Of course, I will never come back. I'm going to restaurants to spend $$$ not begging foods for free, so my expectation is to have a good service for return. I believed your business was established over 42 years. For that reason, you probably forgot about customer service 101. Customers are always right and customer is a king. If you think you're a business owner and your business is sustainable, you can say anything to customers, then you're wrong. I have a right to request for a service and you have a right to refuse to serve me. However, you need to watch your language and attitude to customers. Don't look down people. You're just like me and others whom immigrated to US. Don't think your English better than others. read more

Eleven years since my last review of RBP. The seem to still be going strong and we're still taking out from them, if not quite as regularly as we used to. Our Greek food order has subtly shifted to the Greek Isle salad but everything I said a decade ago still holds true. We ordered two sandwiches tonight for a little change of pace. Eggplant parm, and Meatball. Both come with a side of fries, salad, or soup. Both sandwiches are solid. They held up well with takeout, the rolls getting a little soft on the exterior but even without a crunch they maintained their integrity and supported the overall flavor and textural experience. My only small complaint is that the meatball sandwich isn't actually a meatball parm (to be fair, they do not call it that on the menu) so we felt it didn't have enough cheese. Next time we order it I'll ask for more cheese. :) read more

True hidden gem in the Bay Area. My favorite pizza place of all time! The Greek-American pizza has a delicious crust and plentiful topping of meat and cheese-tasty and surprisingly not too salty. Love their pastas too. The sauce and the seafood in it are phenomenal. Also you can't miss their salads. Customer service is exceptional every single time i have gone there. Great place to sit down and hang out with old friends! If you haven't tried this place, you MUST! read more

This might be an unpopular review but let me explain my rationale. We're now 4 months into this COVID mess and looking for any "normal" dining experience continues to be a challenge. Yelp also isn't helpful with its inconsistent reports of whether or not certain restaurants have outdoor dining so when you try to do a filtered search, you often come up with a limited list of pizza, and other pizzas, oh and more pizza... Pizza is a treat for me and if I splurge on pizza, it's gotta be special. What brought me here was all the reviews with keywords like: ... Out of this world ... As if you're on a Greek Island ... So worth it ... Authentic ... Huge ... Best ... Extensive ... Been going here for years ... Large portions So you get the idea why we decided to give this place a try. Trusting the reviews, we went with an order of fried calamari $15 and medium 12 inch pizza, half #2 Greek American and half #7 Greek. There is outdoor seating available. Most of it was in the shade so with the wind blowing, I wish I can an extra layer. Service was prompt and responsive. You can go inside to use the bathroom with mask on. It's cute inside with Greek murals on walls and decorations to give you that Greek vibe. So let's get to the food. First I have to agree that the pizza is massively thick -- so thick and packed with toppings that you should not attempt to pick a slice up unless you want everything spilling everywhere and juice dripping down your hand. But here's why all this massiveness didn't work -- one layer of pepperoni/salami taste oily salty and good but 5 layers stacked on top of each other makes it taste like Im eating cold cuts. The cheese was so thick that it was like eating a block of string cheese. And lastly when you pile tomatoes/onions layering on top of each other, they become watery and completely soaking the crust. What you end up with is a soggy crust that you can enjoy. I actually preferred eating the rim of the crust more than anything. The pizza itself tasted incredibly salty and that's probably due to the over topping. It reminds me of my teenage years when Boboli pizza crust was first created and everyone bought one from the grocery store thinking they could go home to make their own homemade pizza. I always overtopped my pizza until it resembled a low level pyramid. Sadly, I ate one slice of each #2 and #7 just to compare. They're both pretty similar. The gyro was dried out. I'm sure if it was done in a wrap, it would've been much more juicer. There was so much feta and the whole olives were just overkill. Whenever I get a Costco combo pizza, I always pick all the topping off and wish outloud if I could just eat the toppings and nothing else. Well here at a Rainbow, that became a sad reality, except I didn't enjoy it as much as I did a Costco combo. Lastly, Calamari was average but expensive at $15. Without the tartar sauce, it really had no taste. I'm a regular calamari fan at a Chinese restaurant -- you can't beat a good salt and pepper calamari. Pizza was $32 and we had half of a medium 8 slice 12 inch left to take home. It was expensive for what it's worth considering I can get MOD pizza for a third of the price and it actually tastes better but I probably won't be having pizza for the rest of this COVID lockdown... read more

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Food is excellent. Everything prepared fresh. Freshly made pasta every time. Menu is extensive. Family operated. Waitstaff efficient, professional and friendly High quality ingredients. You can watch the pizzas being made through the front window. One of the very few family operated restaurants. read more

Talk about a good THICK slice of pizza :D Got the meat lovers equivalent rainbow pizza and was delighted with the pizza. Stacked meats and cheese and a nice thick pillowy crust, what more do you want! The price point won't compare to other pizza chains, but I was happy to support a local business like Rainbow pizza. I recommend getting a Medium pizza for 2 as that was enough for me and my bf. We also had leftovers. Parking here is fairly easy as it's located in a plaza and ordering ahead is the fastest way to get your food! They do have indoor dining open the last time I ordered from here. read more

The salads are phenomenal and humongous. They are my go to, but when I am feeling ravenous and deserve a special treat, it is the Gyro Sampler appetizer that satisfies all of the cravings. This item is kind of like a salad, with gyro slices, topped with their homemade cucumber and yogurt, tzatziki sauce, tomato and red onion...Only instead of a bed of lettuce, the aforementioned blankets a pile of fresh from the fryer, steak fries. The fries are crispy but taste splendidly of potato. Each bite has crunch, salt, velvety tzatziki and the sweet/ bitter bite of onion and the ripest tomato. It is just the best combination... This is a HEAVY meal for one, or a great appetizer for a crowd. Forget about carne asada fries, poutine, chili cheese fries, or any other indulgent potato topped with naughty stuff! The pizza is phenomenal, every sandwich and pasta is great, the salads are amazing, but the Gyro Sampler is the BEST thing on the extensive menu. read more

Rainbow Pizza - Gyro sampler! - Greek Near Me - San Mateo, California

Delicious large portions of food and fountain drinks. Perfect for large groups and families. Attentive and friendly service. My 2nd visit. We'll be back. read more

Me and my family are 4 generations deep in this pizza spot here! And don't plan on stopping here, me and my wife have dinner here and other friends and family dooo too, love you Strato TE LEME read more

This is an amazing spot! Highly recommend getting the gyro with extra tzatziki... I think it's the best gyro I've ever had. The people there are always nice and friendly. read more

This is honestly one of my favorite places to get a greek salad. Literally THE BEST. I typically add beef or lamb onto it to get some protein. The portions here are huge!! Seriously, last time I ordered a half order of their greek salad and even then it was way too much! They really fill it to the brim and don't skimp out. Their menu is extensive...so many options to choose from! Their pizza is bomb and so are their pastas. I really like their pesto ravioli! The staff is always super duper friendly. We've ordered here for company parties and everyone always loves the food here! I love coming here when I'm in the area! read more

This restaurant is a steady provider of good food in reasonable prices. My husband and i tried so many restaurants to find a good chicken Parmesan dish. we found is no place but rainbow pizza which provides the steady dish without ups and downs. It always gives not overcooked/dry chicken pieces. Don't mention its generous portion. You need to wait 20-30 minutes to get your order. It means you need to calculate your stomach watch well in advance. Enjoy. read more

Service is excellent here. Pizza is good, salads are good but my fave is their fettuccine Alfredo. Both shrimp and chicken are great. All their pasta dishes are amazing. Would recommend this place. Very family-friendly too--I've been going here through the years with my hubby and huge family ever since my hubby and I were just dating. Now we have a little one and we still love this place. Wish I had some photos to share but I'll just come back and add some next time we go back read more

An extensive menu covering pizza, pasta, salads, Italian staples, burgers, and mouthwatering Greek cuisine! I'm sure I'm forgetting to mention the two handfuls of appetizer offerings. Whatever you order, you can't go wrong. Besides, there isn't a day I haven't been here where I haven't heard animated Greek conversations happening at nearby tables. Reminds me of my time in Greece eons ago (I had been dating a Greek guy and went solo to explore the homeland. LOVED my time there). My favorites: moussaka, pastitio, greek meme platter read more

OVERALL: This is the only local place to get good, authentic Greek food! They have a HUGE variety and everything served is also huge. Their menus are even the size of my torso. Can't go wrong. FOOD: I always go for the Greek food here. They also have pizzas, sandwiches, and pasta dishes. Everything comes in huge portions, even their water cups are extra large. Everything can absolutely be shared. Some of my favorites are their gyro (years ago they made their own gyros but now they use Kronos. Still good but was even better before), spanakopita, avgolemono soup, and pastitso. SPACE: They have a large indoor space. I've never had a problem getting a table. The decor includes pictures and art from Greece. Their large back room is decorated like a Greek village. SERVICE: The staff is friendly and food comes out quickly. read more

Rainbow Pizza - Gyro with fries - Greek Near Me - San Mateo, California

This is a frequent place that my friends and I congregate to catch up. Every time the service was superb and all their greek dishes were top notch. If I were to suggest anything, it would be the greek salad because it's consistently HUGE and Tasty. Warning: the pizzas are NOT cheap. I ordered a meat-lovers small and a salad and the tab was $55. The pizza was really good and fed 3 meals so just be prepared. lastly, It also doubles up as a "Fry-Spot" for us as they have the mozzarella sticks and onion rings read more

The staff is people friendly. They'll remember you for next time. Greek's their forte. They will suggest the type of food you came in for. Greek cuisine,Hawaiian, Italian pizza, just to name a few. Calamari is my fave for starters. It is locals busy for a reason. But don't back out if ever there's a wait. They're fast, friendly & reliable. Short but sweet, they will truly deserve a tip.. read more

The food is really tasty and delicious. The pizza will last you for days. I bring mine home, and vacuum seal it and eat it whenever I feel like it. It still taste good. The portions are huge. My husband and I get 3 meals out of it. I usually like to order the chicken florentine. The calamari is delicious and huge. If I order it, I cannot eat my dinner. The shrimp Cesar salad is delicious. So much stuff on the menu. The service is very good. We go for lunch and it is not too crowded and you can spread out. read more

The pizza and all the food on the menu is very good. The service is good. The ambience is nice. Recommended.

Greek American pizza Gyro salad The shrimp salad sandwich These are my go-to when going to Rainbow Pizza. The pizzas are dense and remind me of deep dish because of the weight and density. Routinely eat here and recommended to all. read more

This is our new favorite restaurant. We recently had lunch there with our friends who have been going there for many years, and we loved it. It is truly a neighborhood gem. "Family operated since 1983", and it's still going strong. Wonderful food, amazing menu, very high quality and amazing quantity, excellent service, charming atmosphere, and remarkable value. We will be going back for sure. read more

I've been to Rainbow Pizza numerous times over the years and will continue to keep going back. Their food and service are always excellent. My favorite is the #2 Greek American pizza (salami, pepperoni, bell peppers, onions, fresh mushrooms, Italian sausage, Greek feta, hickory smoked thick bacon) - it's so good! Update 5/14/21: I've been craving Rainbow pizza since my last visit so we tried their #9 All the Meat You Can Handle. It was so delicious and was loaded with 7 different meat toppings - Canadian bacon, pepperoni, Italian salami, linguisa, ground beef sirloin, Italian sausage, hickory smoked thick bacon! Will definitely order this pizza again. read more

Rainbow Pizza - All the Meat You Can Handle (medium) - Greek Near Me - San Mateo, California

We had such a great time and experience! We had dinner here for an early Father's Day celebration. My husband used to come here years ago and loved it so of course we are back here to get his fav pizza! We got the number 2 pizza, pepperoni pizza and clam chowder. All were delicious and super filling! The number 2 pizza is filled with so much cheese and topping that you'll get full with just one slice. The service is also amazing. I love the family owned atmosphere and it felt so warm and inviting. I really felt the love the owner and family put into the restaurant. We ordered 2 beers and the waiter brought us the wrong beer (we didn't even realize because it was still good!) the owner (Strato, AKA Steve!) came and offered us several more beers and didn't charge us extra for it. Such great service and he really took pride in his restaurant. He stopped and chatted with us too. What a lovely and delightful man! We'd come back just for the awesome atmosphere and service but on top of that, the food was really good! Thank you and we will def be back!! read more

WOW, who ever would have guessed this hidden gem would be right in San Mateo where some of my relatives live and where I work?! Where I have been this whole time?! Stumbled across this place as one of my old school friends has told me about this place. So I decided to take my best friend with me to check this place out! Man, the reviews and my friend were not kidding! They all stated that the food here comes in huge portions and the pizza is huge and not to order a big size as you will take it home. My brother has personally said that he was only able to eat 2 slices and tapped out..... We ordered the calamari as all the reviews and other fellow yelpers had advised to get it. We also got a mini size greek pizza and still even took half of that to go back home with us as we didnt finish that either. Totally worth the drive all the way across town over the bridge for this spot! DEF a fan and will be returning back real soon! read more

Rainbow Pizza - Calamari - Greek Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I've been a long time rainbow fan since before I could walk. Rainbow pizza is elite!! My favorite Greek salad and gyro sandwich in all the land. This is where my love for feta first started. The owner Stratos is a legend. Will forever continue to support this business. read more

Ok so how many times have I seen this place in the shopping center? Yes you are correct, like one hundred million! Ok,ok I exaggerate a bit, but who is counting? Lol- So we did a walk to Crystal Springs, we were a bit hungry and we said..hey why not? After all, being part Italian I like the fact that they have Italian food, and I like Greek food too..so its a win-win! You go on, nothing fancy but nice panels and murals on the wall, totally bustling with people in the front. So much so, I am getting a headache with all the " bla bla bla" talk I am hearing. No thanks lets sit in the back. We arrive hardly anyone is in the back..thatsa nice" :) Next, their menus are so big and weigh a ton, I could literally do arms curls with them.:) We order, can I just say that the plates did not arrive exactly at the same time. So how does that look? Um not good. The person I am with, their food arrives like 20 minutes before mine. Hello 20 minutes, for crying out loud they are going to be done before I can even start!! This is not a race..but geeze, hey did you check my tank, do I have enough gas for this race? ;-) .IT was obviously a slip up of the waiter, but all is forgiven, Now I want my damn food"! I get grumpy when I am hungry. (breathe in..breathe out..) The waiter seemed annoyed that we questioned where the food was. I think he was having a stressful day. It is not easy being a server. I ordered the Souvlaki combination, which was very good. Then we had some calamari..not so good. The crispy parts were great, the others tasted like little rubber bands..yuk!! They were not good..too overdone. The Greek salad we ordered was out of this world! So I like the ambiance, the food. Is it inexpensive?, so not really. Okay so with my platter, an order of Calamari, a small Greek salad, 3 beers it came out with tip to over 33.00 each. So in other words 66.00. That is a little steep for lunch, would you not say? Would I go back again?..Yes?! But I would need to go when it is not so crowded, and the waiter gets the food out together. It is fine when its appetizers, but not main courses and 20 minutes apart? Really?. PRO's- The food is good, and the owner is very nice and accommodating. read more

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Neighborhood gem. We have been going here for 10 years and it's been around for 40. Our favorite dish is the spaghetti with prawns. It seems simple but I have never been able to recreate it. It's a huge. One order can feed 2 -3 people. We will continue to support this charming local business. read more

Pizza? In a back road strip mall in San Mateo? Admit that I was apprehensive, but left thoroughly impressed and looking forward to next time. This is the perfect spot for: a. Big appetites b. Big menu selection c. Kid friendly food d. Creative mix of Greek and Italian classic comfort food. e. All of the above Answer: e. All of the above To confirm this, come as a party of ten and make it a democratic meal. Three in our party dined here previously so they ordered the 'meat' of the meal, mainly the pizza and the lamb while the rest of us picked through the other items to try. Here's what we ordered and shared family style: Appetizers 1. Grande appetizer combo (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=i60UNEhGaqrplMuleKosqw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - 6 mozzarella sticks, 6 jalapeno poppers, onion rings, and a generous portion of French fries... no partridge and a pear tree. 2. Caesar's salad - Sorry, no photo as we divvied this up before I could get a shot in. Nicely seasoned and dressed, this disappeared in a hurry. 3. Fried calamari (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=aAjvW4R8jOvGKTVzPO904Q&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - Crisp with a good mix of legs and rings. Mains 4. Greek-American pizza (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=aIXd97SwXgoApksiHFGLhA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - The STAR of the show for me... touted as the best pizza in the house, you have me SOLD! Did I tell you that I like mushrooms?! There was no shortage and the flavors of all the other ingredients made me wondering when I'd make the drive here again. 5. Tortellini de la mar (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ZhAFO5NaDar5cn7pwDE1Xg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - These were nice little pasta pillows garnished with shrimp and mushrooms in a not overly tangy sauce. 6. Rack of lamb (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=bJ4L0V0YDOF3qCQSi0b0pg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - Generous in portion, these were authentic in seasoning but the pizza overshadowed this for me. Sides 7. Moussaka (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Lq-NCmTY2ggtw0ISakbhRg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - Not my cup of tea as I prefer a meaty Italian style lasagna to this. 8. Meatballs (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=zsXIdK7QO5uWKrDor0QsAg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - They were okay but not earth shattering. Go to North Beach and seek that corner pizza maestro by the park. South Bay families are familiar with this sleeper of a place. My friends said that their children's sports teams often dined here post event and there was a good mix of couples and families here on a foggy Saturday night. I don't believe they take reservations but my friend, a relatively frequent diner, arranged for a table for our party when we arrived. Service was prompt and efficient and there is definitely a family feel service wise too as the owner stopped by during our meal. It's a bit of a trek but the plus is that it is closer to 280 so traffic is less of an issue. Looking for my next time here and you can be sure that I'll be taking a Greek American pizza home! read more

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4.5 stars The menus at Rainbow Pizza were huge! And I'm not just talking about the number of dishes.. the menu cards themselves were large enough to take up half of a table! And despite the name of the restaurant, the offerings at this busy family-run joint went beyond pizza and included sandwiches, hamburgers, pasta, salads, dinner plates, and the thing that I came for: Greek specialties! We started with the Greek Isle Salad, a refreshing mixture of chopped Romaine, cucumbers, sliced tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and huge olives tossed with crumbled feta and tzatziki sauce, all topped with generous slices of beef/lamb gyro and served over triangles of pita bread! This salad seemed simple but was so tasty--all the ingredients were fresh, and the tzatziki dressing really brought everything together! Next, I had the Greek Plate Meze, which came with 2 tyropites (phyllo pastries filled with cheese), 2 spanakopitas (phyllo pastries filled with spinach), 2 dolmades (rice stuffed in grape leaves), along with Romaine lettuce leaves, tomato, cucumber, olives, and a huge slice of feta cheese to top it all off! The tyropites and spanakopitas were nice and crispy on the outside, the gyro had good flavor without being overly salty, and all the different veggies were fresh, light, and crunchy! This was really tasty food for such a casual restaurant, and it was so entertaining to watch the gigantic pizzas being made right behind the front window! read more

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Service is great. Pizzas were very cheesy. Calamari was a bit soggy but not the fault of the pizzeria since it was a to go order.

We were introduced to this place by a good friend and now we bring many others... that's the trick, otherwise you can't order much without taking most of it home. That's how generous their portions are! Love it! We always get : Open Face Gyro Plate Caesar Salad and we add some of the gyro meat to that Veg Ravioli with Pesto- with it comes lots of garlic bread and if you have help, add a pizza or spaghetti and meatballs or whatever else catches your eye. I have yet to have anything bad here. read more

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Absolutely the best Greek and Italian food we've had west of the Mississippi. Huge portions, great to take some home for later. Seafood options are a win. Staff is friendly and efficient. Family owned by true Greeks. We haven't tried everything on their menu yet, but we're planning on it. Dolores and Sofia are excellent servers. Stratos is Chef Extraordinaire. read more

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Please eat here !!!! I love the quality of the ingredients. After 4 days I am still eating eat because of the quality !!!! Listen to me. This good pizza for families that love quality God bless Rainbow read more

They have the best food. Our favorites include their ginormous pepperoni pizza, Greek salad, chicken piccata and their vino selections.

Unfamiliar with the area but turned into my favorite local pizza place. Great food and service

I am a long-term customer, distressed by a couple of negative reviews I skimmed through - especially some highly disrespectful language and deeply insulting assumptions. NO, I swear on my life that I've never worked at Rainbow, nor am I a friend or family member of the owner or an employee. Some language I can't repeat is horrible - all because of some olives? Every restaurant, every business, and every human being makes mistakes occasionally - under stress, working quickly, in a small, very busy kitchen. Personally, I'm a long-term vegetarian and would have been very upset if I'd found meat in my food. This has happened in years past in another restaurant or two, but I chose to react differently. I have consistently been treated with kindness and respect by everyone at Rainbow. I never had a problem with their food or service; nor did my husband. Every take-out order has been exactly as requested - never an error. In fact, I have always specified "no cheese" on my favorite pasta dish - being mostly vegan - and they have never let me down. Also request "plain bread" since this became available. Never a mistake - not even with bread. I hadn't visited Rainbow in a long while since my husband's illness and passing, then the pandemic; but will never forget how a long-term server remembered me. He politely greeted me, asked about my husband, then expressed heartfelt condolences. This may sound trivial, but I also appreciate the ancient Greek maxims on the walls of the entryway. I find them comforting as I'm waiting for a take-out order. There are "nice" and "mean" ways to voice our concerns. YES, customers should absolutely be treated with kindness and professionalism. I also choose to treat the folks at Rainbow with gratitude and respect. read more

Okay so we tried this after seeing a lot of fellow Yelp elite squad 4 and 5 star ratings. It was really pretty good. The fresh tossed crust is amazing. The topping were pilled on it. Lots of everything. We got just cheese and the amount of cheese on this pizza was shocking. My only compliant is that it had too much cheese. My son disagrees. He said it was perfect. I said it's my review. Lol. We will be back and I may even order light cheese. The menu looked amazing. A lot of options. We will try more stuff. Outdoor seating and a cool interior as well. Fast friendly service. read more

This place reminds me of San Francisco North Beach Italian food back in the days. Don't expect Italian food from Italy but instead you'll get generously portioned delicious pastas and salads. We go to this restaurant at least once every other week and the only item on the menu that I'm not crazy about is their pizza (crust was too thick for my taste). Prices are extremely reasonable given the sizes of their dishes. You will not go home hungry! read more

I was blessed with the opportunity to eat at Rainbow Pizza a few weeks ago for my cousins' 39th birthday party with the fambam. Driving up, I was a little hesitant with the surrounding shopping center, because I wasn't too familiar with this peninsula side. The Safeway shopping center looked a little, "older" and hidden so I was not really sure what to expect. When you enter the restaurant, it feels like you're entering a restaurant that has a small interior that maybe has 8 tables, buttttttttt nooooooo...Rainbow pizza is huge inside! They offer personal tiki-like booths which make your meal much more intimate, perfect for date night? If you continue to walk thru, passing the kitchen...you enter a huge dinner area that looks like can fit 'bout 40 people. It was so big I wanted to start a Tonga line and break plates while shouting "oOoOpPpaaHhh." Now let's talk food, the pizzas made here are so big, one could easily feed 10-15 people- I'm talking big A$$ pizzas found here! The roundness is huge, then they layer toppings on toppings in toppings...you basically get lost in these pizzas. I absolutely loved the Greek Flavored Pizza (although without the feta cheese sprinkled). The sausage here is fantastic, I kept eating them off my pizza. Bacon on pizza? Amazing! I loved everything I ate here: pizza & pasta! I love it all!!! read more

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My friend has been raving about the pizza here. So, I decided to treat myself after a 6 mile hike. We ordered a #4 XL pizza, which can out to be about $50. Sounds expensive but it was so worth it. So fresh and I don't know if you can see in the photo I post but they pack on the toppings here. I'm not crust person. I ate everything including the crust. One slice was so filling delicious. read more

Rainbow Pizza - #4 size XL - Greek Near Me - San Mateo, California