great vibe and food.Got pizza and breadsticks which were both good and had loved the ambience.

Food was delicious, we finally sat down at this place after my last review I gave it 4 stars 3 years ago but this place definitely stepped back up that bonus star back. Service was fast pace and quick they don't skimp around when it came to ordering our food. It did take a little long for waiting for our pizza to come out and be on our table. Maybe it was the timing when we went we ordered around 6:45 then came to our table at 7:30. Some stuff asides that long wait the ambiance is what you expect this place is booming and everyone sitting down and eating pizza or what you ordered. It's definitely a great spot if you're looking hungry in Monterey. Come here. But again be prepared that it might take a while for your food to come to the table. read more

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Was visiting Monterey for the weekend and I saw this pizza place was busy with a line out the door. This is usually a good sign. We walked and were told tables are 1st come 1st served. Fair enough. We a got a table fairly quickly and requested for it to be cleaned. We then went to the counter to put in our order which was a medium house combination pizza and a small caesar salad. It was Friday night, so we knew the wait would be a bit long, and they warned us, it would be about 40 minutes. The salad came out in about 25 mins, and the pizza another 45 mins later (this means the the wait ended up being 70 mins.) The salad was standard. The pizza came hot with the perfect amount of toppings, the crust looked airy, and cheese was melted. Well, it looked alot better than it tasted. It was pretty average and the crust ended up oily and lacked flavor. read more

Gianni's Pizza - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

The pepperoni pizza was decent. The hot wings were okay, it was missing that hot and tangy kick. Also tasted like they weren't freshly fried. My favorite items were the spaghetti with marinara and breadsticks. The breadsticks came out fresh and warm, and the spaghetti was delicious. Next time, I'd try it with the meat sauce instead of marinara. The meatballs were a little dry. The garlic was also okay, nothing special. You can either grab a seat first or order upfront, and they'll bring out the food to you. Customer service was friendly, and there's plenty of parking. read more

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So this was not my first time here...I came the first time and had pizza and it was good and the breadsticks are delicious! So was the salad.....This time I came and tried the lasagna....i was disappointed! I thought that they had given me a vegetarian lasagna because I ate like half the lasagna without a bite of meat! There was like 1.5 meat ball ish type of meat in the whole lasagna and it was in one corner of the lasagna so not every (most) bite had meat in it! It was just pasta and cheese. It looked so good when served but I was completely let down as I began eating it.....sigh! I thought I had found my go to lasagna place in Monterey...guess I'll have to keep looking. read more

Gianni's Pizza - "Homemade Meat Lasagna "meat" cuz there was hardly any in it - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

I was a little skeptical coming here because it was so highly rated so I thought it would be a tourist trap but I was genuinely shocked on how much business this place had. It must be supported locally very well too as this place was PACKED when I went on a random weekday night. First off, I would like to commend this place just on the pricing alone. Their appetizers are insanely good value at $1.18 for garlic bread and just $1.66 for a big bowl of marinara sauce. I haven't seen such pricing in so long in this age of inflation that I'm very grateful they have items that anyone can afford. Secondly, the restaurant is quite large with a ton of seating. I also like the warmth of the restaurant itself as it harkens back to an old school pizzeria or diner feel. The only con I would said is that it is so busy that it took us maybe 45 minutes to get our food which is like a death sentence if you have an impatient toddler who is tired and also hungry. Also the line for ordering is split into two (with one sign saying self-service) and the other with just a person taking orders. I think it's very confusing so a lot of people "skipped" the main line and just went to the self-service line which I'm not sure was the correct way. I felt like it was the same line since everyone just got a number and waited for the food. I'll definitely be back since I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere but maybe do take-out next time to save myself the wait. read more

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OK, this place is ridiculously great! We bypassed it every time we were in Monterey, but the last time we visited, we went three times! We decided to try it out because it always seemed to get a crowd. We are so glad we did! Their pizza is second to none. My favorite in California! The crust is so nicely cooked crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. Cooked to perfect perfection. Their Caesar salad is also phenomenal and we tried the garlic sticks, which were outstanding. We will go there every time we happen down to Monterey, which is several times a year. Nice job! read more

Gianni's Pizza - XL Cheese Pizza. SO GOOD!!! - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Love, love, love this place! The food is great and the atmosphere is fun. It's a seat yourself/order at the register type of restaurant. It can get pretty full over the weekends but the service is quick. We usually order the lasagna (portion size is good for one person or two) with a pizza. Highly recommend. read more

Gianni's Pizza - Homemade Meat Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Recommended by the receptionist at our B&B, we weren't steered wrong! We went on a Monday night at around 6pm and it wasn't too crowded. This is an archetypical pizza restaurant, like the ones I used to go to in Los Angeles as a teen 100 years ago. Red and white checkered table cloths, theme from The Godfather playing on their music system, and pizzas in every size you could imagine (actually five sizes from 8" to 18"). We ended up ordering a small (12") chicken pesto for the two of us. Turns out that was even too big and we ended up taking home half of it. Flavors were excellent, plenty of cheese so that each bite was totally satisfying. I was going to eat one more slice, but decided to go for a gelato instead. Lots of flavors, and I opted for the rocky road (the closest to pure chocolate they had). It was good, maybe a bit too firm for gelato, and it didn't have the knockout chocolate punch I was hoping for. Counter service only (order your pizza and they'll bring it to your table). The place is large... a massive group came in that took 5 minutes to pass through. But it still felt spacious. When we returned home, we reheated the leftover pizza in our air fryer and it was just as good as at the restaurant! Strong recommendation! read more

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Efficiency and Freshness at Gianna's If you're looking for a spot that runs like a well-oiled machine, this is it. Gianna's is a super busy place, but don't let the crowd intimidate you. They have 2-3 cashiers working the front who manage to get you in and out remarkably quick. The Experience One of the coolest parts of the visit is the transparency. You can see through the windows as the entire staff works tirelessly, hand-crafting various components of their menu items. It adds a great "behind-the-scenes" feel to the meal and proves they aren't cutting corners on prep. The Pizza The presentation of the pizza was top-tier--it looked great when it hit the table, loaded with toppings like black olives, sausage, peppers, and mushrooms. The Sauce: You can tell they use quality ingredients; the sauce tasted incredibly fresh, which is often the make-or-break element of a good pie. The Crust: The bake was solid, providing a nice golden-brown foundation for the mountain of toppings. The Verdict Here is where we hit a bit of a crossroads. While the quality of the ingredients was obvious, both my wife and I felt it was lacking flavor. It's a bit of a head-scratcher because everything looked right and tasted fresh, but the "wow" factor in the seasoning just wasn't there for us. Maybe it's just us--everyone's palate is different--but we found ourselves wishing for a bit more punch to match the great aesthetics. If you value speed, fresh ingredients, and a clean, bustling atmosphere, it's definitely worth a try. You might find the flavor profile hits your mark better than it did ours! read more

Gianni's Pizza - Gianni's - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Great pizza place. The sauce was really good on their pizzas. I could a bowl of that stuff alone. The pizza was really tasty and came out nice and hot. I recommend checking this place out. read more

Gianni's is a must when visiting Monterey. The pizza is made in house and the vibe impeccable. Bonus tip: Get the gelato too read more

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Its a great place right off lighthouse in Monterey. Great pizza ( a little pricey in my mind) BUT WORTH IT! I have been here before and just keep going back. The service is great and the people are kind. A very little italy style type restaurant which just makes you feel at home. Must try when in Monterey.! read more

Gianni's Pizza is an institution around here and I have a fond memory of being treated to their pizza after a school soccer game some several decades ago. Since then, I've eaten many pizzas across California. I avoid eating pizza these days because it's such a calorie dense food. So it takes something extra for me to want to eat at a pizza place. I can't say this place makes it on my rather short list. Still, it's a good joint. read more

Gianni's isn't just a pizza place--it's a local landmark. Known for decades as one of Monterey's best Italian pizza spots, it delivers exactly what you hope for: pizza that is truly fresh, with crusts that are to die for, cheese that is rich and stretches with every bite. Truly not enough can be said about how good quality is. We have tried most of the menu as locals coming to Gianni's for years. All their pizzas are tremendous, and the cheese stretch is always the chef's kiss. The crust holds up beautifully without being too thick or too thin, and you can taste the care in the dough. The vibe is old-school casual: bustling, family-friendly, and filled with the smell of fresh pizza baking. Staff is quick and efficient, even on busy nights, and you get the sense that they've been doing this a long time--and doing it right. They also have breadsticks near the cash register in the front and they are absolutely delicious as well. Always a hit with kids. read more

Gianni's Pizza - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Very long waits . For a place with awards hung all down the ordering area you would expect award winning service food and speed. No . 40 minute wait for our food . Staff wasn't the nicest not rude either but definitely not welcoming . Pasta was very very good . Pizza was actually kinda nasty soggy and cold I could tell it had been sitting for a while before they brought it to us . All in all 2/5, will not return and do not recommend read more

The food was delicious and eating here makes me wish I was local so I could try even more things out. We ordered the calzone, pasta, breadsticks and garlic bread. The shop was so aesthetically charming, you could see them making the bread and we had a window seat with a view of the bay! It was a bit pricey and the service was a bit short but I can only assume it's due to their demand, all in all I can't wait to be back. read more

Gianni's Pizza - Classic Caesar Salad, Calzone, Garlic and Cheese Breadstick (ea.), Can Soft Drink - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Was excited to try their big wheel pizza that I seen a tik tok of but was soooo disappointed on how the pizza was made! It was so hot and the toppings were just coming off instantly with first bite. Breadsticks and marinara sauce was good. The customer service sucks the girls in the cashier are rude and don't really help you decide or welcome you into the place. It almost felt forced and a little bit racist. I saw the way they treated customers other than white so i figured I wasn't the only one. I'll only come back here if it's the last resort. Do better Giannis!!!!! read more

Gianni's Pizza - Outside sign - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

This pizza was fighting for its life. The cheese and toppings slid off the crust like they were trying to escape. The cheese had that weird rubbery texture and the crust was basically a loaf of bread. Somehow the toppings were hot but the base was cold, which felt like a magic trick nobody asked for. The wings were a whole different crime scene. Undercooked chicken should be illegal. The skin was wet and rubbery like it had been steamed instead of cooked. Calling these wings "bad" would be generous. For a place that was, so packed and full of people; you'd think it was good. But bad... all bad read more

With my second visit to the area, of course I had to check out Giannis pizza again! We got a take out pizza to enjoy at home. While we waited for the pizza, we got some gelato... a GREAT excuse to have dessert before dinner! Thank you for everything Gianni's. I look forward to visiting again when I'm back! read more

Nice big pizza place love the old fashioned ambiance brings me back when I lived on the east coast. Food was good. Not over the top but better than most. The service needs improvement. I get that there busy but the people that deliver the food should not look unhappy or like robots! The lady that took our order was light weight impatient. It was our first time there so we didn't know what the process was when we asked acted like rushed. When I asked for plates I was told to go get everything but noticed that other people would bring plates for others. For the price could have been better but it was good. read more

The vibe is great Pizza was decent and the locals seemed to come here so that's a good sign read more

The pizza was great! We ordered the 2 small pizzas one tasty chicken pizza- 1/2 BBQ chicken 1/2 Chicken Pesto and one signature pizza- 1/2 Gianna's Special 1/2 Cheese. They accidentally gave us 1/2 Pesto di Mare instead of the 1/2 Chicken Pesto. When we asked to confirm if it was what we ordered. They apologized and said they'd make us a mini pizza of Chicken Pesto. The ambiance is great! It's a family friendly pizzeria with an upbeat atmosphere. Shout out to Savannah for being so kind and helpful. When we arrived there was a customer that needed some assistance and she was very professional, discrete and went above and beyond. Overall, great experience & great food! read more

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Five Stars -- A True Monterey Classic! Gianni's Pizza is an absolute staple in the Monterey community and easily a five-star Italian restaurant establishment. The food is consistently excellent, with huge, classic Italian portions made with quality ingredients that never disappoint. The atmosphere is family-friendly, cozy, and authentically Italian, making it perfect for everything from casual dinners to special family nights out. Service is always first-class--warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming--and after countless visits, I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal here. And whatever you do, don't skip dessert. The huge assortment of fancy Italian gelato is the perfect way to finish an already fantastic meal. If you're in Monterey and craving real Italian comfort food with heart and consistency, Gianni's Pizza is a must. Highly recommended! read more

Gianni's Pizza - Gianni's Pizza On Lighthouse Monterey - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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Great pizza!! We called in an order for pick up. The Place was hopping but they have a to go counter for ordering and pick up that moves quickly. Old fashioned pizzeria with booths and tables. Lots of happy families were sitting around enjoying the delicious food! We picked up the pizza and a couple Italian sodas and went to watch the sunset. read more

Gianni's Pizza - Giannis Special Pizza - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Probably one of the worst pizzas we've ever had. Only their name is Italian; we don't comprehend from which country is their taste-less pizza style. Either you have American-style pizzas from BJ's or you can have a proper Italian pizza. Gianni's pizza doesn't fall in either of the categories. Crust burnt, vegetables are tasteless and squishy (leaving water) because they don't know what they're doing , bread is not special, list goes on... I asked them to put Spinach. They burned and disintegrated the Spinach on the Pizza. We should have just had pasta from another restaurant instead of trying their pizza. Coke Zero was the best thing about our meal! read more

Gianni's Pizza - Squishy vegetables on tasteless bread - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

I took my sister from Virginia to Gianni's. She used to be a local. I was born in Carmel. It's been my favorite pizza place all my life. We ordered a large combination and my sister decided to put shrimp on it. (Totally stupid idea) I also bought her some ice cream. Well. I hadn't eaten there in years. After a few bite bites, we kind of looked at each other. We didn't have a discussion about it in the restaurant. The sausage is different. It just doesn't taste the same. Basically, it's not great I don't care what it is after that. Something has changed drastically. My sister said the same thing. Unfortunately, we'll be going to round table from now on. For the prize, Gianni's flavor is no longer worth it. As hard it is is for me to say that. read more

Favorite pizza place in Monterey. Bread sticks are delicious. Pizza is delicious I love the sauce. The service is pretty quick even for large orders. The restaurant is huge with plenty tables. Love the checkered decor. Try it out if you get a chance. read more

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Food is good. My complaint is that when you order on their website, they never seem to have the order ready on time. I showed up 30 minutes later like instructed and the pizza wasn't even in the oven yet. read more

As someone who only eats chicken, a chicken pizza menu was amazing. I got the chicken Alfredo pizza mini to go and it was so good! I ate some of it cold the next day and it was still very good haha. We placed our order efficiently over the phone and it was ready when we arrived. It looked like a fun spot on a Friday night but I opted to eat this in bed at our hotel read more

Gianni's Pizza - Chicken Alfredo Pizza - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

I looked on Google map to see what restaurant is near Carney Row and found this restaurant. The workers here are nice and friendly. My wife ordered Gianni's Special pizza, Caesar salad, and Lasagna. Caesar Salad came out quick and fresh. The pizza was so delicious and flavorful. They put a lot of toppings on top. The one topping that they put a lot was olives and I got happy. The pizza crust was sloppy made. Some crust was thinner then others. Lasagna was good and delicious with some small meatballs on the inside. They didn't over sauce the lasagna which I love. Don't for get to get their gelato, it's so delicious and not that sweet Overall I will definitely come back. read more

If I go to Monterey & Gianni's is open, it's a must go! The best old school pizza around! Great chewy, crispy crust smothered in cheese. Yummmmm! Don't forget to start with their breadsticks & marinara. Soooo good! read more

Gianni's Pizza - If you are eating in you MUST start with hot, fresh breadsticks & sauce! The best!! - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

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Wow, I've never seen such uninterested employees. Absolutely no one at the register to take orders for 5 minutes. The "MANAGER" the only guy in a polo shirt just walked by several times and didn't acknowledge any customers waiting and when he did he took people who weren't in line. Place is crazy busy and dirty, food on the floor under the tables. Food was okay not great and not terrible. read more

The restaurant offers plenty of seating and parking, with its own lot. You place your order at the register and receive a number if you're dining in. You can then choose your own table. The service was excellent! We ordered the small Gianni's Special. Though we were a party of two, the pizza was large enough for three, especially with the addition of Alfredo pasta with clams. The pizza had a thick, crispy crust all around, and it was absolutely delicious! Often, the middle of pizzas can be too doughy, but this one was perfectly toasted from edge to edge. I loved it! I will definitely be coming back. read more

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As far as I'm concerned... Gianni's is the BEST pizza I've ever had. Every time I take my grandson to Monterey we always stop by

Terrible service, terrible pizza. Not to memtioj it was burned on the bottom. Stay away read more

Gianni's Pizza - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Sevice here was strange. Several employees just standing around trying to act busy. I would have sent 3-4 of them home. We needed more water, napkins and a spoon, and we had to get it ourselves. Those idle employees could have done that for us. Yet they ask for a tip. The pizza was fine. Very expensive $16 for mini. This restaurant doesn't really cater to kids. No crayons given to kids. I'll never return. Domino's and Little Caesars is better value for your budget. read more

Great pizza, I recommend Paul's primo. The crust is perfect and the combination of sauce with the olive oil is amazing. Truly, a very good pie. read more

Good place for pizza if your near the aquarium. The pizza is good and so is the Gelato they have. There have good options for the ice cream. The wait is a little long because it can get busy. You basically seat yourself and have to ask for the table to be serviced. They don't wait on you or have pizza serving tools. You have to use your knife. The pizza has a lot of toppings and family friendly. read more

Gianni's Pizza - Walked up here from the Aquarium - Italian Near Me - Monterey, California

Good pizza, we got the Southwest chicken, and I was a little worried it would be too spicy for the sensitive people in our party, but it wasn't spicy at all. In fact, not a ton of the pico de gallo at all. The mushrooms were very good in it though. However, prices are astronomical so can't be a 5 star. read more