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    Penelope

    4.5 (274 reviews)
    ModeratePizza
    Closed 3:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Penelope Photos

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    PENELOPE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Penelope

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    Reviews With Photos

    Sgt pepper pizza
    Madelynn F.

    Great service. Good music. Strong drinks. Good food. Had 2 no tiki drinks, the lasagna and the OTC pizza. All delicious!

    House made lasagna (look at the size of this thing!)
    Dayne D.

    Holding true to our 2026 plan another never before visit, this time to Penelope wood fired pizza. We arrived promptly at 3 pm as we were advised to do, as we had reservations our table was already set with a cold decanter of water awaiting. Our server came right over and took our drink order and provider her suggestions to us first timers. We started with the 3 meatball shareable plate. Man what an experience. Soft tender meatballs perfectly seasoned with a robust sauce that compliments the seasoning of the meat ball. The speed of service absolutely incredible, we had barely finished the meatballs when 2 pizzas and a plate of lasagna arrived. My son never looked up from his lasagna, a HUGE 10 layer lasagna with oodles of meat and cheese in delicious Penelope house sauce with perfectly cooked al dente noodles. He got one to go. Ok so did I. My Pizza, the SGT pepper, light airy crust , garlic oil, smoked mozz, green chilies, a delicious house made sausage and a hot honey drizz. This is an amazing combination of flavors. Mom's pizza, The Nina. Same delectable crust, house red sauce, mozz, ezzo pepperoni, sausage, sweet bell pepper and onion. Another amazing combination. The only down fall, my mother said it was too salty. The staff was amazing! Benny and Sierra were friendly, informative and prompt and a credit to this great establishment. It is easy to see why Penelope has been top 50 in the U.S. for three years running. You want your pizza done right, you have to give Penelope a go.

    meatballs
    Steve B.

    What a dream. I did not visit Penelope back in their food truck days but for quite some time now They have been on my must-go list. Yes it took quite a long time. The pizza is fantastic, really perfect. Tucson is fortunate to have this establishment. We went on a Friday around 5:30 and they were quite busy. Got on the list and were seated in 10 minutes, and that surely can be different at busier times. Staff was very nice and inviting. Got the meatballs (fantastic), O.T.C pizza (fantastic) and the Pammy pizza (fantastic and actually a surprise).

    Olive cake yum
    Katt L.

    Today was a good day. I moved to Tucson not long ago, and have not found many places that I like yet. I came here not expecting much but the restaurant was really cute and the staff was so friendly and understanding. I made a mistake and showed up an hour early because I misheard. They rushed my order and never gave attitude. The place was packed and now I know why. Got home with my pizza and it was Amazing! Super fresh and taste was delicious! My husband couldn't wait and stole a piece before i could take a photo. We had the Adambam it was a 10/10 . I will be back and I love the staff so much. Thank you for yummy food and nice experience for my fist time at the restaurant.

    Katherine K.

    I cannot believe how disappointing my visit was considering Penelope's is on Yelp's Top 100 list. I called to have our pizza ready by a certain time because my guy and I were on a roadtrip and wanted to get our food fast. I showed up, paid, and was not provided with any update as to where my food was until I had been waiting around for 10 mins. The staff had no issues with standing around chitchatting, though. Nearly 30 mins after the time I had requested my pizza be ready at, I finally got it. There was basically no apology from the staff for the long wait either. We got the Sgt Pepper pizza (sub prosciutto for house sausage, add mushrooms and bell pepper) and the Olive Oil Cake. The pizza crust tasted like burnt butter, they cheaped out on the ingredients, sad amount of prosciutto (there wasn't even a piece of prosciutto on each slice), couldn't taste the hot honey drizzle or the green chili salt. The cake was find, but nothing to rave about. Honestly, my guy and I agreed that nothing about the pizza was enjoyable and it was definitely not worth the delay they caused us in our trip. They have a lot to work on in my book and I have zero desire to come back.

    Where the magic happens!
    Rachel C.

    Update 3/25- continues to be amazing. They are delightful and greet everyone who is coming in as though they are long-lost friends. The food is soo good! Bread and friends is still a fav and one MUST save room for the chocolate budino. But of course there is everything in between- unique flavor combos on the pizzas, fresh pasta and cute cocktails! No surprise they are among Tucson Yelp Elites top 25!

    sian t.

    We tried couple of time to dine in but it always pack. So last night we decided to order togo. The process of order until picked up is ok. Pizza was ready when we get there. Parking was busy but still ok. When we get home, we open the box, the Pizza was burnt on the edge and bottom. The taste was ok, not really special or something else.

    Hot honey and pineapple drizzle pizzas
    Gretchen P.

    While it's a busy spot with a little of a wait (maybe just on weekend evenings), it is so worth it. We loved the bread and marinara appetizer, the hot honey pizza with ricotta or burrata and the pineapple drizzle pizza. Service was very friendly and we appreciated the heaters outside. A level up from so many of the other (still very good) homemade pizza spots in town!

    Tiramisu, already started, so huge and delicious
    Beth T.

    The food is amazing, the service is stellar and everything was glorious. We have been here a couple of times now, and each time it has been excellent. This time we had the bread and oil and cheese, and split four pizzas. My favorite was the Adambam with sausage and mushrooms and olives, although they were all delicious. We shared some desserts - the budino and the tiramisu were particularly good, and the portion of tiramisu was epic. I love family run businesses and this one is excellent.

    Kristine M.

    Finally got here! They have bizarre hours and every time we wanted to go they were closed. Then they got the Yelp top 100 restaurant award and it was always packed! We came around 5:30 and got a table right away and when we left there was a lot of people waiting. This spot never seems to last but I hope Penelope's does. We had the Figgy Piggy, OTC and burrata and tomato. Everything was very tasty my only negative would be the crust was a bit too burnt for my liking but I know that's what happens with wood fired. The staff revolves around to each table so everyone can help you.

    Know Better Now Tini
    Melissa S.

    I've been to Penelope a few times now and really enjoy the wood fired pizzas and happy hour drink specials! The Know Better Now Tini with a sidecar of bubbles might be my new favorite! They have indoor and outdoor patio seating, however be sure to get in early or order to-go as they do often get very busy. The customer service is usually great, but just know in advance that you typically do not have one server. Instead they work on rotation, so multiple will stop by to assist or check-in on your table. The one menu item I would not order again was the citrus pistachio creme cannolis. The filling was not very sweet as one would expect. Excited to go back to try more menu items from here.

    ciria e.

    Dam best pizza ever ordered the O.T.C., house red sauce, mozz, ezzo pepperoni, ricotta, hot honey drizzle and parm!!! Awesome music and ambience my favorite cocktail so far is the Know Better Now Tini. Do Not Leave without trying the Rotating Tiramisu, huge portion and the best I've had. Exceptional customer service definitely worth coming back

    A close-up of a serving of lasagna on a white plate with green trim. The lasagna has visible layers of pasta, meat sauce, and cheese, with some grated cheese sprinkled on top. A basil leaf is placed on the top layer as a garnish. The background shows a dark, blurred setting, likely a restaurant dining area.
    Jess L.

    We went back to Penelope Pizza last week, and it was just as good as we remembered. Between being named one of the top 50 pizzerias in the country two years running and making Yelp's top 100 in 2025, they're clearly doing something right. We shared the Sgt. Peppero with a friend, and honestly, this pizza was something special. The garlic oil and smoked mozzarella base with roasted Anaheim chiles and their house sausage would've been amazing on its own, finished with that hatch green chili salt. We got the hot honey drizzle on the side since Scott has a spice sensitivity, which worked out perfectly. Those of us who wanted that sweet heat could dip it or add it to our slices while Scott could enjoy the smoky, savory flavors without the extra kick. Scott and I also split the 10 Layer Meatball Lasagna. This was comfort food at its finest. Tender beef and pork meatballs in their house marinara with this bright lemon basil ricotta that kept it from being too heavy. Add the mozzarella, parm, and fresh basil, and you've got something really special. It split perfectly with a fork, which tells you how well it was put together. Our friend went with the Chicken Parm. House made chicken cutlet with marinara, mozzarella, parm, and basil, topped with spaghetti. It's a brilliant take on the classic that somehow makes it even better. And to top it all off, we had their classic Tiramisu for dessert. My goodness; so delightful and rich. The perfect ending to an incredible meal. This could've been a meal itself--great for three people. Every time we go, it just confirms what all those rankings already tell youthis place is the real deal!

    A white plate holds two cannoli pastries filled with cream, one topped with chocolate chips and the other with pistachio pieces, dusted with powdered sugar. Accompanying the cannoli is a scoop of whipped cream and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Two metal spoons are placed on the plate, ready for serving. The plate is set on a dark wooden table, and the presentation suggests a dessert served at a restaurant or cafe.

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    Ask the Community - Penelope

    Pizza looks like I'd only comes in one size. Know what it is?

    I believe you're correct that they are all one size. The wood fire pizzas are rightly 10"-12" and 6 slices each.

    Is there a happy hour?

    Yes, I was there about two weeks ago and I remember some of the appetizers being discounted, but I can't remember the exact hours or the alcohol deals.

    Are Penelope's pizzas thin or thick crust?

    Thin crust

    View All 4 Questions

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    Fiamme Pizza - At 2024 Pizza Throw down

    Fiamme Pizza

    (636 reviews)

    $$

    Fiamme is our favorite pizza place in Tucson. We like the Carbonara…read moreBreakfast pizza with eggs, bacon, mozzarella -- and the Figo White pizza with cherry tomato, bacon, garlic, basil, mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan. It's small and cozy, so be sure to make a reservation. One day we'll work up the nerve to get a Nutella Pizza with powdered sugar and seasonal fruit. Yum

    The food here is top-tier, absolutely excellent. It's clear why this place is so well reviewed…read more Unfortunately, the service completely missed the mark and took away from what could have been a great experience. We were seated right away since it wasn't busy, and things started off simple enough with bread and oil. We asked for parmesan to go with it, and our server seemed unsure how to respond, eventually bringing out packet parm even though fresh was clearly available. Not a huge deal, but we found it odd. A little later, we asked for more bread. The server told us they were out but, "that they could probably make more". . He relayed it to the woman handling bread, who then made more for another table and skipped us entirely. He mentioned it again to her when he saw us looking in their direction. she looked over, and still nothing. It was awkward, since the restaurant is the size of a closet. Once the pizza came, we got up ourselves to ask for more oil and parmesan, since our waiter hadn't come to check back. We got the oil instantly since we brought us the bowl, but no parmesan. At one point my son asked for bread, again, finally it came and the server literally tossed it on the table without a word. We said thank you and he completely ignored all of us. It didn't get any better from there. The bill was dropped on the table without a word either. My husband and I kept looking at each other with confused looks. We turned the bill in with our CC, and once the server returned it, same thing, not a single interaction. We also watched the same server make another table feel like an inconvenience over something as simple as asking for a bottle of Coke instead of a can. The customer ended up backing down just to avoid the hassle. The server then told the guest, "it's fine, I can get it for you!" On top of that, staff were wearing gloves while handling food, but also touching chairs, phones, and other surfaces; kind of defeats the purpose I think? My boys also had a weird interaction with a staff near the bathrooms who was very rude to them and accused them of cutting the line, despite no one waiting. It was very strange. Bottom line: the food is incredible, no question. But the service was so bad it's hard to ignore. Best advice, get it to go and skip the experience inside.

    Ugly But Honest Pizzeria and Beer Garden - Pepperoni pizza

    Ugly But Honest Pizzeria and Beer Garden

    (50 reviews)

    Barrio Viejo

    Absolutely delicious pizza! We worked with Chris to provide a bunch of pizza and salad for a large…read moregroup event and everything was perfect. He was great to work with, super responsive and had some great suggestions to help our event run smoothly. The pizza and salads we had were so good, everyone went back for 2nds! Also, the pizza was not that ugly!

    Went here Friday night and was excited as I had never noticed this place before. As my husband and…read moreI walked up, we walked inside a small seating area, then came back out to the bar area, looking for where we should order or get menus. After a bit, a customer at the bar greeted us and gave us a tip on how big the slices of pizza were. Soon after, we realized where the menus were, followed by a server at the bar greeting us and giving us information. I was glad for his help, but there was a good whike in between that I feel was a little weird and lacking of service. They have a small indoor seating area where you can also get fountain drinks, as well as an outside covered patio that has a couple ceiling heaters throughout . You order at a window near the bar, then seat yourself. Your food is done brought to you. We attempted to order a couple slices of the specialty pizza, only to be told that the specialty pizzas could only be ordered as a whole pie. So we ordered a 12 inch pizza half company combo and half carnivore. We also got an order of the sweet chili wings . The sweet chili wings were cool, not bad, but also nothing to brag about. The pizza I was actually disappointed in... it reminded me of pizza from the frozen aisle at the grocery store. It was thin and had a crunch at the bottom. I will say that I like my pizza dough, thicker, so that probably affected my opinion of their pizza as well. Glad I tried it, but don't think I will be back.

    Anello - Margherita Pizza w/ Enzo Pepperoni and Mushrooms.

    Anello

    (293 reviews)

    $$

    Clearly Anello has taken the crown for the best pizza in Tucson. They are hard to find (no…read moresignage) and have a limited menu, but what they do, they do extremely well. This is not the kind of pizza you want to carry out. The bottom crust is so thin and delicate, it will wet out in 15 minutes. This is pizza you order and eat on-premises immediately. I ate my pizza in a fashion I have never done before - I broke off a piece of the outside crust to use as a carrier for a piece of filling. This worked well. The crust is perfectly light and airy. Next time I have to try a loaf of their bread - it looked incredible. If you are a pizza purist you will love this place.

    I had good food here. I really enjoyed their pannisa (Ligurian style street food form NW Italy) It…read moreis a chickpea based "polenta" that is fried and is perfectly crispy outside while remaining soft inside. I have had Italian chickpea based Farinata before on it's own when I made it at home or inside a delicious sandwich on a connection at the Rome airport and I thought they did a really good job frying the Pannisa here. I also liked the sauce they serve it with here: tart sauce with basil and herbs. I felt the the serving size was small for $8 . I enjoyed trying it here but will probably not get it more than once at that price per serving size. They serve it with cheese typically but I asked for no cheese to make it vegan. The guy that took my order at the window seemed very confused/ weirded out when I asked if they charge a fee to pay with credit card. He generally wasn't very helpful or communicative and seemed generally bothered by questions. He also didn't think to mention they don't have disposable silverware for to go order (my pannisa was drenched in sauce- delicious but I definitely ended up going inside to eat it with a fork). Another staff member seemed more pleasant though and more willing to answer basic questions politely. On another earlier visit I tried their focaccia. It is a sourdough focaccia with roasted red pepper jam, rosemary and garlic. Typically it has ricotta too which I asked to remove. I loved the dough and garlic. The jam was good too, maybe a tad sweet for me though. It reminded me a tad of sweet and sour sauce. They have a margarita pizza without cheese available on the menu too. I didn't try these yet but liked seeing that they served some interesting non alcoholic beverages like cocoa soda with cocoa husk or cola dosa with Guajillo chiles and citrus. From what I tried and seen on the menu it feels that they serve good quality food and drinks. Service can definitely be improved. My general rating system: 1 star: I would stay away 2 stars: Has some good things about it but I generally don't recommend. 3 stars: Pretty good. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back but a decent place 4 stars: Great place. I would go back. 5 stars: I highly recommend stopping whatever you are doing and making plans to try it out! An Evie favorite!

    Penelope - pizza - Updated May 2026

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