Ok so I tried the pizza today (plain cheese) after reading the reviews. So the sauce is actually good as reviewed, a bit spicy but not to where you need a drink. This is not the best pizza in Richmond.The cheese is actually over cooked so you don't get that cheesy flow it's more like grilled cheese pizza (that's what it reminds me of) the customer service not to friendly kinda reminds me of the soup chef from Seinfield. would I return if I was in the area and hungry yes. Would I go out of the way to get this pizza or order it from a food app probably not... read more

8 1/2 - Cheese pizza aka grilled cheese pizza with a good Sauce...... - Pizza Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Having just moved to Richmond my lovely wife and I found 8 1/2 on Yelp and ordered two pizzas for pickup. The female on the phone was not polite but I wouldn't go so far as rude or terse. I placed my order and the employee stated our pizzas would be ready in 45 minutes. We arrived in 40 to 45 minutes and was informed it would be a further 10 minute wait. After an hour my wife inquired about our order and the young lady (I am assuming the same one I spoke to on the phone) stated they prepared one of the pizzas with incorrect toppings but would include the pizza for free in addition to the two pizzas in the original order. We took our three pizzas home and they were phenomenal. Having lived in Europe for several years this pizza is traditional Italian with emphasis on a crisp salty crust, quality mozzarella, and a truly amazing sauce. Bottom line: the customer service and hour wait for pizza needs improvement. However, the pizza was so good I will definitely return. If you are a fan of Pupatella you will love 8 1/2. read more

Placed an order for pickup and was extremely disappointed to come home and see it was not my order. I heard great things about the white pizza and was looking forward to trying it. When I called to report the mistake they told me there was nothing they could do I would need to buy an entirely new pizza even though they had record of my original order. Terrible customer service I will not be returning. read more

Hungry and don't feel like cooking? Looking to order some take-out but tired of greasy Chinese food or Domino's Pizza as options? Well look no further my fellow Yelpers you have found the mecca of take-out greatness. This place serves up the the most amazing pizza, Italian dishes, pastas, and heros; AND the best part is you can enjoy your meal on the comfort of your couch while binge watching Game of Thrones. The turkey hero might be my favorite item on the menu. It's served on a perfectly toasted bun with provolone, lettuce, onions, salt + pepper, mayo, and (I think) italian dressing. I have no idea how all of those simple ingredients come together to form this great of a sandwich but somehow they do. The carbonara is wonderful, and the sausage, ricotta, and broccoletti pasta is delish as well. I also love, love, love the pizza! If I HAD to say anything negative about 8 1/2 it would be that they don't deliver. Not a deal breaker but sometimes I'd just like to stay in my pajamas all day and not have any real human interaction. BUT with that said, 8 1/2 is every bit worthy of putting on real pants, and this my friends is not something to be taken lightly. read more

The pizza, special salads, eggplant parmigiana, and tiramisu are all consistently delicious. They care about what they are creating and it shows not only in the food but also in the polite service. Add arugula to your pizza, you won't be sorry! Wait can be extremely long post shelter-in-place, call ahead. read more

Absolutely amazing, by far the best pizza in Richmond, maybe ever. Their pizza tastes like they use the freshest ingredients, combined with home family recipes that taste just like your grandma made it. Everything I've gotten from there has been amazing, although it's hard to stray from our regular, sausage pizza. Right around the corner and quintessentially Richmond, in the short year I've been here they've quickly become a piece of pizza I will never forget. read more

An incredibly tasty, underrated Italian market on Strawberry street, perfect for date night takeout. Last night I picked up the carbonara and the roasted chicken with herbs and was extremely pleased. The carbonara was creamy and cheesy with salty pancetta to cut the fat, and the roasted chicken was juicy with a nice tomato base and polenta cake on the side. The market also serves a variety of desserts, as well as wine bottles to make for a perfect takeout meal. After several of my visits, the only downside I have for this place is that the staff is relatively curt. Not rude, but also not interested in pleasantries. This place is all business. That's fine though, they are quick, efficient, and serve delicious food. read more

Ordered the white pie with anchovies. They said it would take 30 minutes and asked for my number. We walked around the neighborhood to pass the time. Waited outside their storefront, standing on the sidewalk for about 10-15 minutes. Went in to check on the order and it had been ready sitting on top of the oven. There wasn't a lot of people waiting. They could see us waiting outside and they had our number, not sure why they didn't wave us in or call. Thought the pizza was too salty. Pizza dough was a bit dry / too crispy. The finishing oil was tasty. Would've enjoyed some soft cheese like ricotta on the white pie. read more

This is a difficult review to write, as I have eaten at this place consistently for almost ten years and I always come back. The food is absolutely 4-5 star territory. All of the pizzas are outstanding, the broccoletti is a long time favorite of ours, the sandwiches are all excellent, I like the sausage, ricotta, and broccoletti pasta, and I just recently tried the spicy sausage with polenta and white beans, which was unbelievable. All of these dishes stand up to their equivalents anywhere in Richmond. They also have very good cannolis and tiramisu. HOWEVER, the service here has always been atrocious. I am not typically one to bitch about poor service (you can check my reviews), but I am eternally frustrated by calling in an order and having to wait much longer than is communicated to me. It has gotten to be a bit of a joke in my household, but one that gets very old when the wait effects the temperature of the food.... ...like the most recent time, when I called in an order around 5:45, was told it would be about 40 minutes, I got what I thought was my food around 6:30, was chased down the street to be told that they mixed it up and "it would be just a couple more minutes." Another 30 minutes later and I was finally on my way home, with what turned out to be a pizza that had been sitting around for 30 minutes while they cooked my sausage, polenta, and beans, which I can only assume they forgot to make. Extremely frustrating experience more often than not, which is made worse by how great the food can be. I will continue to come back, but I wish they'd just get their shit together a little better. read more

Let me preface this by saying that the food here is ALWAYS on point. And honestly, 8 1/2 has been my go-to restaurant for take-out for the last 7 and a half (no pun intended) years. Frankly, having grown up in Italy and coming from a large Italian family though, the way these folks treat their customers is the absolute antithesis of what [Italian] cooking and hospitality are all about. At least from my experience... Bottom Line: The service has become exponentially worse over the years and after this weekend, I am sad to say that I am fed up: The gentlemen behind the line was completely out of line and downright rude. My girlfriend and I came in to pick up a large order and I was utterly embarrassed by the way we were spoken to: both over the fone and in person. I think the most memorable moment, spoken in a very rude tone was, "Did you order something?" Again, it was is not this singular experience that caused me to write this review, but rather the culmination of several years of repeatedly bad service. In Closing: Look, I understand that the "8 1/2 - Edo's - Mamma Zu's - Dinamo" family enjoy a particular style of service: Curt, to-the-point and no frills. However, over my last seven and a half years in Richmond, it has become apparent that these folks pride themselves on being able to act rude and discourteous with impunity. I honestly don't get it but I am really fed up with the way these folks treat the same customers that keep their establishment's in business. So Long. read more

8 1/2 is one of those places that make me relish living in The Fan. In my mind, perfection is imperfection, so all the little things I hear people say they dislike about the best Italian take-out spot only serve to make my love grow. In my mind, I keep this image of a particular soup vendor from the best TV show of all time. Fortunately or unfortunately, that is not the case. They will let you take a little bit of time to decide what to order, they'll answer your questions (what is Sfogliatelle?) and even allow slight modifications to menu items. Although I like trying new things, I just can't stop ordering that damn Italian Hero. Or maybe the penne with red sauce. Or the pizza. And always the potato leek soup. Regardless, I love walking in and soaking up all that is 8 1/2: the aroma of fresh ingredients, the heat from the ranges in the open kitchen, an assortment of unfamiliar Italian deli items and of course, inked-up employees who pleasantly make it obvious that you are not their best friend, but still a customer. But wait, aren't their pizzas small? Yup. And isn't it (relatively) expensive? Maybe. If you want a week's worth of calories while you watch the game, call Domino's, otherwise enjoy the smaller pie that packs four times the flavor. read more

Hard to believe I just heard about this place in the past month and I've lived just blocks from it for years. The spice is perfect and the crust is amazing. It's not my favorite pizza, but it is really good. Those who say it's expensive for the size are a bit off. It is basically a personal size, but it's 10 bucks! Hello, if you are going out to eat, you're gonna spend at LEAST $10! I've also heard the people there are rude, which is BS. They have been nothing but professional every time I've been there, going above and beyond when they did not have to (it's take out, but they made it seem like they were waiting on me). In short, just do it cause I said so and I'm awesome (and fat, which means I know food)! read more

I feel like this review is unnecessary seeing as how everyone has already covered every delicious detail about 8 1/2 below. However, ITS THAT GOOD. And so I write mainly to help others choose what to order. So... The pizzas and the calzones are my favorite here. I would recommend 2 pizzas for 2 people, or a pizza and another dish to accompany it. And for heavens sake, get the tiramisu. Make sure to give them a little bit of time to prepare your order, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. And be prepared for difficult parking at busy times if you're driving to pick up. Happy take-outing!! read more

Yep, that's right....5 friggin' stars. I had 8 1/2 the other night and it was, hands down, the best takeout food known to man. We ordered the sausage, white beans, and polenta....AMAZINGLY delicious and also a pepperoni and onion pizza. I can't express how delicious every single bite was. I was dancing in my kitchen, spilling pizza and polenta all over myself. Haven't had that much fun since 1985, when I was born. Nuff said. read more

Disappointing and expensive. We ordered two pies (one plain and one with sausage) and a calzone. The crusts on the pies were thin and crispy and pretty good. The sauce, however, was quite spicy. Certainly too spicy for our grandchildren. I like spicy food, but the sauce was too spicy for the pizza. My son ordered the calzone and he loved it, and he enjoyed the spicy sauce on the pizza, so it's up to personal taste, obviously. The pizzas weren't that large, so the tab for the 2 relatively small pizzas and the calzone came to over $40, which to me seemed pretty pricey. I can understand why some people like the pizza here, but I didn't. By all means, give it a try if you haven't already. read more

8 1/2 is my go-to spot when I want to treat myself to a great takeout lunch or dinner. This place is strictly takeout, so call and place your order in advance, or plan to wait while everything is made fresh. I often stop in here and place my order, then pick up other meal parts like sparkling water or wine at Strawberry Street Market while they're making my meal. At lunch I almost always get the arugula salad and lentil soup. The arugula salad is simple, well-executed food at its finest. Fresh, crisp arugula is topped with shaved Italian cheese, salt, pepper and a very light dressing. Each flavor adds something to the dish resulting in a perfect, basic combo. This salad is light, healthy and wonderful. The lentil soup is freshly made and full of flavor. I've also had the tomato soup, which is garlicky and good. My soup/salad combo always also comes with a piece of homemade garlic bread. It's a toasted piece of top-quality Italian bread with a little butter, garlic and red pepper flakes. It's packed with spices, but not too oily. I could eat this bread forever. The white pizza is thin-crust, well-spiced, garlic-covered goodness. You can get it topped with anchovies if you want. The eggplant parm is crisp, fresh and delicious as well. When you order it, it's just eggplant, so order pasta separately if you want a side with it. 8 1/2 is definitely in my top Richmond takeout spots. read more

There are a few places in Richmond whose food is so good I would considering selling my house in N. Chesterfield and moving nearby so I could enjoy them more frequently. 8 1/2 is one of those places. I've eaten from here three times, different food each time, and every time was mind-blowing. I don't claim to be an expert on Italian cuisine but when food is so good that it makes me close my eyes so I can focus my sensory enjoyment solely on what I'm eating, I know it's good. My first time here, I ordered my standard test pizza: pepperoni and sausage. i was sold with the crust and sauce. The next time, I ventured away from pizza for the spaghetti marinara. Again, quite memorable both in the flavor depth and in the simple quality of the perfectly cooked pasta. I was a little scared of take-out pasta but it worked well. Most recently, I made a pig of myself and ordered the spaghetti carbonara, AND a white pizza with anchovies. I knew it would be enough to give me at least 3 meals so I made it a weekend feast. I had, just the week before, tried carbonara from Maldini's and thoroughly enjoyed its flavors and simplicity. Overall, I think I prefer Maldini's carbonara but 8 1/2's is a close second. The white pizza with anchovies was my venture outside the comfort zone, recommended by the friendly staff at 8 1/2 who answered the phone when I called. My only previous anchovy experience on pizza was on a dare in college and it didn't go well. The anchovy white pizza from 8 1/2 was amazing! They don't pile them on so it wasn't over the top with fishiness but they lended an essense to the Fontina cheese and crust that I am still thinking about with fond memories. I've become a disciple of Marcella Hazan and her cookbooks, which tout honesty in the cuisine. Off topic I know, but try her Bolognese sauce recipe next time you feel like pasta at home. It's a minimum 3-hour cooking commitment but it is mind-blowing. The food at 8 1/2 seems to follow her philosophy of simple, quality ingredients turned into magical meals, and I'm longing for my next visit. read more

8 1/2. Can we talk? You've seemed "off" recently these past couple of months. Was it something I did? Order too frequently? Get too comfortable in my penne-broccoletti-ricotta (no sausage) request? Stop making me cry...literally. I appreciate that you keep things spicy for us, but the 1-pound of red pepper flakes that looked like they spilled on my pasta wasn't really appreciated. Was it because the garlic was burnt? Or are you just mad that the broccoletti was bitter? You promise it won't happen again, but it does. I miss the old you. You lure me back with the best thrown pizza in the city and yet you keep giving me this new, funked-up pasta. I know we fight and I keep enabling you. Come avocado season, we'll forget this ever happened. We'll laugh about it between sips of avocado soup and "cheers" our avocado subs with crumbs on our faces. For now, I dream of dinners past and avocados future. read more

Burnt cheese pizza... It was mostly black and barely edible. This is not good pizza, particularly for the price.

I'm not a Richmond local, but grabbing lunch at 8 1/2 made me feel like one. It's a little shop with an almost unnoticeable sign, but call ahead and grab some of the best food to go -- you won't regret it! Highly recommend the turkey sandwich, vinaigrette on the side, and sitting in the courtyard/park area across the street to eat it. The sandwich is definitely big enough to share, though once you realize how good it is, you might be reluctant to give up the other half. Warning: side effects of falling asleep by the river shortly after consuming due to pure contentment. Though, my only real regret is that I've now been craving 8 1/2 at every lunchtime since, but am no longer in Richmond to get more. read more

YES. I have found a place in Richmond that does thin pizza crust just the way I like it! 8 1/2 is one of the charming businesses on Fan-favorite Strawberry Street that serves killer thin-crust pizzas, subs, and sells a variety of Italian products. We called on a Saturday night and wanted to try their Eggplant Parmesan and Veggie Lasagna but unfortunately, they ran out. The trick is to call earlier in the day and they can "reserve" a portion of their Entree options for you. So we settled for a pizza with onions/olives and a meatball sub and they told us it would be ready in 35 minutes. Exactly 35 minutes later, our food was ready for pick-up. They have maybe 2 tiny tables inside so unless you go at an off-peak time, plan to eat somewhere else. Meatball sub was super filling with 4 meatballs, and just enough sauce/cheese to tie it all together; it's clear that they want you to taste the meat. And the pizza was absolutely delicious and perfectly crispy/cheesy/saucy. My only knock is that the pizza is a little small (think medium-size) and for $8 +$1/topping, I think it's rather pricey. However, the quality of ingredients is high and they're delivering a great product. 8 1/2 also sells a variety of Italian products including San Benedetto Peach Tea (my guy developed an obsession for this drink while living abroad), lady fingers (not easy to find in regular grocery stores; I use these when making trifles and tiramisu), and De Cecco dried pastas. 8 1/2, if you read this, can you please consider selling the "bucatini" De Cecco pasta? It's like spaghetti but hollow and it's my favorite! Looking forward to my next visit at 8 1/2 - must get that breakfast pizza and their eggplant parm! read more

I moved to Richmond about 10 months ago. Little did I know that I was moving within 5 minutes of the best pizza spot in RVA. The red sauce has a little punch to it, the crust is perfection and the toppings are of premium quality. What to get: 1.) Red Pizza with pepperoni and arugula (not listed as a topping but they are willing to accommodate) 2.) Roast Pork Hero. It's amazing and comes with cheese, peppers, onions, O&V. I think those are the ingredients. The sandwich is usually gone before I get the chance to examine it. Always call ahead. Don't walk-in, order a pie and stand around grumpy like a donk. The pizzas take between 20-40 minutes depending on the volume of orders. Great pizza takes love and that's what 8 1/2 brings. read more

It really is 5 stars. Try the veg lasagna - best I've had, ever. Honestly, if you're a reviewer that gives this place only 1 star you either a) think Gatorade is really a sports drink, b) burned out your taste-buds on some mozzarella sticks at Olive Garden or c) think 'biggie size' is a real menu choice. Anyone that knows and understands real food and great ingredients will get it. The staff/chef are quite into making sure the food is good every time - I haven't had a bad dish there yet. I call that intensity, not attitude To sum it up - for those just in need of hot wings and more Facebook friends, please don't go here. More for us. read more

I was excited to finally try this well reviewed spot but was disappointed in the meal we got. Now I have always been one to say that Sunday's are not any restaurant's best days and one should go light when reviewing on that particular day...so the food came on a Sunday and it was take out. I know that Ed Vasio who owns the renowned Edo Squid and Mamma Zu is behind this operation so the expectations were further elevated as a result. My Tiramisu was way way way too heavy on the brandy/rum (not sure which as different recipes call for different booze. It was way overpowering and ruined that dessert. My meatball sub was soggy, I had asked for extra sauce and cheese and that was omitted. Again, I will give them another chance based on the fact that this spot is consistently raved about, I just might try another evening. read more

I love love love love this place. Italian food is my kind of food, and they do it so right here. Its expensive for me, and an acceptable celebration of coming into a little money is buying a meal here. First, they are on one of the cutest streets, Strawberry St. Why, there's the Strawberry Street Cafe, a convenience mart, a wine store and a locally-owned video store. And then there's the glorious 8 1/2, offering a small shop of true Italian ingredients like arborio rice and Italian cookies. There is one table with 2 chairs and a counter to order from; this is obviously a place of takeout. I've only ever had the vegetable lasagna because its what I got the first time and I don't go here enough to not get it again and again. Its got mushrooms and green squash and the layers of pasta, sauce and cheese just mesh so well together, it makes me moan with pleasure. I wish I could go here more often, I really do. The only thing that sucks about this location is the street parking. On the other side of the street are homes, and everyone's fighting for a place to park. The road is also very narrow, so its a dangerous dance when two cars are trying to park or turn around. Ryan C. and I want to get bikes, solely so we can ride over here and enjoy Strawberry St. without the headache of parking a car. I think one day we will get so desperate, we will walk from our North side home and will eat at that single table with the 2 chairs. read more

What a Gem. Is it a coincidence that all the restaurants I've ever been to run by hippies are so amazing? I really like my red sauce pizza. I have to double recommend getting it with peppers, I think they were poblano, sausage was nice too. The best thing however was the lasagna. Creamy ricotta cheese with a red sauce I wish I had the recipe for. If I had to just get one thing the lasagna would be it. It's a takeout place so call your order in ahead. read more

My husband and I are on a mission to try places highly recommended in Richmond but we haven't yet visited. 8 1/2 is the first (alphabetically that is) on our list. Last night we decided it was a perfect pizza night, and I'm glad we did. Being a fan of both white and "red" pizza, we got one of each. Cheese pizza is always our test if it's good -- is it okay just at the basics? Wow. Exceeded our expectations!! The white was garlicly and cheesy and crunchy -- just the way it should be. The red pepper flakes -- while not too noticable when looking at the pie -- gave an unexpected kick. In a good way though! However, the star was the "red" pizza. Oh. Em. Gee. Wow. I didn't feel like I was eating regular pizza as the sauce was so different, and more something I would expect over a heaping dish of homemade pasta. It was just as delicious over the crispy crust and covered in cheese. Seriously so of the most unique and mouth watering pizza we've ever had. We're looking forward to going back! read more

I love pizza. I'm pretty sure everyone knows this. If you don't, let me reiterate, I love pizza. In Richmond we have a pretty good pizza scene. Lots of places, lots of variations and lots of opinions. My opinion is 8 1/2 is the best. Period. It really can't be beat. Thin, cripsy crust, the right amount of cheese and a slightly spicy sauce. They are the perfect size and it's totally ok to eat a whole one by yourself. Let me state this one more time...it is ok to eat a whole one by yourself. Don't judge me. Order time is what it is and it's always worth it if there's a wait. The staff is always cool and I've never had a problem ordering or an unpleasant interaction with anyone there. Do yourself a favor and try them out. Also, do yourself a favor and learn a new word everyday. It's fun! Excelsior! read more

This is an interesting review, because my husband and I were totally split on what we thought about 8 1/2! We were starving and in need of dinner one night, and after driving home in tons of traffic from DC, we weren't in the mood to cook anything. After perusing Yelp, it seemed like 8 1/2 was the way to go. We got two pizzas - one with pepperoni, and one with green peppers and mushrooms - as well as an order of broccolini. I really enjoyed the broccolini, but they are heavy with the olive oil and the garlic, almost *too* much if that's possible. The husband didn't really enjoy it for that reason. As for the pizza, I thought the crust was really crisp and delicious, and the toppings were good. Again, the husband was a bit underwhelmed, and surprised at how small both pies were (you definitely need two for 2 people). Part of it is likely the cost - for $30 for two (fairly small) pizzas and an appetizer, we were hoping this place would be so much more than it was. Husband voted a 2/5, and I thought a 4/5, so 3/5 it is. read more

WOW!!!!! All I can say is wow! This place is apparently owned by the same guy who owns Mamma Zu and Edo's Squid. These places intrigue me, because this guy CAN COOK great Italian food!!! Why did he choose Richmond to run his hole-in-the-wall bomb shelters? I cannot answer this question, but I am glad he did, and we are extremely lucky. After reading other reviews on 8 1/2, and wondering why the heck I haven't tried this place in my 6 1/2 years in Richmond, I made the plunge. I ordered two pizzas, a white pizza, and a red pizza with pepperoni. Pizza, in my view, can be judged by ordering something plain, like cheese or pepperoni. I phoned in my order, and was told the wait would be 40 minutes (no problem, it's a Friday night around 7:00). I arrived and entered the small restaurant. There were about 4 people working the night I went. There is exactly one (1) table inside and one (1) table outside, with seating for two at each table, so I wouldn't want to eat inside. The place looked pretty cool, but was VERY small (Maybe 20' x 15'), and had a few assorted Italian goods, such as pasta and some oils. And while I try to stay away from soda in general, I couldn't help myself, because 8 1/2 also has the 12 oz. cans of San Pellegrino flavored sodas (Grapefruit, Lemon, and Blood Orange, all of which I would give 10 stars). Now to the pizza. The pizzas are made in a Blodgett oven (the best), and are about 10-12" in diameter, and run around $8.00 - $10.00. The crust is definitely made with homemade dough, and was thin crust and delicious. The White Pizza was excellent. It had seasonings, olive oil, lots of garlic, and Fontina cheese. And apparently the white pizzas are cut into strips, as opposed to slices, which kind of reminded me of Papa John's cheese breadsticks. All in all, the White pizza was solid! As for the red pizza, I would say its better than the white. The sauce reminded me of a creamy tomato sauce, with lots of garlic (love it). A different touch was the huge pepperoni slices that come on the pizza (I could tell they must have been hand-sliced). The cheese was definitely hand-grated too. But the absolute best part of this menu was the Cannoli. That was the best Cannoli I have ever had in my entire life! I want more already. This pizza is probably one of the top 3 in the city. I will definitely be back to this Strawberry Street gem. read more

8 1/2 - The best of both worlds.....white and red - Pizza Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Oh. Yeah. 8 and 1/2 has some of the best pizza in town, and the pasta definitely rivals that of Edo's and Mamma Zu's. I'm in love with this place. Although it's a take out place for the most part, I usually stay and eat at one of their 2 tables. It makes me feel like I'm back in Italy, or in my grandparent's house. The crust is perfectly thin, crunchy, and, if your not careful, will make you moan uncontrollably. The pastas are phenomenal. The sandwiches are scrumptious. And the brocoletti is as good as it gets. Go for takeout or eat in. You won't be sorry you did. read more

Recently swung by here after placing a pick up order on the phone. I had been told that the food here is utterly amazing, and so it has been on the list for a while. Luckily, two of us were heading to an at-home dinner with friends, and we offered to bring dinner over. We ordered the following: vegetarian lasagna, breakfast pizza, meat calzone, meat lasagna, chocolate-dipped cannoli, and a regular cannoli. Right off the bat, the service was great - The food was prepared timely, and the people working here were nice. Upon opening each dish, we were all amazed by the shear size of the lasagnas and calzone. They were so large! My vegetarian lasagna lasted me for that dinner and lunch a couple days later. It was pretty good, and I would order it again. My only area of discontent is that it is hard to make a vegetarian lasagna stand out. It was delicious, but it also wasn't too far off from the store-bought, frozen Stouffer's vegetarian lasagna which is also delicious. The breakfast pizza was okay. The toppings were on the lighter side and the pizza itself was thinner. Overall, it tasted good, but it was not filling for an adult male. On the other hand, the plain cannoli was the best. The filling was the perfect level of sweet, and the shell had the perfect amount of crunch. Bottom line: I was not as impressed by the food here as others clearly are. However, I am willing to try other items on the menu - pasta, hero, antipasti or soup. read more

I'm already a fan of this place, and I've only been there once. Let's see- delicious food, fast service, and I can eat in my own house? It could only be better if they delivered. This place is serving up some awesome heroes and pasta- my favorite from Mamma Zu is on the menu- penne with broccoletti and sausage... and my new favorite is a hero with proscuitto and mozzarella and arugula. I was there tonight and everything was awesome. Love it. read more

This is the best pizza I've had in Richmond. The crust is wonderfully crisp yet chewy, the cheese is delicious, and the toppings are carefully chosen. My favorite is by far the white pizza with anchovies, though it doesn't travel very well. 8 1/2 reminds me a lot of a place at home called the Cheeseboard, where people line up to get an artisan pizza and simply sit on the grass median outside to eat it before it gets cold. I was tempted to do the same when getting food from 8 1/2 (they are pretty much take-out only), but it was snowing outside and there was no median. The roommate and I have also had a simple pepperoni and mushroom pizza, which had properly cooked mushrooms, a slight spice to the flavorful sauce, and a different, just as tasty crust. And the Italian bread! It's the first crusty, chewy bread I have had since moving here (or when Dana brought me Acme from home)! The only thing I would avoid is the dessert pastry, which I found to be stale. 8 1/2 is not cheap, but it is definitely worth it. read more

I truly adore 8 1/2's pizza and am lucky to live only a couple blocks away! I appreciate having a non-dodgy, walkable, and delicious pizza spot. I get pizza (take-out) regularly and have also been to events catered by 8 1/2. As for pizza: I usually order the red sauce with all the veggies. It's pricey, but worth it. Yes, it is really greasy. But it still feels healthier than fast food pizza! The crust is thin and fantastic, and I love that the peppers are sliced so largely. I've also had a vegan pizza which involved white beans. I'm not sure if it's on the menu or if it was a special request for the event, but I'd recommend ordering it. Vegetable lasagna and eggplant parmesan are also highly recommended. The salads as well as sides of broccolini are yummy (very garlicky). I was studying their menu the other day, and the heroes sound fantastic. I usually just think "pizza" when I think 8 1/2, but I'll be trying the sandwiches soon. Oh, and several people complained about long waits and rude staff. I've never had a problem with either. I usually call, they say 30 minutes or 45, and I show up on time to find it ready. Granted, I usually order in their last hour of business (9pm-10pm), so things could be slower then. The staff are always friendly and sometimes chatty. I've asked questions and gotten helpful answers about the dishes, desserts, and even movies showing in the waiting area. Good, local pizzeria! read more

This is the best pizza I've ever eaten. I've traveled to over a dozen countries and all over the US and the flavor at 8 1/2 will never leave my mind. The taste haunts me. This isn't just pizza. It's truly one of the top 10 most delectable things I've ever consumed. Every time I'm in RVA I go here. It is literally world class pizza and no pizza I've ever eaten has ever come close. read more

The Breakfast Pizza. This is the best pizza I have ever had in my entire life. It took me two days to objectively realize this. I literally went back and thought about every single pizza I had ever had and none even compared to the pizza I had from here. read more

When you give 5 stars to a business, it really means something. You can't just throw around 5 stars--it has to mean that this place you are rating really is the jam. 8 1/2, you ARE the jam. We order almost every Saturday night, and we are never, ever disappointed. EVER. It's always a red pizza with capers and onions, roasted red peppers and fresh mozzarella, broccoletti, sometimes we'll throw in the Tuscan tomato soup or the vegetable lasagna. We've also tried other menu items, and they are well endowed. If you eat meat, get the turkey hero. I've ordered the white sauce pizza once, however, and wasn't so interested in it. *While writing this review, my boyfriend went on a rant on how he can eat 8 1/2's broccoletti all day, every day because "it's so good." Damn it, it really is. read more

I realize it's a pizza place, but I actually like the other dishes I had from here even more! Loved the meat lasagna - tons of flavorful, chunky tomato sauce; oozing, creamy, melted cheese; and a generous amount of meat! I could eat the sauce alone - it was that tasty. Got a side of broccoletti - more refined than traditional broccoli. Appreciated the detail with this one as the label included all the ingredients (olive oil, garlic, red pepper flake) and it came with a slice of fresh lemon to squeeze on top for a well-balanced dish. Pizza wasn't my fav - a bit oily/greasy and the crust wasn't has crispy and firm as I prefer. Hubby chose the toppings based off of another Yelper's pic: sausage, red onion, poblano peppers and red sauce. read more

Best take out in RVA. I know it's the same owners of Mama Zu and Edos but this actually tastes better to me. Get the pizza (you can actually taste the wine in it) or any of the pasta dishes. You can't eat there and it's super tight but it's on a nice street and it's all part of the experience. read more