Continuing through American established restaurants by state, for New York, Grimaldi's Pizzeria…read more When I lived in AZ, I had Grimaldi's a few times and thought their pizza was great. I moved away to the DC area in 2011, but visited my parents in general around Christmastime. Then, in late January-early February 2021, I helped my parents move across the US to where they live now in Lancaster, PA, only about 100 miles drive instead of a long flight across the US. My dad let me have his birthday free Grimaldi's pizza since they were busy with moving stuff. I drove from my parents far west valley home on the last day they were there for an early dinner on that warm Thursday, January 28, 2021. They had plenty of outside seating, which I opted for. I feel like the inside was closed for dine-in because of Covid, but I was also trying to be cautious as I didn't want to catch Covid while driving my parents across the US. Thankfully, it was a beautiful Sunny & 75 F with calm winds. On that note, on that Sunday 4 days earlier when I left DC, I ate outside before getting to DCA airport (even I think having the option to eat inside) with a cold 38 F high, but I was being super careful before my trip. The server was friendly & efficient. I got a pizza with sausage. It was a thin NY style pizza, which was delicious, although I stopped eating pork later in 2021. But there are a wide variety of toppings, and I would have found something else good that would've worked. Additionally, I opted to buy dessert to be nice; some Oreo cake, which was solid. But the real highlight is their delicious pizza.

I was really disappointed with my recent experience at Grimaldi's at Park West, especially since…read morethis was a restaurant I previously enjoyed. I made a reservation in advance to meet my family for dinner before a nearby event. When I called that morning, I initially requested a 4:00 PM reservation. The employee explained that their pizza oven is unavailable from approximately 3:15-4:15 PM for a routine process they perform on the oven, so pizza would not be available during that time. Because we were specifically coming for pizza, I asked if moving our reservation to 4:15 PM would work instead. I was told yes and that the oven would be ready at that time. Based on that information, I moved our reservation rather than looking elsewhere for dinner. I arrived before my family, and almost immediately after sitting down, the server greeted me by asking, "Did they tell you it's going to be 45 minutes for a pizza?" Apparently, the oven was still not ready. I explained that I had specifically moved our reservation to 4:15 because I was told the oven would be available then. Had I been told there was a possibility of another 45-minute wait, I simply would have made a reservation somewhere else. I appreciated the server being upfront about the wait once I arrived, but this should have been communicated when I made the reservation. I was also disappointed with how the situation was handled. Being immediately greeted with a warning about a 45-minute wait, rather than an acknowledgment or apology for the miscommunication, was not a great way to start the experience. I was surprised there did not appear to be a manager available to address the situation or offer any kind of accommodation. We ultimately left and found another nearby restaurant that was able to accommodate our family before our event. I used to enjoy coming to this location, which makes this experience even more disappointing. Unfortunately, after the poor communication and lack of customer service, I don't see myself returning.

Lil Capo Pizzeria 5.0/5 The Closest Thing to New York…read morePizza I've Found in Arizona Growing up in Upstate New York, I admittedly have high standards when it comes to pizza. After moving to Arizona in 2007, I've spent years searching for a slice that genuinely reminds me of home. While there are plenty of decent pizza spots throughout the Valley, very few capture that authentic New York style. Lil Capo Pizzeria absolutely does! Ironically, I first discovered Lil Capo after an Arizona Cardinals game. Like many people, I wasn't interested in paying stadium prices for mediocre food, so I jumped on Yelp looking for something nearby. Lil Capo had outstanding reviews, so we decided to give it a try. I'm glad we did because it's now my benchmark for New York-style pizza in Arizona. The first thing that stood out was the crust. This is exactly what a New York slice should be--thin, crispy on the bottom, slightly chewy inside, sturdy enough to fold, and never overloaded with grease. So many places think "New York style" simply means making a large slice. Lil Capo understands it's really about the balance of crust, sauce, cheese, and texture. Every bite reminded me why I miss pizza back east. The sauce has just the right amount of sweetness and acidity, the cheese is perfectly proportioned, and everything tastes fresh without trying to reinvent what already works. Sometimes simplicity executed well is the hardest thing to accomplish. Pizza: 5/5 Service was equally impressive. The staff was welcoming, friendly, and efficient. After selecting our slices, they quickly reheated them to perfection and had them on our table within minutes. It's exactly what you want from a neighborhood pizzeria--fast, relaxed, and genuinely hospitable. Service: 5/5 I also appreciated the atmosphere. Lil Capo isn't trying to be flashy or trendy. Instead, it has that classic neighborhood pizzeria feel where the focus stays exactly where it should--on making outstanding pizza. It's casual, comfortable, family-friendly, and somewhere you could easily become a regular. The pricing is another pleasant surprise. Considering the quality of the pizza and the generous slice sizes, I found everything to be very fairly priced. Overall Finding authentic New York-style pizza in Arizona has been surprisingly difficult over the years, but Lil Capo delivers exactly what I've been searching for. Authentic New York-style crust Excellent sauce-to-cheese ratio Minimal grease Friendly, efficient service Fair prices Comfortable neighborhood atmosphere I've eaten pizza throughout New York my entire life, and Lil Capo remains the closest I've found to the real thing anywhere in Arizona. Whenever I'm on the west side of the Valley--or heading to or from a Cardinals game--I find myself looking for an excuse to stop in. Next time, I'm skipping the slices and ordering an entire pie. If you're a fellow New Yorker living in Arizona and craving a slice that tastes like home, Lil Capo should be at the top of your list.

World-class pizza in AZ!…read more I have traveled the world and had many Pizzas, and this is hands-down one of the best pizza places I've ever experienced. Tucked away in the Westgate Mall, it's a compact, modern little spot that likely gets buzzing during the lunch hour. The service is excellent--you just order at the counter and they bring the pizza out to you. If you're in the area, do not pass this up. We'll absolutely be returning on our next trip to Arizona!

The service and food was amazing! Omar our server was kind and so was his manager Kelly. The…read morelasagna is the best I have ever had!!!! Outstanding!

We visited during Arizona Restaurant Week to try their special menu. For the small plates, I…read moreordered the heirloom tomato & burrata and absolutely loved it. It came with grilled ciabatta, arugula, shaved red onion, and a Calabrian vinaigrette. The burrata was incredibly creamy and paired perfectly with the tomatoes, while the crunchy ciabatta added a wonderful contrast in texture. My husband chose the Sicilian meatballs, which were served over creamy polenta with rustic marinara and grana padano, also a very solid dish. For our entrees, we had the hot honey & smoked prosciutto pizza and the strozzapreti, a pasta dish with herb-roasted chicken, mushroom, spinach, parmesan cream, truffle, and pine nuts). Both were fantastic! The pizza nailed that sweet and savory flavor profile, and the crust was absolutely perfect. The strozzapreti was also delicious -- rich, creamy, and packed with mushroom and truffle flavor. Last time we visited the North Italia Phoenix location, the pasta was a bit too soft and lacked that proper al dente bite, but this time it was cooked flawlessly. Unfortunately, the desserts were a letdown. We tried the hazelnut torta and the tiramisu, but both were overwhelmingly sweet. The tiramisu tasted soggy, like it had been sitting in the fridge for a long time instead of being freshly made, and the chocolate balls on top felt unnecessary and cheapened the dish. The service was also a bit of a mixed bag. Somehow our desserts were brought out before we had even finished our entrees. As a result, the ice cream on top of the hazelnut torta just sat there melting by the time we were ready for it. It made the end of the meal feel rushed, like they were trying to turn the table over quickly.

I am sad to report that this fabulous place has closed so it's owners Nick and Christine can rejoin…read moretheir son who goes to high school and plays soccer in Italy. They, and the restaurant, will be missed

We decided to stop in for a Happy Hour. Against our better judgement, we decided to stay despite a…read morecrowded and really loud dining area. Our service was exceptional, as usual. We ordered house wine and a pizza, calamari, and grilled veggies from the Happy Hour menu. Our only disappointment was the pizza this time: really doughy. I remember loving the pizza here for it's chewy crust and light toppings; this one tasted very bland, just red sauce and regular mozzarella - my friend was hoping for more of a margherita-style pizza. If you come here you must - must - get the calamari as it's always swell (that was a typo but I love that word "swell"). We'll be back to continue to sample more menu items and enjoy their lovely patio after the weather comes to its senses.

This was our second time at the restaurant and it was amazing. We live a ways away but we love it…read moreso much we will continue to keep going back. The service is amazing the food is so good that you will have a hard time deciding what to get every time. I didn't get the best pics because I was to busy enjoying the food and company at dinner

A great traditional restaurant with authentic Italian dishes. Excellent service. Don't skip the…read moreHousemade gelato before you leave. They also cater. We showed up without reservations, and they found us a table, but I recommend reserving ahead of time. We took the waitress's recommendation on the pasta. It was outstanding. Complimentary bread and shallow dish of olive oil and vinegar brought to the table. This was also so good. We ordered: Gli Antipasti | Appetizers - BURRATA with ROASTED COMPARI TOMATOES - Burrata + pomodori Campari arrostiti + pesto + Olio EVO (Burrata imported from Italy roasted in wood-fired oven along with tomatoes + basil + EVOO.) Pesto is made with pistachios. Absolutely delicious - POLPETTE DELLA NONNA - Meatballs made with Nonna's (grandma's) recipe. Also very good! Pizzas - DIAVOLA - San Marzano pomodoro + mozzarella + salame piccante + Olio EVO (San Marzano tomato sauce + mozzarella + spicy salami + EVOO). Son said their pizza was amazing. Wood fired. Handmade Pasta - RAVIOLI AL BRASATO x2 - Con crema burro e salvia (Braised short-rib ravioli with a buttercream sage sauce) a subtle herbed rich cream sauce over fresh pasta filled with braised short rib. Great flavor and filling. I could tell the pasta was Housemade on taste. Le Insalate | Salads - PERA | PEAR - Rucola + pere + pomodorini + mandorle tostate vinaigrette al limone (Arugula + pears + cherry tomatoes + toasted almonds + shaved parmesan + lemon vinaigrette. Daughter loved this salad. Presented so well. Looked amazing. We had no room for dessert. We'll have to come back for some espresso and treats. Patio seating available or table and bar seating inside at a cozy spot that feels very welcoming.

The food was delicious and the staff very professional, courteous, and attentive. My drinks were…read morealways filled.

Wonderful Italian "Sicilian" food! Everything was fresh and tasty including our cocktail drinks…read more The cannolis and gelato are delicious! Martin, our waiter was friendly and welcoming for being our first time here. Ambience is great and the decor shows it was thoughtfully designed. Would definitely come back again!

Have to take advantage of Barro's when I am out in AZ. Our family used to go to Barro's in CA over…read morefour decades ago [yes, I'm that old] and we grew up loving Barro's pizza so a few years ago when we learned the Barro's family business lives on in AZ, we take advantage of it whenever possible. The pizza and wings are amazing and their lunch specials are an absolute bargain. I had a slice and a small drink and the pizza was so good. The funny thing is my coworker, that was driving, said I could have whatever I wanted. I chose this Barro's and as we were in line he mentioned that a while back he had a bad experience at another location. After trying the pizza slices he ordered, he said he was going to go back to see if it was a one time thing. This location was clean and it had a salad counter. I still have to order the wings but we were having a quick lunch while making some sales calls so we decided to just grab a slice and go.

The pizza was delicious. We ordered for pick up. Barro special with sausage instead of pepperoni,…read moreBarro special on original gluten free crust and a Mega Meat. The crust was so good and the pizza topping perfect. The staff greeted up when we picked it up and were efficient and kind. We didn't eat in, but the restaurant seemed nice, clean and not loud and obnoxious. My gluten free friend loved the original gluten free crust.

Barros who?? These guys know what they're doin back there. Crispy crust with melted cheese pizza…read more No mess, no heavy grease. All fresh hot from the oven and the honey hot wings OMG THEY ARE DELICIOUS. They let you pick all flats or all drums online when you order. The garden salad was so good I made sure I finished it! I'm definitely coming back for more. I love supporting a local business, especially when it's done RIGHT. Please check out their slice and lunch specials!!

No matter how many times i order this place they never give you the ranch you order. I should have…read morea total of three ranches but only got this sorry ass shit. I got a large pizza and 10 wings $45