, omnivore options are also great. Highly recommend their happy hour - pizza and drink specials. Get a fully loaded pizza for under $8-10. Had patio seating, and its only a few blocks from Rosslyn metro.
(4)
Rashna S.

hmmm.....not sure why this place go 3 1/2 stars....I got the margarita pizza because my waitress said thats the most popular....with that being said, it was thin crust with is fine and dandy, but it was very very soft and soggy....i lifted of the piece and it felt apart. They said its cooked in a fire oven....that's a lie...more like a microwave!
(2)
Geoff R.

These thin crust pizzas are a great feast. Add a salad and you have the whole package. We are working our way through the menu. Tonight they have set up some extra projectors for watching the world cup
(4)
Danielle K.

I stopped in to Piola last night (a Monday evening) for a friend's charity happy hour. I really wanted to like Piola -- the location was great for me (only a few blocks up from the Rosslyn metro) and the HH specials were great! But, I ended up leaving disappointed in the food, although I felt that Piola had a great atmosphere (or maybe I just really enjoyed my HH company?). When I first arrived, I ordered a glass of the cab sav -- at $7, this was one of the cheapest wines i've had while dining out. It was ok, but I would pass on ordering it again. most of the other HH goers ordered the ciprihana and seemed pleased with it. Looking over the menu, I decided to try out the Rimini pizza, which came with ricotta cheese and smoked salmon. When it arrived, I quickly grabbed a slice and was very surprised to see that it must have been cold-smoked salmon, as this was effectively raw fish on my pizza. Now, had i known this, i wouldn't have ordered. I didn't want to waste the whole pizza and tried to give it away to others, but no one went back for a second bite. Still starving before I left, I asked for a regular pizza with cheese and basil... which was good, but in no way was I overwhelmed with how amazing the pizza was. I really enjoyed Piola's environment and I've heard they have unlimited gnocchi on the 29th of each month, so I may return to try that.
(2)
Kristi F.

Piola has a fun atmosphere, and a wide variety of delicious pizzas made in a wood fire oven. The pizzas are too small to share unless you are not hungry at all, which can make it more expensive than other pizza places. They also have a full service bar and introduced me to the Brazilian drink the caipirinha (delicious). I love their pizza but we don't go often due to the prices. Definitely worth visiting!
(4)
Daniel R.

Went there last night. Sat inside and there was not a lot of other people inside, most were outside. That being said it took a good 30 mins to get a pizza. I really enjoyed the food and if you are willing to wait than you shouldn't have a problem. I'd just hate to see the wait if it was busy inside as well as outside. I thought it was a little pricey for what it is, between $10-14 for a PERSONAL pizza. The food is the only thing that I would go back for. The service was pretty terrible.
(4)
T T.

This isn't your run of the mill pizza chain like Papa Johns, Dominoes, Pizza Hut, etc. This is gourmet pizza. They have quality ingredients and also some unique pizza combinations and ingredients as well. I love the thin crust and usually order mine extra crispy, which is always done nicely. They also offer other choices besides pizza and have wonderful desserts, like the copa piola and profiteroles. Sometimes I just stop by here for a late night dessert and cappuccino. Also it has a great atmosphere; casual, hip, fun vibe. And they're kid friendly. Plus, the owners are really nice and the staff are friendly and offer good services. The pizzas I've tried and would recommend are: * Sao Paulo - Tomato sauce, mozzarella and catupiry cheese. (Catupiry cheese is creamy and delicious - try it if you've never had it). * Lubiana - Mozzarella, Parma ham, fresh tomatoes and basil. (I always ask for tomato sauce on the side. No sauce allows the pizza to be really nice and crispy). * Moderna - Tomato sauce, mozzarella, arugula, fresh tomatoes and shaved Parmesan cheese. (Very fresh tasting pizza with the arugula).
(4)
Ken C.

Awesome Happy Hour. They might not have the best draft beers or selection, but you will never go hungry during Happy Hour. The most important is easy parking and not far away from Metro.
(3)
Rita S.

Yummy huge pizzas! I really enjoyed the pizza and the ambiance is nice. Such a huge menu to try. Service was very friendly.
(4)
Michael S.

With lots of Pizza combinations, there are lots of reasons to like Piola. There are the featured pizzas with thin crust and interesting toppings. There are also classic pizzas that just about everyone has had before. There are even white pizzas and Neapolitan pizzas. You will find salads, pastas, and other dishes sprinkled in the menu, but come for the pizzas baked in the Brick Oven. We tried a classic pizza and a featured pizza as well as a salad. All filled our need for a late dinner. The Braccio di Ferro pizza is listed under the classic section, but this twist on a classic turned out better than expected. It's Spinach, Tomato Sauce, and Mozzarella with lumps of creamy Ricotta. It might be a little too much rich creaminess for some pizza lovers. From the featured pizzas, we opted for the Rio de Janeiro and it's blend of Chicken, Catupiry Cheese, Parsley, Tomato Sauce, and Mozarella. We probably should have mixed up our order a little more because the chicken and cheese were different, yet this paled in comparison to its Braccio di Ferro cousin. Maybe the Copenhagen White Pizza with Salmon and Brie or the Pompei Neopolitan with Spicy Salami would be a better partner. One of the biggest delights from the meal was a Carpaccio Aida Salad on Arugala with Parmesan Cheese. The thin and tender meat was all yum. Two pizzas and this salad was more than 3 of us could finish. Service wasn't especially cheerful, but it got the job done. The prices are higher than most pizza joints. Of course, this isn't your average pizza joint.
(3)
Heather R.

All's I'm saying is if you're gonna have an outdoor seating area with 15 tables, you probably should have more than 1 chick workin' all of 'em... and maybe that chick shouldn't be a bitch. (went there). Maybe I just have unearthed childhood issues when it comes to giving someone a coke in a can - the universal sign of "no, you're not gettin' a free refill, hun." Vindication was found in their pizza though - it was pretty damn good (don't ask if you can do halfsies on the pizza, it's a bland "no" from the waitress). Would I go back... probably not. Was the pizza decent? Sure. If you wanna throw $15 bucks in the lotto machine and see if ya win, try this place.
(2)
Stefano D.

Go for the pizza, stay for the pizza. As an Italian, I must say that Piola offers the best pizza in the area. Yes, it is better than 2Amys. If you like "deep dish" or Domino's style pizza you may be disappointed, if you want a true example of Italian pizza, this is the place, bar none. Make sure to have a sgroppino at the end and think that you are in Treviso.
(5)
Stacie W.

Nice for happy hour. Free appetizer and good drink specials!
(4)
Sara R.

Love love this place. Warning, you will leave happy hour well-fed/stuffed. Huge fan of the free passed appetizers at happy hour, and the $6 pizzas before 6pm aren't bad either. The only one I don't recommend is the "arlington pizza" because I failed to realize that it doesn't come with cheese. Good for the super healthy folks out there though. Service is great both at the bar and on the patio. Great pours on the wines too. Would def recommend getting a salad with your pizza - was very impressed with their grilled chicken salad. Also helps prevent you from eating a whole pizza by yourself. Ok just kidding, it doesn't :)
(4)
Hannahleine P.

I am a little disappointed because my '60ish sumthing' folks and i(their youngest left in the family) usually come to this Italian Piola one a month, and the other one somewhere near Route 66 that has fried dough balls is too far, and their pizza not as good. But when we went to this branch, some Bulgarian or Russian sounding waitress was a little forceful and rushing us. We went to happy hr shortly after 18:00hrs?, and we had mushroom anchovies and artichokes I think... This waitress forgot the "ugly" lemon for my northern Virginian water, n' sort of deliberately forgot my extra tomato sauce on the pizza!! I am a permanent disabled veteran and my mind and speech is not normal or typical like esteemed regulars I suppose, so anything we asked was like being annoyed or irritated to her? Well regardless my father tipped like 22% in a nont so busy time because he ordered the peroni'z beer. I just feel wicked repulsed or don't get along with woman; ughhh.
(2)
amy h.

No flavor. None. Like, ZERO! Ordered a margherita pizza and it tasted like cardboard. The box it came in probably had more flavor. Expected more and paid way too much. Won't happen again.
(1)
Melissa P.

Pretty good pizza but the service was bad. My server didn't refill my water the whole time I was there and the pizzas took a really long time even though the place wasn't busy at all. Also the music was definitely too loud. I could barely hear the person I was with. If the service was better I'd give this place a 4.
(3)
Robert H.

The pizza was pretty awful, which was really disappointing after I've heard good things about this. Definitely couldn't see myself coming back under any circumstances.
(2)
Jessica N.

I have been going to Piola for years and feel it is time to share why I love this place so much. This is hands down my favorite Italian restaurant in the DC area. I always get the carpaccio w/arugula to start. I haven't found a place that tops their pizzas. Try the Quattro Formaggi, Moderna or Carpaccio Aida. I was in last Friday night and they had all you can eat gnocchi. Delicious, but dangerous if you are trying to watch what you eat. This is the best happy hour in town - not because of their drink specials, but because they pass out complimentary appetizers!
(5)
Ningxi X.

Loved it when I visited at the end of the hurricane. The white sangria was delicious, with lots of fresh and yummy fruits. Plus happy hour till 8! Very happy about that indeed. I had an appetizer with shrimp and avocado. Wished the shrimp could've been warm but it was tasty nonetheless (and a solid serving of 8 or 10). Friend had a pizza with mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil (?). Simple and authentic. We sat at the bar where we could get happy hour drinks, and according to friend it was "unusually" not busy since it usually got crowded. Considering our experience I don't doubt that. They also have rotating art exhibits at the restaurant. Seems like a very hip and yuppie place (sort of reminds me of Vapiano). Love it!
(4)
Sarah M.

A hidden gem in Rosslyn! Piola is fantastic: from the food and drinks to the service and atmosphere. I decided to organize a little post-work happy hour for my team and thought sticking close by (our office is based in Rosslyn) would be a good start fostering those connections with fellow co-workers. The seven of us walked right into the restaurant around 5:30 and were seated at a nice big wooden table. It was a great size for our original group number and comfortably sat the other two who arrived later. Our waitress, one of probably three that assisted our group, was kind and very informative about the happy hour specials. Each of us started out with drinks; sangria, wine, or beer, and were served our drinks promptly in addition to a glass of water each (bonus!). We decided to order two pizzas to share between all of us: the Piola (#118, fresh Italian style mozzarella topped with sun dried tomatoes and fresh basil) and the Rio de Janeiro (#108, oven baked pulled chicken breast, catupiry cheese (a creamy cheese) and a dash of parsley). Let me tell you, if you are stumped on what pizza to choose when you look at the menu, you're "thinking" correctly. Piola offers 61 different varieties of thin-crust, creative gourmet pizzas. Their innovative list of pizzas include both unusual toppings and combination in addition to the traditional, mainstream varieties; all fresh, light, and delicious. I had researched happy hour specifics about Piola prior to coming and their chain's website had mentioned free hors d'oeuvres during happy hour. I thought maybe something small and simple but I was mistaken. The waiters walked around asking if we would like to sample all of the following: Gnocchi Pompei (#565, homemade with tomato sauce and fresh basil), the Rossa pizza (#8, topped with diced tomatoes and fresh basil), the Diavola pizza (#9, cheese pizza with spicy salami), Bruschetta (#351, homemade bread sliced and baked to a perfect crust and topped with fresh tomatoes, basil and olive oil), and Caprese Bites (#368, mozzarella, sliced grape tomatoes, and a olives topped with fresh basil, all in one convenient bite). Did I mention all these tastings were free and they dropped off PLATES of some of the above besides just walking around. Incredible! Couldn't have asked for a better place to enjoy a post-work summer happy hour in Rosslyn. Besides the great atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious food & drink, the prices are super reasonable, especially during happy hour! If you're in the area, you've got to check Piola out!
(4)
Dia D.

The pictures of the pizza on yelp look so delicious, but the pizza was a disappointment. The margherita was one of the worst I've ever had and the fish on the Rio was dry. It was difficult to order over the phone because the person wanted the item number, not the name, and we didn't have a menu. When we picked up the pizza, the girls at the bar were too busy talking to each to wait on us.
(2)
Anne F.

I really wish I got off early enough to go to their happy hour because it's worth it. The pizza is delicious.l also like the all you can eat on saturdays and sundays. Really cool place to go to.
(5)
Barbara O.

Very nice spot for groups. Individual pizzas are kinda big but delish! Had the one with four cheeses, bruschetta, salad, and pineapple/mint juice - all great. Family w/ me had pizza w/ salmon and the margarita one, which they enjoyed.
(4)
Lala B.

I will tell you right up front that I have not been to Piola in over a year. The reason I stopped going to Piola is because what used to be a super happy hour place, great restaurant, and overall awesome place to hang out got a little too full of itself a little too fast. I started going to Piola when they first opened up. I was immediately impressed with the atmosphere, good happy hour specials, and free snack they pass out during happy hour. I was so impressed with how cool the place was, I immediately recommended it to a bunch of co-workers and we started going there fairly regularly. After a (relatively short) period of time, we noticed that their drink prices were going up while their drink sizes were going down. Now, I realize that costs increase over time and businesses typically raise their prices at least ever couple of years or so for their staples, and possibly more often for specialty items or things that are undergoing a universal shortage. So, had the prices increased after a year or more of their opening, it probably wouldn't have even phased us. But this was within just a few months--suddenly their 8.00 martini went to 9.00. We shrugged, said what can you do, and kept on coming, thinking that maybe they had underestimated their overhead costs when they first opened and needed to adjust their prices to catch up to that. So you can imagine our surprise when just a couple months later the same martini now cost 10.00 and was 3/4 of an inch lower in the glass. When we asked why the drinks were getting so much smaller all of a sudden, we were told that they had been too big all along and that they had to adjust them to make the owner happy. Now, I can understand making drinks smaller to keep costs under control, if they leave the price the same. Or I can understand leaving the size the same but increasing the price. (although given the frequency with which we visited this place and the amount of money we dropped there, you'd think we'd get the courtesy of "regulars" and have our drinks be topped off just a teensy bit more than for one-timers). But what I can't understand is dramatically decreasing the size (by almost 1/2) while at the same time raising prices. This was especially confusing when their next door neighbor Cafe Asia was still offering excellent happy hour specials at great prices (they did eventually raise their prices by .50 after a couple of years--but their sizes stayed the same). Another example of ridiculous prices increases is their sodas. They do not have any sodas other than cans, and went from charging 1.00 to 2.00 for one over a very short period of time. They don't even pour it for you, but bring you the can and a cup with some ice, which has resulted in many an overflow at the table, let me assure you. We really tried to keep coming there because it had been such a cool place, but as the prices just kept going up exponentially without an increase in quality or a similar increase at other locations in the neighborhood, we finally decided that we must not be cool enough to hang there. Or maybe they were just too full of themselves.
(2)
PC W.

I didn't even realize this place has been here. We parked in front of it with the intention of walking over to Pho 75 but I was curious about the menu. My friend actually knew the bartender who was working so I knew we were guaranteed good service. We sat at the bar and started with sangria and mai tai. The happy hour is 4:30-8:00pm (great hours, btw) which includes $2.50 beer specials and 50% off rail drinks. We also got free finger food like Lipari (bread with sauce, mozzarella and basil) and mini cheese pizzas. We didn't take advantage of the food specials but I swear I saw something that had $4 plates for different appetizer plates. We split a thin crust Rio de Janeiro which was a decent size since we each got 4 small slices out of it. The Rio de Janeiro was super yummy - it had tomato sauce, mozzarella chicken and catupiry cheese (the catupiry cheese I didn't care so much for). They had a three tiered cheese plate with fresh brie, parmesan and blue cheese(?) - I loaded up my pizza with pieces of fresh parm. We ended our dinner the torta nera and gelato - amazing. It was a tasty chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream served in this "fortune-cookie" like shell (not in shape but in taste) and drenched in delicious semi-sweet chocolate. Well we really ended our dinner with sgroppino al limones which are sooo good. It's made with vodka, lemon sorbet, prosecco and cream - it's cool, frothy and zesty - a perfect after dinner drink on a hot summer day like today. I like the casual atmosphere - lots of nice colors and they have a wood burning oven to make those tasty pizzas. Prices are great - selection of pizza is endless and they also have pastas and salads. They also have outdoor seating. I don't mind that this is a chain. They have locations in Miami Beach and NYC and we're its 4th US location. I'll certainly be back for their happy hour deals. A few of the current promotions include all you can eat gnocchi on Mondays and all you can eat pizza on Sunday nights from 5pm to close.
(4)
David M.

Great pizza! Good outdoor seating and always a good crowd. Eat there often, never had a bad meal. Middle of the road on prices.
(5)
Charisse G.

Went here for the first time for lunch earlier this week. I ordered the chicken panini lunch special. The sandwich was great and they used pizza dough for the bread which made it even more delicious. The outdoor seating is perfect for people watching in Rosslyn on a beautiful day. Judging by my sandwich I'm sure the pizza there is delicious as well. Giving 3 stars because our waiter seemed uninterested even though we had lunch after peak hours. It wasn't busy but we had 2 other people helping us anyway. Will probably come back to try it again though.
(3)
Sam B.

I arrived with a male friend around 9 PM to a mostly empty interior dining area. For some reason, the hostess sat us in a dark corner booth behind a divider, hiding the outside view and everything else. We were given water and bread (two pieces). We asked for butter for the bread, but they said that they did not provide butter. We mixed some olive oil and balsamic vinegar together on a small plate and dipped the bread in that. I looked through the long list of pizzas and decided on one, but I was told that they were out of the cheese that goes on it. I instead chose a salad with grilled chicken on top. My friend got a chicken dish. My $2 diet coke came in the form of a can with a glass of ice. My friend's $4.50 lemonade was excellent (according to him) but did not include refills. The meals arrived in a timely fashion and the portion sizes were good. My salad veggies and cheese were good, but the chicken was dry and hard to chew. The dressing lacked flavor. My friend enjoyed his chicken dish, which came with small potatoes and greens. It wasn't all that fun sitting in the dark corner of the empty dining area, but there was outdoor seating if we wanted to (it was too hot and humid at the time). The place is trendy and looks nice, but the little annoyances put a damper on the experience. Plus, $4.50 for a non-refillable lemonade? Were the lemons from the garden of Eden? We did not have alcohol, although they have a special on Mondays where bottles of wine are 50% off.
(2)
Esq. H.

Came here Sunday for the "All you can eat pizza" brunch. Not bad. It's flat out $18.99 for adults and $9.99 for kids and if one person orders this everyone at the table does. There is a special 'no-limit' pizza menu with plenty of choices- more than 10 and also 6+ different kinds of pasta. The pizza was fine/ok to me, I'm not a huge pizza fan so my opinion is irrelevant in that category. The pizza is a personal pan size and the curst is very, very thin to allow you eat multiple slices and not even know it. Order as many things as your server will allow if not you will be sitting for a while with nothing to eat. They literally make your pizza to order so as soon as one comes to you, order another before you dig in. They have a drink special, mimosas, bellini, Rossini, sangria - 4.95 a class or 16.95 for a pitcher ( this 'special' is only available if you get the no limit brunch). Dessert pizzas are also included Nutella and strawberries ( I think they used the entire jar on our pizza and used 2 diced up strawberries) ; peanut butter and bananas; and baked apples and caramel (very sweet and comes with nuts on top). If you love pizza stop by!
(4)
Sara A.

Horrible, simply horrible. We should've walked out when we went in on a Saturday night and were the ONLY table there. You would think the service was good but our waitress seemed like she hated her life and took it out on us. The pizza was less than average and the pasta was tasteless. Never going back there again even though it's open late, id rather get something from the dollar menu at McDs.
(1)
Alexandra K.

From my rating, it's obvious that this isn't going to be a glowing review, and not that anything about my experience here was particularly BAD...it was just extremely underwhelming, especially for the prices. I went with my fiance, and we each got a pizza, he got the margherita pizza, and was kind of disappointed, and I got the Greca, whose olives were overly briny. The pizzas were pretty small, it was enough for my fiance as a meal and I had half for dinner, half for lunch the next day, but both were small meals, so a single pizza is definitely not enough for two on its own. I can't speak for the quality of the other dishes, but the pizza had a very thin crust, which COULD be a good thing, except that it was oddly soft. When I reheated it for lunch the next day and got it really crispy, it was vastly improved, so I would recommend ordering pizza from here extra crispy. I probably won't be coming back, except maybe for the $7 pizza deal between 5 and 6 PM, if I can ever make it in time for that. For the quality of what we got, two mediocre thin-crusted pizzas and one beer, paying over $25 seemed a bit much to me.
(3)
Joe S.

I have been working in Rosslyn for about a year now and I have never been to Piola. The problem is, I am such a fan of PUPATELLA that other pizza places truly didnt interest me. The only reason I went today was because it was a co-workers last day and this is the place she picked. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. 1: The selection of different types of pizza was great. They truly have something for everyone. 2. The price was just about right for a pizza place of this nature in this area. 3. I ordered a pie with fresh mozzarella, brie, tomato, arugala, beef carpaccio, and red sauce - The brie was a very nice touch. It was a bit overpowering but tasty none the less. I felt like the carpaccio was there more for texture than flavor. It was completely overpowered by the brie and other ingredients. Perhaps replace carpaccio with prosciutto. 4. The crust is what separates the men from the boys. I am afraid that Piola falls in line with the boys. The flavor was good, but the texture just wasn't quite there. It was by no means bad - hence the 4 star review. Like I said before, PUPATELLA has ruined me and most pale in comparison. Piola, however, didnt pale much. Good work guys. I will be back.
(4)
Doug W.

Great vibe, good service, excellent pizza. If you want something other than pizza, might want to look elsewhere. But if you want pizza, you can't go wrong here. Bring friends and order a few, try different styles. Great place for a fun night out with a small group.
(3)
Willy W.

Yes, it's a chain but a small, international one. They specialize in various types of pizza made in a wood burning oven - probably my favorite style. And any place that uses catupiry cheese on pizza is great. For those not "in the know" - it's like a creamier, softer version of cream cheese. And if they have Guarana - even better! With street parking, I had to go around the block twice but lucked out in the end with a spot right in front. I believe parking is free after 6pm on the street. The staff was very friendly and prompt. I met my friend there and we ordered the Rio de Janeiro and SÃ£o Paulo along with some Guarana. Great place to meet up with friends or just eat the bar. A few people celebrated their birthdays while we were catching up - receiving a dessert and song. The menu is so vast that it's a bit overwhelming w/too many options. We ended up just choosing "the usual" in the Rio. I ordered a dessert whose name escapes me. But it was some type of ice cream with fudgy chocolate on top - t'was yummy.
(4)
Dave W.

This was right around the corner from our hotel so we decided to give it a try. Cool, casual atmosphere. It had an enormous menu of pizza choices, but we all decided to go for the pasta and we're not disappointed. I had the gnocchi and it was very good. I would definitely like to go back and give the pizza a try!
(4)
Hue K.

I went to Piola for HH and Sunday all-u-can eat pizza night. Both are awesome deal. 1. During HH, you get discounted drinks and servers will give out complimentary pizza slices from time to time and there are slices of bread and plates of cheese (brie, parmasan and blue cheese) you can nibble on. 2. All-u-can eat pizza starts at 5pm on sundays. There are 10 kinds of pre-selected pizza and servers will go around tables to hand out slices. Turn-around time is about 5-10 min so you don't have to wait too long to get next slice:) My favorite is pizza with brazilian catupiry cheese (similar to cheese spread but mild creamy cheese flavor than cheddar). Pizza w/ tuna was surprisingly good but anchovy one was too salty for me. I tried all 10 kinds, 2 or more slices for each kind. got so stuffed after eating pizza for an hour. Good deal for $14.50. PS: I didn't think all toppings and sauce got blended well but considering it's using fresh ingredients and made fresh, I wouldn't be too picky about it.
(4)
Flora F.

Piola has become a bit of a tradition for my brother and me. We love the thin-crust pizza and the chance to get real Brazilian specialties (Catupiry cheese, real guaranÃ¡) in a pleasant environment. But when we returned last night we were disappointed to find that the restaurant seems to be under new management, which may be cutting corners. First I noticed shiitake mushrooms on my Prato pizza :( Shiitakes aren't good in anything but soup, and they certainly don't belong on a pizza crust with arugula and shaved cheese. Second, when I ordered a second guaranÃ¡ my server brought me generic ginger ale instead, in a similar-looking green can, and I had to flag her down and point out the mistake. Very disappointing.
(3)
Robert T.

The art for sale on the walls is a neat idea, and they have decent after work specials. Good luck trying to keep anyone in Rosslyn after work though. Pizzais great and immitates real Italian style pizza well. All your pizzas are personal and cooked on the spot in a real pizza oven. The Brooklyn is my favorite but they have a Cheesecake Factory style menu that has upwards of 40 different kinds of pizza. Would give five stars but for pizza it's incredibly expensive. You will pay $20 for a personal pizza that has $3-4 worth of ingredients in it.
(4)
nadia n.

Only gave it one try. I heard it was great and that it was not great. So I thought I'd give it a try. I ordered delivery through Seamless so take what you wish. My pizza was cool, soggy, and UNSLICED! Who doesn't slice a pizza? When I called to ask if that was normal, the hostess responded "Oh we're really busy, sorry." Slicing a pizza isn't hard is it? Well I totally destroyed it with my attempts to slice it. (Como pizza with sauteed porcini and over cooked prosciutto). What's left is a soggy mess on my counter top with slices in the cardboard box. Yum! Give me a reason to give it one more try...
(3)
Sara R.

Brought my 4-year old son, husband and mother to this restaurant for New Years Eve dinner. They boast 61 different wood-fired pizzas, but don't go to this place for your favorite Italian standards. Food was fine but there was no "experience" for us that night. Not a kid-friendly place at all. One positive- great bar drinks that weren't super pricey. They offer an all-you-can-eat pizza deal on Sundays, but it's doubtful that my pizza-phile husband would find many he'd like as the majority have non-traditional toppings. That's fine for some, but my family likes to keep it simple. Pizzas come in one-size and are thin-crust (they also offer some with a thicker crust). They were crispy and good, but I think a bit pricey. My husband's sausage and mushroom thin-crust pizza was $17. This place would be great if I were bringing coworkers or eating before going out drinking. Cool atmosphere and bar.
(3)
Allison A.

I am prefacing this review by saying that the last time I ate at Piola, I was there the first week they opened, a few years back, and it was by far, the worst customer-service experience I have ever had. It was the only time in my life I did not leave a tip. However, after 2 or 3 years of grudge-holding, I decided to give it a second try. We went on a Sunday night around 5:30 and the restaurant was pretty open. There was one other couple seated towards the back of the restaurant and for some odd reason, the hostess sat my husband and I at the table directly next to them. Looking around at the vast-open space and the abudance of empty tables in the restaurant, I asked if we could move to a different table and she obliged without attitude or eye-rolling (which was a pleasant surprise). Side note: this has been a recurring experience... no one else in the restaurant, but you seat us one and a half feet from the only other diners in there. I chalk it up to basic inexperience, lack of common sense and a perpetual commitment to sticking to a seating chart. But hosts and hostesses, please put yourself in our shoes. Would you want to be seated so closely to someone else when you pretty much have the choice of any table in the restaurant? Anyways, we were starving and to our suprise, it was all you could eat pizza night for $14.95. Not a bad price in my eyes, considering we were planning to get our money's worth. However, to start, we ordered the bi-colore salad which is lettuce and cherry tomatoes. Thats it. And it was $8. I repeat... lettuce and cherry tomatoes. $8. And that was the dinner portion (we split it). It probably cost them 50 cents worth of ingredients. Such a waste of money. It tasted good. But there wasn't even dressing on it, so it tasted like basic lettuce and cherry tomatoes. We did have a couple questions for the waitor about the pizza and he didn't really clarify any of our questions. So, we figured what-the-heck, lets try it. And good thing we did. The pizza was excellent! The one suggestion I could make to improve all you could eat pizza night is to implement a red light-green light system like what they do at Fogo de Chao. Green means "Come to my table and bring me food!" and red means "Not yet, I'm taking a break." The pizza guys were really attentive and came over to bring us like 8 different varieties of pizza, but our plates were pretty much full and we were stuffing our faces, so it would have been nice to have a system for organization. But the pizza is tasty and creative and all in all it was a much better experience then last time!
(3)
Jeff S.

We tried two different pizzas. They were both good. Not quite as flavorful as I expected. We had the Malta Pizza and the Carbonara Pizza. The place was empty at lunch on a Saturday. The restaurant originated in Treviso, Italy. However, the Arlington location says they are more influenced by their Brazilian locations. Most of their restaurants are located in Brazil now. Check it out. However, Sorrisso still has more authentic Italian pizza.
(4)
Seema G.

Went here for happy hour. The pizza was really good, not NYC style, but still good. Plus there are tons to choose from as well a other dishes. The happy hour drink specials were really cheap also. The servers, including the owner, would come out with samples to try from. Being vegetarian, this wasn't useful for me since most of what they brought out had meat.
(4)
Corrie D.

The le vignole app is phenomenal. The FUSILLI BIANCO VERDE is simple but delicious. Great happy hour as well.
(5)
Jessica I.

I like this place for Pizza take out, but it is a little pricey. I spent $65 on four pizza's to feed five people and have leftovers but that didn't happen. Pizza's are small. Plus side, there's a lot of topping variety, ingredients are fresh, and it's one block from my house. Haven't tried their pasta options but there aren't very many. Service was friendly, accomodating and fast. Early eveing (7pm) on the weekends there are a lot of families which I feel tends to inhibit conversation, if your conscience dictates you watch your mouth around little ones, as mine does. Vibrant bar scene for weekday happy hour but their weekend traffic is much less so; reservations aren't necessary. Great patio for warmer months. Overall, it's good.
(3)
Nellie B.

I am not even going to talk about the food -- the amount of cigarette smoke in this place completely ruined the meal. We sat farthest away from the smoking area but the air was still heavy with cigarettes. My hair and clothes smelled afterwards, which I am not used to as I mainly eat out in smoke-free DC. The food suffered as a result.
(1)
L Z.

Great food, great service. A local favorite. My super hot girlfriend and I went a few weeks ago and ordered the pepperoni pizza and a pasta dish that had chicken, broccoli and a cream sauce. They were so good we returned after that and had the exact same thing. I'm so lucky that its close to me.
(4)
Hammer Time H.

good service, cheap price, decent food. i thought they'd have more meat dishes on the menu but that's my fault for not checking before hand. TONS of pizzas. it doesn't get five stars cuz i'm super picky. oh location is great too! you can drink a bottle of wine at dinner and then walk out and go to safeway and get another bottle to keep the party going...go mom and dad coming to visit weekend!
(4)
Patrick H.

Generally a good pizza joint with some interesting selections of quality made pies. Ultimatley, not the best Pizza in town (it's hard to beat the likes of 2Amy's or Pizzeria Paradiso), but they definitely have a good thing going. The atmosphere is funky and off-beat, if not a little off the mark, but service is good. Try one of the more unexpected offerings like the Rio De Janiero, which has chicken and Catupiry Cheese (a Brazilian cheese which is like a cross between cream cheese and mascarpone), or the brie with smoked salmon. Salads are good, and they make a killer bruschetta. hardypartyreview.blogspoâ€¦
(3)
Adrian M.

Great space for the group event. Perfect to get that office group together and then score a seat next to that cutie in accounting that you've been fantasizing about. With the outdoor seating, it's also a nice option for spending time with your sweetie on a warm summer night. This is a big part of what makes it work, but the indoor options are are also nice and their wilingness to serve food late into the night gives you a lot of flexibility. The food here is good.
(3)
Elina T.

Pizza with a Brazilian influence. How can you go wrong? I've had many of their thin crust pizzas and have not been disappointed. One of my favorites is the Sao Paulo with the catipury cheese -- it's a soft, melty cheese that it just delicious. They also carry guarana, with is a great Brazilian soft drink made from a plant of the same name that grows in the Amazon. Love the decor too, very cheerful. The wait staff is always nice as well.
(5)
Ingrid T.

This restaurant in a commercial Rosslyn neighborhood has an energetic interior with great artwork and decor. We had dinner around the late happy hour crowd, with a group that included kids. The pizzas are thin-crust and with a salad are a good amount of food. The service was great even though the place was packed.
(4)
Mary S.

A pizza place is a pizza place, right? Not so until you try Piola. They have the most comprehensive pie menu I've ever seen, with several pages of innovative offerings! Love it! You can hear the dough guy pounding the dough and see the wood-fired oven. The pizzas are huge, so we split one and a very nice salad with superior tomatoes. There are plenty of other things to choose from besides pizza; we just were unimaginative! You can also see wild,wacky and changeable art on the wall courtesy of whomover. Profiteroles for dessert were a definite "A", too. Piola has a fun vibe and we'll definitely return! Our good waitstaff also informed us of great prices during the week for not only happy hour items, but real food! Too bad we don't live nearby ...
(4)
Sues S.

I've been there once with my boyfriend. It was really nice to eat outside on their patio. The pizzas we ordered were good, but the cheesy bread appetizer thingy we had seriously tasted freshly defrosted :-/
(3)
Fredericka C.

Went back last night for some drinks...you have to try the white sangria! So delish. Very fun atmosphere, great vibe. We decided to stay for dinner after having our appetites tempted by the free apps being handed out at the bar, and I ordered fusilli and my boyfriend had the diavolo pizza. The pizza was out of this world, but my fusilli was a little wanting. The sauce was very salty, and could have had more flavor, but I still definitely enjoyed it. Our waitress was also great. She was very attentive and helpful, and the food came out almost immediately. Once again, I love it here, but maybe stick to the pizza, which is the real gem of this place.
(4)
Jim H.

We were staying at the Marriott Courtyard and needed Italian near our hotel, Piola was great! Perfect portion size, I had the smoked salmon pasta entree, much healthier than bacon. Others in my party had pizza and pasta, everything was very good. Piola has a large menu and a full service bar. Service was prompt even though the place was packed. A great value in this neighborhood.
(4)
Kim H.

If you like thin crust pizza this place is for you. I used to work in Rosslyn, so my co workers and I used to frequent here a lot. My only complaint is that the pizza is a tad on the salty side. They even have pizzas where they crack an egg on top! It may sound gross but surprisingly very good.
(4)
Rachel W.

I came here a couple of times for lunch since it was close to work. First time I got their seafood pasta, it was ok. My friends got their pizza, they have a good selection of them. Which is good for pizza lovers. But my pasta was ok, nothing too sepcial that screams amazing! lol I also had their seafood salad, which was very big, its just a regular salad with some tuna, salmon and shrimp and olives. It was good, i have nothign to complain about it, but again, just very normal, nothing special. However, I LOVED the tiramisu, apparently they make it daily, it wasnt that nice looking, but it was very good, wasnt too rich, was very light and nice. I would go back to this place just to get the tiramisu, but not really into their food...
(3)
Nonu N.

Excellent pizza and friendly staff. My all time favorite. You can choose a pizza from more than 50 different types varying from Classic Italian to Tex-Mex flavors.
(5)
Gene E.

I came here once in 2011 and found the pizza to be excellent. Great place to sit streetside and enjoy a Neapolitan pie. However, my recent visit leaves much to be desired. The restaurant now plays Latin music inside and the pizza dough is too soft in the middle, the crust falls apart like a saltine cracker. The tomato sauce was too heavy and thick, while the cheese wasn't melted properly. I haven't tried their other pizza styles, but if you are going to advertise Neapolitan style... You need to get it right.
(2)
Kristin S.

This is for their Happy Hour. Drink selection is actually pretty good for HH, I went with the white sangria. But what makes it more fun to come here is that the waiters come around offering appetizer samples. Things like flatbread pizza, gnocchi and bruschetta. Nice atmosphere, large enough space. Although its worth staking out a table to sit in the bar area. A nice afterwork place to come to and sit with friends.
(4)
Cameron H.

Great Italian style thin crust pizza. Fun for happy hour drinks with friends. Outdoor seating was nice too.
(4)
Phil H.

I have been here dozens of times. This place is always a solid choice, especially if you're ordering pizza. Piola is a grossly under-rated place when it comes to pizza, if you ask me. In the DC world of mass produced "bandwagon" pizza joints of Dominos, Papa Johns and Pizza Hut..Piola is an awesome change of pace...granted you gotta sit down and get full service vs. delivery...but it's totally worth it. Their pizzas are great, cooked perfectly everytime with a nice crispy and charred crust and they have dozens of them to choose from. This time I was prepping for a 14 mile run, so I went with the lunch special the linguine al ragu and it did not disappoint. It was a generous portion of well cooked pasta along with a nicely balanced serving over tasty and fairly chunky meat sauce. The lunch special comes with your choice of italian salad or minestrone soup. I got the soup and it was ok....not anything really that special. In fact, you could probably do better out of a can. But it was still a healthy bowl of brothy veggies, so I was happy enough. While you are waiting you are given the customary serviving of bottomless Italian bread. The service was ok, some water glasses hovered on empty a little longer than I would suggest. But all and all a really good choice. This is a great casual spot for a first or second date and a solid dining option anytime you are in that Rosslyn area.
(4)
K T.

I'm not going to beat around the bush: Piola is great. I sat outside and tried to get a more classic order...wine, greens, pizza, gelato, espresso. All very good. The pizza was bigger than I was expecting, but I thought the crust was good, just a hint of charring which is approprirate, and right amount of salt in the dough (strangely a problem at a lot of neapolitan/thin crust pizza joints. I tried to order something that ties into all of their (seemingly) random locations...Italy, Arlington and Miami in the US, BA, Rio??? Anyways, so I got a Brazilian-inspired one with chicken and a creamy Rio-style cheese. It was good though to be honest the Brazilian cheese texture-wise overpowered the rest of the pie a bit. Chased it all with espresso and a scoop of ice cream, and it was all very nice. I will definitely be back next time my work takes me to Arlington. I'll need one more trip to decide whether it's worth a trip for someone from the district to hike over.
(4)
Justin L.

There are not really too many restaurants like this around this part of Arlington. Piola comes off as modern and sophisticated, a restaurant that seems to belong more to a cooler part of DC and wouldn't be out of place in New York. The pizza is simply excellent, very fresh ingredients and a large menu that offers plenty of choices for vegetarians. There are some good happy hour type deals as well. The bar selection could use some improvement, and it can be slightly on the expensive side outside of happy hour. Overall though it's a nice option that stands out among the more middling "bar food" type restaurants that you tend to find on that stretch of Wilson.
(4)
Farrah F.

Poor service. Didn't want to seat us and I'm finally sitting here but waiting for my check. Yummy pizza.
(1)
emmy y.

I hadbeen there twice, both time my experiences were kinda weird. Happy hr is great there for beer or what not. But i m just not a big fan of there food. The last time i went, they kept giving me something that i didn't order and i have to return to the server.
(3)
Alex B.

The ambiance is nice, the free bits of food at the bar that included spicy kalamata olives and a shy cheese selection were a cosy touch. I have heard good things about the place and yelpers seem to generally like it so I gave it 2 chances. Both times I ordered Margheritta pizza-once in the traditional form, and once in the Neapolitan style. First was a disappointment because the cheese they used was not fresh mozzarella, the crust was bread-like, and the pizza was not hot enough. I thought perhaps I just didn't order the right thing so was willing to give it another chance. The second time around I came out to grab a beer and a pizza during the happy hour ordered Regina Margheritta with fresh mozzarella, I also added prosciutto to meat it up a bit. I had literally had 5 TINY pieces of cheese on the whole pizza, the crust was tasteless, soft, and bread-like again, basil-flavorless, sauce-too salty (and too much of it), prosciutto was sliced a bit too thick and was of a very cheap variety (sort of similar to the one you can buy in Safeway for $9.99 per lb--and you know a decent kind is usually around $20 per lb). Those who wish to have a great pizza when in the area should not hesitate to go up to Clarendon to visit Sette Bello. Basically these 2 stars are for service-very attentive and friendly, and one for free finger bar food during the happy hour. Overall a blah blah blah experience.
(2)
Kruella D.

There pizza is to die for and they have like 50 different kinds! The rest of their food is not so great. They serve Guarana, a Brazilian softdrink that tastes like red bull. The bar is fun and not too crowded. The bar is a great place to meet a friend after work. Bartenders are friendly. The atmosphere is kind of fun, funky and casual.
(5)
Zara S.

Unfortunately, did not meet expectations I gathered from reviews. The server seemed very pushy and impatient. She wasn't cordial, or even slightly polite. It was difficult to communicate with her and any time we spoke, her attention was elsewhere and she was itching to just take the order and leave. The menu has numerous pizzas, but they are overpriced and there wasn't a pizza that appealed to us really. The toppings combinations weren't varied enough (most were pork and some vegetable). To make a vegetarian pizza, we would have had to add toppings and there's a plus charge for each one! I'm positive that my whole wheat pizza was not actually whole wheat, too. I usually enjoy thin crust, but the dough was undercooked, maybe because they were busy but that is no excuse (we weren't in a rush). Honestly, I think I can bake a better pizza myself.
(1)
Nishan K.

If you're looking for a good place to grab some pizza in Virginia, look no further than Piola. Recently opened, this italian restaurant has about 30 varieties of wood oven pizza on the menu, in addition to an assortment of pastas and other offerings. I went with the Diavola (mozzarella and spicy salami) and added black olives and sun dried tomato for good measure. The personal pizza, which is thin crust, was savory and more than enough to satisfy the heartiest of appetites. The restaurant was built where a bank used to be located, and has an open feeling to it, thanks to the loft like high ceilings. There's some mystery surrounding where the vault used to be located, so perhaps you can figure it out while chowing down on your pizza.
(4)
Naoko M.

my friend and I split the Rossa: tomato sauce, mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and basil. The crust was crispy and delicious. The fresh tomatoes could have been warmer (they were diced and simply sprinkled on top of the pizza after it came out of the oven) and I had maybe 2 shreds of basil on my entire half of pizza. With that being said, what was presented on my plate was still delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I ordered the Coppa Piola for dessert: vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and "farofa dolce." It was absolutely heavenly! The ice cream was rich and creamy, clearly not your average Haagen Daz. The choclate sauce was equally as delicious, still warm and rich. THe farofa dolce was also still slightly warm and malleable, which made it all the more enjoyable. The restaurant decor seems to have an identity problem, with modern chairs and lamps surrounding an old classic chandelier. The black and white pictures of DC monuments and sites also detract from the overall feel. I went on a Friday at 7pm and the bar was more full than the actual restaurant. I had a hard time listening to what my friend was saying because of the loud chatter and the music playing. They should have thought of separating the bar and restaurant section more. The highlight of the evening was my drink. I ordered a caiparinha, the first I've had since I returned from Buenos Aires in August and I absolutely loved it. The perfect ratio of cachaca, limes, and sugar. (I ended up ordering a second one!) Plus, the caiparinha was only $6.50, definitely a good deal considering how good it was! My total meal (including tip) was slightly less than $30. That's for half a pizza, a dessert, and 2 caiparinhas plus tip. Can't say I can complain about that.
(4)
Manda J.

I came here for a weekday lunch and it wasn't good. Despite ham and mushrooms and artichokes (albeit from a jar), the pizza was more bland than I could have ever imagined- how did they do that? They had plenty of waiters and bus-people to move things on and off our table quite often, but frankly, one of the busboys actually smelled like he hadn't showered for a few days. Come on, I'm trying to eat here! I can not recommend this place whatsoever.
(2)
Leslie P.

OK, I live in DC and haven't made it over to Virginia to visit my local Piola yet, so technically I should not be writing a review. But I just want to make a comment: I first learned about Piola when I lived across the street from its location in Buenos Aires: and even though it's Italian it has the most locations in Brazil. The spot in Buenos Aires is a favorite among many of us that were living there at the time... it has a relaxed, open atmosphere, delicious food, even better drinks and the most fun, sexy, charismatic wait staff I've ever encountered. So I was ecstatic to find out they were setting up a location (close to) DC, because this isn't a chain that you can find anywhere: if this is a chain, then Spago and Asia de Cuba could me considered chains as well? I have very high expectations for this place, and will update this review as soon as I stop in...
(4)
Jay N.

For over a year, Piola has been one of my favorite places to meet up with friends. Yes, their happy hour is justifiably popular. HH lasts until 8pm, a big plus for those of us who get off work later than most, and I'm a fan of their caipirinhas and sangria. Yes, in the bar area, you can help yourself to free bread and cheese spreads, and a waiter will occasionally bring out a piping hot pizza for you to sample mini-slices of. Just don't count on this when the weather is nice out, or it's a popular going-out night, because the place will be too crowded. (But on a cold night like last night, with the place sparsely attended, you can go to town!) More importantly, I really like their pizza. The menu offers a dizzying array of options, arbitrarily assigning numbers to their options, but some of my favs are the Rio de Janeiro (chicken, catupiry cheese, etc), the Como (ham, porcini mushrooms, etc), and the Mantova (carpaccio, arugula, etc). One hungry person could put away an entire pizza, but more likely, they're better suited for sharing for two.
(4)
Greg O.

DC is filled with specialty pizza restaurants. Some are surprisingly good, others not much. Piola fits into the surprisingly good category. I've been here twice now and both times the pizza was really good- crunchy crust but not burnt, good combination of toppings, sauce with the right amount of spice, and melted cheese without being too greasy. The service was attentive and friendly, and the decor indoors is minimal but bright and cheery- very fitting for the style of restaurant. Outdoors is a little loud, but what do you expect along a major road. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Melissa B.

I love pasta - okay, who doesn't? - even people who do carb free diets crave pasta - they just don't admit it ;) I ordered a pizza that was warm, delicious, and well toasted - I really, really dislike crusts that are white and pasty looking. So, that made me happy. My hubby enjoyed the unlimited gnocchi. Great stuff. He stopped @ the 4th plate - with my help of course. It's not THE best italian food but it was yummy. and I'm a sucker for unlimited anything.
(3)
Robert S.

3.5 star place for the pizza, but gets a 4th star for the great pizza happy hour and the friendly service. 7 dollar pizzas if you come in before 6-great deal for the quality of toppings you can get!
(4)
Taryn L.

Came here just for happy hour around 5:30 on a Friday night with my dad, who was visiting, and boyfriend. The drinks were good (we all had different whiskey cocktails in anticipation of no liquor at Ray's the Steaks), it was easy to get a seat in the bar area (although happy hour deals apply in the main seating area as well) and service was quick, attentive and friendly. Servers also walked around throughout the hour offering a variety of hors d'oeuvres. So while I didn't order any food, I can say that the complimentary tastings really hit the spot: chewy focaccia breadsticks, spicy pepperoni mini-pizzas, flavorful meatballs, stuffed mushrooms and more.
(4)
Danny m.

Had a little happy hour here the other night. They have guys waltzing around with trays of appetizers (free) during happy hour, so that was a plus. Although I wasn't big on many of the items they were passing out, the thin crust pizza's were very tasty, and for that, I'm givin em a "3." If in Arlington, worth a happy hour oouting.
(3)
Huy N.

Chastised by the Content Gods! Ok. They were right. I wrote a little too much stuff off topic that should have been reserved for other forums. OK, OK it was a little preachy and ranty. I drink too much coffee sometimes, OK? Still .... I meant every word I said. You just can't read them or complain about them anymore. My new review. Came here with my GF for AYCE Pizza on a Sunday. Tasty pizzas had that slightly charred, crispy chewiness to them that I love. I probably had about ten slices of mostly different varieties with the highlight being the Funghi Misti. The GF had the Penne Rosate (smoked salmon in tomato cream sauce) and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a school night so no alcohol. I did have the Swiss Lemonade and found it utterly refreshing and worth every penny of the $4.00 price. Maybe next time I'll get really crazy and have one of those $2.50 cans of Coke. And I must mention that I absolutely LOVED the Napkins. Designed by an Italian graphic design firm, I found them a refreshing departure from the standard thin and utterly boring napkins supplied by generic food service companies. Texturally interesting and great for mopping off a little oil from the corners of the mouth. Piola has endless choices and variety in the menu. I'll be back to try more of their offerings soon!
(4)
Emilio V.

Piola, which in Italian dialects means an unpretentious "tavern", has an industrial modern decor that is a bit stark and harsh... not a romantic spot for sure... the paintings for sale hanging on the wall soften the atmosphere a bit... We went there for pizza and it was OK, it is worth the money. Wine choices are limited but OK. We went back this past 29th for "unlimited gnocchi" special. Stay away. The gnocchi were consistently overcooked, a lumpy mass of flour and potatoes... gnocchi should be served "al dente", that is with something to chew on, not just swallow... the various sauces are of varying quality, the pesto being very poor, the salmon one is a bit better. Be prepared to wait quite a bit between servings... One has to wait for the kitchen to prepare the various gnocchi sauces and there is no previous choice offered... so, they may bring some combination you do not want and another 15-20 minutes will go by before something appears again... Service was very spotty... we were served by at least 4 different waiters... kind of a free for all with no one checking on us as to what we might need... Not a good choice. All in all, an OK place, nothing special.
(1)
Sandi W.

Not your typical pizza place. It's European style pizzas which is very nice Good change from the normal. Big selection - almost too big.... So many choices! I chose the margarita and added onions and garlic. The ingredients were fresh and the taste was yum! Definitely on my list to try again.
(4)
Hannah C.

Came here for a drink after Pho 75... Their long happy hour offered $3 Peroni, and oodles of free snacks like pizza, cheeses, and bruschetta, carried on the muscular arms of young models... I mean waitstaff. In past visits, came for dinner. The pizza was good. The pasta was good. The desserts were good. The service was good. The atmosphere was vibrant. Got it? Now go. Oh ya - the drinks are good, too. For a pizza joint that I usually just stumble upon, I can't think of any reason to take away stars. Kid friendly. Mom approved. (Large sober polite happy hour crowd) Oh! almost forgot the outdoor seating... there's lots of it, well shaded.
(5)
Rebecca C.

$4 sangria and $3 beers during the lengthy happy hour? Free food including pizza squares, bruschetta and flatbread? Serve yourself cheese plate on the bar? Yes please! This was a go-to happy hour spot for my friends and I for awhile. It's such a great alternative to the horrible service at Cafe Asia -- and you don't have to fight to actually get the drink specials for happy hour. The pizzas have also never disappointed me. I love the white pizza with spicy salami, and the one that has a ton of different vegetables. I've brought my parents there, and my dad loved his calzone, and my mom her gnocchi. Desserts were also good. One note: I'd skip the Neopolitan style pizzas ... they are very saucy and WAY soggy.
(4)
Dan N.

I use to live near this place so I have fond memories of picking up a pizza here and taking it home to watch the game. So when I came back to visit DC I had to pay piola a visit to see if anything has changed over the years. And it was de ju vu all over again. I like this place, it has a big menu of gourmet pizza to choose from. I usually get the white pizza's and add my own toppings. I've never been disappointed. 4 out of 5 sporks on all the white pizza's The service is great, very attentive and friendly. The decor is chic and there's lots of local art up. It's a nice cozy place to take a date and chill out if you live in the area. All in all next time I go back to DC I'll pay this place another visit if I'm in the area.
(3)
Sarah W.

I came here to meet a friend who was in town from California, on recommendation from her friends who live in Georgetown. Piola's serves UNLIMITED pizza for $15 on Sunday nights - what a bargain! Their pizza is thin crust (my favorite) and is hands-down some of the best pizza I've eaten in a while. Since an entire pizza has 4 slices, and there were 4 of us there, they just asked us what pizzas we wanted and they brought them out to us. I think NORMALLY its supposed to be sort of like brazilian steak house style where they walk around with different pizzas and we take what we want. There weren't a lot of people dining there this evening (likely due to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend). My favorite pizzas were the Diavolo (spicy salami), Margerita, and Hawaiian. I hope to come back some time with my hubby! Hard to find GOOD thin crust pizza around here :) We live in Centreville and it was a short 30min drive to Piola's and parking on the street was easy to find ($1 per hour, 2hours max)
(5)
Marianne D.

SETTING: Well past midnight. (Sat. am) Dined outdoors. DECOR: Outdoor dining quite bright, but I think that's a building/safety issue moreso than their choice. STAFF: Friendly, personable, though organization was a tad confused but all was settled quickly. ENTREE: Quick & Fresh - Not-quite-filling, but this is the style and the above made up for it, besides, I was splitting and now I know to just get my own. DESSERT: Bad internet connection so I can't bring up the proper name of the Eclair-with ice cream which was delish. DRINK: (NA) Try the Swiss Lemonade (Limeade) VERDICT: Piola, if in Rosslyn, I am yours.
(4)
Marie S.

This is my go-to pizza place. Admittedly, I live within walking distance; however, I am very pleased with their pizzas. It's not what you would get in Italy, exactly, but it's close enough for Rosslyn. I usually get the Margarita with whole wheat crust, and my husband get some spicy number with anchovies. We happened to show up the other day on "all-you-can-eat-gnocchi" night, which was delicious, though rather filling. They only get four stars from me, though, because the service is generally not that great and the interior ambiance is a bit lacking. However, if it is warm and you can sit on the patio, who cares about the ambiance, right?
(4)
Natasha V.

The best pizza i've ever tried! I loved that fun atmosphere! also it's really great place for big groups ))
(5)
Mike L.

My former co-workers dubbed me "Mayor of Piola". Need I say more? I have loved this place since day one - when I worked across the street I was there for lunch at least once a week and happy hour 4-5 nights a week. Their menu is unique and after living in this area most of my life, I've never been able to find a place with the menu diversity they have at Piola. The pizza options are endless, their pasta is off the chain and their side dishes and salads are so funky and fresh, you always want more. The best part of Piola is the happy hour. The beer and wine prices aren't the cheapest, but the best part is the constant flow of food. Whether is be bruschetta, pizza, meatballs, wraps, they pass around free food, and the list goes on. Be nice to the gang, and they will take care of you - it's always a great feeling to walk in after quitting the job across the street over 6 months later and see familiar faces. I don't know whether or not it's a good thing they always have a glass of red wine waiting for me. Plus all you can eat gnocchi on the 29th of each month and all you can eat pizza on Sunday nights.
(5)
Nuri K.

A vast-as-a-desert menu masks (or perhaps alludes to) the fact that Piola's pizzas may come in a number of ways but just aren't that good. The crusts were gummy and while the pizzas are interesting and appealing conceptually, the creations themselves were so bland that no amount of parmesan could have hit it on the target. We were intrigued with the idea of having chopped boiled eggs sprinkled atop my pie and so ordered the Venezia but overboiled, grey-ringed eggs and a soggy bottom stopped me short of enjoying them. Out of Piola's white pizza selections we chose the Lipsia, topped with shrimp, broccoli, garlic, and tomatoes, the first of which were overcooked and respectively tough and mushy. D'Annunzio, a salad of greens, tomatoes, bean sprouts, palm hearts, mozzarella and avocado was not given a consideration of salt before it came to our table and was poorly accompanied by the house balsamic, an overall uninteresting combination worsened by the gritty, muddy flavor of overcooked bean sprouts. Torta nera was a decent dessert of ample chocolate flavor and sub-par (overly dense) texture, but chocolate cake and ice cream in most languages is very forgiving. Service was attentive and sincere, but the exorbitant noise level was a setback to my enjoyment. If it had not been ninety degrees out, al fresco would have been a lovely choice, albeit with a long wait. There are better pizza places in the world, even, I'm sure, in the Washington area. In the future I would skip on Piola.
(2)
Brent S.

I've gotten pizza here several times for lunch, and it's usually pretty good. The crust in particular is very good, it's more of a traditional style that's more chewy than crispy. The margherita pizza is good, although I find the pizza with sausage to be the best. I got a white pizza with salmon once that just wasn't good, I'd recommend against getting a white pizza. All lunches come with minestrone soup or a salad. The soup is good, but I'm not a fan of the salad, it's just lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
(3)
Christina C.

If you like paying exorbitant prices for pizza pies with sparse toppings and burnt crusts...then by all means head over to this place. If you like paying half-exorbitant prices for pizza pies with sparse toppings and burnt crusts, head over during happy hour. 'Nuff said.
(2)
Mel B.

Went here for the second time a had the Tarragona (love eggplant!) and the minestrone soup. Both were fresh, perfectly seasoned, perfect crust on the pizza, and I even wanted sacrificed a piece to instead bring home for later. I've added three more stars - service is excellent and friendly, food is great, well-priced, and atmosphere is perfect for the business lunch- I've only gone here in this capacity, but it seems like it has a kickin' happy hour, too! Good Happy Hour is few and far between in Rosslyn (surprising given the hundreds of companies and offices there- can someone get on that please? Thanks.) I think my first time here was a rough patch and it happens sometimes, but this place is def one of the bright spots in otherwise desolate Rosslyn. ******************** * 1 star* My first time here I ordered the arugula, tomato, and mozzarella pizza. I'm really not clear what they bake their crust in, but the ONLY way I GUESSED that it was genuinely brick oven was from the trademark burnt edges. Yes, burnt. Burnt edges. Soggy middle. Toppings randomly strewn about the top. It had to be eaten with a knife and fork. It was more like a salad ON a pizza. The one part of the pizza that was remotely edible was that semi-cheesy and saucy part before the actual crust, but after you've eaten all the toppings. Pizzas come with a starter salad, which was just mixed greens with tomato and cucumber with average balsamic and olive oil. They don't offer any fresh parmesan for the salad or pizza, but they do offer fresh pepper and a bowl of parmesan that is definitely straight out of a plastic bottle in bulk. No bread at the table, either. Hmmm... The minimum to offer at a "brick oven" or even minimally respected Italian restaurant is freshly grated parm. Am I wrong here?? The ingredients were, however, at least fresh and tasty. The server was also super friendly and the manager walked around to check on the general operation. Still, this is one of the worst made pizzas I've had in the DC area. In the end, two of us somehow spent $40 on two pizzas and one coke. This place is a ripoff.
(4)
J D.

Pizza, a comfort food for me, is treated with great care at this Arlington hangout. I recently enjoyed several pizzas with some friends on rainy summer afternoon/ evening: New York style, thin crusts, with an appealing sauce, mushroom, pepperoni and margherita. The mushroom pizza was the best of the trio: rich flavors, nicely sauced, with the earthy mushroom flavors shining through the cheese. This delightful pie was closely followed in appeal by a spicy pepperoni with an assertive bite, not the kind of pizza topping one generally associates with a Washington pizza joint. The margherita was the tamest of the bunch, slivers of basil lying atop pie. Of the three pizzas, the mushroom made the strongest case for me that a meatless evening was perfectly acceptable. Service was a bit on the slow side but then again, we weren't in much of a hurry, lingering for long moments, catching up and swapping stories. Check out the happy hours starting really early in the afternoons: the pricing on the pizzas is intended to encourage orders.
(3)
Holly S.

This place is absolutely the thing I miss most about living in Rosslyn. Their pizza and happy hour are fantastic. The happy hour goes until 8 pm at the bar. The happy hour perks are well-documented on Yelp: passed appetizers and cheap, big rail drinks. The appetizers alone make hanging out for a while worth it. We typically stay after happy hour and order pizza as well. I love wood-fired, thin-crust pizza, so this was totally up my alley. My personal favorite is the Sparta (no olives), and my dining companion loves the Carbonara. Occasionally they bring us complimentary dessert shots at the end of the meal. Amazing little gelato and limoncello shots that tasted like a lemon milkshake. So good! I preferred the old bar set-up without the benches more, but this does prevent people from moving the chairs around a ton and one group completely dominating the space. I'm not a soccer fan at all, but if you are , this is the place to be when there is any sort of major European match. They show the games there and the bar is packed with viewers.
(5)
Jey J.

The bracco Di ferro (spelled incorrectly) is my favorite. I get it with some pepperoni on it and I am in heaven. I only order pick up to go because the one time we ordered delivery, the pizza was completely smashed to one side. Other than that one time, no complaints. Always prompt with their service and always kind.
(4)
Angela N.

How have I never written a review for Piola? I used to live in Rosslyn and this was my go-to Happy Hour spot. Sitting at the bar for HH, there are free bar snacks and the servers come around with pizza to try. The sangria is quite good and the wine is fairly inexpensive. I've never had a bad service experience there either. Of course, Piola is known for their pizza and I've tried quite a few different kinds. I'm not much on meat and normally stick with veggie pizza. They used to have more artichoke options, but I went last week and their menu had been redone. The quality of the pizza and ingredients is still there, just give me more artichoke options without meat, Piola! This is definitely one of my favorite pizza places in Arlington and the happy hour makes it that much better. I keep coming back again and again.
(4)
Don S.

Awful. Pasta over cooked. Service poor even coffee -lavazza- was weak. Meatballs were very salty and dense and dry. Tiramisu missed the mark for flavor. A real shame. Dinner bare had pizza. Okay but nothing special. I'd skip this one.
(1)
Roddy B.

Don't say you have delivery if every 1 out of 2 times I call you say: we are not delivering today.
(2)
Arlene T.

A co-worker took me here for lunch and I cannot wait to go again. Decor is nice, service was great, food was delish! I ordered the Toscanini salad and highly recommend. It was huge and I had to take half of it home! Smoked salmon was very fresh. I love the fact you get bread and make your own dipping oil. I only get 45 mins for lunch and was surprised we were served, ate and left within that timeframe. I heard their mixed drinks are great. I wouldn't know since I was at work~ Try them!
(4)
Daniel A.

Good veggie pizza, nothing great or outstanding but good. The Chicken Milanese and oven roasted potatoes were both on the dry side. The wine was okay, think it was a Pinot by the glass, but it wasn't memorable. Good happy hour and they bring out free apps to taste and good deals. Good number of beers, especially some Italian ones. Didn't try the All and all, not bad if you live nearby or work in Rosslyn (since there isn't much else in Rosslyn) but not working going out of the way to visit.
(3)
Monica H.

Solid appetizers and main dishes. The pizzas are huge and very yummy. Some of the desserts were lacking--didn't love the profiteroles, but the tiramisu was spot on. They host a fun, low-key NYE party. I'll be back for happy hour (and GNOCCHI NIGHT!).
(4)
Heidi W.

Eh not bad, not great. Kinda overpriced. If u go don't expect the food to wow you, but the bill just might lol
(2)
Elana G.

The pizza here comes closest to what you will get in Italy. I think it's pretty authentic. The closest to this I can find here is Trader Joe's frozen pizza, and frozen is never as good as fresh out of the oven. Part of me is not happy I discovered this place because now I'm gonna want to get takeout from here all the time :-p I don't think the prices are bad considering what you get. I went here at the tail end of happy hour and sat at the bar waiting for some friends to arrive. I don't know if it's like this all the time, but the "free appetizers" are kind of gimmicky. They passed around gnocchi with toothpicks stuck in them. I consider those samples, not appetizers, and I found the gnocchi to be a little mushy. However this place still gets 5 stars because the pizza is that worth it. Oh and the house Sangiovese was quite good.
(5)
Jenn M.

The pizza at Piola is very authentic.. Their thin crust pizza reminds me of the pizza I had in Europe. Be sure to stop in during happy hour; they have free appetizer samples every 30 min or so but expect to wait for a seat at the bar. We order the number 9 (spicy salami) and the number 13 (ham, mushroom, artichoke). I really liked the spicy salami (haha). We also had the avocado and shrimp appetizer which was good but I didn't care for the pink sauce or that it was a cold dish. I wouldn't order it again but I'm glad I tried it. The service was great, the manager introduced himself and he made sure we were taken care of.
(4)
Jennifer S.

Great location, busy and well priced happy hour, very friendly service and good food. I thoroughly enjoyed my pizza with ham, mushrooms and artichokes.
(4)
Kats T.

The pizza quality varies greatly depending on the cook, but overall they're quite good - with a proper thin crust. Happy Hour is a great value and the wine is well priced.
(4)
Suraj S.

Awesome happy hour spot, best in Rosslyn. Pizza is pretty solid too. I've always had great service from all the waiters and waitresses and have always had a good time there. Probably go there once every 2 weeks right now on the regular and always have a good time.
(5)
James W.

Solid personal pizzas and a great happy hour. If you get there before 6pm, pizzas are $7 each (basically half price), and drinks are $3 for select beers, $6 for rail drinks, and $5 for house wines. The only downside of this place is that it really lacks in beer selection, but the pizzas are solid. Sit at the bar for free happy hour food!
(4)
Michal A.

Love this place! Every pizza that I've eaten there so far tasted like heaven! The 'Beirut' & 'Parma' pizzas were delicious!! We've had the Dannunzio salad as an appetizer and it was very good - perfectly assembled ingredients with a tasty Dijon mustard sauce. They offer an assortment of interesting wine list - the Chardonnay was good. The service is great - welcoming and goes a long way to make the dinning customers happy - both waiter and hostess :)
(5)
Daniel G. R.

ABSOLUTELY BEST PIZZA IN DC AREA! Highly recommended their Rio de Janeiro pizza, which is a Brazilian classic pizza made with catupiry cheese and chicken.
(5)
Alex S.

Was good pizza, just didn't live up to the hype. Decor does look pretty cheap. Tons of toppings but wished they would've had pepperoni. No reason to recommend it, but didn't hate it either.
(3)
M D.

As a New Yorker, I am always searching for that gooey, greasy, flat, tasty pizza I grew up with. Piola comes pretty close. I would come here again. Try the chicken broccoli pizza.
(4)
Garrett B.

This restaurant is awful. They just recently opened and already have an unfriendly attitude. I am a former restaurant owner and now own retail stores. From the moment we walked in the door we were treated poorly. The hostess who sat us didn't even look at us or say enjoy your meal. They claim to have great pizza, however, the pizza we had was extra thin and soggy. They do not have sausage or pepperoni only salami which were tiny bite size pieces and very sparse. Our pasta with salmon dish was so fishy tasting that it might as well have been made with anchovies. The Parmesan cheese tasted processed and when asked, we were told it was. The bread was hard and tasteless, the wine selection terrible and when we asked the waitress about the wine she did not have any suggestions. She never refilled our drinks/water and we had to ask the busboy for silverware twice. Another thing I did not like is that they have the busboy bring customers food instead of your waiter. The waitress never followed up with us to make sure everything was OK (I don' t want to know that the busboy who is cleaning tables and putting his fingers into other peoples glasses and dirty plates is going back into the kitchen to handle my food that he is bringing out to me). I also hate when a restaurant uses a spray cleaner to clean off a table while you're at the next table eating your food. While nothing could get us to go back to this restaurant, the final straw was with the Manager. The waitress told her to come over after she realized that we hardly at anything. After telling her our complaints, she told us that they have 17 locations, are know for their pizza and that the table next to us had the same pasta dish and did not complain about it. She never apologized to us and did not take one item (that we did not eat), off the bill nor even give us a coupon. I am giving this place one star because Yelp does not have a negative rating system. By the way my favorite pizza in the city is Pizzeria Paradisio in Georgetown and Romantique in Great Falls. Ciao............
(1)
Jennifer S.

For this chain restaurant (in Italy) that has restaurants in two other US locations (Miami and NYC), three stars is completely reasonable and fair since it hasn't even officially opened yet (due to sometime this September). This review is based on a 'soft opening' that took place a week ago and is sure to improve (after all, it is an Italian chain opening an Italian restaurant). The biggest indicator that it's a chain is the decor. As a girlfriend of mine stated, and I completely agree, you can see the look they were going for, but it looks a little cheap. If decor isn't a major concern for you and your focus is more on the food, than may I recommend the handmade gnocchi with ham and eggplant (w/out ham for me) and for dessert, the tiramisu which was received well by many and is a large enough portion to share with another and still be satisfied. I've posted their (bizarre) website if you'd like to learn more, pre-opening.
(3)
Lena T.

Pizza is awesome. Thin and perfect balance of crispy and doughy. Arugula, carpaccio and brie on a pizza??? Hell yeah! The gnocchi is great, too. And salads are big and fresh. Oh, and the profiteroles are so yummy. Considering how lacking Rosslyn is for fun spots to hang out, I'm not sure why this place isn't busier. For such good pizza, I wish I could get it by the slice!
(4)
Isabel B.

Awesome place, delicious food!! No so cheap though but everything is so yummi!! rio de Janeiro pizza is the best one so far!! Loved it....
(5)
Audra K.

Handmade gnocchi with ham and eggplant with tomato sauce... YUM! The pizzas are great, too. Though with so many to chose from, it can be difficult to do! But once I brought my dad here and he really wanted a pepperoni pizza that day, something fierce! The closest thing they had to pepperoni was spicy salami and he pouted though the entire meal! It just wasn't pizza to him. Caphirinhas are delicious. In my opinion it doesn't feel like a chain because there's a lot of local photography hanging on the wall. Just my $.02! But I'm not an Italian chain restaurant expert or anything.
(4)
Azher S.

The smoked salmon pizza is my personal favorite.
(4)
Ateet A.

Really good pizza! The Spartan rocks!!! they have over 50 or 60 unique pizza ideas that really get your taste buds going. On Sunday they even have a pizza buffet where they keep making random pizzas for the whole restaurant to try. Pretty cool concept and apparently a good place to enjoy some drinks as well!
(4)
Alexis M.

Four of us wandered over for happy hour and dinner on a Thursday night and were pretty pleased, all around. I was especially pleased to find a fun place to hang out in Rosslyn--just the kind of place that might actually help me convince my friends from the District to cross the river and hang out in my 'hood once in awhile. Since so many Yelpers seem to be comparing Piola to Pizzeria Paradiso, I guess I'll play along... -Pizza prices are comparable. -Piola has FAR MORE options on their pizza menu (I swear, there were at least 50 different choices). I had the Carbonara, which was really good. It had egg, but the eggy flavor wasn't overpowering. I could actually pick it up and eat it with my hands, unlike the Botarga (which has a fried egg on top) that Paradiso serves. We also ordered bruschetta for the the table, which was good. The bread was toasted perfectly--crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and loaded with sweet tomato and basil topping. The oil, balsamic vinegar, parmesan, and dried hot peppers on the table allowed each of us to customize the bruschetta and pizza to our own tastes. -Beer selection is much slimmer at Piola than at Paradiso, but the happy hour prices are pretty great, and Stella and Peroni are good, solid options for pairing with pizza. -We got to Piola at 7:00 and got a table right away. I don't think the same could be said for Paradiso, where I waited over an hour for a table for four recently. I'll definitely be visiting Piola again. Service was friendly and attentive, the atmosphere was bright and, unlike other Yelpers, I didn't find the music distracting. The volume was at a level that still allowed us to carry on a conversation, and we were able to hang out over a leisurely meal and not feel the need to rush out and free up the table for other guests (like at Paradiso). Now that I've found Piola, my friends are going to have a REALLY hard time convincing me to trek into the District for wood-fired pizza. Perhaps they can come to Rosslyn, for a change.
(4)
Heather B.

Meh. I'm borderline on Piola, it wasn't fantastic but wasn't completely awful. I had one of the pizza's not saying it was bad but I honestly would have been just as wow'd if I got a pizza from Domino's or Papa John's down the street. I'm assuming that the high price of the pizza is because of the atmosphere....which is cute....if I was a 13 year old girl. The decor and flatware is very "kitchey" trendy but more suitable for a girls night or family crowd. I saw the happy hour menu which looks enticing but if it's the happy hour that's drawing you to this bar, you're better off going next door to Cafe Asia.
(2)
Olivia O.

This is one of the best oven brick pizzas ever! They have so many choices and the pizzas come out so perfect. A little crispy on the outside and perfect in the middle!
(5)
Rocky A.

Piola maybe from Italy, but TGI Friday's is from the U.S. so maybe heritage isn't all that important. I like the space, the ambience and especially the service. Unfortunately, the pizzas were nothing to write home about. For pizzas, you'll do better at Two Amy's or Pizzeria Paradiso. It's not that Piola's pizzas are bad, they're just not noteworthy. It's a fine neighborhood place and I'll probably get back there at some point.
(3)
Megan W.

I just moved to the area and Piola was the first restaurant I ventured to, I have been there several times since and the experience is always the same- lovely and satisfying. They have a HUGE selection of pizzas, that have that thin, chewy crust, and delicious flavor. The service isn't always the best, but I like to sit outside, so I'll cut them some slack. I alwyas have a good time!
(5)
Evi D.

Came here with friends for lunch in November of '08. Good lunch selection, and decent food. I got a pizza, there was a decent amount of food since I had leftovers. I heard it's great for drinks. Service was pretty good, and nothing really to complain about. Everyone who came with us had a great time and enjoyed their lunch.
(3)
Joe L.

My wife and I went here last night, and, at first were impressed with what a cool place it was (that we had never heard of). So we both ordered our own pizza, but the waiter only put in one of them. Granted, the manager gave us a free dessert. But the bottom line for me was, the pizza was so average! So I suppose we might return for, "the scene" (but probably not, because we're too old anyway), but we would never return for the service or food.
(2)
Bob T.

I have been to Piola twice for happy hour and twice for dinner. The happy hour is a pretty good deal as they provide free appetizers and have specials on house wine. I have been there for dinner twice and thought it it was so-so. It definitely is better pizza than dominos or pizza hut but the place just doesn't get me excited. So go for happy hour but you could probably go elsewhere for dinner.
(3)
Wanita N.

Fine if you like thin crust pizzas w/out too many toppings. I had the salami and mozz, spicy and not at all cheesy. The Sunday all you can eat pizza sounds interesting, but again only if you like thin crust. Monday night all you can eat gnocchi sounds more appealing to me and I'll give them another try because the service, space and options are good for the price point. But for pizza I'll take Chicago deep dish any day over thin crust. If only there were a Geno's here!
(3)
Allie M.

Great happy hour! I hosted a fundraiser here, and although not a lot of people showed up, I had a great time! Their white wine sangria is AMAZING and has bits of mango and strawberries mixed in. The servers come around with trays of sample pizzas and bruschetta, and there are free cheese plates at the bar. The atmosphere is fun and hip, and they play upbeat dancey music. This is a great spot for a cool drink after work or a great place to get the night started before heading out in Clarendon. I will be back!
(5)
Blaire L.

I love Piola - especially now that they deliver! I always get the gnocci, but my boyfriend is a fan of many of the other dishes. Highly recommend, especially for delivery food!
(4)
Rose L.

they were one of the few rest open @ 10pm so a+ for that. and they were still serving their menu - ordered salad and pizza. both came out w/in 5 min - awesome! salad was nice size and tasty. pizza was also very good so this was def a good pick for late nite and if u have a hankering for pizza, salads etc...
(4)
Michelle S.

Piola was definitely a great place to have dinner and relax. We sat outside and I was pleased that the outside seating had an overhang as it started sprinkling just before we left. I had the Udine Pizza (Parma ham, eggplant, tomato sauce and mozzarella) which was definitely good for a pizza but it wasn't out of this world amazing. I really did enjoy the house white! A little sweet, which is how I like wine. A few mental notes that I made during dinner: There was a birthday party at another table and when it came time for the cake and song only one waiter brought out the cake and did the singing. I guess birthday songs are not their forte. There was a homeless man across the street that serenaded the birthday girl with a lovely rendition of a birthday song which was better than the server could do. Also, it seemed odd to me that there was a waiter station just outside the front door. This station was used for boxing up food for the outdoor seating guests but also looked like a break spot for some of the waiters to smoke. It just seemed a little odd. The price was pretty good. I believe the pizza I had was about $15.00 but they had an awesome special and all pizzas were only $7. I went on a Saturday evening so I'm not sure if they have it every weekend. I would definitely go back some time in the future if I'm in the mood for some outside seating with good wine and good pizza!
(3)
Yasmine B.

Soooo good! Staples like the margarita pizza are freshly created, and taste great! Also try the Marinara (cheeseless) and garlicky!
(4)
Anne B.

We had a very nice experience at Piola yesterday. Although I would have preferred to try the much-vaunted Putanella, we were a group of six wanting to have a good long catch-up chat so I wanted to be able to reserve a table and not be rushed out of a small, popular place. As it turned out, Piola was empty on Saturday at noon! But that was just fine with me. Needless to say under these circumstances, service was excellent, although our waitress was so pleasant I am sure it would have been even if the place was full. The food was better than expected. We had the bruschetta $6.50 and the VALLE DEI TEMPLI Burrata cheese and shaved Prosciutto crudo and cherry tomatoes. $17.00 which was totally worth it! The burratta was amazing and the proscuitto was abundant and delicious. I also had the CARPACCIO NABUCCO Carpaccio (thinly sliced filet of raw beef), arugula, shaved grana padano cheese, capers and olive oil based sauce. $12.00 which was delicious. Others in the party had various pizzas which were all good. The two Marine Corps Marathoners from Texas we were with were making plans to go back to Piola for dinner that night. In short, we had a great experience and will go back again (especially on a quiet Saturday lunchtime).
(4)
Kelen F.

The best pizza in DC/VA/MD
(5)
Ragzz D.

Here s the problem i had with this place..... They did not serve us the bread...while they served every other table...Our waitress was busy talking to the hostess and didn't bother to even take our order and the place wasn't even full... they took like 15 minutes to bring us the drink- it was a lemonade , not sure of the name.... I had the caprese sandwich...it was ok....my husband had the fusilli bianco verde, which he said was just ok.....
(2)
Gloria S.

this place is soooo underrated. yeah it's kind of in no-mans-land after work hours but the happy hour is bomb - they serve passed apps AND they just opened a location by U street (on V street). the pizza is amaze - i can't really order from anywhere else anymore. and a lot of them healthy - thin crust with lots of veggies, yummy cheeses. the seafood is okay but this place is best for their cheeses, like catupiry (a soft, buttery brazilian cheese) or burrata (like fresh mozz, but creamier). do yourself a favor and check this place out! you won't regret. totally yummy eats without breaking the bank, AT All. and also, the wait staff FOH is the best service i have ever received in my life. !!! also they have really good daily specials, like pizza time (4pm-6pm and like, later 10pm i think) and gnocchi day is every 29th (all u can eat). $2 bellinis on the weekend try these pizzas: rio de jinero, houston, mantova, sparta, brooklyn try these pastas: penne civadale, pappardelle bolognese *YUM!*
(5)
Tony M.

I like this happy hour. Music is fun and not too loud. Drinks are priced right. Passed FREE pizza, gnocchi and bruchetta
(4)
Michael G.

I really only ever came here for happy hour specials to get cheap pizza. For the happy hour prices, it was totally worth it. For regular price, not so much. Some of the ingredients (such as the porcini mushrooms) were really less than stellar and actually degraded the overall pizza. So you have to be careful about what you order there. I guess for Rosslyn it's a 4-star restaurant, because there isn't much else over there in that soulless barren wasteland of offices. But as I live in DC, it's getting 3 stars.
(3)
Henry M.

First they got our pickup order confusingly wrong. We ordered one margherita and one feta and ham. Instead we got a margherita plus ham and goat cheese. When we refused it, we were charged for a margherita and given a cheese pizza. The price or that was on the high side and the quality was mediocre at best. A large pizza is about 12" FYI.
(2)
Alicia R.

The food is delicious and the service is always attentive. I've been to this location a number of times over the last three years. The happy hour is unbeatable. Drink specials are competitively priced and they also serve free apps in the bar area for everyone to share-ranging from fruit and sandwich bites to full slices of pizza!
(5)
Robert G.

Of course I found this place on my last night of a four night stay in Arlington. If I had found it sooner I would have been here every night. Ambiance is kind of ... whatever. Lots of art and music and reruns of soccer matches playing on the TV, probably like the original one in Treviso (home of Sidi boots!). Service was good. Sat at the bar and ordered up a Stella. Cold and delicious. They have what seems like a hundred kinds of pizza on the menu. I ordered the "Ragusa". It showed up in a just few minutes, meaning their brick oven is blazing hot - just like it should be. The pizza was very authentic to the pizza like I used to have in Italy. It had little balls of gorgonzola wrapped in pancetta on top of the mozarella and tomato sauce on a great thin crust. How was the pizza? It was so good that I was sad when I ate the last bite - because it was gone. If/when I'm in Arlington, or even DC again, I will make it a point to eat at Piola.
(4)
Helen S.

My senior manager took me along with a few new employees here for lunch one day. I've heard many great things about this place from my coworkers so I was really excited for this. We came here at the typical lunch time but it felt like it was pre or post lunch hour. The place was quiet and nothing like its busy neighboring cafe Asia. The place however is much bigger and felt a lot more comfortable. I thought the food was alright but it didn't wow me. But its still a nice restaurant that I would bring people to eat there when I am around the area.
(3)
Norry H.

Piola did not meet my expectations at all. The only thing I liked is the interior with high ceiling, the pizza crust and the couteous service of the waitress. The cheese on the Margherita pizza was not fresh mozzarela, not enough basil leaves on top, ham was used instead of prosciutto on the Capricioza pizza and the table and chairs were like those of school cafeteria's. I would give a higher score to the German born "Vapiano" than this Italian born chain restaurant.
(3)
Joey K.

I love this place! The happy hour is a steal! You can get a delicious pizza for $7 bucks... Are you kidding me? Quality ingredients, I recommend the Rio de Janeiro, which has a delicious Brazilian cream cheese called "Catupiry" with Chicken. The servers are great, I also recommend anything with Palmito, which are hearts of palm. Look at my picture! This place is fantastic.
(5)
Diana H.

Nice casual place. Great lasagna.
(4)
Brian D.

I had the most disgusting dining experience of my life here last week. I was served a glass of Chiante, and found sardine-like material in the bottom of the glass (after I had already finished 90% of it). I was not offered an explanation nor a refund by the staff or management. I still get disgusted every time I think about it.
(1)
Jonathan K.

I work across the street and often venture to Piola. I only come here for the pizza cause the other items on the menu aren't pleasant. For Washington D.C, the pizza is considered good. However, the service is despicable. The host (Veronica) seems to have a chip on her shoulder and the old time servers are no longer there. Also, they don't bring you bread to your table unless you specifically ask for it, not sure if this is their way of keeping costs down or whatsoever. Keep in mind that this use to be provided the minute you sat down in the past. Either way, although there are limited lunch places in Rosslyn area, i'd suggest to stay out of Piola.
(1)
Hannah B.

All you can eat pizza? Yes! Carbonara Pizza? Yes Please! On Sunday nights they have all you can eat pizza for $15 per person. They pick 10 pizzas off their menu and serve them until you say when. We lucked out this time because none had mushroom on them (yuck! in the past we were not so lucky). The pizzas vary from classic Margareta to ham to salami to carbonara (definitely my fav tonight!) The ingredients are fresh as the pizzas come out on the spot, they are not sitting around. it looks like they have great specials throughout the week but Sunday is one of my favorites. We also got their $19 house wine - great value! I love the brick-oven thin crust style pizza :)
(4)
Carla D.

I found this place to be a kind of a hidden happy hour gem. The specials are great, there are free samples every 10 minutes, the drinks are strong, and it was relatively cheap. I went with a group of coworkers and ended up having a fun time. A few of us waited at the bar for the rest of the group to show up. It is really a tight space. They have these small top (but tall) tables at the back of the bar that are a big waste of space. If they took those out more people could fit. But ideally, they would remove the bar from the front and relocate it to the back of the restaurant. It really is that a tiny of a bar area. Once the whole group arrived we moved to a table. I was irritated that we couldn't get HH deals sitting at a table or outside (outside drink specials until 7, but not food). It wasn't the end of the world, but it would have been nice. Our server was having a difficult time with our drink orders, she closed out my friends tab instead of bringing him 3 more drinks, she forgot drinks, or got them wrong. Granted she was nice and I think it was because she was not a very good English speaker, but she fixed the mistakes quickly and our drinks came out strongggg. For food we got: -Meatballs: These weren't my favorite. I liked the sauce with it but I was expecting a standard Italian meatball- this was like a piece of sausage that was rounded. It was a huge bite of meat without the benefit of a loose meat (in a meatball) to soak up the sauce. -Polenta and Ragu: This had a really nice texture to it because it was baked. The sauce was good, parmesan cheese was good too, but the dish as a whole was over salted which is a shame. -Carpaccio: I love me some raw meat and I love grana padano cheese so with good quality ingredients can't really go wrong ordering these sorts of things. -Shrimp with Avacado: tasted like frozen shrimp, needed salt, and the pink mayo sauce was way too sweet. Yuck. Now for the pizzas... We all know I am a pizza snob and refuse to compromise so all my pizza reviews are based on Arlington standards and not my unattainable NY standard: Margherita pizza: Solid Neapolitan pizza here. It was of course very thin so it got soggy, which is not my favorite thing in the world. However, the sauce was good, the cheese was good, and the crust was cooked well. I would eat it again. Tiramisu: This was ok. I disliked how much whipped cream was on top of it because it tasted like whip cream and I wanted a stronger espresso flavor. Overall this is a great place to come for HH
(3)
Michael G.

Pizza was ok and the staff was great. But very limited beer selection for a pizza joint (don't even have the regulars like bud light).
(2)
Serena B.

I met up with a group of friends here last Sunday afternoon. We ordered a few apps, pizzas and beer. The food was pretty good, though the bruschetta doesn't have mozzarella? It was still good though. The staff was so nice and accommodating and had no problem doing separate checks!! We greatly appreciated it as not many places in DC will do it for 6 separate bills. I will definitely be back to check out happy hour.
(4)
Alan B.

Great atmosphere, food, and service. Could not complain about this place. The authentic Brazilian pizza and drinks were very good. Been here plenty of times and service were always excellent.
(5)
Noel O.

I'm glad to see that other people had as good an experience here as I did. My friend and I went here to pick up some pizzas and wait while her sister got to Rosslyn metro. Because the sister was a little later than we thought, we sat at the bar while waiting for the pizzas to be made and enjoyed a glass of wine. I'm so glad we did because it gave us an opportunity to enjoy great music and funky (in a good way) decor. The menu's pretty straightforward--you order pizza here. What I was impressed with was their different options that reminded me of a pizza chain back in California called Round Table. What's memorable about these two chains, at least in my mind, is their choice of vegetables on their 'veggie lovers' pizza. Piola's includes broccoli, zucchini, and fresh salad greens on there. Who would have thought that salad on your pizza would be so fantastic??
(4)
Shell S.

Pizza was good, the desserts were better. The service was not good. Being our last night in town, we didn't want to have any leftovers, so we split a pizza and each got a dessert. The waiter seemed to have an attitude that we were splitting a pizza.
(3)
Pam S.

Despite not having a slew of vegan options, they were really friendly - and even were persuaded to substitute artichoke hearts for cheese at no cost. The pizzas are kind of pricey ... if you think of them as personal servings (as they suggest), they're $10+. However, the happy hour specials are great, the service as well, and it was good for a group (birthday in this case).
(4)
Stacy D.

Had spinacjh salad and USA pizza...very good. Friendly service!
(4)
Lenny P.

I've only been there a couple times, but so far I'm a big fan. I've had their pizza, Fettuccini Al Ragu, and a few appetizers. Everything I've tried so far is good, not great, but good food for a good price. The pizza (thin crust) is cooked in a brick oven and the ingredients are fresh. The pasta is also surprisingly good. This is rare since most places overcook their pasta. I haven't had any problems with the service and it's pretty easy to get a table. They do however need to tone down the loud techno music.
(4)
Lisa K.

Piola is where it belongs - a couple doors down from Cafe Asia. It's very Euro and so is the service - not overbearing - they leave you alone to enjoy your meal. We've been back a couple of times and enjoyed it every time. I'm not big on tomato sauce, so I either get the bianchi (usually with spinach) or a calzone. Since I live in Arlington, it's way more convenient than 2 Amy's but I don't get the hype over Paradiso's pizza - let's admit we all go there for the beer, not the pizza. Piola has better pizza than Paradiso, and fewer college students which is good for me, but it depends on what you're looking for I suppose.
(3)
T P.

Great happy hour deals here! Amazing drink prices all the way until 8pm--which I LOVE and the drinks are Delicious. SO good and strong. They also have free happy hour food! Mini pizzas, meatballs, bruschetta and basically bruschetta with melted cheese on it, yet not pizza. They also had a trio of cheese just sitting out. A little weird. Very nice owner and bartenders. We ordered the mini pizza appetizer and it was just ok. I feel like this could have been made at home. But it was just $5 for 3 mini pizzas. A definite bargain spot. I'd head here for drinks and the free apps, then head elsewhere for dinner!
(3)
Sarah F.

3.5 atmosphere is a little weird: really colorful goofy decorations and music that is a little too dancy (think jock jams) to be playing while you are having a meal . our waiter was really nice though and our food was good too. salad was fresh and the pizza was good except the middle was a little on the soggy side. we tried the margherita and the rossa.
(3)
Erik T.

Up the hill from the Rossyln metro station, Piola turns out some very solid and satisfying, brick-oven baked Neapolitan-style and thin crust pizzas. The thin pizza was an especially pleasant surprise. Roll up a slice and enjoy its delicacy and flavor.
(4)
Steven I.

My girlfriend and I love this place. While I can't speak to some of the other pizzas, their Diavola (or pepperoni) is some of the best I've ever had. The stone oven makes the difference. What also makes this place truly wonderful, however, is the service; very pleasant and responsive.
(4)
Kris L.

Quality food and great deals for happy hour!
(4)
Amber R.

I'd give this three and a half. Arlington desperately needs a good pizza/italian place. This isn't it. But it's not bad. They have a great happy hour with free pizza and other small apps. Sunday is a fun night there because you can do a fixed price, all you can eat, pizza tasting. I'm happy to have Piola in the area.
(3)
Patrick M.

I didn't eat here, just had a few drinks at the bar. I rarely review a restaurant's bar, but this one was just awful. Terrible service (intrusive, wrong drinks, etc), overpriced drinks, bad dance music playing all night. And the bar doesn't have any atmosphere at all. Just some small high tables and a lot of smokers. Obviously the food here is the reason to go, but if you're looking for a bar near the Rosslyn stop, go elsewhere.
(2)
Gretchen H.

I love this pizza! Although, has the crust gotten thinner recently? The menu is so long that it can be daunting but they will make additions or substitutions on toppings. This is true Neopolitan pizza and it can't be beat. The restaurant has high ceilings and very relaxed feel. It is also a great place to watch World Cup soccer.
(5)
Jay P.

The hostess said our reservation from OpenTable was only valid for inside seating. Who knew? Since only one of the dozen or so tables outside was occupied, after some discussion, she finally rolled her eyes and relented and seated us outside. Such an effort on her part. While my wife was negotiating (I stay out of these delicate affairs lest I say something honest and straightforward that gets me in trouble ...) I noticed that despite the fact it was College Fooball Saturday and despite the fact that the basbeall pennant races were running red hot, the bartender had managed to find a thrilling, scoreless soccer game between Lichtenstein and Serbia (or was it El Salvador and Bolivia?) to show on their one TV set. The waiter was unkept, pushy and rude. What a mess. No bread, no water. The menu is pretty much pizza. Not just any ppizza, but "GOURMET PIZZA." You know what that means. White pizza with goat cheese and arugula. Or chicken and broccoli pizza. Yeah, that's what I want for a pizza - no cheese, no sauce but plenty of vegetables on a soggy, flimsy little crust. Don't even think about eating this pizza by picking it up because it has the consistency of a wet paper towel. Knife and fork only. A spoon, had one been included in the tableware, would have been useful for slurping the watery crust. This is a pizza place for people who wouldn't know a pizza from a slice of bread and a salad. Soggy, wet bread. Paper thin. Except, at Piola, you don't get the bread. On top of all that, the parking garage is a nightmare - beyond words.
(1)
Maggie M.

Went here last night for a friends birthday. We had a huge table about 30 people. Reservation was at 8 we were seated on time! Which I can appreciate. The bar seemed pretty busy for a Monday night so that was a good sign. This was my first time going to Piola and majority of the groups first time as well. We had heard great reviews so we decided to check it out. Now on to the good stuff.... The decor was trendy and bright! Which i liked. Pretty colors and nice art work along with good music in the background. Drinks... The Mr. had a Caipirinha which was very strong and good. Its a very popular Brazilian drink. If you like Mojitos with out the mint you'd love a Caipirinha. I had a strawberry Caiproska which is made with Vodka instead of rum, it had a ton of fresh strawberry's in it! So good. Food.... they have a ton of pizza choices it felt like the entire menu was pizzas, and there HUGE! The waitress told us they were personnal pan but dont be fooled! Its about a size small (from any other pizza chain spot) about 8-9 slices and it could feed up to 2 -3 people. So we made the mistake of all ordering our own. Which next time wont happen! Cause its just to much to handle. I got the margarita pizza which is fresh mozzerlla and tomato sauce with fresh basil. The Mr. got the CARBONARA which was bacon, egg, Parmesan cheese, tomato sauce and mozzarella. He really enjoyed his. Mine was a bit greasy but what pizza isnt! Dessert!! My fav part of this meal and the only reason why i decided to yelp about Piola. We had the creme puffs and they were to die for! The puffs were still a bit warm wit bitter sweet chocolate drizzled all over them the creme in the insde of the puff was semi frozen/cold and semi melting so it made for an amazlingly good dessert! The mix of the bitter sweet chocolate and creme made this delish smooth milk chocolate last! Heaven on a little plate ! Overall Id go back but i hear on weekends it gets very packed. So i think ill def go back during the week it seemed less of a hassel. ***I forgot to mention my friend had the gnocchi and it was very tasty! Very rich in flavor and gooey cheese! Everyone kept taking bites of her meal! Luckly I had so much pizza she shared with me!***
(4)
Nicky B.

I really like this place. I went with 3 others and we all ordered a different kind of pizza and sampled, and they were all very good. There is one with gorgonzola, arugula, and spicy pepperoni that if I went back again, that would definitely be my pick. I liked that they had plain, simple pizzas for the timid and new, interesting ingredient pairings for the adventurous. Drink selection is ehhh. They only have 4 beers to choose from (I like pizza and beer...a bellini and pizza just doesn't sound good to me). But, if you go past 10 on the weekends, it's a pizza and a beer for $12 (i think?), when a pizza is normally around that alone, plus the $4-5 beer. The restaurant itself is nice. We didn't sit inside, but the few moments we were in there, the place looked clean and decorated nicely. They have a nice big patio that I'm sure I'll be heading back to soon.
(4)
Robert B.

Nice sidewalk cafe for lunch on a spring day--made me feel almost like I was in Europe. I had salad nicoise, with a nice piece of med-rare tuna and just the right amount of dressing on the lettuce, green beans, onions and egg. Friendly service too. Pizza looks good, too. I'd have to try it for dinner before I give four stars, but could go there, depending on how the pizza and and wine list are.
(3)
J K.

I've lived by Piola for a while now and kept meaning to try it, but didn't get a chance until this past weekend...I wasn't missing anything. The pizza combinations don't seem to make sense and are all over the board. I just went with a Diet Coke (it came in a can...I don't know why this annoyed me, but you're a chain and you don't have a fountain machine???) and the mushroom pizza. The pizza itself was decent, but there were about 7 wee little mushroom chunks on my whole pizza. I'd eat here in a pinch, but for real pizza, I'm going to the Italian Store.
(2)
Jill H.

I think this place is so reasonably priced; that's one of the reasons I really love it! The owner is Italian and they host "aperativo". This is an the Italian version of the happy hour. What makes it so awesome is that they provide free finger foods at the bar. It's a great way to mingle with those around you too; instead of just sticking with the group you are with. They have so many great pizza choices, it makes it hard to choose!
(5)
Judy C.

The trendy ambience, high-ceilings and nice outdoor seating area push this up in the rankings to a 3.5. The brick-oven cooked pizzas are your thin-crust, doughy, Neapolitan type, but nothing too special in this category of pizzas. Overall, the flavors were a bit too mild for my taste - I felt a constant urge to add more parmesan cheese or some kind of seasoning to each bite, which I did not feel I had to do with some other neapolitan pizza places in the area. The dough was pretty good. I'd return to try their gnocci and take advantage of some of their happy hours deals.
(3)
Bindesh S.

[*] Drink specials are decent for happy hour and appetizer they serve during it are not bad.
(3)
Mike R.

I usually keep these reviews to just the food because I'm usually not swayed much by service, setting, etc. but this review is all about my last 20 minutes at this place. The food was good, but I will not go back. We were in with a group of 8 and since they wouldn't split our check we went about the oh so fun process of pooling our money and credit cards. Our service wasn't that great but they included the gratuity so we didn't have to deal with figuring out tip. As is often the case when people are figuring out their portion we ended up with too much money and since the service wasn't great we were hesitant to just leave the difference but in the end we decided to just leave it since it was too much of a pain to break bills and figure out who needed money back...just easier to leave it. So we as a group (multiple people counted the money) thought we were leaving 195 for a 185 tab (with gratuity included) and lo and behold our server returned asking for another 20 and saying we were short. We stated that we had multiple counts of the money and she told us we'd have to figure it out because she didn't take our money. We again counted out how much each person remembered contributing and came up with the same number. Our first inclination was to just toss in the extra 2-3 per person and leave, but as a group we became more and more disturbed by it and decided to ask for a manager. First manager issue, she came over with the server and we immediately got into a back and forth between our spokesperson and the server. It quickly became a "I'm not a thief, I wouldn't do that kinda thing" discussion which was counter productive. The manager should have come over alone so we could calmly discuss the situation. We told the manager that the bottom line is that we as a group of 8 agree on the amount left and we'll pay what they say we owe, but it's not right. She apologized and took our money...fine, I'm never coming back here because they're willing to overcharge a group of 8 professionals $20 with a $200 check on the word of a server. The amount of the overcharge is less than the mandatory gratuity by the way. I was upset, but I bit my tongue. Let's just get out of here. But it gets better. Part of our $20 overcharge was put on a credit card so the manager came back to deliver the receipt. We were so ready to just get out of there. The manager apologized one last time and said that it's probably just that we got it wrong because it's confusing as a big group. We said...no we didn't, we counted multiple times and we were concerned that we were over and we frankly didn't want to leave a larger tip for the mediocre service we received. She apologized and said "but you are still going to come back right?". That's when I lost it. I as calmly as I could took over the spokesperson role and said I might have come back to a restaurant with a lousy server that messed up our check, but I'm never going back to a place whose management will take extra money from a table that all agrees they are being overcharged, especially when it's an amount less then the included gratuity. I told her I'm not coming back because of the way she handled things. She then asked us if she could give us our money back...we said forget it, it's the principle...we just wanted out. It's a shame because I liked my pizza, but I can't go back there. The plus side is that I'm finally able to give a 1-star review.
(1)
Derrick L.

"Famosi per la pizza?" It was fine, but we wouldn't go out of our way to get it. We had some starchy and mushy gnocchi. Eh.
(2)
Grace S.

A friend told me he'd take me to "beer and pizza" and I found myself at Piola. While the pizza menu is good (thin crust type pizzas with a lot of different topping combos) and Peroni with pizza is fantastic, I have to say what makes this place is the TIRAMISU. The decorations are, as some people say, kinda cheezy. The bar has always been more crowded than the actual restaurant when I've been there (Tuesdays and Fridays). And I'm not a big fan of their mixed drinks. But who knows, it's still relatively new, it could bloom soon... But the tiramisu, oh, the tiramisu.. I'm not so much a sweets person anymore (I think I grew out of it after eating parfaits and cake on a daily basis in Japan) but this place is worth going to just for the tiramisu. In fact, that's what I did the second time around. And, because I wouldn't share my over-indulgently large portion of tiramisu, it ended poorly for my stomach. Edit: I went there again with a friend last Friday. I finally noticed that the "flowers" on the walls behind me (I always sit on the bench side, I'm weird like that) were made of pasta -- pretty cool! I tried out the Venezia pizza, which (despite having some interesting toppings like egg) was yummy! And, as it is becoming a habit, I got the tiramisu (but split it this time!). My friend thought it was better than the tiramisu we got at the Italian place on 23rd Street (I keep forgetting the name of it so I can't bookmark it to review). Oh, and they were out of Peroni this time around, but Stella goes well with pizza too...
(4)
Justine F.

Delicious italian style pizza and salads. My roommates and I frequent here often. Also, great sangria at happy hour with free appetizers. It can get a little loud- think euro club- so beware. Nice outdoor patio as well.
(4)
JK L.

I've had Ortomisto and Bologna pizza, and they were fresh and almost felt healthy to eat. I know pizza probably can't be that healthy but it's not as greasy as other pizzas. We went to all you can eat Gnocchi Day last month and it was great! I liked everything except for the one with salmon and another one with ham. The one with salmon was so fishy that all of us only had one bite. I tried Peroni beer, and it became one of my favorites since I like light beers. I'm definitely going there for all you can eat Pizza day too.
(4)
Harry T.

I came for lunch with co-workers and I loved the pretty waitresses. We ordered the lunch specials so they came out fast. That isn't a bad thing for a business lunch. All the lunch specials came with a soup or salad. I ordered the spiced salami (think pepperoni) with mozzerella and tomato sauce pizza. It was great. The cheese was fresh and flavorful and the crust was thin which made for a great pizza. I'm coming again for the good quick food and cute waitresses :).
(4)
Lena M.

Definitely go check this place out. It is a fun ambiance (yes, can get loud, but doesn't ruin the experience at all) and the food is great. It was the first time I had heard of it and am glad I now know it exists!
(4)
Mindy D.

When I'm craving a pizza, this is where I go! The menu selection is huge but they are all just the right size for one. The wine list is so-so. Happy hour makes up for it with their free finger foods at the bar and the discounted beers and mixed drinks. Yum. Love the ambiance. The seating can be a bit too close to others. Outdoor seating in the summer is perfect. Oh and Fri & Sat nights after 11, it's $12 for any pizza and a beer.
(4)
C.P. S.

Piola's is the best pizza in Arlington. The pizza menu is expansive with many simple as well as creative (pizza) pies. Ingredients are of high quality. The crust is thin and in-line with Italian tradition with a hint of that burnt crispy taste, its delicious. The cheese and light tomato sauce is a great base for pizza. The pitted black olives are delicious, great cured meats, arugula, chicken with broccoli and spinach are just among a few topping selections that taste great. The wine list isn't fantastic, but will give you just enough to work with, or opt for a beer. Salad is simple with oil and vinegar dressing, but is none the less a good warm-up to devour the pizza. Good place for a date as the atmosphere is trendy and funky. Also accommodating for larger groups. Best pizza in Arlington, but not quite the top echelon of DC. Enjoy.
(4)
Rob A.

We've heard good things about Piola, and I will say that the food was decent. We went there on a late Sunday night and the staff was friendly and accommodating. We all ordered pizza. It was okay, but my wife says that Two Amys is better. The pizzas are pretty pricey, and the restaurant was founded in Italy and they try to run it like one. The example I have is that if you order a coke, a 12 ounce can comes out with a tiny glass. And by the way you pay $2 for that 12 ounce can. Overall the pizza was good, but for the money you spend, you'd be better off going to California Pizza Kitchen, Two Amys, or Matchbox.
(3)
Jay R.

My wife and I are new to the Rosslyn area, and are in the process of checking out the nearby restaurants. Last night we hit Piola, and are the newest fans. We started with the Peperonata Palmi, which is a sort-of Italian nacho platter (sauteed vegetables over nacho chips), and Ceviche Mancora. The nacho thing really didn't need the chips, but otherwise was tasty, and the ceviche was good. For the main, we had the Capricciosa pizza (ham, mushrooms, artichokes, tomato sauce, mozzarella) and the Lisbona (white pizza, with gorgonzola, spicy salami, arugula, and mozz). Both were yummy! The best part of our visit was our server, Elisabeth. She was sweet, adorable, and very gracious and helpful. She's a keeper! All in all, a good experience, and we'll be back!
(4)
Hannah B.

If you're looking for amazing pizza in DC, Piola is the place to go. They have a huge variety of pizzas as well as other dishes. Also I love their pizza deals if you get there before certain times its only about 5-6 bucks. I love the inside too. Never had an issue with service, though if its a slow time they don't seem to come to the table as fast as when they're busy. The only negative thing about this place is sometimes I get burnt crust...its happened more than once. But other than that its delicious!
(3)
Rebecca H.

No one in our group had been before and everyone walked away happy! We started in the bar with cocktails (the house mojito-like drink was a huge hit as was their rendition with vodka and strawberries). I stuck to wine and thought the house red was easy to drink. The appetizers (green and caprese salads) were fresh. 4 of the 5 of us got a pizza and each report was very good. I got the tuna and thought it was well prepared (cooked to order) but could have used some seasoning (but that's what I get for ordering fish at a pizza place). Definitely plan to go back, possibly for the great happy hour pizza deals!
(4)
hk k.

This is my favorite happy hour spot, hands-down. I have been going here ever since it opened about 4 years ago and it has consistently been a great happy hour spot in terms of food-quality, service and value. First, they have the best happy hour specials. If you want to be cheap and don't really feel like buying food- just sit at the bar! During happy hour, they continually serve different appetizers like meatballs, cheese platters, bruscetta, and margherita pizza. They sometimes have some new dishes, which I think they do as an experiment to test it out on customers, but considering its free food, I don't really mind. It can be hit or miss with the new dishes, but the standard appetizers are great. Second, drink specials are pretty good. They have great prices on house wine, beer and sangria during happy hour. I always sit in the bar area and the servers/bartenders are always very attentive. I've sat outside before, and the service was not as great. They seem busier out there. Third, the pizzas! The pizzas are amazing!! I love how crispy the crusts are and they really use the freshest ingredients. Of course, the standard margherita pizza is always a favorite. There is just something about their cheese. I really think they get really fresh gourmet cheese and grate it themselves. Their other pizzas are really good too. I once had one w/ steak carpaccio and brie- amazing!! I think they have the best pizzas in town. These are more the fancy, thin-crust style of pizza w/ basil, arugula and gourmet cheese... and not one of those deep dish american pizza places though. I love that, but I guess that'll depend on the person. In sum, awesome happy hour place. Great location, great food, great prices and great service.
(5)
Amy P.

Piola is one of my favorite places to meet friends. It has a fun decor, incredible menu, and great service. Happy Hour lasts until 8pm, which is a plus for those of us who get out of work late. Their pizzas are awesome and big enough to share (or take home for the next day's lunch). And even though there are 61 different styles, you can still create your own! Great salads and their all-you-can-eat pizza on Sundays makes Piola a fantastic option in Arlington.
(4)
Rod R.

Waiter suggested a Polo broccoli dish and it was very good. This was a pretty good value for what you're getting and the atmosphere was pleasant and inviting. Great place to visit.
(4)
Arzo I.

Loved the atmosphere, perfect place for a weeknight. Amazing deal on pizza 5-6pm, all were only $7(mon-wed)...We had the margherita pizza and some pizza with shredded chicken and cream (ate it, but wouldn't eat it again..chicken was too bland and shredded for me) I thought the drink concept was cute, little glass cups with the can is perfect for pizza. The apple pie with ice cream was too dry and flavorless and the scoop of ice cream was the size of a golf ball..next time I'm going with profiteroles. Def want to go back soon to try other things :)
(4)
Alex D.

We went there on a Sunday for the first time. The pizza dough is good; however, the toppings seems to be throw from miles away, a lot of options but none of them well executed. If they had fewer options of toppings, they could have better execution and quality of products. Their price doesn't match the final product.
(2)
Peter M.

This italian pizza parlor is definately a good one to visit if you are interested in Northern Italian Napoli style pizza. Thin crisp crusts, fired in a brick oven - are delicately seasoned, and not dripping with sauce. Toppings are fresh and clean. Everything arrived as expected. A group of three of us went for lunch, and the salad was included in the price. Canned sodas (Coke) provided were a bit over priced ($1.25,) but given the setting - not unexpected. Average price with tip $12/person (pizza, salad, can of soda, incl 15% tip) Service was moderately good, fast and pleasant - if a bit minimalistic (due to a very busy lunch business.) Wait staff was pleasant, and immediate seating was available (Wed lunch @11:45am.) Interior design was good, and the tables okie. If you aren't expecting Dominos or Pizza Hut, then you'll enjoy Piola.
(4)
Jennifer G.

We have been to this place twice and have had terrible service BOTH times. We ordered the 'unlimited' pizza special, where pizza runners are SUPPOSED to come to your table with a variety of fresh pizza choices every few minutes. The first time we went, we waited 15-20 minutes for our first slices to arrive. Tonight, the first batch of slices had clearly been sitting for a while. Then, we waited 25 minutes for the next two slices. We told our server at minute 15 that we hadn't been served in the last 15 minutes, but it then took ANOTHER 10 minutes to actually get some pizza. If you are not equipped to have the pizza arrive at table regularly (BUSY or NOT), then you shouldn't offer the special. I hate to give this place such a low rating as the pizza is pretty good; however, we had terrible service both times and that's enough to call it quits for us. There's plenty of good quality pizza restaurants in town with equally good service. We'll be enjoying pizza at THOSE places from now on.
(1)
Rachel S.

Piola never disappoints- it has delicious, reasonably priced food (especially the pizza) and always has great happy hour specials. The service is quick and friendly, and Piola staff are great at catering to larger parties. I come here fairly regularly, and have never had a complaint! They recently started doing ladies' wine night on Wednesdays, which is very hard to resist! :)
(4)
Car T.

really good pizza! Ingredients are fresh and the pies are well made. HH is pretty good too.
(5)
Khue N.

I haven't been here for happy hr so can't judge that, but I ordered pizza here and it was not good. It was really salty and the crust was mushy in the middle of the pie. Not good. I prefer my pizza more professionally done--dominoes does a better job for less money and you don't even need to leave your house.
(2)
vineetha p.

Came here for HH on a Monday and gotta say I was super impressed. They had free appetizers to much on, cheeses, olives, and mini pizzas. Our waiter even gave us free meatballs too! The drinks were definitely good. Lime Caiproska! Yum. Funny note: Might think this place is all Italian and stuff but we had to ask our waiter and sure enough he was Bulgarian. The bartenders are extremelyyyy nice!
(4)
mood b.

I'll keep it simple for Piola just like its meant to be. Great food and absolutely outstanding pizza, nice ambiance and good service. Love that place.
(5)
Gayle G.

Haven't been to it's counterparts in Florida and NY, I had no idea this was part of a chain until I entered the place. The specialty here is pizza, baked in the giant red wood-burning oven that you can see from your table. My pizza recommendation, even with all of the choices, would be the Margherita -- traditional and mouth watering . The in house made gnocchi is not to be missed. The gnocchi itself is large sized pieces, so it is a good sized portion, and the sauce is a nice complement. Oh, and they serve Peroni beer to go with that pizza, which I had never tried before. Goes with the pizza perfectly.
(3)
Bro H.

Downgrading to a three. The all you can eat deal appears to vary in quality - often you're stuck with cold, boring pizza. If you're eating cold, boring pizza, you're not going to eat 15 dollars worth. I had a slice of tuna pizza, figuring it would be, you know, fresh tuna, but it was Bumblebee. Who wants that on a pizza? Service is still generally good, but once we move out of the immediate area, we're probably never making a special trip for this place.
(3)
Stephanie M.

One of my favorite restaurants in the DC area. LOVE their pizza! I would definitely recommend getting the pizza over the pasta - the pizza is authentic to Italian pizza. My favorites are the capricciosa, siracusa, and italia. If your hungry, I'd recommend the all you can eat on Sundays, but the pizzas are not quite as fresh. SO good!!!
(5)
Daniel L.

The best pizza in the States! I haven't had pizza this good since I was in Napoli. If you want true Italian-style thin-crust pizza ...Piola is it!
(5)
Jimbo S.

Got here at 1115am, got quick service inside. Lunch special pizza comes with soup or salad. Pretty good thin crust pizza all for $14. (drink, pizza, salad)
(3)
C. W.

Definitely a place with some utility in the right situations. One of those spots where you go for the specials and then pass right by the rest of the time. I went for the first time for happy hour last Friday and they do a really good job. $3 bottles, $4 glasses of wine, some discounted cocktails. Cheese plates, bread, and olives at the bar, and the servers come around constantly with lots of appetizers. What's not to like? The music wasn't too loud, the service was really great and prompt in my experience, and despite it being Friday and rather cloudy, the space indoors didn't get that crowded. I'm a fan. The menu looks quite diverse, and the food quality was very good from what I sampled of the appetizers. I'll be back next to try the late-night $12 pizza and beer special, but probably won't be dining there for dinner on a regular basis, as Italian food is a commodity around here, and it's not earth-shatteringly delicious, cheap, or positioned in some other market niche that would make it worth the trip down there.
(4)
Sam B.

I arrived with a male friend around 9 PM to a mostly empty interior dining area. For some reason, the hostess sat us in a dark corner booth behind a divider, hiding the outside view and everything else. We were given water and bread (two pieces). We asked for butter for the bread, but they said that they did not provide butter. We mixed some olive oil and balsamic vinegar together on a small plate and dipped the bread in that. I looked through the long list of pizzas and decided on one, but I was told that they were out of the cheese that goes on it. I instead chose a salad with grilled chicken on top. My friend got a chicken dish. My $2 diet coke came in the form of a can with a glass of ice. My friend's $4.50 lemonade was excellent (according to him) but did not include refills. The meals arrived in a timely fashion and the portion sizes were good. My salad veggies and cheese were good, but the chicken was dry and hard to chew. The dressing lacked flavor. My friend enjoyed his chicken dish, which came with small potatoes and greens. It wasn't all that fun sitting in the dark corner of the empty dining area, but there was outdoor seating if we wanted to (it was too hot and humid at the time). The place is trendy and looks nice, but the little annoyances put a damper on the experience. Plus, $4.50 for a non-refillable lemonade? Were the lemons from the garden of Eden? We did not have alcohol, although they have a special on Mondays where bottles of wine are 50% off.
(2)
Esq. H.

Came here Sunday for the "All you can eat pizza" brunch. Not bad. It's flat out $18.99 for adults and $9.99 for kids and if one person orders this everyone at the table does. There is a special 'no-limit' pizza menu with plenty of choices- more than 10 and also 6+ different kinds of pasta. The pizza was fine/ok to me, I'm not a huge pizza fan so my opinion is irrelevant in that category. The pizza is a personal pan size and the curst is very, very thin to allow you eat multiple slices and not even know it. Order as many things as your server will allow if not you will be sitting for a while with nothing to eat. They literally make your pizza to order so as soon as one comes to you, order another before you dig in. They have a drink special, mimosas, bellini, Rossini, sangria - 4.95 a class or 16.95 for a pitcher ( this 'special' is only available if you get the no limit brunch). Dessert pizzas are also included Nutella and strawberries ( I think they used the entire jar on our pizza and used 2 diced up strawberries) ; peanut butter and bananas; and baked apples and caramel (very sweet and comes with nuts on top). If you love pizza stop by!
(4)
Sara A.

Horrible, simply horrible. We should've walked out when we went in on a Saturday night and were the ONLY table there. You would think the service was good but our waitress seemed like she hated her life and took it out on us. The pizza was less than average and the pasta was tasteless. Never going back there again even though it's open late, id rather get something from the dollar menu at McDs.
(1)
Alexandra K.

From my rating, it's obvious that this isn't going to be a glowing review, and not that anything about my experience here was particularly BAD...it was just extremely underwhelming, especially for the prices. I went with my fiance, and we each got a pizza, he got the margherita pizza, and was kind of disappointed, and I got the Greca, whose olives were overly briny. The pizzas were pretty small, it was enough for my fiance as a meal and I had half for dinner, half for lunch the next day, but both were small meals, so a single pizza is definitely not enough for two on its own. I can't speak for the quality of the other dishes, but the pizza had a very thin crust, which COULD be a good thing, except that it was oddly soft. When I reheated it for lunch the next day and got it really crispy, it was vastly improved, so I would recommend ordering pizza from here extra crispy. I probably won't be coming back, except maybe for the $7 pizza deal between 5 and 6 PM, if I can ever make it in time for that. For the quality of what we got, two mediocre thin-crusted pizzas and one beer, paying over $25 seemed a bit much to me.
(3)
Joe S.

I have been working in Rosslyn for about a year now and I have never been to Piola. The problem is, I am such a fan of PUPATELLA that other pizza places truly didnt interest me. The only reason I went today was because it was a co-workers last day and this is the place she picked. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. 1: The selection of different types of pizza was great. They truly have something for everyone. 2. The price was just about right for a pizza place of this nature in this area. 3. I ordered a pie with fresh mozzarella, brie, tomato, arugala, beef carpaccio, and red sauce - The brie was a very nice touch. It was a bit overpowering but tasty none the less. I felt like the carpaccio was there more for texture than flavor. It was completely overpowered by the brie and other ingredients. Perhaps replace carpaccio with prosciutto. 4. The crust is what separates the men from the boys. I am afraid that Piola falls in line with the boys. The flavor was good, but the texture just wasn't quite there. It was by no means bad - hence the 4 star review. Like I said before, PUPATELLA has ruined me and most pale in comparison. Piola, however, didnt pale much. Good work guys. I will be back.
(4)
Doug W.

Great vibe, good service, excellent pizza. If you want something other than pizza, might want to look elsewhere. But if you want pizza, you can't go wrong here. Bring friends and order a few, try different styles. Great place for a fun night out with a small group.
(3)
Elliott E.

Came here in early May and was disappointed. Ordered pizza, asked for it to be crispy and it came out floppy and undercooked. Asked for them to throw it back in thr oven to which the pizza cook refused as it would 'burn' the pizza. Told the waiter to let me worry about how the pizza turns out (I happen to like a firm pizza with some char). They finally threw the pizza back in. It was a slight improvement and I wasnt about to argue. End of the meal comes and I ask for an Americano with cream and they tell me they don't have cream. An Italian restaurant claiming to not have cream anywhere in the place? I cancelled the order, paid, and won't be back.
(1)
Willy W.

Yes, it's a chain but a small, international one. They specialize in various types of pizza made in a wood burning oven - probably my favorite style. And any place that uses catupiry cheese on pizza is great. For those not "in the know" - it's like a creamier, softer version of cream cheese. And if they have Guarana - even better! With street parking, I had to go around the block twice but lucked out in the end with a spot right in front. I believe parking is free after 6pm on the street. The staff was very friendly and prompt. I met my friend there and we ordered the Rio de Janeiro and SÃ£o Paulo along with some Guarana. Great place to meet up with friends or just eat the bar. A few people celebrated their birthdays while we were catching up - receiving a dessert and song. The menu is so vast that it's a bit overwhelming w/too many options. We ended up just choosing "the usual" in the Rio. I ordered a dessert whose name escapes me. But it was some type of ice cream with fudgy chocolate on top - t'was yummy.
(4)
Dave W.

This was right around the corner from our hotel so we decided to give it a try. Cool, casual atmosphere. It had an enormous menu of pizza choices, but we all decided to go for the pasta and we're not disappointed. I had the gnocchi and it was very good. I would definitely like to go back and give the pizza a try!
(4)
Hue K.

I went to Piola for HH and Sunday all-u-can eat pizza night. Both are awesome deal. 1. During HH, you get discounted drinks and servers will give out complimentary pizza slices from time to time and there are slices of bread and plates of cheese (brie, parmasan and blue cheese) you can nibble on. 2. All-u-can eat pizza starts at 5pm on sundays. There are 10 kinds of pre-selected pizza and servers will go around tables to hand out slices. Turn-around time is about 5-10 min so you don't have to wait too long to get next slice:) My favorite is pizza with brazilian catupiry cheese (similar to cheese spread but mild creamy cheese flavor than cheddar). Pizza w/ tuna was surprisingly good but anchovy one was too salty for me. I tried all 10 kinds, 2 or more slices for each kind. got so stuffed after eating pizza for an hour. Good deal for $14.50. PS: I didn't think all toppings and sauce got blended well but considering it's using fresh ingredients and made fresh, I wouldn't be too picky about it.
(4)
Flora F.

Piola has become a bit of a tradition for my brother and me. We love the thin-crust pizza and the chance to get real Brazilian specialties (Catupiry cheese, real guaranÃ¡) in a pleasant environment. But when we returned last night we were disappointed to find that the restaurant seems to be under new management, which may be cutting corners. First I noticed shiitake mushrooms on my Prato pizza :( Shiitakes aren't good in anything but soup, and they certainly don't belong on a pizza crust with arugula and shaved cheese. Second, when I ordered a second guaranÃ¡ my server brought me generic ginger ale instead, in a similar-looking green can, and I had to flag her down and point out the mistake. Very disappointing.
(3)
Lesley G.

I love this place! There are around a hundred pizzas to choose from (all really good with awesome ingredients), as well as a great selection of pastas and appetizers. This is also the only place that I know of that has Caprinha's on the drink menu, and they are great! A big draw for me is the unlimited gnocchi once a month. It's for just a bit more than a standard pasta dish and you get a scoop of gnocchi with unlimited rounds of different sauces on them. Love it!
(5)
Adrian A.

Personally I have never set foot in a Piola. I typically do delivery and order the same thing regularly. I typically order Bruschetta and Gnocci. The Bruschetta is large and filling and the Gnocci topped with a cheese sauce. This sauce is made with more than four different cheeses. It is amazing! Very good upscale delivery Italian. Love Piola!
(4)
Marie B.

This was the first place we ever ate when we arrived here. I ordered a pizza which, being French and Italian, this place did it spot-on! My husband ordered an Alfredo pasta dish but it was really nothing special.
(3)
Nabeel A.

Nothing special. Nothing extra ordinary. A quick spot for quick standard food. Margarita Pizza was decent.
(3)
Rebecca F.

I've been here a few times now and their brunch and happy hour are great deals! The brunch is unlimited pizza and pasta and the happy hour they walk around with food. Keep in mind this branch doesn't have bottomless mimosas!
(4)
William T.

We visited for lunch while in town for a medical appointment. We ordered pizza and a combo platter (pizza and chicken Parm). The pizza arrived on under 5 minutes (thanks to the 600 degree brick oven!) And the combo dish a couple minutes later. Everything was excellent!
(5)
Miriam S.

Piola was alright--nothing special. My dad was visiting DC and staying at a hotel in Rosslyn. He wanted something close to the hotel so we decided to go to Piola. Dad ordered the Regina Margherita (Pizze Napoletane), of which I had a slice, and I got the Verde & Co. regular salad. I made the mistake of not ordering any protein on my salad so I was still a bit hungry, but the salad itself was good. The pizza was warm and tasty, although the cheese was a bit chewy and the whole piece came off when you tried to take a bite of it. Overall, yummy pizza but nothing special.
(2)
Heidi W.

Eh not bad, not great. Kinda overpriced. If u go don't expect the food to wow you, but the bill just might lol
(2)
Jen F.

I came to Piola for the all-you-can-eat pizza brunch for $16.95 and it was super tasty. The all-you-can-eat features a wide selection of 8 inch pizzas (smaller than your typical) with four slices a piece. All Piola's pizzas are thin crust. It was an awesome deal if you (and everyone else at your table) feel like being obese since everyone has to do it to participate. I'm shocked this place doesn't get more crowded on Saturdays and Sundays. Shamefully, I tried most of the pizzas on the menu. My favorite was the Cancun. Topped with salmon, cream cheese, and capers, how does one go wrong?? It had the perfect saltiness and cheesy flavor. Each and every pizza was good in its own unique way. The nutella dessert pizza was also bomb, but it needed more strawberries. The white sangria was tasty. Our table sampled both the red and white. Don't expect to get drunk off of it though- its mainly fruit juice with some mango and MAYYYBE some white wine in there, somewhere. The service was very good. I'd come back again.
(3)
Pratik P.

Quick update! Piola, please make sure your hostess (or whoever picks up the phone) knows what's on the menu! I had a complete nightmare ordering takeout one night simply because she didn't know if 1) the pizza existed on the menu 2) the price 3) and how long it would take to make. On top of that, I was placed on hold and she never picked up! I called back again in 4-5 minutes hoping for someone else and the SAME exact thing happened to me: I called, she picked up, went through the same issue again, then never got any answers. I ended up going to the store and ordering at the bar. That worked.
(3)
Don S.

Awful. Pasta over cooked. Service poor even coffee -lavazza- was weak. Meatballs were very salty and dense and dry. Tiramisu missed the mark for flavor. A real shame. Dinner bare had pizza. Okay but nothing special. I'd skip this one.
(1)
Roddy B.

Don't say you have delivery if every 1 out of 2 times I call you say: we are not delivering today.
(2)
Arlene T.

A co-worker took me here for lunch and I cannot wait to go again. Decor is nice, service was great, food was delish! I ordered the Toscanini salad and highly recommend. It was huge and I had to take half of it home! Smoked salmon was very fresh. I love the fact you get bread and make your own dipping oil. I only get 45 mins for lunch and was surprised we were served, ate and left within that timeframe. I heard their mixed drinks are great. I wouldn't know since I was at work~ Try them!
(4)
Daniel A.

Good veggie pizza, nothing great or outstanding but good. The Chicken Milanese and oven roasted potatoes were both on the dry side. The wine was okay, think it was a Pinot by the glass, but it wasn't memorable. Good happy hour and they bring out free apps to taste and good deals. Good number of beers, especially some Italian ones. Didn't try the All and all, not bad if you live nearby or work in Rosslyn (since there isn't much else in Rosslyn) but not working going out of the way to visit.
(3)
Monica H.

Solid appetizers and main dishes. The pizzas are huge and very yummy. Some of the desserts were lacking--didn't love the profiteroles, but the tiramisu was spot on. They host a fun, low-key NYE party. I'll be back for happy hour (and GNOCCHI NIGHT!).
(4)
Elana G.

The pizza here comes closest to what you will get in Italy. I think it's pretty authentic. The closest to this I can find here is Trader Joe's frozen pizza, and frozen is never as good as fresh out of the oven. Part of me is not happy I discovered this place because now I'm gonna want to get takeout from here all the time :-p I don't think the prices are bad considering what you get. I went here at the tail end of happy hour and sat at the bar waiting for some friends to arrive. I don't know if it's like this all the time, but the "free appetizers" are kind of gimmicky. They passed around gnocchi with toothpicks stuck in them. I consider those samples, not appetizers, and I found the gnocchi to be a little mushy. However this place still gets 5 stars because the pizza is that worth it. Oh and the house Sangiovese was quite good.
(5)
Jenn M.

The pizza at Piola is very authentic.. Their thin crust pizza reminds me of the pizza I had in Europe. Be sure to stop in during happy hour; they have free appetizer samples every 30 min or so but expect to wait for a seat at the bar. We order the number 9 (spicy salami) and the number 13 (ham, mushroom, artichoke). I really liked the spicy salami (haha). We also had the avocado and shrimp appetizer which was good but I didn't care for the pink sauce or that it was a cold dish. I wouldn't order it again but I'm glad I tried it. The service was great, the manager introduced himself and he made sure we were taken care of.
(4)
Jennifer S.

Great location, busy and well priced happy hour, very friendly service and good food. I thoroughly enjoyed my pizza with ham, mushrooms and artichokes.
(4)
Kats T.

The pizza quality varies greatly depending on the cook, but overall they're quite good - with a proper thin crust. Happy Hour is a great value and the wine is well priced.
(4)
Suraj S.

Awesome happy hour spot, best in Rosslyn. Pizza is pretty solid too. I've always had great service from all the waiters and waitresses and have always had a good time there. Probably go there once every 2 weeks right now on the regular and always have a good time.
(5)
James W.

Solid personal pizzas and a great happy hour. If you get there before 6pm, pizzas are $7 each (basically half price), and drinks are $3 for select beers, $6 for rail drinks, and $5 for house wines. The only downside of this place is that it really lacks in beer selection, but the pizzas are solid. Sit at the bar for free happy hour food!
(4)
Michal A.

Love this place! Every pizza that I've eaten there so far tasted like heaven! The 'Beirut' & 'Parma' pizzas were delicious!! We've had the Dannunzio salad as an appetizer and it was very good - perfectly assembled ingredients with a tasty Dijon mustard sauce. They offer an assortment of interesting wine list - the Chardonnay was good. The service is great - welcoming and goes a long way to make the dinning customers happy - both waiter and hostess :)
(5)
Daniel G. R.

ABSOLUTELY BEST PIZZA IN DC AREA! Highly recommended their Rio de Janeiro pizza, which is a Brazilian classic pizza made with catupiry cheese and chicken.
(5)
Michelle S.

Piola was definitely a great place to have dinner and relax. We sat outside and I was pleased that the outside seating had an overhang as it started sprinkling just before we left. I had the Udine Pizza (Parma ham, eggplant, tomato sauce and mozzarella) which was definitely good for a pizza but it wasn't out of this world amazing. I really did enjoy the house white! A little sweet, which is how I like wine. A few mental notes that I made during dinner: There was a birthday party at another table and when it came time for the cake and song only one waiter brought out the cake and did the singing. I guess birthday songs are not their forte. There was a homeless man across the street that serenaded the birthday girl with a lovely rendition of a birthday song which was better than the server could do. Also, it seemed odd to me that there was a waiter station just outside the front door. This station was used for boxing up food for the outdoor seating guests but also looked like a break spot for some of the waiters to smoke. It just seemed a little odd. The price was pretty good. I believe the pizza I had was about $15.00 but they had an awesome special and all pizzas were only $7. I went on a Saturday evening so I'm not sure if they have it every weekend. I would definitely go back some time in the future if I'm in the mood for some outside seating with good wine and good pizza!
(3)
Yasmine B.

Soooo good! Staples like the margarita pizza are freshly created, and taste great! Also try the Marinara (cheeseless) and garlicky!
(4)
Anne B.

We had a very nice experience at Piola yesterday. Although I would have preferred to try the much-vaunted Putanella, we were a group of six wanting to have a good long catch-up chat so I wanted to be able to reserve a table and not be rushed out of a small, popular place. As it turned out, Piola was empty on Saturday at noon! But that was just fine with me. Needless to say under these circumstances, service was excellent, although our waitress was so pleasant I am sure it would have been even if the place was full. The food was better than expected. We had the bruschetta $6.50 and the VALLE DEI TEMPLI Burrata cheese and shaved Prosciutto crudo and cherry tomatoes. $17.00 which was totally worth it! The burratta was amazing and the proscuitto was abundant and delicious. I also had the CARPACCIO NABUCCO Carpaccio (thinly sliced filet of raw beef), arugula, shaved grana padano cheese, capers and olive oil based sauce. $12.00 which was delicious. Others in the party had various pizzas which were all good. The two Marine Corps Marathoners from Texas we were with were making plans to go back to Piola for dinner that night. In short, we had a great experience and will go back again (especially on a quiet Saturday lunchtime).
(4)
Kelen F.

The best pizza in DC/VA/MD
(5)
Ragzz D.

Here s the problem i had with this place..... They did not serve us the bread...while they served every other table...Our waitress was busy talking to the hostess and didn't bother to even take our order and the place wasn't even full... they took like 15 minutes to bring us the drink- it was a lemonade , not sure of the name.... I had the caprese sandwich...it was ok....my husband had the fusilli bianco verde, which he said was just ok.....
(2)
Rose L.

they were one of the few rest open @ 10pm so a+ for that. and they were still serving their menu - ordered salad and pizza. both came out w/in 5 min - awesome! salad was nice size and tasty. pizza was also very good so this was def a good pick for late nite and if u have a hankering for pizza, salads etc...
(4)
Gloria S.

this place is soooo underrated. yeah it's kind of in no-mans-land after work hours but the happy hour is bomb - they serve passed apps AND they just opened a location by U street (on V street). the pizza is amaze - i can't really order from anywhere else anymore. and a lot of them healthy - thin crust with lots of veggies, yummy cheeses. the seafood is okay but this place is best for their cheeses, like catupiry (a soft, buttery brazilian cheese) or burrata (like fresh mozz, but creamier). do yourself a favor and check this place out! you won't regret. totally yummy eats without breaking the bank, AT All. and also, the wait staff FOH is the best service i have ever received in my life. !!! also they have really good daily specials, like pizza time (4pm-6pm and like, later 10pm i think) and gnocchi day is every 29th (all u can eat). $2 bellinis on the weekend try these pizzas: rio de jinero, houston, mantova, sparta, brooklyn try these pastas: penne civadale, pappardelle bolognese *YUM!*
(5)
Tony M.

I like this happy hour. Music is fun and not too loud. Drinks are priced right. Passed FREE pizza, gnocchi and bruchetta
(4)
Michael G.

I really only ever came here for happy hour specials to get cheap pizza. For the happy hour prices, it was totally worth it. For regular price, not so much. Some of the ingredients (such as the porcini mushrooms) were really less than stellar and actually degraded the overall pizza. So you have to be careful about what you order there. I guess for Rosslyn it's a 4-star restaurant, because there isn't much else over there in that soulless barren wasteland of offices. But as I live in DC, it's getting 3 stars.
(3)
Henry M.

First they got our pickup order confusingly wrong. We ordered one margherita and one feta and ham. Instead we got a margherita plus ham and goat cheese. When we refused it, we were charged for a margherita and given a cheese pizza. The price or that was on the high side and the quality was mediocre at best. A large pizza is about 12" FYI.
(2)
Alicia R.

The food is delicious and the service is always attentive. I've been to this location a number of times over the last three years. The happy hour is unbeatable. Drink specials are competitively priced and they also serve free apps in the bar area for everyone to share-ranging from fruit and sandwich bites to full slices of pizza!
(5)
Robert G.

Of course I found this place on my last night of a four night stay in Arlington. If I had found it sooner I would have been here every night. Ambiance is kind of ... whatever. Lots of art and music and reruns of soccer matches playing on the TV, probably like the original one in Treviso (home of Sidi boots!). Service was good. Sat at the bar and ordered up a Stella. Cold and delicious. They have what seems like a hundred kinds of pizza on the menu. I ordered the "Ragusa". It showed up in a just few minutes, meaning their brick oven is blazing hot - just like it should be. The pizza was very authentic to the pizza like I used to have in Italy. It had little balls of gorgonzola wrapped in pancetta on top of the mozarella and tomato sauce on a great thin crust. How was the pizza? It was so good that I was sad when I ate the last bite - because it was gone. If/when I'm in Arlington, or even DC again, I will make it a point to eat at Piola.
(4)
Helen S.

My senior manager took me along with a few new employees here for lunch one day. I've heard many great things about this place from my coworkers so I was really excited for this. We came here at the typical lunch time but it felt like it was pre or post lunch hour. The place was quiet and nothing like its busy neighboring cafe Asia. The place however is much bigger and felt a lot more comfortable. I thought the food was alright but it didn't wow me. But its still a nice restaurant that I would bring people to eat there when I am around the area.
(3)
Norry H.

Piola did not meet my expectations at all. The only thing I liked is the interior with high ceiling, the pizza crust and the couteous service of the waitress. The cheese on the Margherita pizza was not fresh mozzarela, not enough basil leaves on top, ham was used instead of prosciutto on the Capricioza pizza and the table and chairs were like those of school cafeteria's. I would give a higher score to the German born "Vapiano" than this Italian born chain restaurant.
(3)
Joey K.

I love this place! The happy hour is a steal! You can get a delicious pizza for $7 bucks... Are you kidding me? Quality ingredients, I recommend the Rio de Janeiro, which has a delicious Brazilian cream cheese called "Catupiry" with Chicken. The servers are great, I also recommend anything with Palmito, which are hearts of palm. Look at my picture! This place is fantastic.
(5)
Diana H.

Nice casual place. Great lasagna.
(4)
Brian D.

I had the most disgusting dining experience of my life here last week. I was served a glass of Chiante, and found sardine-like material in the bottom of the glass (after I had already finished 90% of it). I was not offered an explanation nor a refund by the staff or management. I still get disgusted every time I think about it.
(1)
Carla D.

I found this place to be a kind of a hidden happy hour gem. The specials are great, there are free samples every 10 minutes, the drinks are strong, and it was relatively cheap. I went with a group of coworkers and ended up having a fun time. A few of us waited at the bar for the rest of the group to show up. It is really a tight space. They have these small top (but tall) tables at the back of the bar that are a big waste of space. If they took those out more people could fit. But ideally, they would remove the bar from the front and relocate it to the back of the restaurant. It really is that a tiny of a bar area. Once the whole group arrived we moved to a table. I was irritated that we couldn't get HH deals sitting at a table or outside (outside drink specials until 7, but not food). It wasn't the end of the world, but it would have been nice. Our server was having a difficult time with our drink orders, she closed out my friends tab instead of bringing him 3 more drinks, she forgot drinks, or got them wrong. Granted she was nice and I think it was because she was not a very good English speaker, but she fixed the mistakes quickly and our drinks came out strongggg. For food we got: -Meatballs: These weren't my favorite. I liked the sauce with it but I was expecting a standard Italian meatball- this was like a piece of sausage that was rounded. It was a huge bite of meat without the benefit of a loose meat (in a meatball) to soak up the sauce. -Polenta and Ragu: This had a really nice texture to it because it was baked. The sauce was good, parmesan cheese was good too, but the dish as a whole was over salted which is a shame. -Carpaccio: I love me some raw meat and I love grana padano cheese so with good quality ingredients can't really go wrong ordering these sorts of things. -Shrimp with Avacado: tasted like frozen shrimp, needed salt, and the pink mayo sauce was way too sweet. Yuck. Now for the pizzas... We all know I am a pizza snob and refuse to compromise so all my pizza reviews are based on Arlington standards and not my unattainable NY standard: Margherita pizza: Solid Neapolitan pizza here. It was of course very thin so it got soggy, which is not my favorite thing in the world. However, the sauce was good, the cheese was good, and the crust was cooked well. I would eat it again. Tiramisu: This was ok. I disliked how much whipped cream was on top of it because it tasted like whip cream and I wanted a stronger espresso flavor. Overall this is a great place to come for HH
(3)
Michael G.

Pizza was ok and the staff was great. But very limited beer selection for a pizza joint (don't even have the regulars like bud light).
(2)
Serena B.

I met up with a group of friends here last Sunday afternoon. We ordered a few apps, pizzas and beer. The food was pretty good, though the bruschetta doesn't have mozzarella? It was still good though. The staff was so nice and accommodating and had no problem doing separate checks!! We greatly appreciated it as not many places in DC will do it for 6 separate bills. I will definitely be back to check out happy hour.
(4)
Alan B.

Great atmosphere, food, and service. Could not complain about this place. The authentic Brazilian pizza and drinks were very good. Been here plenty of times and service were always excellent.
(5)
Jonathan K.

I work across the street and often venture to Piola. I only come here for the pizza cause the other items on the menu aren't pleasant. For Washington D.C, the pizza is considered good. However, the service is despicable. The host (Veronica) seems to have a chip on her shoulder and the old time servers are no longer there. Also, they don't bring you bread to your table unless you specifically ask for it, not sure if this is their way of keeping costs down or whatsoever. Keep in mind that this use to be provided the minute you sat down in the past. Either way, although there are limited lunch places in Rosslyn area, i'd suggest to stay out of Piola.
(1)
Noel O.

I'm glad to see that other people had as good an experience here as I did. My friend and I went here to pick up some pizzas and wait while her sister got to Rosslyn metro. Because the sister was a little later than we thought, we sat at the bar while waiting for the pizzas to be made and enjoyed a glass of wine. I'm so glad we did because it gave us an opportunity to enjoy great music and funky (in a good way) decor. The menu's pretty straightforward--you order pizza here. What I was impressed with was their different options that reminded me of a pizza chain back in California called Round Table. What's memorable about these two chains, at least in my mind, is their choice of vegetables on their 'veggie lovers' pizza. Piola's includes broccoli, zucchini, and fresh salad greens on there. Who would have thought that salad on your pizza would be so fantastic??
(4)
Shell S.

Pizza was good, the desserts were better. The service was not good. Being our last night in town, we didn't want to have any leftovers, so we split a pizza and each got a dessert. The waiter seemed to have an attitude that we were splitting a pizza.
(3)
Pam S.

Despite not having a slew of vegan options, they were really friendly - and even were persuaded to substitute artichoke hearts for cheese at no cost. The pizzas are kind of pricey ... if you think of them as personal servings (as they suggest), they're $10+. However, the happy hour specials are great, the service as well, and it was good for a group (birthday in this case).
(4)
Stacy D.

Had spinacjh salad and USA pizza...very good. Friendly service!
(4)
Alan C.

One of the best happy hours in the rosslyn area. Cheap beers and free appetizers during happy hour, Just make sure you find a good spot or all the food will be gone before it gets to you. The servers are very attentive and make sure your glass is always full and tries to make sure people are not missed when the free food comes by.
(4)
Aimee V.

Best service, best food, best atmosphere!
(5)
Tim W.

I always have a good time at Piola. When my office was on Wilson, we would take full advantage of their Happy Hour. Great crowd which is filled with young professional who are enjoying a few beers or a glass of wine after their '9-5'. AND... Free Hors D'oeuvres served with every drink! It's between the Courthouse & Rosslyn metro stops (convenient). GO!
(4)
Robert T.

The art for sale on the walls is a neat idea, and they have decent after work specials. Good luck trying to keep anyone in Rosslyn after work though. Pizzais great and immitates real Italian style pizza well. All your pizzas are personal and cooked on the spot in a real pizza oven. The Brooklyn is my favorite but they have a Cheesecake Factory style menu that has upwards of 40 different kinds of pizza. Would give five stars but for pizza it's incredibly expensive. You will pay $20 for a personal pizza that has $3-4 worth of ingredients in it.
(4)
nadia n.

Only gave it one try. I heard it was great and that it was not great. So I thought I'd give it a try. I ordered delivery through Seamless so take what you wish. My pizza was cool, soggy, and UNSLICED! Who doesn't slice a pizza? When I called to ask if that was normal, the hostess responded "Oh we're really busy, sorry." Slicing a pizza isn't hard is it? Well I totally destroyed it with my attempts to slice it. (Como pizza with sauteed porcini and over cooked prosciutto). What's left is a soggy mess on my counter top with slices in the cardboard box. Yum! Give me a reason to give it one more try...
(3)
Rachel W.

I came here a couple of times for lunch since it was close to work. First time I got their seafood pasta, it was ok. My friends got their pizza, they have a good selection of them. Which is good for pizza lovers. But my pasta was ok, nothing too sepcial that screams amazing! lol I also had their seafood salad, which was very big, its just a regular salad with some tuna, salmon and shrimp and olives. It was good, i have nothign to complain about it, but again, just very normal, nothing special. However, I LOVED the tiramisu, apparently they make it daily, it wasnt that nice looking, but it was very good, wasnt too rich, was very light and nice. I would go back to this place just to get the tiramisu, but not really into their food...
(3)
Nonu N.

Excellent pizza and friendly staff. My all time favorite. You can choose a pizza from more than 50 different types varying from Classic Italian to Tex-Mex flavors.
(5)
Gene E.

I came here once in 2011 and found the pizza to be excellent. Great place to sit streetside and enjoy a Neapolitan pie. However, my recent visit leaves much to be desired. The restaurant now plays Latin music inside and the pizza dough is too soft in the middle, the crust falls apart like a saltine cracker. The tomato sauce was too heavy and thick, while the cheese wasn't melted properly. I haven't tried their other pizza styles, but if you are going to advertise Neapolitan style... You need to get it right.
(2)
Kristin S.

This is for their Happy Hour. Drink selection is actually pretty good for HH, I went with the white sangria. But what makes it more fun to come here is that the waiters come around offering appetizer samples. Things like flatbread pizza, gnocchi and bruschetta. Nice atmosphere, large enough space. Although its worth staking out a table to sit in the bar area. A nice afterwork place to come to and sit with friends.
(4)
J D.

Pizza, a comfort food for me, is treated with great care at this Arlington hangout. I recently enjoyed several pizzas with some friends on rainy summer afternoon/ evening: New York style, thin crusts, with an appealing sauce, mushroom, pepperoni and margherita. The mushroom pizza was the best of the trio: rich flavors, nicely sauced, with the earthy mushroom flavors shining through the cheese. This delightful pie was closely followed in appeal by a spicy pepperoni with an assertive bite, not the kind of pizza topping one generally associates with a Washington pizza joint. The margherita was the tamest of the bunch, slivers of basil lying atop pie. Of the three pizzas, the mushroom made the strongest case for me that a meatless evening was perfectly acceptable. Service was a bit on the slow side but then again, we weren't in much of a hurry, lingering for long moments, catching up and swapping stories. Check out the happy hours starting really early in the afternoons: the pricing on the pizzas is intended to encourage orders.
(3)
Holly S.

This place is absolutely the thing I miss most about living in Rosslyn. Their pizza and happy hour are fantastic. The happy hour goes until 8 pm at the bar. The happy hour perks are well-documented on Yelp: passed appetizers and cheap, big rail drinks. The appetizers alone make hanging out for a while worth it. We typically stay after happy hour and order pizza as well. I love wood-fired, thin-crust pizza, so this was totally up my alley. My personal favorite is the Sparta (no olives), and my dining companion loves the Carbonara. Occasionally they bring us complimentary dessert shots at the end of the meal. Amazing little gelato and limoncello shots that tasted like a lemon milkshake. So good! I preferred the old bar set-up without the benches more, but this does prevent people from moving the chairs around a ton and one group completely dominating the space. I'm not a soccer fan at all, but if you are , this is the place to be when there is any sort of major European match. They show the games there and the bar is packed with viewers.
(5)
Jey J.

The bracco Di ferro (spelled incorrectly) is my favorite. I get it with some pepperoni on it and I am in heaven. I only order pick up to go because the one time we ordered delivery, the pizza was completely smashed to one side. Other than that one time, no complaints. Always prompt with their service and always kind.
(4)
Angela N.

How have I never written a review for Piola? I used to live in Rosslyn and this was my go-to Happy Hour spot. Sitting at the bar for HH, there are free bar snacks and the servers come around with pizza to try. The sangria is quite good and the wine is fairly inexpensive. I've never had a bad service experience there either. Of course, Piola is known for their pizza and I've tried quite a few different kinds. I'm not much on meat and normally stick with veggie pizza. They used to have more artichoke options, but I went last week and their menu had been redone. The quality of the pizza and ingredients is still there, just give me more artichoke options without meat, Piola! This is definitely one of my favorite pizza places in Arlington and the happy hour makes it that much better. I keep coming back again and again.
(4)
Tony C.

I was originally skeptical of this place when it moved in, but it has proven not only to have staying power, but consistently improving. Every time I go, I have a better experience. Rotating the featured art by local artists is a very nice touch by the management. The pizza hour from 5 to 6 every day features $7 pizzas of any kind, which is great. The only problem is that a lot of folks who don't work or live right nearby probably can't quite get there in time. Also, the weekend late-night beer & pizza combo for $12 is a great call for winding down your night. The Ragusa pizza with bacon & gorgonzola combination is a must try. Other menu all-stars are the Diavoli (spicy pepperoni) and the Chieti with fresh chicken and arugula. While I doubt many folks will go out of their way to come here, it's definitely worth stopping in if you find yourself nearby. If not, more for us Rosslyn locals!
(4)
Jennifer C.

Pizza dough is bland, ingredients are okay, it's nothing to write home about. The atmosphere is cramped and feels a bit cold. Service was lacking. They try to market themselves as serving authentic Italian pizza but this place is blah. The only pizza that is worse than this is Little Ceasars and maybe Chuckie Cheese Pizza haha. They should donate their brick ovens to a restaurant that knows how to use them.
(2)
yvette r.

This place is alright. Rosslyn is a pretty lame location for anything other than office buildings, so my expectations have never been high. Still, I have been here three times because it is close to my office building and the food has been fine every time. If you are into value, the best time to come is happy hour and order a pizza plus drinks from the happy hour menu. If you don't want to eat pizza, there are no real deals to be had. My arugula salad (i needed veggies!) was $8. It was a plate of arugula with some parm on it. the only dressing option in the oil and basalmic they serve with the bread. The service is just okay. Nothing to write home about, but the last time I was there the waitress did refer to my male friend (with a beard, mind you) as a woman. It was all very odd. Sitting outside is better when it is open because you are outside and not looking at the craptastic art that Piola puts on the walls to sell for artists who should not quit their day jobs. If you are looking for better pizza and a better drink menu, take the time to o to Pizza Paradisio across the key bridge in Georgetown.
(3)
Fred K.

Great spot, very lively crowd! Seated quickly with no reservations despite the crowd. Their quattro formaggi was excellent (folks often skip on the Gorgonzola but Piola doesn't), and the waitstaff very attentive...so no complaints. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Greg G.

I've been to Piola once for lunch and had the 12 inch sausage pizza. The crust was definitely the best part -- it was thin and crispy with just the right amount of softness that it didn't seem like cardboard. The quantity of sausage was about right, but unfortunately it was a little bland. The quantity of cheese was also about right, but it too was rather tasteless. The sauce was decent, but it could have had a fresher taste. Overall, the pizza was alright -- three stars is probably a little generous, but it was slightly better than most (but certainly not all) other pizza options in the DC area.
(3)
Ashley V.

Piola is one of my all-time favorite pizza restaurants. It's chain, but the chain is worldwide with maybe 20 total. I've had the lasagna - which is a huge helping and super tasty, but my favorite is the Margherita Pizza - a simple pizza, but they take it to a new level. The basil, cheese, and tomatoes are fresh, and then the wood-fire oven is an excellent touch. The Sarajevo is also good with ricotta and a variety of cheeses and the Greco - a Greek-style pizza is also delicious. I have never seen so many variety of pizzas to choose from. And, it looks like they have an excellent Happy Hour. I have yet to make it there for one, though! It's not exactly a cheap lunch, but I always end up taking half the pizza home with me for either dinner that night or lunch the next day. Be prepared to take some home, or split a pizza with your friend.
(4)
Wendy L.

After a long, long day where we hadn't eaten very much, my friend and I decided to hit Piola for the all-you-can-eat special for $15. I was absolutely famished, so a buffet style pizza place was exactly what I wanted. The selection included a number of vegetarian options (my friend is a vegetarian) such as the four cheese, margherita, etc. There were also a few meaty options for me like the pepperoni, chicken, etc. I wouldn't say any of the pizzas stood out among the other pizzas or even more generally, but since I was starving, I absolutely devoured them. My favorites were the pepperoni and the margherita. I'm not sure if it was just timing, but in Brazilian churascaria style, they seemed to bring out all of the vegetarian pizzas (cheaper, more filler!) first and then the meat pizzas. I didn't have enough will power to resist some of the early pizzas, but when I did further down the line, they were more than willing to bring others out for me. As some people mentioned, the decor is a bit on the tacky side, but it's clean and bright and the service was quick.
(3)
Pablo G.

Overall my lunch was great and the service was awesome.
(4)
Kim T.

Pretty good place, and great place during pizza hour. Mostly friendly service, and the selection of pies is good. Happy hour is also fun (and crowded), with good snacks at the bar area and good prices.
(4)
Nate C.

The pizza is great and they have some really good starters. Great change of pace to the usual delivery pizza options. If you choose to dine in, you won't be disappointed. The service was very friendly and I really liked the atmosphere. I haven't been there when they have their specials, but the prices seem very fair.
(4)
Hannah B.

All you can eat pizza? Yes! Carbonara Pizza? Yes Please! On Sunday nights they have all you can eat pizza for $15 per person. They pick 10 pizzas off their menu and serve them until you say when. We lucked out this time because none had mushroom on them (yuck! in the past we were not so lucky). The pizzas vary from classic Margareta to ham to salami to carbonara (definitely my fav tonight!) The ingredients are fresh as the pizzas come out on the spot, they are not sitting around. it looks like they have great specials throughout the week but Sunday is one of my favorites. We also got their $19 house wine - great value! I love the brick-oven thin crust style pizza :)
(4)
Eric P.

Some of the best pizza I've had in Washington, DC. Pizza Mart? Terrible. Ledo Pizza? Overrated. The only minus about this pizzeria is that it will hurt your wallet. Piola definitely fits the yuppie vibe of the neighborhood. The restaurant has a very modern look to it and of course the star is the flame-powered brick oven in which all the pies are cooked. After being seated we waited a long time for service. And there was only two other groups in the place! When our server finally came to our table, she didn't seem too enthusiastic about serving us. I don't think I saw her smile once. But I was really hungry too think anything about it so I ordered my food. I ordered the classic margharita pizza (fresh mozzarella, mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil) for $9.50 and a Stella. I figured I should go along with the Italian theme of the place and order the closest thing to an Italian beer on the menu. Well it turns out after 10PM Piola offers a special, any pizza and beer for $12. Which is good because normally a beer is $5. My buddy ordered a pepperoni pie with a sprite. He was disappointed when they brought him a can of sprite for $2.50. You can get a whole case for that price! Anyway, our pizza came out and they were cooked perfectly! The crust was soft in the middle and crunchy and charred on the bottom and sides. The sauce was tangy and the cheese was rich and tasty. I really enjoyed the pizza. The server never once offered to refill my water or beer and again took a long time to give us our bill, even though there really wasn't anyone else in the place. I struggled between giving Piola three and four stars. The service was poor and the food was a bit pricey, but I really enjoyed the pizza and hats off to them for taking a chance and offering some brick oven pizza in an area which is sadly lacking in those type of pizzerias. Go for the awesome pizza...and not much else.
(4)
L S.

Piola is on speed dial. A simple call in order on my way home from work and wham bam thank you mam I can enjoy a European style pizza take away. The atmosphere is diner cool with a touch of Euro. I always order the Margareta pizza and it has never disappointed even if I spell it wrong. This place is perfect for out of towners who you want to impress but don't want to spend too much money on. Its good stuff.
(4)
David K.

We were lured in by their offer of free pizza at happy hour. Every 30 minutes or so, someone walks around with a pizza and everyone can grab a small slice of pizza. It was fine, but not what we expected. The bar is stylish, and the drinks are very tasty. I recall having quite a few mojitos here during the summer months. The pizza here is good but not great. For a place that specializes in specialty pizzas, I found their choices lacking. I think it beats Pizzeria Paradiso, but loses out to Armands, Matchbox and 2 Amy's. Even Pizza Movers might be better. The ambience is good, it is generally very crowded, as it gains from the lack of restaurant choices in the Rosslyn area. This is one of those places that pipes in too lound house music, which I always found distracting and annoying. Are there really people that want their conversations drowned out by annoying beats and electronica? If you want a little bit of the club scene brought to your pizza parlor, then here it is. For me, that's not what I was looking for and will pass on Piola in the future.
(2)
Derek H.

I've only been here for the Sunday "all you can eat" deal so can't vouch for the normal day-to-day prices and quality, but I'm a huge fan of the Sunday deal. For something like $15 you get to try something like 10 different pizzas. The servers roam around like a Brazilian Steakhouse offering you new slices until you're completely full. Sure, for the same $15 you probably could have ordered a full pie and had some to spare for later, but you don't get to try all the wildly different types of gourmet pizza this place churns out. Service is A+. The warehouse, spartan, decor is kind of a turn off though -- it's trying too hard and they do pump a lot of music -- which has pros and cons here. Pros being it drowns out a lot of the Sunday families with their kids. Cons, well, it's thumping techno music.
(4)
Kathy H.

One of my favorite happy hour spots after work. They have great wine specials and they pass out free food during happy hour. Pizza, bread, olives and even lasagna! Lunch is also a great deal. Get a pizza and salad for $10 and take some home for dinner.
(4)
Michael K.

Great pizza, great drinks, great service. I've eaten at Pete's down the street, and it's comparable, but Pete's is more expensive--and at Pete's you have to pay first then get you're food delivered, a little odd considering you drop 60 bucks on a pizza, appetizer and pitcher of beer. At Piola I haven't tried a pizza I didn't like, and all the pizzas are fired to order, making it very fresh. Last time we went I decided to forgo the delicious Aristotle salad and save room for the tiramisu, and it was very good. I highly recommend Piola if you like a true euro style atmosphere and pizza!! My favorite pizza is the Greco, it has olives, Ive also tried the margherita and the piola, and those are fantastic too.
(5)
Jess K.

Someone explain to me, pleeeease, why you would go to Piola on all-you-can-eat gnocchi night and NOT order gnocchi? I thought this would be something that only gnocchi-haters or the completely oblivious would do but instead it seemed like we were the only ones in the restaurant gorging ourselves on gnocchi. I am so confused. Anyway, the AYCE gnocchi costs about $12.50 and boy is it fun. There are four options: tomato sauce with basil, tomato sauce with ham and eggplant, tomato sauce with ground beef, or four cheese. The four cheese was our absolute favorite but it is quite filling. When we sat down the waitress asked if we wanted to try all four kinds and if she should put in the order right then. We said no but the down time between servings made us more full so maybe we should have said yes. Also, there were happy hour specials on drinks. The red and white wine options were $4 each. I can't wait to try out the AYCE pizza night on a Sunday but an event that happens 4x per month just doesn't seem as exciting as an event that only happens once per month. Check it out on the 29th of whatever month it is in which you are reading this review!
(4)
Katica K.

Piola. Oh Piola. What a gem in the culinary sink-hole of Rosslyn (seriously - I live here, lots of people live here - why aren't there more restaurants?!) Piola has a fantastic happy hour ($4 Sangrias if I remember - red and white variety) and they walk around the bar w/ free appetizers (think: small slices of pizza and sandwiches). They used to have a cheese and bread platter on the bar all the time but last time I was there they didn't seem to have it. The pizza is great - lots of varieties with some interesting mixes. However, I was disappointed by the gnocchi. I haven't tried the other pasta dishes. There is also plenty of outdoor seating when the weather is nice and it's very comfortable. Pretty good service. I've have friends who once worked there and still rave about Piolas, so you know it's got to be good!
(4)
Rachel B.

While I appreciate that they re trying to maintain the diversity of brazilian pizza, they lost some flavors along the way. There is a large variety, and lots of choices, especially for the adventurous pizza-goer... But over all the crust leaves a bit to be desired. Love the caipiranias and the fact that they carry cachsa. The dining room is large & because of the loft/ high ceilings the acoustics are horrible. Service is mediocre, But I would not dismiss it as a place to bring Some friends for drinks and munchies for happy hour after work.
(3)
Janet H.

Came here for HH on Wednesday. HH starts at 4:30 and goes till 7 or 8pm. Beer $3.50, wine $5.50, sangria $6. I had a white sangria and it was pretty good. Could use a little more alcohol in there though :P Around 5pm, they started bringing out free bar snacks like fresh bread pieces, mini sandwiches, and I hear they also do pizzas but I left before that came out. Overall, I thought it was a pretty chill place for HH. Not the cheapest HH prices but the free snacks made up for it :) I would probably come again.
(3)
Bridget Q.

The pizza was delicious....Not overly priced and they had something for everyone.!! The wait staff was ok. Not overly friendly....and not particularly timely, but not horrendous. I would say check it out!
(4)
Henry L.

Lasagna was pretty good. Cops Piola and cappuccino was better.
(3)
Ina C.

Best happy hour? Really? If there's space for you at the bar, you can enjoy discounted appetizers and drinks. But if you're seated anywhere else, you're only eligible to get a special deal on drinks. $3 beers, $4 glasses of house wine, $6 cocktails. Not bad. I highly recommend the strawberry caipiroska was to die for! The crushed strawberries added a nice touch. I was a little disappointed because it was tasty but seemed weak...but I was proven wrong. :) We also ordered the #50 pizza (The Como with tomato sauce, mozzarella, Parma ham and porcini mushrooms) and #211 (Bruxelles with mozzarella, ricotta, fresh tomato and basil). I liked the Como better, but it was still just okay. The piles of ricotta cheese on the Bruxelles was kinda weird. I'd much rather go to 2 Amy's for pizza. I don't think I'll be back...
(2)
Yule K.

Piola is an Italian pizzeria chain, which is to say that it is a pizza chain based in Italy, though most of its branches are located in South America. Initially, I was a little leery about going here, but in the end, I have to say I was won over. I ate outside on the patio, which was lovely, but managed to get a peek inside: high ceilings, self-consciously trendy decor, and a weird red toned color palette. But, I've seen worse. The pizza itself was actually pretty good. The thin crust had a nice bite...not too chewy, but not too soft. Moreover, unlike many other pizzerias, they held back on the cheese and sauce. The Piola pies had just enough of the creamy mozzarella and the tomato sauce to prevent the crust from being too dry, yet also avoided being too gummy with excess cheese or being soupy with excess sauce. Unfortunately, I ordered a pie that came with smoked salmon and ricotta on top of the mozzarella and tomato sauce, and while the salmon was actually good, the ricotta was piled on too thick. I had to scrape the excess off. But, having tasted the underlying pie, I would imagine that ordering a more traditional pie from Piola would provide a rather satisfying gustatory experience, especially for a restaurant located in Rosslyn.
(4)
Phuong N.

I've been here twice - both times to try out the gnocchi. Very tasty, and the only reason it got the push to 3 stars. My first experience was good. Service was good, food was really good (try the ceviche). good sized portion. Did you know? on the 29th of every month it's all you can eat gnocchi for around $15. That was the main reason for my second visit. But the catch is - THEY prepare gnocchi in various sauces and spoon out a portion for you...a SMALLL portion. When the bowl comes out, they ask if you would like a portion or not. So if you're unimpressed with the combinations, you're just not eating. i guess this time was a fluke - but the service was SO SLOW. It took them 15min to get our drinks, and the gnocchi was coming MAYBE a bowl every 10min. So it felt like we were always waiting for another scoop of gnocchi. But i'm sure that was due in part because we were getting small scoops. But i must say, it was tastey.
(3)
Honey S.

I went to Piola last night to meet friends for sangria and apps. This place was super cute! It wasn't busy for a Saturday night at all so we sat at the bar and had a good amount of privacy. I had the white Sangria's which were yummy. The price wasn't bad at 7.50 but I heard you can get them for $5 on their happy hour specials. Our bartender was very attentive and friendly. My first app was the mini shells stuffed with chicken and corn but that was just okay. I wouldn't order it again but it was big enough to share. I also ordered the smoked salmon with basil or spinach...that was good. This place has a really cute patio outside to sit during nice weather. I would definitely recommend it.
(4)
Kathy T.

We enjoyed the pizza here -- the wood fired crust and the variety of toppings were great! We had the meatballs as an appetizer - they were OK, the sauce was good but the meatballs themselves had an odd texture - kind of like there was too much breading mixed in... Definitely go for the pizza, though!
(4)
Deanna J.

Really good pizza! I recommend the parma pizza-excellent, the best pizza I've had in a long time. I tried the lipsia pizza-the shrimp was a little too fishy for me. They run deals, currently offering: Mondays-Wednesdays Between 3pm-4pm all pizzas $5 4pm-5pm all pizzas $6 5pm-6pm all pizzas $7 Fridays and Saturdays After 10pm any pizza & beer combo for $12
(5)
Jessica C.

This is my edited version of my Piola review. Tonight I ordered the "Piola" and enjoyed it way more than my prior pizza. My husband got the "Italia" and it was pretty good. The thing is, my husband and I like really bold flavors and both of our pizzas were good but the flavor was very mild. Even after adding the red peppers and oregano. I think a lot of the pizzas would be better if they offered some sort of balsamic reduction, or at least more basil. It's good, it just needs something to push it over the edge. I also felt that for around $10 per pizza they should put more toppings on the pizza. My pizza was vegetarian and barely had any sun-dried tomato or basil. The crust is still honestly some of the best pizza crust I've had. I also had the best Arnie Palmer ever.
(4)
Bill M.

Good thin crust pizza not like the cardboard type I am used to. The service was good.
(4)
Tina K.

I loved the pizza at this restaurant - I went here for dinner in Wednesday night and they $2 glasses of wine for ladies all night long! I ordered a pizza with avocado, jalapeÃ±o and tomato and it was fantastic. The crust was thin and crispy although they also offered other types of pizza as well. One of my friends ordered the Como Pizza and loved the prosciutto and another ordered a classic margherita pizza and was completely satisfied. The only issue I had was our waitress who was pretty rude and uninformed. She didn't know what the specials were for the evening and told us that their weren't any instead of going to find them out. We thankfully found out whatnot was and was able to enjoy the wine even more!
(4)
Jack F.

Piola is a pretty decent pizza parlor with a lot of pizza pie selections and topping combinations. It's definitely on par with the likes of 2 Amy's and Pizza Paradisio (which I think are fairly average too). Piola is certainly a great restaurant selection if you're near the neighborhood but it's not something that comes to mind as a destination restaurant. That is, I don't specifically travel to Arlington for the sole purpose of Piola. [Original Visit: 2009]
(3)
Matherine G.

Disclosure: this is a nostalgic date place for us so slightly biased...otherwise read on! Positive: Great location with a very easy walk from Roslyn or Courthouse Metro stations. Great patio area which allows you to people watch. We've always had great speedy and friendly service. As for the food, they offer an extensive list of items but we have our favorites. We go for their wood-oven pizza which is large with a thin crust. Try the quatro-formaggio! Negative: Caprese salad is generally disappointing yet still refreshing. It shouldn't be difficult to find tomatoes that are juicy and in season. Overall: This is a great place to eat for date night or with a group of friends. Very reasonably priced and the food will definitely satisfy your palate.
(5)
Ari R.

I really like the neighborhood vibe of the place and their gnocci is very good, the best gnocci I ever had was at a cafe in called Taza d'Oro in Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv. Anyways, all their art is done by local artist which graces the walls of the restaurant. Very friendly staff and very good desserts. Highly recommend!
(5)
Antony C.

Great place for pizza. Had the Funghi Mista which mixed button and porcini mushrooms. I added some pancetta for some salty. Specials. 5pm-6pm pizzas are $7. Happy hour has discounted beverages. Sundays has all you can eat pizza 5pm-11pm. 29th of the month is all you can at gnocchi. Service was quick and friendly. Really liked the casual ambiance. Will definitely be coming back to try more of the menu.
(4)
Billgrolic G.

Pizza was soggy and uninspired. With so many better options (Pete's, Italian store, even ledos), don't know how this place is still open.
(1)
Elina T.

Pizza with a Brazilian influence. How can you go wrong? I've had many of their thin crust pizzas and have not been disappointed. One of my favorites is the Sao Paulo with the catipury cheese -- it's a soft, melty cheese that it just delicious. They also carry guarana, with is a great Brazilian soft drink made from a plant of the same name that grows in the Amazon. Love the decor too, very cheerful. The wait staff is always nice as well.
(5)
Ingrid T.

This restaurant in a commercial Rosslyn neighborhood has an energetic interior with great artwork and decor. We had dinner around the late happy hour crowd, with a group that included kids. The pizzas are thin-crust and with a salad are a good amount of food. The service was great even though the place was packed.
(4)
Mary S.

A pizza place is a pizza place, right? Not so until you try Piola. They have the most comprehensive pie menu I've ever seen, with several pages of innovative offerings! Love it! You can hear the dough guy pounding the dough and see the wood-fired oven. The pizzas are huge, so we split one and a very nice salad with superior tomatoes. There are plenty of other things to choose from besides pizza; we just were unimaginative! You can also see wild,wacky and changeable art on the wall courtesy of whomover. Profiteroles for dessert were a definite "A", too. Piola has a fun vibe and we'll definitely return! Our good waitstaff also informed us of great prices during the week for not only happy hour items, but real food! Too bad we don't live nearby ...
(4)
Sues S.

I've been there once with my boyfriend. It was really nice to eat outside on their patio. The pizzas we ordered were good, but the cheesy bread appetizer thingy we had seriously tasted freshly defrosted :-/
(3)
Fredericka C.

Went back last night for some drinks...you have to try the white sangria! So delish. Very fun atmosphere, great vibe. We decided to stay for dinner after having our appetites tempted by the free apps being handed out at the bar, and I ordered fusilli and my boyfriend had the diavolo pizza. The pizza was out of this world, but my fusilli was a little wanting. The sauce was very salty, and could have had more flavor, but I still definitely enjoyed it. Our waitress was also great. She was very attentive and helpful, and the food came out almost immediately. Once again, I love it here, but maybe stick to the pizza, which is the real gem of this place.
(4)
Jay N.

For over a year, Piola has been one of my favorite places to meet up with friends. Yes, their happy hour is justifiably popular. HH lasts until 8pm, a big plus for those of us who get off work later than most, and I'm a fan of their caipirinhas and sangria. Yes, in the bar area, you can help yourself to free bread and cheese spreads, and a waiter will occasionally bring out a piping hot pizza for you to sample mini-slices of. Just don't count on this when the weather is nice out, or it's a popular going-out night, because the place will be too crowded. (But on a cold night like last night, with the place sparsely attended, you can go to town!) More importantly, I really like their pizza. The menu offers a dizzying array of options, arbitrarily assigning numbers to their options, but some of my favs are the Rio de Janeiro (chicken, catupiry cheese, etc), the Como (ham, porcini mushrooms, etc), and the Mantova (carpaccio, arugula, etc). One hungry person could put away an entire pizza, but more likely, they're better suited for sharing for two.
(4)
Greg O.

DC is filled with specialty pizza restaurants. Some are surprisingly good, others not much. Piola fits into the surprisingly good category. I've been here twice now and both times the pizza was really good- crunchy crust but not burnt, good combination of toppings, sauce with the right amount of spice, and melted cheese without being too greasy. The service was attentive and friendly, and the decor indoors is minimal but bright and cheery- very fitting for the style of restaurant. Outdoors is a little loud, but what do you expect along a major road. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Melissa B.

I love pasta - okay, who doesn't? - even people who do carb free diets crave pasta - they just don't admit it ;) I ordered a pizza that was warm, delicious, and well toasted - I really, really dislike crusts that are white and pasty looking. So, that made me happy. My hubby enjoyed the unlimited gnocchi. Great stuff. He stopped @ the 4th plate - with my help of course. It's not THE best italian food but it was yummy. and I'm a sucker for unlimited anything.
(3)
Robert S.

3.5 star place for the pizza, but gets a 4th star for the great pizza happy hour and the friendly service. 7 dollar pizzas if you come in before 6-great deal for the quality of toppings you can get!
(4)
Huy N.

Chastised by the Content Gods! Ok. They were right. I wrote a little too much stuff off topic that should have been reserved for other forums. OK, OK it was a little preachy and ranty. I drink too much coffee sometimes, OK? Still .... I meant every word I said. You just can't read them or complain about them anymore. My new review. Came here with my GF for AYCE Pizza on a Sunday. Tasty pizzas had that slightly charred, crispy chewiness to them that I love. I probably had about ten slices of mostly different varieties with the highlight being the Funghi Misti. The GF had the Penne Rosate (smoked salmon in tomato cream sauce) and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a school night so no alcohol. I did have the Swiss Lemonade and found it utterly refreshing and worth every penny of the $4.00 price. Maybe next time I'll get really crazy and have one of those $2.50 cans of Coke. And I must mention that I absolutely LOVED the Napkins. Designed by an Italian graphic design firm, I found them a refreshing departure from the standard thin and utterly boring napkins supplied by generic food service companies. Texturally interesting and great for mopping off a little oil from the corners of the mouth. Piola has endless choices and variety in the menu. I'll be back to try more of their offerings soon!
(4)
Emilio V.

Piola, which in Italian dialects means an unpretentious "tavern", has an industrial modern decor that is a bit stark and harsh... not a romantic spot for sure... the paintings for sale hanging on the wall soften the atmosphere a bit... We went there for pizza and it was OK, it is worth the money. Wine choices are limited but OK. We went back this past 29th for "unlimited gnocchi" special. Stay away. The gnocchi were consistently overcooked, a lumpy mass of flour and potatoes... gnocchi should be served "al dente", that is with something to chew on, not just swallow... the various sauces are of varying quality, the pesto being very poor, the salmon one is a bit better. Be prepared to wait quite a bit between servings... One has to wait for the kitchen to prepare the various gnocchi sauces and there is no previous choice offered... so, they may bring some combination you do not want and another 15-20 minutes will go by before something appears again... Service was very spotty... we were served by at least 4 different waiters... kind of a free for all with no one checking on us as to what we might need... Not a good choice. All in all, an OK place, nothing special.
(1)
Sandi W.

Not your typical pizza place. It's European style pizzas which is very nice Good change from the normal. Big selection - almost too big.... So many choices! I chose the margarita and added onions and garlic. The ingredients were fresh and the taste was yum! Definitely on my list to try again.
(4)
Hannah C.

Came here for a drink after Pho 75... Their long happy hour offered $3 Peroni, and oodles of free snacks like pizza, cheeses, and bruschetta, carried on the muscular arms of young models... I mean waitstaff. In past visits, came for dinner. The pizza was good. The pasta was good. The desserts were good. The service was good. The atmosphere was vibrant. Got it? Now go. Oh ya - the drinks are good, too. For a pizza joint that I usually just stumble upon, I can't think of any reason to take away stars. Kid friendly. Mom approved. (Large sober polite happy hour crowd) Oh! almost forgot the outdoor seating... there's lots of it, well shaded.
(5)
Jim H.

We were staying at the Marriott Courtyard and needed Italian near our hotel, Piola was great! Perfect portion size, I had the smoked salmon pasta entree, much healthier than bacon. Others in my party had pizza and pasta, everything was very good. Piola has a large menu and a full service bar. Service was prompt even though the place was packed. A great value in this neighborhood.
(4)
Kim H.

If you like thin crust pizza this place is for you. I used to work in Rosslyn, so my co workers and I used to frequent here a lot. My only complaint is that the pizza is a tad on the salty side. They even have pizzas where they crack an egg on top! It may sound gross but surprisingly very good.
(4)
Taryn L.

Came here just for happy hour around 5:30 on a Friday night with my dad, who was visiting, and boyfriend. The drinks were good (we all had different whiskey cocktails in anticipation of no liquor at Ray's the Steaks), it was easy to get a seat in the bar area (although happy hour deals apply in the main seating area as well) and service was quick, attentive and friendly. Servers also walked around throughout the hour offering a variety of hors d'oeuvres. So while I didn't order any food, I can say that the complimentary tastings really hit the spot: chewy focaccia breadsticks, spicy pepperoni mini-pizzas, flavorful meatballs, stuffed mushrooms and more.
(4)
Danny m.

Had a little happy hour here the other night. They have guys waltzing around with trays of appetizers (free) during happy hour, so that was a plus. Although I wasn't big on many of the items they were passing out, the thin crust pizza's were very tasty, and for that, I'm givin em a "3." If in Arlington, worth a happy hour oouting.
(3)
Rebecca C.

$4 sangria and $3 beers during the lengthy happy hour? Free food including pizza squares, bruschetta and flatbread? Serve yourself cheese plate on the bar? Yes please! This was a go-to happy hour spot for my friends and I for awhile. It's such a great alternative to the horrible service at Cafe Asia -- and you don't have to fight to actually get the drink specials for happy hour. The pizzas have also never disappointed me. I love the white pizza with spicy salami, and the one that has a ton of different vegetables. I've brought my parents there, and my dad loved his calzone, and my mom her gnocchi. Desserts were also good. One note: I'd skip the Neopolitan style pizzas ... they are very saucy and WAY soggy.
(4)
Dan N.

I use to live near this place so I have fond memories of picking up a pizza here and taking it home to watch the game. So when I came back to visit DC I had to pay piola a visit to see if anything has changed over the years. And it was de ju vu all over again. I like this place, it has a big menu of gourmet pizza to choose from. I usually get the white pizza's and add my own toppings. I've never been disappointed. 4 out of 5 sporks on all the white pizza's The service is great, very attentive and friendly. The decor is chic and there's lots of local art up. It's a nice cozy place to take a date and chill out if you live in the area. All in all next time I go back to DC I'll pay this place another visit if I'm in the area.
(3)
Sarah W.

I came here to meet a friend who was in town from California, on recommendation from her friends who live in Georgetown. Piola's serves UNLIMITED pizza for $15 on Sunday nights - what a bargain! Their pizza is thin crust (my favorite) and is hands-down some of the best pizza I've eaten in a while. Since an entire pizza has 4 slices, and there were 4 of us there, they just asked us what pizzas we wanted and they brought them out to us. I think NORMALLY its supposed to be sort of like brazilian steak house style where they walk around with different pizzas and we take what we want. There weren't a lot of people dining there this evening (likely due to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend). My favorite pizzas were the Diavolo (spicy salami), Margerita, and Hawaiian. I hope to come back some time with my hubby! Hard to find GOOD thin crust pizza around here :) We live in Centreville and it was a short 30min drive to Piola's and parking on the street was easy to find ($1 per hour, 2hours max)
(5)
Marianne D.

SETTING: Well past midnight. (Sat. am) Dined outdoors. DECOR: Outdoor dining quite bright, but I think that's a building/safety issue moreso than their choice. STAFF: Friendly, personable, though organization was a tad confused but all was settled quickly. ENTREE: Quick & Fresh - Not-quite-filling, but this is the style and the above made up for it, besides, I was splitting and now I know to just get my own. DESSERT: Bad internet connection so I can't bring up the proper name of the Eclair-with ice cream which was delish. DRINK: (NA) Try the Swiss Lemonade (Limeade) VERDICT: Piola, if in Rosslyn, I am yours.
(4)
Marie S.

This is my go-to pizza place. Admittedly, I live within walking distance; however, I am very pleased with their pizzas. It's not what you would get in Italy, exactly, but it's close enough for Rosslyn. I usually get the Margarita with whole wheat crust, and my husband get some spicy number with anchovies. We happened to show up the other day on "all-you-can-eat-gnocchi" night, which was delicious, though rather filling. They only get four stars from me, though, because the service is generally not that great and the interior ambiance is a bit lacking. However, if it is warm and you can sit on the patio, who cares about the ambiance, right?
(4)
Natasha V.

The best pizza i've ever tried! I loved that fun atmosphere! also it's really great place for big groups ))
(5)
Allison R.

It was very good overall between the food and the service. I was surprised how loud it was inside and definitely wouldn't want to go here on a date, but I liked it for a more casual evening! I didn't expect it to be quite that loud inside, the bar area was really loud, but luckily the noise level lowered near our table. The pizza was great as was the pasta. We had 2 pasta dishes and a pizza at our table (3 people total). They were all good, the pizza stood out the most to me from our dinner round. The dessert was phenomenal. We ordered the Tira Misu and the Marscapone cheese with guava paste and both were out of this world - great way to end an evening!
(4)
Amir K.

nice environment. live jazz( laud one). I had a nice Italian pasta with delicious sauce. they offered wide range of drink. nice place for fancy gathering.
(4)
Mike L.

My former co-workers dubbed me "Mayor of Piola". Need I say more? I have loved this place since day one - when I worked across the street I was there for lunch at least once a week and happy hour 4-5 nights a week. Their menu is unique and after living in this area most of my life, I've never been able to find a place with the menu diversity they have at Piola. The pizza options are endless, their pasta is off the chain and their side dishes and salads are so funky and fresh, you always want more. The best part of Piola is the happy hour. The beer and wine prices aren't the cheapest, but the best part is the constant flow of food. Whether is be bruschetta, pizza, meatballs, wraps, they pass around free food, and the list goes on. Be nice to the gang, and they will take care of you - it's always a great feeling to walk in after quitting the job across the street over 6 months later and see familiar faces. I don't know whether or not it's a good thing they always have a glass of red wine waiting for me. Plus all you can eat gnocchi on the 29th of each month and all you can eat pizza on Sunday nights.
(5)
Nuri K.

A vast-as-a-desert menu masks (or perhaps alludes to) the fact that Piola's pizzas may come in a number of ways but just aren't that good. The crusts were gummy and while the pizzas are interesting and appealing conceptually, the creations themselves were so bland that no amount of parmesan could have hit it on the target. We were intrigued with the idea of having chopped boiled eggs sprinkled atop my pie and so ordered the Venezia but overboiled, grey-ringed eggs and a soggy bottom stopped me short of enjoying them. Out of Piola's white pizza selections we chose the Lipsia, topped with shrimp, broccoli, garlic, and tomatoes, the first of which were overcooked and respectively tough and mushy. D'Annunzio, a salad of greens, tomatoes, bean sprouts, palm hearts, mozzarella and avocado was not given a consideration of salt before it came to our table and was poorly accompanied by the house balsamic, an overall uninteresting combination worsened by the gritty, muddy flavor of overcooked bean sprouts. Torta nera was a decent dessert of ample chocolate flavor and sub-par (overly dense) texture, but chocolate cake and ice cream in most languages is very forgiving. Service was attentive and sincere, but the exorbitant noise level was a setback to my enjoyment. If it had not been ninety degrees out, al fresco would have been a lovely choice, albeit with a long wait. There are better pizza places in the world, even, I'm sure, in the Washington area. In the future I would skip on Piola.
(2)
Brent S.

I've gotten pizza here several times for lunch, and it's usually pretty good. The crust in particular is very good, it's more of a traditional style that's more chewy than crispy. The margherita pizza is good, although I find the pizza with sausage to be the best. I got a white pizza with salmon once that just wasn't good, I'd recommend against getting a white pizza. All lunches come with minestrone soup or a salad. The soup is good, but I'm not a fan of the salad, it's just lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
(3)
Christina C.

If you like paying exorbitant prices for pizza pies with sparse toppings and burnt crusts...then by all means head over to this place. If you like paying half-exorbitant prices for pizza pies with sparse toppings and burnt crusts, head over during happy hour. 'Nuff said.
(2)
Mel B.

Went here for the second time a had the Tarragona (love eggplant!) and the minestrone soup. Both were fresh, perfectly seasoned, perfect crust on the pizza, and I even wanted sacrificed a piece to instead bring home for later. I've added three more stars - service is excellent and friendly, food is great, well-priced, and atmosphere is perfect for the business lunch- I've only gone here in this capacity, but it seems like it has a kickin' happy hour, too! Good Happy Hour is few and far between in Rosslyn (surprising given the hundreds of companies and offices there- can someone get on that please? Thanks.) I think my first time here was a rough patch and it happens sometimes, but this place is def one of the bright spots in otherwise desolate Rosslyn. ******************** * 1 star* My first time here I ordered the arugula, tomato, and mozzarella pizza. I'm really not clear what they bake their crust in, but the ONLY way I GUESSED that it was genuinely brick oven was from the trademark burnt edges. Yes, burnt. Burnt edges. Soggy middle. Toppings randomly strewn about the top. It had to be eaten with a knife and fork. It was more like a salad ON a pizza. The one part of the pizza that was remotely edible was that semi-cheesy and saucy part before the actual crust, but after you've eaten all the toppings. Pizzas come with a starter salad, which was just mixed greens with tomato and cucumber with average balsamic and olive oil. They don't offer any fresh parmesan for the salad or pizza, but they do offer fresh pepper and a bowl of parmesan that is definitely straight out of a plastic bottle in bulk. No bread at the table, either. Hmmm... The minimum to offer at a "brick oven" or even minimally respected Italian restaurant is freshly grated parm. Am I wrong here?? The ingredients were, however, at least fresh and tasty. The server was also super friendly and the manager walked around to check on the general operation. Still, this is one of the worst made pizzas I've had in the DC area. In the end, two of us somehow spent $40 on two pizzas and one coke. This place is a ripoff.
(4)
Ellen K.

I've been to Piola several times in the past and enjoyed their pizza and pasta. I was excited to try the "unlimited gnocchi" which is a special advertised for the 29th of every month. However, when my sister and I went to Piola today (the 29th) our server "Gabriela" informed us that while it was the 29th, they were not doing the special because of the marine corp marathon scheduled for tomorrow. We had arrived for an early dinner and noticed a "Pizza Happy Hour" card on each table, which read that everyday except Sunday pizza was discounted from 5-6pm. When I asked Gabriela about the pizza happy hour she said that it was also not today, also a result of the marathon. This seemed beyond sketchy so I showed her the card on our table saying that it was for today, she said that she had to go and check. What is going on with Pizza Piola? The server was beyond sketchy and rude!
(2)
Justin W.

Pretty good all around. I wasn't expecting much more than a clubby California Pizza Kitchen but the pizza was actually quite delicious. the crust was especially nice and tasty. Prices were OK, certainly isn't a NY type of pie. More along the lines of the other brick oven pizza places int he area. Spicy salami is fantastic topping, and, as the name suggests, it is very spicy. Wait staff were friendly and attentive. The only complaint I have is that the clubby music is a bit much. I didn't know if I was getting dinner or if I should be snorting something in the bathroom.
(4)
Paul R.

Three friends and I went for a weekday lunch. I had the Firenza(?) pizza with sausage and porcini, along with a side salad. The salad was nicely done and about the right size. It had chopped veggies mixed with fresh greens. They also brought sliced bread out but I think that's overkill when everyone is getting pizza at lunch. The thin crust pizza was tasty and not greasy at all. I wish the crust had been a little more charred but I can't complain. Service was very quick and accommodating. My only complaint is that they won't give separate checks or split a check among more than 3 cards. This eliminates any tought of bringing a half dozen or so folks over from work. On balance it's worth going back.
(4)
Tara G.

A local favorite! Very good pizzas... and there are a zillion to choose from or create your own! I have never had any of the other dishes besides pizza - and the smoked salmon with basil or spinach is fantastic. Nice location with big windows facing Wilson Blvd. I like the decor - fun and colorful. The service is always very nice as well with minimal interruptions. We usually have to ask for the bill which I like to not feel rushed, and they keep a close eye on you so simply looking up will give them the que that you are ready to ask for something. I've only been there during lunch so I haven't experienced the super deals I've read about, but I felt like it was still a good value for the great food. I'll definitely have to go for $6 pies sometime!
(5)
IH K.

I know some disagree, but I really like this place. The decor is a bit tacky, but it seems to draw in the unpretentious crowd. We came for happy hour and were pleasantly surprised that we managed good seating, food and service. This is the type of place to go when you want to get away from arling-drama without having to leave the area. It's not a hip hangout, but that's exactly the appeal. Hidden gem.
(3)
Daniel B.

Really great pizza. Classic Italian. Best deal here? The Sunday all-you-can-eat pizza deal for $15 where they have 10 pizza's that they select and you can choose from as they circulate the room.
(4)
Beth L.

I came with my fam for din the other eve and enjoyed the atmosphere - spacious and comfortable - with a nice bar area. The pizzas were great and we loved the choices of entree salads (one with tuna and white beans, another with chicken and fresh mozzerella) also nice that their entree salads are all made available in smaller portions). The service was suuuuper-friendly too, which is always appreciated.
(4)
Carolyn V.

My parents took my roomies and I out to eat here last night. Great service, an absurd amount of different kinds of pizza, delicious food, and completely reasonably priced. Definitely coming back here on another Sunday with the roomies to do the unlimited pizza tasting deal (try as many and as much of different kinds of pizza for only $15.95....bring your appetite!!) SIDE NOTE: I had this pasta cividelle (sp?) - penne with a cream sauce, tomato, rosemary, and parma ham...TASTY!
(4)
John M.

I was going to give it 3 stars but I read some other reviews and it reminded me of what I did not like and it outweighed what I did like. I got a sausage pizza and 2 Peroni's (beer) with tip for $31. The service was fast and the pizza tasted good but it was more like a regular pie with a few pieces of sausage then a sausage pie. When I say pie it is a personel pizza not a big pie by any means. They have Italain names and they try to impress with the pizza combinations but the prices are way too much. The crest is so thin which to me means they ae saving money on that also. What I really hated about this place was it's deception. They have Italian sayings on the wall and they try to have pizza that are real Italain but a real Italian has probably never set foot in this place. Hispanics are making the pizza and they probably don't speak English. The watresses act as if they are hip and trendy but I just want some fat Italian serving me. This is more or less for idiots who think Olive Garden is Italain. I went to the Piola in Sao Paulo Brazil and that at least had people of Italain heritage serving you. I must say DC is not a bad city but the food is only so so to me. But so many idiots who want to be cool and hip and trendy come here so they will keep selling the pizza to make a huge profit and these morans will keep coming like it is friggin Naples.
(2)
Laura J.

went there with some girlfriends to see what the hype is all about. the pizza was good we tried the beirut (highly recommend) and the lolo salad to share. the salad was disappointing. Not only was it lacking in taste but it was incredibly over priced for arugula and shaved cheese. The big shock was how perverted the hispanic (Im pretty sure he was hispanic) manager was. we sat all the way in the back by where they make the pizzas and we over heard him make some very inappropriate comments to other employees. I feel especially sorry for all the girls who have to work with him. I def woudnt let my daughter work there. overall the experience was nice (wouldnt go out of my way to eat there again) but im glad i went. I really like the art they had around the restaurant.
(2)
Frank H.

Headed to happy hour and had a good time. Sort of wannabe modern atmosphere. We were there on a Thursday night and they had a pretty good FREE spread of Brie, Parmesan, and blue cheese with sliced bread. Also they were giving giving out samples of their margherita pizza was pretty good. It had a good crust and excellent fresh mozzarella cheese. Therefore free food equals good happy hour. i would definitely go to whet my thirst.
(4)
Ken R.

Good pizza for a neighborhood resto.
(3)
Shelley T.

Food was delicious but we paid 45 bucks for 2 pizzas and two cans of coke. Think that about sums it up! You really need to be craving a good quality wood oven pizza to fork over 14-20 dollars/pizza but I have to say I'd do it again, just not frequently.
(3)
Melaine P.

I tried Piola last night for the first time after an extensive search for a casual venue, good food, and a place to catch up with my best friend. Oh, and I'm lazy and didn't want to switch metro lines, so Rosslyn was the preferred location. Upon arrival, my first thought was, "Oh, this place is next to Cafe Asia." There was a healthy crowd of people dining al fresco, but the muggy weather and impending thunderstorm convinced me to sit indoors. The thunderstorm indoors was deafeningly loud: entry-level happy hour patrons, tired parents with screaming children, Rhianna wailing out a tune at dance club volume level, clinking glasses, you get the idea. The music was so loud, I actually had to yell my drink order to the waitress. In their defense, the music was turned down to "just loud" after a few minutes, maybe somebody complained? Service: Over-friendly, but I think she was new. She had several tables besides ours, including a large group, but we never had to look for her. Drinks: Upon arrival, I was informed of the happy hour special: $3 beers, $4 house wine, $5 cocktails. Pretty good, although the house wine was on the lower end of the drinkable scale. Apps: Ordered off the special menu, which was a list of italian cured meats and cheeses. I ordered the prosciutto, semi-hard cows milk cheese, and a heavenly brie-like cheese. I was impressed with the parma ham's flavor, although it would have been more convenient in served in several small slices instead of two long strips. The cows milk cheese was pleasant, but a bit forgettable. The rosemary focaccia was very good as well, with a nice crusty flavor and baked-in fresh rosemary. Pizza: We ordered the Ortomisto (veggie) and the San Daniele (parma ham...we added fresh tomatoes). The Ortomisto was tasty, not super impressive by any stretch. The San Daniele was a soggy mess, made just okay by the parma ham. Truthfully, I felt both pies were a little bland, and as such, overpriced. Put it this way, I would have taken Z-pizza over Piola any day. The Bar: we saddled up after our meal for a couple more drinks. It was full but not crowded, and the general vibe was friendly. It appeared there was a crowd of regulars (cut to air kissing). Overall: Good place for an after work happy hour or with a group. I probably won't be back without the former or the latter.
(3)
Eva G.

Oh how I hate choice! Isn't it so much easier if a restaurant really only has one "edible" item on the menu or just one item period...? Well, this would be the wrong place to come then because the pizza selection is HUGE but oh so good. THIN crust just the way I like it. Definitely will come here again to try others although mine - I forget the name - with carapccio, arugula and brie could have used a ... errr... flavor... The wine selection is a bit limited. There was one ROARING (literally!!!!!) happy hour so I assume their drink selection otherwise is phenomenal or fabulously cheap? The service was so, so... our server said the order "got lost in the system" after we waited for 1/2 hour plus... but no free nothing or serious apology... he was also eager to turn over our table once we were done eating although there were plenty of tables... yep. They can use some help with training... .. don't come here for a romantic date since the noise level is quite high so you will find yourself yelling across even a small table... not so romantic (-: But really, the pizza is good! (-:
(4)
M - G.

I walked into Piola expecting great things which, looking back, may have been my downfall. Since it was happy hour and we wanted pizza, we ended up being the only ones at a table, which was a little awkward considering the size of the restaurant. The decor was pretty loud, and straddled a confusing line between retro and modern. The service and drinks were the restaurant's saving grace. Their servers were really nice, and took time to explain items on the menu without getting annoyed. After trying a strawberry caipiroksa for the first time, I wanted to put on sunglasses and lie in the sand. The muddled fresh strawberries sweetened the strong alcohol flavor to create a refreshing drink. However, I was frowning down at my Honolulu pizza even before tasting it. The crust was burnt around the edges, and the invisible layer of cheese was covered in paper-thin slices of deli ham (thanks, but no thanks). I soon realized that they likely overdid the toppings to make up for the lack of flavoring in the pizza. I even declined bringing the leftovers home because I knew I would find them in my fridge six months later, still uneaten. A night of all you can eat gnocchi...really? There is a reason you don't see gnocchi in the buffet line--it is heavy and best to be savored in small amounts. Bottom line: Piola is not worth the walk up the hill from the Metro.
(3)
Katya R.

For the lack of options in Rosslyn, this place is pretty good and one of the only places to go for Happy Hour. I have been here a number of times for work Happy Hours (a better choice than going to the Continental) - it does not get unbearably packed, free appetizers are served during HH and drinks are strong.
(4)
El G.

The thing I like about all the reviews on Yelp is that people on here really take their reviews seriously. I like that. This is a Pizza joint. I guess it's supposed to be serving Brazilian pizza, but Brazilian pizza this is not. Brazilian pizza is horrible and eaten with Ketchup. This pizza is good. Whatever your taste, whatever your mood, you will find a pizza for you. The server I had this last time was somewhat apathetic to my orders and comments. Maybe he was waiting to get off. I don't know. Pizza came out quickly, was made from fresh ingredients and most importantly, was very good. We'll be back.
(3)
Allen H.

This place has a really good thing going for it...any pizza on the menu and a beer for $12! We had just heard about this the night of and after an evening of laughs at the Improv, we had to make a stop for a cheap pizza and nightcap. For $12 you wouldn't really expect much but the pizza is truly a great deal! They have a huge selection of pizzas to choose from so it's really good for any type of pizza lover! As had been mentioned before, the decor is a little different than usual restaurants but I liked it and thought it to be pretty neat. Again, a full pizza big enough to split and a beer for $12 is mighty tough to beat!
(4)
Mary B.

Great sangria happy hours!! Love Love Love their cheap red sangria's during happy hour. The bar is not big, but a good place to meet friends if you work/ live in the area. The pizza is thin crust, delicious and fresh. The desserts are the only thing that I think are really lacking. Overall: great for 6pm happy hour and bite to eat with friends.
(4)
Joe G.

Definitely don't order the pasta. I had the salmon pasta dish and it was a bit dry... the sauce was bland and left something to be desired. The pizza is good, but nothing amazing. Two Amy's is definitely your best bet if you are looking for great Italian pizza in DC. Also, the decor was strange. Trendy italian? Huh? Finally, the food came out very quickly - almost too quickly. We had barely opened the wine bottle before the waitress was on top of us with our dishes. All of this being said there aren't many other dining options in Rosslyn and the prices here are pretty reasonable. Also, although I've never been to the happy hour it sounds like a pretty good deal - definitely something to check out.
(3)
Martin B.

About a 3.8. We needed some sort of food, and the first suggestion was Piola (my father had been here before). We headed down K street and over to Rosslyn for some munchies. Piola's a peculiar place, because it is a chain restaurant that covers a lot of Latin American countries. But it's Italian. I can't explain it. Service was satisfactory. The waiter and server were friendly, but the service was a bit slow which it shouldn't have been considering we were one of the few parties there. But again, the folks were friendly which is usually more important to me than speed. For starters I had some bruschetta and some bread. The bruschetta was tasty, but I'm not a fan of toasted bread. The bread that came in the basket was marvelous though; nice and soft. It went well with the olive oil. My entree was the cheesy gnocchi. The gnocchi were small, but the serving was hearty. There was LOTS of delicious gooey cheese, including the almighty brie. I'm a man who needs a lot of food to get full, and I was quite satisfied with just three fourths (or perhaps five eighths) of the plate... and then I finished it off just to be sure. I also had a slice of my father's pepperoni pizza. The crust was similar to Matchbox's pizza, and the pepperoni was quite spicy. We passed on dessert and had some cappuccino which was fine. Overall a pretty good restaurant. The atmosphere and decor is cool, and Piola has an extensive menu of pizzas. They also apparently have a Pizza Sunday where from 1700-2200 you can eat all the pizza you want for a flat price. Not destination dining, but if you're in the area and need something Italian you'd do fine here.
(4)
amy m.

This was located near our hotel so we went there twice. The pizza was good, could have used a little more sauce. My kids enjoyed it. Small place and tables are close together, but overall would recommend for the area.
(3)
Dawn M.

I'm giving Piola a 3 based solely on the great wine specials during happy hour. I'd like to go back to try the pizza or gnocci, because I was highly unimpressed with the free hors d'oeuvres.
(3)
Tommy_n_Loretta C.

check this place out for their pizza happy hour! You can get a $14 pizza for $7!!!!! Amazing!
(4)
Ryan S.

Piola is a pizzeria with about 20+ locations worldwide. My first expose to Piola was in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This location in Rosslyn was established roughly in the fall of 2006, and is the first (and currently only) to the DC metropolis. Despite the company being Italian (their corporate website has a .it domain), this particular location seems to be heavily influenced by Brazilian culture. You will often find a live Brazilian band playing in the bar area, and I can't think of a better place in the city to order a Brazilian cocktail. Acoustics are poor (as is with its next door neighbor, long time resident Cafe Asia), so conversation can be difficult. The decor is modern and very cool. I've been here twice in the past year for dinner and once for drinks at the bar. Service has always been friendly, however a little slow. If you are looking for an American style pizza, don't come here. Their pizza is much more like pizza you will find outside of America, which I find to be excellent. The pizzas are fired in a brick oven, and are thin and crispy. The toppings in particular are ingredients rarely found at an American pizzeria. If you like variety, go on a Sunday evening and order the tasting menu. They choose about 8-10 of their specialty pizzas, and you can eat all you like. You have to wait for them to come around to serve the slices, so you should expect to spend a long time on the meal. The only reason I don't eat there every week, is I tend to over eat when eating pizza, so I limit my exposure.
(4)
Michele D.

I didn't have anything to drink, yet I was drowning in a sea of confusion! I was the first to arrive for last Friday's happy hour and tried to get a table outside. The crowds were all next door at Cafe Asia, which meant lots of open tables at Piola. Yay! No. I asked if I could get a table for 6, but was told I couldn't get one until everyone in my party had arrived. Okay. Once we were all there, we decided to sit inside. The bar was muy crowded, so we elected to grab a long table along a wall. This is where the confusion came into play: if you were at the bar, you could get happy hour prices on food. If you were at the tables, you could only get discounts on drinks. Huh? I lived super large in getting a caipirinha. It wasn't bad, but surely no comparison to the ones I had in Rio. *sighs at memories of Rio* We ordered 2 pizzas since we planned on moving to sushi after wards. We got the Como (which tasted great with the porcini mushrooms and parma ham) and the Bruxelles (which was good, but the ricotta was odd). The place was okay; don't know if I'd return. The pizza wasn't bad at all but I wouldn't go out of my way to have it again.
(3)
Clara L.

I came here for their weeknight happy hour, so I can't comment on what this place is like at other times. First off, they have pretty decent prices for HH. The strawberry caipiroska I had, was delicious and only $6 during HH (4-8pm) and the $3 stella artois bottles weren't too shabby either. I was excited that they give away free appetizers like pizza and cheese during their HH's, but a very infrequent event. I only saw the guy walk around once with a tray of mini pizzas, though the one piece of pizza I got was pretty good. The place was on the crowded side and being in the commonwealth, people were smoking at the bar. boooo! The decor/atmosphere was a little "too trendy" for me to want to stay there as well. I felt no desire to stay beyond the HH specials period, so once 8 o'clock rolled by, we finished our drinks, closed our tabs and moved on to a different venue to continue the "happy night".
(3)
Tommy W.

Came here while in DC. Good pizza. I had the 14.95 all you can eat pizza. They bring to you all their different types of pizza dishes to try out. The pizza that stood out was the RIO DE JANEIRO. It was creamy chicken flavor that really was scrumptious. My other two buddies enjoyed their gigantic cal zones as well. If I were back in DC I'd eat hear again.
(3)
Christina C.

I love happy hour at Piola. Its a good setup for meeting a group when you dont know how many people are coming. great prices on drinks and they pass around yummy FREE appetisers. if you stay past happy hour you can get a pizza at the bar. I like the diabola. the crust is super thin and the peperoni is spicy!
(4)
Patrick M.

I didn't eat here, just had a few drinks at the bar. I rarely review a restaurant's bar, but this one was just awful. Terrible service (intrusive, wrong drinks, etc), overpriced drinks, bad dance music playing all night. And the bar doesn't have any atmosphere at all. Just some small high tables and a lot of smokers. Obviously the food here is the reason to go, but if you're looking for a bar near the Rosslyn stop, go elsewhere.
(2)
Gretchen H.

I love this pizza! Although, has the crust gotten thinner recently? The menu is so long that it can be daunting but they will make additions or substitutions on toppings. This is true Neopolitan pizza and it can't be beat. The restaurant has high ceilings and very relaxed feel. It is also a great place to watch World Cup soccer.
(5)
Jay P.

The hostess said our reservation from OpenTable was only valid for inside seating. Who knew? Since only one of the dozen or so tables outside was occupied, after some discussion, she finally rolled her eyes and relented and seated us outside. Such an effort on her part. While my wife was negotiating (I stay out of these delicate affairs lest I say something honest and straightforward that gets me in trouble ...) I noticed that despite the fact it was College Fooball Saturday and despite the fact that the basbeall pennant races were running red hot, the bartender had managed to find a thrilling, scoreless soccer game between Lichtenstein and Serbia (or was it El Salvador and Bolivia?) to show on their one TV set. The waiter was unkept, pushy and rude. What a mess. No bread, no water. The menu is pretty much pizza. Not just any ppizza, but "GOURMET PIZZA." You know what that means. White pizza with goat cheese and arugula. Or chicken and broccoli pizza. Yeah, that's what I want for a pizza - no cheese, no sauce but plenty of vegetables on a soggy, flimsy little crust. Don't even think about eating this pizza by picking it up because it has the consistency of a wet paper towel. Knife and fork only. A spoon, had one been included in the tableware, would have been useful for slurping the watery crust. This is a pizza place for people who wouldn't know a pizza from a slice of bread and a salad. Soggy, wet bread. Paper thin. Except, at Piola, you don't get the bread. On top of all that, the parking garage is a nightmare - beyond words.
(1)
Maggie M.

Went here last night for a friends birthday. We had a huge table about 30 people. Reservation was at 8 we were seated on time! Which I can appreciate. The bar seemed pretty busy for a Monday night so that was a good sign. This was my first time going to Piola and majority of the groups first time as well. We had heard great reviews so we decided to check it out. Now on to the good stuff.... The decor was trendy and bright! Which i liked. Pretty colors and nice art work along with good music in the background. Drinks... The Mr. had a Caipirinha which was very strong and good. Its a very popular Brazilian drink. If you like Mojitos with out the mint you'd love a Caipirinha. I had a strawberry Caiproska which is made with Vodka instead of rum, it had a ton of fresh strawberry's in it! So good. Food.... they have a ton of pizza choices it felt like the entire menu was pizzas, and there HUGE! The waitress told us they were personnal pan but dont be fooled! Its about a size small (from any other pizza chain spot) about 8-9 slices and it could feed up to 2 -3 people. So we made the mistake of all ordering our own. Which next time wont happen! Cause its just to much to handle. I got the margarita pizza which is fresh mozzerlla and tomato sauce with fresh basil. The Mr. got the CARBONARA which was bacon, egg, Parmesan cheese, tomato sauce and mozzarella. He really enjoyed his. Mine was a bit greasy but what pizza isnt! Dessert!! My fav part of this meal and the only reason why i decided to yelp about Piola. We had the creme puffs and they were to die for! The puffs were still a bit warm wit bitter sweet chocolate drizzled all over them the creme in the insde of the puff was semi frozen/cold and semi melting so it made for an amazlingly good dessert! The mix of the bitter sweet chocolate and creme made this delish smooth milk chocolate last! Heaven on a little plate ! Overall Id go back but i hear on weekends it gets very packed. So i think ill def go back during the week it seemed less of a hassel. ***I forgot to mention my friend had the gnocchi and it was very tasty! Very rich in flavor and gooey cheese! Everyone kept taking bites of her meal! Luckly I had so much pizza she shared with me!***
(4)
Isabel B.

Awesome place, delicious food!! No so cheap though but everything is so yummi!! rio de Janeiro pizza is the best one so far!! Loved it....
(5)
Nicky B.

I really like this place. I went with 3 others and we all ordered a different kind of pizza and sampled, and they were all very good. There is one with gorgonzola, arugula, and spicy pepperoni that if I went back again, that would definitely be my pick. I liked that they had plain, simple pizzas for the timid and new, interesting ingredient pairings for the adventurous. Drink selection is ehhh. They only have 4 beers to choose from (I like pizza and beer...a bellini and pizza just doesn't sound good to me). But, if you go past 10 on the weekends, it's a pizza and a beer for $12 (i think?), when a pizza is normally around that alone, plus the $4-5 beer. The restaurant itself is nice. We didn't sit inside, but the few moments we were in there, the place looked clean and decorated nicely. They have a nice big patio that I'm sure I'll be heading back to soon.
(4)
Mike R.

I usually keep these reviews to just the food because I'm usually not swayed much by service, setting, etc. but this review is all about my last 20 minutes at this place. The food was good, but I will not go back. We were in with a group of 8 and since they wouldn't split our check we went about the oh so fun process of pooling our money and credit cards. Our service wasn't that great but they included the gratuity so we didn't have to deal with figuring out tip. As is often the case when people are figuring out their portion we ended up with too much money and since the service wasn't great we were hesitant to just leave the difference but in the end we decided to just leave it since it was too much of a pain to break bills and figure out who needed money back...just easier to leave it. So we as a group (multiple people counted the money) thought we were leaving 195 for a 185 tab (with gratuity included) and lo and behold our server returned asking for another 20 and saying we were short. We stated that we had multiple counts of the money and she told us we'd have to figure it out because she didn't take our money. We again counted out how much each person remembered contributing and came up with the same number. Our first inclination was to just toss in the extra 2-3 per person and leave, but as a group we became more and more disturbed by it and decided to ask for a manager. First manager issue, she came over with the server and we immediately got into a back and forth between our spokesperson and the server. It quickly became a "I'm not a thief, I wouldn't do that kinda thing" discussion which was counter productive. The manager should have come over alone so we could calmly discuss the situation. We told the manager that the bottom line is that we as a group of 8 agree on the amount left and we'll pay what they say we owe, but it's not right. She apologized and took our money...fine, I'm never coming back here because they're willing to overcharge a group of 8 professionals $20 with a $200 check on the word of a server. The amount of the overcharge is less than the mandatory gratuity by the way. I was upset, but I bit my tongue. Let's just get out of here. But it gets better. Part of our $20 overcharge was put on a credit card so the manager came back to deliver the receipt. We were so ready to just get out of there. The manager apologized one last time and said that it's probably just that we got it wrong because it's confusing as a big group. We said...no we didn't, we counted multiple times and we were concerned that we were over and we frankly didn't want to leave a larger tip for the mediocre service we received. She apologized and said "but you are still going to come back right?". That's when I lost it. I as calmly as I could took over the spokesperson role and said I might have come back to a restaurant with a lousy server that messed up our check, but I'm never going back to a place whose management will take extra money from a table that all agrees they are being overcharged, especially when it's an amount less then the included gratuity. I told her I'm not coming back because of the way she handled things. She then asked us if she could give us our money back...we said forget it, it's the principle...we just wanted out. It's a shame because I liked my pizza, but I can't go back there. The plus side is that I'm finally able to give a 1-star review.
(1)
Derrick L.

"Famosi per la pizza?" It was fine, but we wouldn't go out of our way to get it. We had some starchy and mushy gnocchi. Eh.
(2)
Audra K.

Handmade gnocchi with ham and eggplant with tomato sauce... YUM! The pizzas are great, too. Though with so many to chose from, it can be difficult to do! But once I brought my dad here and he really wanted a pepperoni pizza that day, something fierce! The closest thing they had to pepperoni was spicy salami and he pouted though the entire meal! It just wasn't pizza to him. Caphirinhas are delicious. In my opinion it doesn't feel like a chain because there's a lot of local photography hanging on the wall. Just my $.02! But I'm not an Italian chain restaurant expert or anything.
(4)
Azher S.

The smoked salmon pizza is my personal favorite.
(4)
Jimbo S.

Got here at 1115am, got quick service inside. Lunch special pizza comes with soup or salad. Pretty good thin crust pizza all for $14. (drink, pizza, salad)
(3)
C. W.

Definitely a place with some utility in the right situations. One of those spots where you go for the specials and then pass right by the rest of the time. I went for the first time for happy hour last Friday and they do a really good job. $3 bottles, $4 glasses of wine, some discounted cocktails. Cheese plates, bread, and olives at the bar, and the servers come around constantly with lots of appetizers. What's not to like? The music wasn't too loud, the service was really great and prompt in my experience, and despite it being Friday and rather cloudy, the space indoors didn't get that crowded. I'm a fan. The menu looks quite diverse, and the food quality was very good from what I sampled of the appetizers. I'll be back next to try the late-night $12 pizza and beer special, but probably won't be dining there for dinner on a regular basis, as Italian food is a commodity around here, and it's not earth-shatteringly delicious, cheap, or positioned in some other market niche that would make it worth the trip down there.
(4)
Ateet A.

Really good pizza! The Spartan rocks!!! they have over 50 or 60 unique pizza ideas that really get your taste buds going. On Sunday they even have a pizza buffet where they keep making random pizzas for the whole restaurant to try. Pretty cool concept and apparently a good place to enjoy some drinks as well!
(4)
Lena T.

Pizza is awesome. Thin and perfect balance of crispy and doughy. Arugula, carpaccio and brie on a pizza??? Hell yeah! The gnocchi is great, too. And salads are big and fresh. Oh, and the profiteroles are so yummy. Considering how lacking Rosslyn is for fun spots to hang out, I'm not sure why this place isn't busier. For such good pizza, I wish I could get it by the slice!
(4)
Robert B.

Nice sidewalk cafe for lunch on a spring day--made me feel almost like I was in Europe. I had salad nicoise, with a nice piece of med-rare tuna and just the right amount of dressing on the lettuce, green beans, onions and egg. Friendly service too. Pizza looks good, too. I'd have to try it for dinner before I give four stars, but could go there, depending on how the pizza and and wine list are.
(3)
J K.

I've lived by Piola for a while now and kept meaning to try it, but didn't get a chance until this past weekend...I wasn't missing anything. The pizza combinations don't seem to make sense and are all over the board. I just went with a Diet Coke (it came in a can...I don't know why this annoyed me, but you're a chain and you don't have a fountain machine???) and the mushroom pizza. The pizza itself was decent, but there were about 7 wee little mushroom chunks on my whole pizza. I'd eat here in a pinch, but for real pizza, I'm going to the Italian Store.
(2)
Jill H.

I think this place is so reasonably priced; that's one of the reasons I really love it! The owner is Italian and they host "aperativo". This is an the Italian version of the happy hour. What makes it so awesome is that they provide free finger foods at the bar. It's a great way to mingle with those around you too; instead of just sticking with the group you are with. They have so many great pizza choices, it makes it hard to choose!
(5)
Judy C.

The trendy ambience, high-ceilings and nice outdoor seating area push this up in the rankings to a 3.5. The brick-oven cooked pizzas are your thin-crust, doughy, Neapolitan type, but nothing too special in this category of pizzas. Overall, the flavors were a bit too mild for my taste - I felt a constant urge to add more parmesan cheese or some kind of seasoning to each bite, which I did not feel I had to do with some other neapolitan pizza places in the area. The dough was pretty good. I'd return to try their gnocci and take advantage of some of their happy hours deals.
(3)
Bindesh S.

[*] Drink specials are decent for happy hour and appetizer they serve during it are not bad.
(3)
vineetha p.

Came here for HH on a Monday and gotta say I was super impressed. They had free appetizers to much on, cheeses, olives, and mini pizzas. Our waiter even gave us free meatballs too! The drinks were definitely good. Lime Caiproska! Yum. Funny note: Might think this place is all Italian and stuff but we had to ask our waiter and sure enough he was Bulgarian. The bartenders are extremelyyyy nice!
(4)
mood b.

I'll keep it simple for Piola just like its meant to be. Great food and absolutely outstanding pizza, nice ambiance and good service. Love that place.
(5)
Gayle G.

Haven't been to it's counterparts in Florida and NY, I had no idea this was part of a chain until I entered the place. The specialty here is pizza, baked in the giant red wood-burning oven that you can see from your table. My pizza recommendation, even with all of the choices, would be the Margherita -- traditional and mouth watering . The in house made gnocchi is not to be missed. The gnocchi itself is large sized pieces, so it is a good sized portion, and the sauce is a nice complement. Oh, and they serve Peroni beer to go with that pizza, which I had never tried before. Goes with the pizza perfectly.
(3)
Grace S.

A friend told me he'd take me to "beer and pizza" and I found myself at Piola. While the pizza menu is good (thin crust type pizzas with a lot of different topping combos) and Peroni with pizza is fantastic, I have to say what makes this place is the TIRAMISU. The decorations are, as some people say, kinda cheezy. The bar has always been more crowded than the actual restaurant when I've been there (Tuesdays and Fridays). And I'm not a big fan of their mixed drinks. But who knows, it's still relatively new, it could bloom soon... But the tiramisu, oh, the tiramisu.. I'm not so much a sweets person anymore (I think I grew out of it after eating parfaits and cake on a daily basis in Japan) but this place is worth going to just for the tiramisu. In fact, that's what I did the second time around. And, because I wouldn't share my over-indulgently large portion of tiramisu, it ended poorly for my stomach. Edit: I went there again with a friend last Friday. I finally noticed that the "flowers" on the walls behind me (I always sit on the bench side, I'm weird like that) were made of pasta -- pretty cool! I tried out the Venezia pizza, which (despite having some interesting toppings like egg) was yummy! And, as it is becoming a habit, I got the tiramisu (but split it this time!). My friend thought it was better than the tiramisu we got at the Italian place on 23rd Street (I keep forgetting the name of it so I can't bookmark it to review). Oh, and they were out of Peroni this time around, but Stella goes well with pizza too...
(4)
JK L.

I've had Ortomisto and Bologna pizza, and they were fresh and almost felt healthy to eat. I know pizza probably can't be that healthy but it's not as greasy as other pizzas. We went to all you can eat Gnocchi Day last month and it was great! I liked everything except for the one with salmon and another one with ham. The one with salmon was so fishy that all of us only had one bite. I tried Peroni beer, and it became one of my favorites since I like light beers. I'm definitely going there for all you can eat Pizza day too.
(4)
Harry T.

I came for lunch with co-workers and I loved the pretty waitresses. We ordered the lunch specials so they came out fast. That isn't a bad thing for a business lunch. All the lunch specials came with a soup or salad. I ordered the spiced salami (think pepperoni) with mozzerella and tomato sauce pizza. It was great. The cheese was fresh and flavorful and the crust was thin which made for a great pizza. I'm coming again for the good quick food and cute waitresses :).
(4)
Lena M.

Definitely go check this place out. It is a fun ambiance (yes, can get loud, but doesn't ruin the experience at all) and the food is great. It was the first time I had heard of it and am glad I now know it exists!
(4)
Mindy D.

When I'm craving a pizza, this is where I go! The menu selection is huge but they are all just the right size for one. The wine list is so-so. Happy hour makes up for it with their free finger foods at the bar and the discounted beers and mixed drinks. Yum. Love the ambiance. The seating can be a bit too close to others. Outdoor seating in the summer is perfect. Oh and Fri & Sat nights after 11, it's $12 for any pizza and a beer.
(4)
C.P. S.

Piola's is the best pizza in Arlington. The pizza menu is expansive with many simple as well as creative (pizza) pies. Ingredients are of high quality. The crust is thin and in-line with Italian tradition with a hint of that burnt crispy taste, its delicious. The cheese and light tomato sauce is a great base for pizza. The pitted black olives are delicious, great cured meats, arugula, chicken with broccoli and spinach are just among a few topping selections that taste great. The wine list isn't fantastic, but will give you just enough to work with, or opt for a beer. Salad is simple with oil and vinegar dressing, but is none the less a good warm-up to devour the pizza. Good place for a date as the atmosphere is trendy and funky. Also accommodating for larger groups. Best pizza in Arlington, but not quite the top echelon of DC. Enjoy.
(4)
Rob A.

We've heard good things about Piola, and I will say that the food was decent. We went there on a late Sunday night and the staff was friendly and accommodating. We all ordered pizza. It was okay, but my wife says that Two Amys is better. The pizzas are pretty pricey, and the restaurant was founded in Italy and they try to run it like one. The example I have is that if you order a coke, a 12 ounce can comes out with a tiny glass. And by the way you pay $2 for that 12 ounce can. Overall the pizza was good, but for the money you spend, you'd be better off going to California Pizza Kitchen, Two Amys, or Matchbox.
(3)
Jay R.

My wife and I are new to the Rosslyn area, and are in the process of checking out the nearby restaurants. Last night we hit Piola, and are the newest fans. We started with the Peperonata Palmi, which is a sort-of Italian nacho platter (sauteed vegetables over nacho chips), and Ceviche Mancora. The nacho thing really didn't need the chips, but otherwise was tasty, and the ceviche was good. For the main, we had the Capricciosa pizza (ham, mushrooms, artichokes, tomato sauce, mozzarella) and the Lisbona (white pizza, with gorgonzola, spicy salami, arugula, and mozz). Both were yummy! The best part of our visit was our server, Elisabeth. She was sweet, adorable, and very gracious and helpful. She's a keeper! All in all, a good experience, and we'll be back!
(4)
Dan G.

Awesome outdoor dining, and $7 for all pizzas from 5-6 every day except Sunday (that's the all you can eat day). My go to is the Honolulu, but the Rio De Janeiro is equally amazing. I've only had pizza here, but the rest of the menu looks good too.
(5)
Katherine S.

I love Piola!!! Their pizza never disappoints and is always so fresh and delicious. I highly highly recommend Piola to anyone who loves fresh, high quality brick oven pizza. I hope they open up more branches in the DMV area!
(5)
hk k.

This is my favorite happy hour spot, hands-down. I have been going here ever since it opened about 4 years ago and it has consistently been a great happy hour spot in terms of food-quality, service and value. First, they have the best happy hour specials. If you want to be cheap and don't really feel like buying food- just sit at the bar! During happy hour, they continually serve different appetizers like meatballs, cheese platters, bruscetta, and margherita pizza. They sometimes have some new dishes, which I think they do as an experiment to test it out on customers, but considering its free food, I don't really mind. It can be hit or miss with the new dishes, but the standard appetizers are great. Second, drink specials are pretty good. They have great prices on house wine, beer and sangria during happy hour. I always sit in the bar area and the servers/bartenders are always very attentive. I've sat outside before, and the service was not as great. They seem busier out there. Third, the pizzas! The pizzas are amazing!! I love how crispy the crusts are and they really use the freshest ingredients. Of course, the standard margherita pizza is always a favorite. There is just something about their cheese. I really think they get really fresh gourmet cheese and grate it themselves. Their other pizzas are really good too. I once had one w/ steak carpaccio and brie- amazing!! I think they have the best pizzas in town. These are more the fancy, thin-crust style of pizza w/ basil, arugula and gourmet cheese... and not one of those deep dish american pizza places though. I love that, but I guess that'll depend on the person. In sum, awesome happy hour place. Great location, great food, great prices and great service.
(5)
Amy P.

Piola is one of my favorite places to meet friends. It has a fun decor, incredible menu, and great service. Happy Hour lasts until 8pm, which is a plus for those of us who get out of work late. Their pizzas are awesome and big enough to share (or take home for the next day's lunch). And even though there are 61 different styles, you can still create your own! Great salads and their all-you-can-eat pizza on Sundays makes Piola a fantastic option in Arlington.
(4)
Rod R.

Waiter suggested a Polo broccoli dish and it was very good. This was a pretty good value for what you're getting and the atmosphere was pleasant and inviting. Great place to visit.
(4)
Arzo I.

Loved the atmosphere, perfect place for a weeknight. Amazing deal on pizza 5-6pm, all were only $7(mon-wed)...We had the margherita pizza and some pizza with shredded chicken and cream (ate it, but wouldn't eat it again..chicken was too bland and shredded for me) I thought the drink concept was cute, little glass cups with the can is perfect for pizza. The apple pie with ice cream was too dry and flavorless and the scoop of ice cream was the size of a golf ball..next time I'm going with profiteroles. Def want to go back soon to try other things :)
(4)
Danielle K.

I stopped in to Piola last night (a Monday evening) for a friend's charity happy hour. I really wanted to like Piola -- the location was great for me (only a few blocks up from the Rosslyn metro) and the HH specials were great! But, I ended up leaving disappointed in the food, although I felt that Piola had a great atmosphere (or maybe I just really enjoyed my HH company?). When I first arrived, I ordered a glass of the cab sav -- at $7, this was one of the cheapest wines i've had while dining out. It was ok, but I would pass on ordering it again. most of the other HH goers ordered the ciprihana and seemed pleased with it. Looking over the menu, I decided to try out the Rimini pizza, which came with ricotta cheese and smoked salmon. When it arrived, I quickly grabbed a slice and was very surprised to see that it must have been cold-smoked salmon, as this was effectively raw fish on my pizza. Now, had i known this, i wouldn't have ordered. I didn't want to waste the whole pizza and tried to give it away to others, but no one went back for a second bite. Still starving before I left, I asked for a regular pizza with cheese and basil... which was good, but in no way was I overwhelmed with how amazing the pizza was. I really enjoyed Piola's environment and I've heard they have unlimited gnocchi on the 29th of each month, so I may return to try that.
(2)
Kristi F.

Piola has a fun atmosphere, and a wide variety of delicious pizzas made in a wood fire oven. The pizzas are too small to share unless you are not hungry at all, which can make it more expensive than other pizza places. They also have a full service bar and introduced me to the Brazilian drink the caipirinha (delicious). I love their pizza but we don't go often due to the prices. Definitely worth visiting!
(4)
Daniel R.

Went there last night. Sat inside and there was not a lot of other people inside, most were outside. That being said it took a good 30 mins to get a pizza. I really enjoyed the food and if you are willing to wait than you shouldn't have a problem. I'd just hate to see the wait if it was busy inside as well as outside. I thought it was a little pricey for what it is, between $10-14 for a PERSONAL pizza. The food is the only thing that I would go back for. The service was pretty terrible.
(4)
T T.

This isn't your run of the mill pizza chain like Papa Johns, Dominoes, Pizza Hut, etc. This is gourmet pizza. They have quality ingredients and also some unique pizza combinations and ingredients as well. I love the thin crust and usually order mine extra crispy, which is always done nicely. They also offer other choices besides pizza and have wonderful desserts, like the copa piola and profiteroles. Sometimes I just stop by here for a late night dessert and cappuccino. Also it has a great atmosphere; casual, hip, fun vibe. And they're kid friendly. Plus, the owners are really nice and the staff are friendly and offer good services. The pizzas I've tried and would recommend are: * Sao Paulo - Tomato sauce, mozzarella and catupiry cheese. (Catupiry cheese is creamy and delicious - try it if you've never had it). * Lubiana - Mozzarella, Parma ham, fresh tomatoes and basil. (I always ask for tomato sauce on the side. No sauce allows the pizza to be really nice and crispy). * Moderna - Tomato sauce, mozzarella, arugula, fresh tomatoes and shaved Parmesan cheese. (Very fresh tasting pizza with the arugula).
(4)
Lala B.

I will tell you right up front that I have not been to Piola in over a year. The reason I stopped going to Piola is because what used to be a super happy hour place, great restaurant, and overall awesome place to hang out got a little too full of itself a little too fast. I started going to Piola when they first opened up. I was immediately impressed with the atmosphere, good happy hour specials, and free snack they pass out during happy hour. I was so impressed with how cool the place was, I immediately recommended it to a bunch of co-workers and we started going there fairly regularly. After a (relatively short) period of time, we noticed that their drink prices were going up while their drink sizes were going down. Now, I realize that costs increase over time and businesses typically raise their prices at least ever couple of years or so for their staples, and possibly more often for specialty items or things that are undergoing a universal shortage. So, had the prices increased after a year or more of their opening, it probably wouldn't have even phased us. But this was within just a few months--suddenly their 8.00 martini went to 9.00. We shrugged, said what can you do, and kept on coming, thinking that maybe they had underestimated their overhead costs when they first opened and needed to adjust their prices to catch up to that. So you can imagine our surprise when just a couple months later the same martini now cost 10.00 and was 3/4 of an inch lower in the glass. When we asked why the drinks were getting so much smaller all of a sudden, we were told that they had been too big all along and that they had to adjust them to make the owner happy. Now, I can understand making drinks smaller to keep costs under control, if they leave the price the same. Or I can understand leaving the size the same but increasing the price. (although given the frequency with which we visited this place and the amount of money we dropped there, you'd think we'd get the courtesy of "regulars" and have our drinks be topped off just a teensy bit more than for one-timers). But what I can't understand is dramatically decreasing the size (by almost 1/2) while at the same time raising prices. This was especially confusing when their next door neighbor Cafe Asia was still offering excellent happy hour specials at great prices (they did eventually raise their prices by .50 after a couple of years--but their sizes stayed the same). Another example of ridiculous prices increases is their sodas. They do not have any sodas other than cans, and went from charging 1.00 to 2.00 for one over a very short period of time. They don't even pour it for you, but bring you the can and a cup with some ice, which has resulted in many an overflow at the table, let me assure you. We really tried to keep coming there because it had been such a cool place, but as the prices just kept going up exponentially without an increase in quality or a similar increase at other locations in the neighborhood, we finally decided that we must not be cool enough to hang there. Or maybe they were just too full of themselves.
(2)
Jennifer G.

We have been to this place twice and have had terrible service BOTH times. We ordered the 'unlimited' pizza special, where pizza runners are SUPPOSED to come to your table with a variety of fresh pizza choices every few minutes. The first time we went, we waited 15-20 minutes for our first slices to arrive. Tonight, the first batch of slices had clearly been sitting for a while. Then, we waited 25 minutes for the next two slices. We told our server at minute 15 that we hadn't been served in the last 15 minutes, but it then took ANOTHER 10 minutes to actually get some pizza. If you are not equipped to have the pizza arrive at table regularly (BUSY or NOT), then you shouldn't offer the special. I hate to give this place such a low rating as the pizza is pretty good; however, we had terrible service both times and that's enough to call it quits for us. There's plenty of good quality pizza restaurants in town with equally good service. We'll be enjoying pizza at THOSE places from now on.
(1)
Allyson S.

I am a total pizza snob. Having lived in Italy for a year, plus traveling back every year for 10 years since, I don't think of American pizza the same as Italian pizza. They are two completely different foods. Piola serves authentic Italian pizza. It has a great thin crust, yummy fresh toppings that aren't piled on, and it's cooked in a wood fired oven. If you love pizza in Italy you will love pizza at Piola. I personally stick to the Bologna or Capricciosa (artichoke hearts, mushrooms and maybe ham). Fantastica! The place plays good "international" contemporary music - with a nice crossover from Italian to Brazilian. The staff is always friendly and willing to make small changes in food orders upon request. Plus the price of the pizza is exactly what you pay when in Italy. You can't beat it. They also have some great specials - Sunday night pizza specials, a great happy hour that lasts till 8pm, and others as well. If you want Italian pizza and can't afford the transatlantic flight I highly recommend Piola! (My Italian friends who travel in the US say the same thing too....there's another one in Miami that's the same thing).
(5)
Tiny B.

i love going to piola for happy hour! both the white wine and red wine sangrias are very tasty. i've had the pepperoni pizza and the pizza with basil and tomatoes and enjoyed both. sadly, they got rid of their happy hour food specials. the ambiance is laid back and the decor is fun. the service is great! our bartender is always friendly and attentive. definitely check out piola if you're in the mood for pizza and are in the rosslyn area.
(4)
Kat A.

Came here again for pizza brunch and loved it just as much as the first time! While our waitress was slightly MIA for the first 10 minutes, either the owner or manager (not sure which) promptly attended to us. After that they came to check on us every 10 minutes or so. Thanks so much for good pizza and attending to your customers. Still a must try for pizza lovers in the area!
(5)
Tim B.

To be honest I find the food a bit over rated and the beer selection to be quite weak BUT you can't compete with their happy hour! if you can squeeze into the vat area all sorts of apps and small pizza slices will get passed around. it's easy to accidentally eat a full meal because they do not hold back. I also appreciate the good attitude in their service. Def worth checking out, I've been at least 3 times over the last year.
(4)
Rachel S.

Piola never disappoints- it has delicious, reasonably priced food (especially the pizza) and always has great happy hour specials. The service is quick and friendly, and Piola staff are great at catering to larger parties. I come here fairly regularly, and have never had a complaint! They recently started doing ladies' wine night on Wednesdays, which is very hard to resist! :)
(4)
Car T.

really good pizza! Ingredients are fresh and the pies are well made. HH is pretty good too.
(5)
Khue N.

I haven't been here for happy hr so can't judge that, but I ordered pizza here and it was not good. It was really salty and the crust was mushy in the middle of the pie. Not good. I prefer my pizza more professionally done--dominoes does a better job for less money and you don't even need to leave your house.
(2)
Jen F.

I wanted to give this place more stars, but the quality of this pizza was one of the worst I've had in the area. I came here with a party of 10 and I ordered their Honolulu pizza (basically a Hawaiian pizza). It was probably the worst Hawaiian pizza I have ever had! No joke, the. worst. They didn't chop up the pineapples, so there were 5 huge round slices of pineapples as if there were STRAIGHT out of a can. They also placed ham slices throughout the pizza and didn't have it finely chopped. It made the thin-crusted pizza extremely soggy. What a disappointment. Save your money and go to another pizza place located in Clarendon.
(1)
Lisa T.

Love this pizza and their meatballs are awesome! Great spot to walk to if you are caught having to stay downtown in the hotels. The Osaka is a great mix of Shitake and spinach, the Funghi Misti, a sautÃ©ed mushroom mix, was an awesome one too! Husband enjoyed the Ortomisto with the eggplant, peppers, broccoli and spinach. Fun selection of drinks too; give the Vodka Strawberry Caipiroska a try, it has a nice fresh kick to it. Also, I like their hours, they stay open a little later than most other food options in the area. When you get caught up hiking all over town they are a great spot to end a late night.
(5)
Trang H.

I've been to Piola a few times since I work across the street and the food has not disappoint. I went here for the first time during happy hour. They had half-off pizza, drink specials, and free appetizers! We got the Hawaiian pizza, sangrias, and stuffed ourselves with the free apps that the waiters were carrying around. They were all delicious! The second time I had the Carolina chicken pizza which has barbecue sauce and shredded chicken. I also got the pesto gnocchi because of the half and half lunch deal. Will be back because I love the thin crust pizzas here!
(5)
Andrew A.

Best carbonara pizza ever! Wonderful atmosphere, wait staff, and speedy. Love that they stay open late.
(5)
Laiana B.

I love piola because they offer some great options of pizza , specially with "Catupiry" that is a soft cheeses . It's delicious and I always ask double of Catupiry because it's never enough hahah They unfortunately removed SÃ£o Paulo from the menu but they still have Rio de Janeiro and Salvador .( both with Catupiry on it ) I normally ask to remove the pulled chicken and add some corn on the top and as weird as it sound tastes amazing , I swear . For brunches I prefer the piola in Washington, D.C. They have the patio outside and for spring has been amazing
(4)
john o.

Great as always! Open late and good specials! Be sure to check in for a free Pizza.... Also, they deliver. The Honolulu and carbonara are two of our favorites.
(5)
Lia M.

I'm definitely a Piola fan. I think their pizza--with a very thin crust, lots of cheese, and not a ton of sauce--it tasty and one of the better area pizzas (especially once you take the Neopolitan style pizzas out of the comparison). Their topping combinations are interesting and there is a good variety to choose from. The happy hour is fantastic though--$5 wine and $6 cocktails, with $7 pizzas and free pizza, olives, and other snacks at the bar. I've not had cocktails at this location yet, but the happy hour wine is fine. I've always had friendly, fantastic service here.
(4)
Jerica D.

After leaving a play at the Kennedy Center during a week night my hubby, daughter, and I were so hungry and looking for a late night family friendly spot. I found this pizza spot on yelp and decided to try our luck here. We were immediately greeted and asked of we would like to sit outside or inside. We chose to sit inside. It was very cute inside with a nice set up. Out waitress immediately greeted us to take our drink order and said she would be back for our pizza order. When she came back I asked her how the pizza works and she said all pizzas are only personal pan. They have signature pizzas but the pizzas start at 11 dollars for a basic personal pan and go up. We end up ordering 2 pizzas which was enough for us 3. You can see the chef make the pizza if you sit in the back and they have the fresh dough already rolled and out on the counter ready for your order. Our order only took 15 minutes or shorter. It was a slow week night and our service was pretty fast. Our waitress was very nice. But when we asked for Parmesan cheese she started sprinkling it on our whole pizza, and we just wanted her to bring it out for us to put on at our own discretion(she had previously brought out crushed peppers and basil in shakers and we assumed she would do the same for the parmesan). She also forgot to mention the Wednesday night special which is ladies night and after 6pm the house wine is 1.99 for women! Talk about winning! I discovered the special because I read the table promotion. In all the service was still good and our waitress was tentative and nice. The place was nicely set up and clean. You have the option to sit in door or outdoor (weather permitting). The pizza was good and fresh but they only have thin crust but it's more like a thin hand tossed. I don't appreciate having to spend 11 bucks or more on a personal pan pizza. But if you are not to hungry 1 pizza can feed two people. Not the best pizza place to me but worth a try and a cute pizza joint in Rosalyn.
(3)
Gerald M.

YUM!!! When we approached this place people were pouring out with to go orders. When we went inside it was PACKED! The lunch specials are reasonable but even better...I checked into YELP and got a FREE PIZZA offer with a $10.00 purchase. Our bill wound up only being like $11.00 with leftovers!!
(5)
Sue M.

Their happy hour deals are pretty good. All cocktails are $6, and I believe house wine and beer were around $5. We didn't sit in the bar area, so we didn't get the advantage of free appetizers as others have written about. My husband loves the thin crust pizzas with meat and arugula. I love the all-you-can-eat gnocchi on the 29th of every month, where you just get spoonfuls of gnocchi with different sauces until you burst. My favorite is the salmon and cheese sauce. They also have an all-you-can-eat brunch for $20 on the weekends until 3 pm. I might want to try that sometime.
(4)
Beatrice G.

I want to give this place a 2 star, but then I remember I can't blame everything on the bartender who was barely cracked a smile or a friendly "hello". The hostess and waitresses seemed more engaged and were definitely working hard to make sure that customers were seated and food was served. I had the Cancun pizza and it was tasty. Salmon and cream cheese is something I would have never expected to put on pizza. And I'm use to much more dough (my plump behind shows it) but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I would recommend this place for carryout. Personally I don't think it's a spot that you should schedule for date night! :)
(3)
Randi W.

To say the restaurant is "good" is doing the place a disservice. I arrived this evening to my hotel after a long day of flying from LAX. I was smelly, tired, and grumpy. And all I could think of was some good spaghetti to make me feel better. This restaurant came recommended from the front desk at my hotel as the best place for Italian food. And they deliver? Hallelujah! I called and ordered the Fettuccine Bolognese and The Penna Carbonara and a small salad (gotta have a backup for dinner tomorrow). The man on the phone said it would be 30 minutes. These guys came Nascar quick, it was more like 20 minutes. The food was HOT. Like burn your tongue hot (this is a good thing) and AMAZING! Bolognese reminded me of a delicious homemade sauce my aunt used to make. They give you yummy bread too, and EVOO + Balsamic Vinegar for dipping! Very impressed with the quality and speed of service, which is I'm sure why they are highly recommended. Will order from again before I leave town!
(5)
Mindi W.

* This review is only for their happy hour * I should not have eaten a coffee mug full of almonds for dinner at my desk before going to Piola's happy hour last week. As part of a group of 20 coworkers, I showed up to Piola ready to snag one of their $5 house wines and drafts. After the third server came by with a tray of appetizers (FO FREE) I congratulated my boss on putting together such a cool after-work get together. "Um. I didn't even tell them we were coming." Yep. That's just their happy hour - trays of free samples (more than I could eat) of three kinds of pizza, caprese rolls, gnocci and flatbread sandwiches for like, two hours, just getting passed around while you stand there. It was something else. I had a martini because it's the obnoxious thing to do, and it was decent. Nothing to write home about, but strong and dirty enough. The servers are delightful. The lighting is fun. The bathrooms are clean. I'm going back.
(5)
Angie J.

So happy to see Piola in DC area. We decided to try Piola last night because our typical Arlington pizza spot had a long wait. Upon arriving to Piola, we realized it was the same restaurant we ate at in Fort Lauderdale FL about six months ago. ... we ended up so happy the other place had a wait! If you're familiar with 2 Amys in DC, which is my absolute favorite pizza, this place rivals it. I remembered the FL location being really crowded, long wait, live music so we were pretty surprised to walk into an almost empty restaurant. The waitress mentioned she was new, but was very knowledgeable and friendly. She told us all about their happy hour and brunch specials, which we will definitely go back to check out. We started with a salad and meatballs to share, then split a pizza (spicy salami, onions, peppers, and mushrooms on 1/2). They say the pizzas are individual sizes, but we shared one and we're both full. I looked around and didn't see anyone eating their whole pizza (although I'm sure I could had I not had the appetizers). Everything was all just as good as we remembered and we cleaned our plates. We did dabble into Profiteroles for dessert, which were heavenly (lots of chocolate sauce). Now that I know they do delivery, I'll be eating Piola a lot more.
(4)
Crosby R.

HAPPY HOUR makes this place SO worth it! Lunch service is laughable though. I wish I could remember that server's name but it was just so bad! She seemed miserable to be there and wouldn't let one of my friends there get dressing for her salad? Refills were slow, etc etc. I asked about the rio de janiero pizza that other yelpers rave about.. She said "Ummm... its like goopy cheese randomly on pizza?" I decided to trust yelp since she sucked so bad, but goopy was a good adjective for it. The chicken on the pizza was good, but overall the pizza was really bland and way too weird-goopy-cheesey! I don't know how to explain the goopiness now that the waitress described it that way. I tried my friend's pizza and it was really good though!
(3)
Fred L.

The pizza was "ok". Quattro formaggi was tasty but I didn't like the crust at all. But they had Guanana soda - that's a win. The service was horrible though. I won't be back.
(2)
Katharine G.

We ate here last night. I love the pizzas here, especially the cheese they use is delicious. I had my usual margarita pizza with Greek Olives, my husband had the Honolulu which has ham and pineapples. He always orders this--good mix of ham, cheese, pineapple with a good crust. We also had their house Sangiovese wine which is quite good for the cheap wine. The place was pretty empty due to arctic temps, but there was a group of 10-yr-old boys in the far corner having a birthday party dinner with no adults around. They were pretty well-behaved and it was nice seeing a bunch of kids just enjoying themselves without a bunch of helicopter parents hovering over them. A nice pizza party birthday like we used to have as kids instead of elaborate parties with moon bounce and hired clowns. Thank you, Piola, for the nostalgia.
(5)
Stephanie P.

We just moved into the area and took a break from moving to have dinner because we've heard so much about it, and I have to say I was extremely disappointed. We had a reservation, walked in and before we were asked if we'd like to be inside or sit outside we were rushed off to a seat in the very loud inner restaurant. Then our server was horrible, she barely spoke English, told us it wasn't happy hour (it was 630) and rushed us to order. Then I had to ask repeatedly for more water and she came to fill up the table's but as my brother lifted his glass to get more she turned and walked away. Whether she was being rude or oblivious, I don't know. Aside from that, the food was decent. Seems like you should really only go there of you want pizza. I'll go again, but I really hope I have a better experience.
(2)
Chelsea B.

This happy hour is amazing! We got a free pizza when we checked in after buying a couple happy hour drinks and we enjoyed their free appetizers at the bar! Great atmosphere and really nice staff!
(5)
Demetria C.

Really liked the prosciutto pizza .. Ordered for pickup and it was ready very quickly. Lovely thin crust, many options that I will certainly order in the future. Will definitely go for lunch/dinner another time.
(4)
Tamika B.

Was in class on this lovely Saturday and decided to try this place out with my classmate while we were on lunch. They have an extensive list of speciality pizzas and the descriptions aren't bad but I was not sold on the pizza. I forgot the name of the pizza I got but it was a white pizza and it was okay. They had a $19 brunch special going on which was all you can eat and drink but everyone at the table had to get it. I would not run back to this place but I would give it another shot. Service was good and I like the brick oven style to the pizza.
(3)
Jackie C.

This place is average at best. I got the margarita pizza and it came with NO tomatoes! I was starving so I ate my food, but I won't be back that's for sure. Overall I was pretty disappointed.
(1)
Vladan I.

The pizza was cooked to perfection with not to much sauce and just the right amount of topings I ordered the pavia and it was well worth it. Ive been there 8 times before and what makes it so worth it is that the restaurant has locations in Italy and that makes this restaurant authentic italian.
(5)
Alisha C.

This place deserves a solid 4 star rating for two main reasons: 1. THE PIZZAS AND 2. THE HAPPY HOUR! They have a ton of pizza options to choose from, so something for everybody! And the happy hour is great because while you're downing your drinks they keep coming around with free samples of their food. Just make sure to go early if you want to ensure getting seats at the bar area for you and your crew, and to scoop up some food samples before others start coming and take both!! I can't tell you the number of times my co-workers and I came here for happy hour and left with a nice buzz, as well as a full stomach (from all the food samples they brought around)! Free meal with my drink specials....Yes Please! Don't mind if i do! ;)
(4)
Catherine T.

Pizza is delicious, the drinks are great and the location is easy to get to. For me this has been a go-to spot for a while now, it's pretty reliable in quality and you aren't breaking the bank.
(4)
Sonj H.

Super yummy pizza! I wish I could send a bunch of boxes home with me! quite possibly the best pizza I have ever had! the salad was nice and refreshing, I was less keen on the beet salad but it was authentic Italian, all of it. That and a couple peronis makes for a delicious casual bite.
(5)

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Address : 1550 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA, 22209
Phone (703) 528-1502
Website https://www.piolausa.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 11
Mon : 11:00 am - 11

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street, Validated
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

Claim Restaurant

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.

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 20^th 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.

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Piola

1550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA, 22209

Piola Menu

Gli Antipasti

Le Insalate

Le Pizze

Le Pizze Bianche (white Pizza)

Le Pizze Napoletane

Carne E Altro

I Dolci

Healthy Meal suggestions for Piola

Gli Antipasti

Le Insalate

Le Pizze

Le Pizze Bianche (white Pizza)

Le Pizze Napoletane

Carne E Altro

I Dolci

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