I saw this place featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and decided to stop in and give it a try. We ordered our go-to specialty pizza--pepperoni, pineapple, and jalapeño on a Sicilian-style crust. It was outstanding. The crust had the perfect texture and the sauce really tied everything together. We also tried a cookie and a cannoli cookie cup for dessert. My wife absolutely loved her cookie, which is saying something since she's pretty particular about cookies. I had the cannoli cookie cup, and it was delicious, a great finish to the meal. Overall, I'll definitely be returning and highly recommend checking this place out. read more

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one of those rare places that just sticks with you--not just because the food was good, but because everything about it felt right. The pizza itself was light and almost effortless to eat, not heavy or greasy like a lot of places. The crust was probably perfectly balanced--soft on the inside with just the right amount of crisp on the outside. And that red sauce... it wasn't overpowering or too acidic, just smooth, rich, and full of flavor in a way that made every bite taste fresh and comforting at the same time. But what really made it stand out wasn't just the food--it was the people. You could feel that everyone there genuinely cared, not just about making good pizza, but about the experience as a whole. There's something special about being in a place where the staff are kind, welcoming, and present, where you don't feel rushed or like just another customer. It turns a simple meal into something memorable. read more

Fast and friendly service. Pizza was excellent--one of the best thin crust pizzas in town without a doubt. The seasoned ricotta was a fantastic addition to the pizza. We went on a weeknight and it wasn't too busy, but there aren't a ton of tables so I can see this place getting busy fast, especially on a weekend. read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

We came here for the first time and loved it. On the corner of the building. Small inside with maybe 8-9 tables with the red and white checkered table cloths. Space itself is small and cozy, but we could see how during very busy times it can be cramped in there. The ordering line is directly ahead when you walk in. Not much wiggle room. The staff are all very friendly. The pizza was perfect. Reminded me of east coast pizza, folding it in half and taking a big bite. Delicious. The homemade sausage was so good. We also tried their garlic knots which were pretty good too. We'd definitely come back again to try the Sicilian and some desserts. They have small to-go pizza boxes for leftovers. There is a single restroom available for customers too. Overall we enjoyed it. read more

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Easily one of the very best places to get a pizza in Reno. They are always busy, so it is best to order takeout or reserve a time for a table if dining in well ahead of time. The customer service is always great and you can tell the staff enjoys working there. The pies are simple but amazing and one of the closest you're going to get to a true NY slice. read more

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Honestly one of the best pizza places in town, a true hidden gem! This time, we came in with my dad because he wanted to check it out. Since New Yalk pizza closed a couple years back, he hasn't been able to find any thin crust pizza that he really likes. Well, he like Smiling with Hope! He says its his new favorite pizza! Everyone was so wonderful, they were super busy and apologized repeatedly for it taking so long. It is a tight little place, so make sure you get there early if you want a table! Or just take it to go and have a nice picnic! We had Hot Knots and a Pepperoni and Mushroom NY thin crust pizza, both of which were just spectacular! Looking forward to being back regularly. read more

Love the local, authentic vibe of this place. Can see why it's been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Tables all together in a smallish square space, but clean and with a NY-themed decor. Probably gets full quickly on a busy night. Fun that you can see them making the hand-tossed crust. Had a make-your-own veggie thin crust pizza, and the ingredients were fresh and delicious with a good variety of options. Garlic knots were crispy (I prefer a bit more chewy) with sauce to dip. Service was friendly but a lot of personal chatter going on, which carries in a small place like this. Great local option for those nearby. Things to come back and try: Sicilian and cauliflower crusts and cannoli cookie cup! read more

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Probably some of the best pizza in Reno. That said still lacking.... Restaurant is cool... old school set up. Clean and exuding a pizza place vibe Pizza: thin crust cheese. Was great but the cheese to sauce ratio was way off... hardly had any cheese. Maybe this is their jam? Will be back and ask for some extra cheese. read more

Service was friendly and the interior was relatively clean. We ordered a pepperoni pizza with herbed ricotta to go. Overall the pizza was quite good, though we may order it without the ricotta next time. We will likely return. read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - Pepperoni pizza with ricotta - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Super good. We've been meaning to try this place for a while. We got just a cheese pizza on the ny style thin crust and the 17x24 pepperoni pizza. The sauce is amazing! I can't decide which was my favorite because they were both so tasty. Don't get me started on their chocolate chip cannoli. Literally the best cookie! Flavor burst for sure. My only downside is the lady taking the orders over the phone was kinda rude and very short. She could have been overwhelmed as it was the beginning of the lunch hour but at least the food made up for it. I love what this business and what it stands for. read more

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Great pizza, great service! Great having the games on TV, this is like a slice shop in New York. Definitely a great mission and great food!

We tried this place on a recommendation from someone that is originally from NJ. We were told it was very good, and we were not disappointed. The pizza was delicious and the cannolis looked amazing, although we didn't have any. It's a small restaurant, maybe 10 tables and a few outside as well. You can make reservations, which I would suggest for a Friday. Service was excellent and we will definitely return. read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - Half pepperoni and half pepperoni and mushroom - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

So the wife I heard about this place. So we were not far from this place and gave it a try. So glad we did when you go in the place it smells amazing. The guy that helped us was super friendly and nice. The pizza was so good and good size. I got a single piece and it was huge. My wife's pizza with the cauliflower crust was yummy. Pizza came out fast this is a must try pizza place! Highly recommend this place! Cheers read more

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I LOVE their pizzas! Thin crust, choose your toppings, enjoy! They employ challenged individuals to do support jobs and it's wonderful to see them succeed as employees. Great community support and a great philosophy. read more

I was in the mood for a good pizza, originally by the slice before my boyfriend convinced me otherwise. This was my first time dining at Smiling and I was pleasantly surprised with how homey and close-knit it felt upon entering. The walls are decorated with Bills memorabilia and traditional NY Italian family memories, with the tables adorned with the classic red and white checkered tablecloths. The menu is rather small, instead of preselected pizza options, it's a build-your-own style with dessert and drink options. Everything seemed reasonably priced and came out in time. This scratched my pizza itch. One thing that really piqued my interest while eating in was the amount of regulars who came in and were warmly greeted. It is a very good sign when dining somewhere local to see how much of the community comes in and pay patronage. Compared to other pizza joints in town, I rate this one highly for its family feel and good pies. read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - Pepperoni, black olives, and green pepper pizza - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

One of my top 5 favorite pizza spots in Reno. The pizza is delicious. We usually get pepperoni, pep with pineapple or jalapeños. IMO the pizza is a bit oily and the pep is a touch spicy, but VERY good flavor and thin. If you are ordering Friday or Sat night the wait times are usually 1h. read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - Half pepperoni and pepperoni with jalapeños/pineapple - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Pizza is absolutely incredible. Could not believe that I found Pizza this good in Reno. All you need to get is the New York Sauce and cheese. You know the pizza is good when you don't need to get anything on it. read more

As a Registered Pizza Enthusiast (RPE), I seek out the best local pizza places before I travel anywhere that I've never been before. While my wife and I prepared for our trip to Reno/Lake Tahoe, I spent a good amount of time researching just about every pizza place in the Reno and greater Lake Tahoe area. Smiling with Hope looked to have all the makings of a hidden gem - small, locally (and Veteran) owned, community-minded, sports themed, family style pizzeria. We were greeted by the friendly staff as soon as we walked in. We ordered one New York style and one Sicilian style pizza. They were both fantastic but the New York style stole the show! The Garlic Knots were also very good, smothered in garlic and parmesan. While we were eating, the manager(?) came by to see how we were enjoying everything, which I alway appreciate. We had plenty of leftover pizza to snack on the next day or two of our trip. Who doesn't love a cold slice the next day? I feel like my research paid off and we found the best pizzeria in the area. I will gladly recommend Smiling with Hope Pizza to anyone I know that is visiting the area, and we will definitely be back some day. read more

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1/10/2026 first time coming here. Ordered a deep dish with pepperoni, sausage olives, and extra cheese. It was delicious. Crispy outer edge crust, tasty pepperoni. I think it's a family owned business. Everyone there was no nice, the place was very clean with a lot of sports memorabilia. Seems like they are Huge Buffalo Bills fans. They give discounts for military,teachers or first responders. Definitely will be back and recommend to others to come try read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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Our first visit here and we were so pleased that it was a home run - and so close to home! Love this pick your own style of authentic NY thinner crust with any toppings you desire. They don't have Canadian bacon to note this night so we opted for the pepperoni with fresh basil and sausage on the other half. They have just one size and after reviewing the menu online, we decided to go with the thinner NY crust instead of the Sicilian. We also got a large garden salad with their balsamic dressing and the salad was a great size with a lot of fresh toppings, like mushroom, olives, onions, and peppers topped with Parmesan - a nice healthier compliment to the tasty pizza. The service was prompt & friendly, and the pizza was ready exactly when I requested it to be. We'll be back! read more

I like the mission, staff is extremely kind and attentive and my side salad was delicious. However, for me the seating area is way too crammed, I don't see a restroom and the pizza was dripping with so much grease it slid off the dough :( I had to fold it in half in order to eat it. This, others may enjoy I however do not. read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - Menu - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

This is our favorite place when craving NY style pizza. Favorite is the thin crust style, but can't go wrong with the Sicilian style either. They keep the topping options simple, but with quality ingredients. The staff is very friendly even though they always seem to be slammed. Seating is limited so get there early if you want to dine in. I'm glad the quality didn't drop with the change of ownership. read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - Our go-to pizza. NY, red sauce, pepperoni and jalapeno - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

I don't usually crave pizza but when I do I go to Smiling with Hope. The pizza is always good, even when it's reheated. The staff is friendly and helpful. This is my go to place when I am craving pizza. read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - Pepperoni jalapeño pizza - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Being in Reno on vacay, we were craving pizza and the only place in town that made NYC style was Smiling With Hope. Long story short, we weren't expecting to it. Crust is thin, crispy and loaded with flavor. This pizza is on par with Pizza Rock in Las Vegas which was my #1 Nevada pizza. read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

5/10/25- It's been a while since my out of town had this pizza. Lucked out and called one in on the way back. Of course I had to try one while drove.. Delish! Also picked up the salad dressing.. Got the New York with half cheese and half sausage. read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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This was my first visit to Smiling With Hope. Popped in at noon for a couple of slices. They may be the best NY style pizza in Reno! Crust was flaky with a hint of a wheat taste. The sauce was a tinge on the acidic side but the mozzarella was spot on. Slices were big and made for a prefect lunch. I'll go for a whole pie next time! Staff was friendly and advised of the Veteran/First responder discount! Definitely a go-to spot in Reno! read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - 2 cheese slices - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

I've been wanting to try this place out for so long! I finally did today! By Bestie and I both agreed this is the best pizza in Reno! And the employees were amazing as well! So nice, happy, and helpful! Even the Caesar salad was amazing! Seriously recommend this place!! read more

In short, I'm a fan. Found this hidden gem tucked away in a quiet, semi-residential type of neighborhood in central Reno by searching for the Best Pizza in Reno. The name was a mouthful and threw me a bit but I decided to stop in to buy a pizza for take out. If you blink, you may miss it as they occupy a quiet, hidden corner spot in this small strip of businesses. I immediately noticed their public safety/military patch board on arrival. There is a clear mission here to support their community, support our military and public safety officials, and work with underprivileged persons in vocational training. I hadn't even seen a menu yet but they had me at their patch board and mission. The owner is from NY and knows a thing or 2 about that style of pie and the pizza was absolutely fantastic. It is a thinner crust with great texture. Crispy on some edges and a good chew in the middle. Very much a NY style pizza so if you prefer a different style, this may not be up to your standard but I'm a pretty easy to please pizza person and this hit the top marks for me in many categories. Nothing but good things to say about this shop, their mission, and their pizza. I wish there were more businesses that prioritized this type of model: Have a higher mission and get there by delivering a great product. The world would be a better place if there were more of that to go around. I highly recommend to those in the area that you check them out for your next pizza fix. read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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Best Pizza In Reno/Sparks! Classic New York Style Pizza with the best flavor and dough! Customer Service is excellent as well! A++++ read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - Half Cheese Half Pepperoni Pizza Cut Into Extra Slices - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

1 of my friends gave me a gift certificate/gift card for here & I'm SO HAPPY he did, this is some of the best pizza I've had in 20 years, ever since moving from Chicago, so I'm no stranger to a good pizza. It's a fire baked pizza with a perfect sauce, not to sweet & not too acidic,& you know the pizza is gonna be good quality when it has the little pepperonis that curl up in the heat. I am so mad I've never tried this place before & just now finding out about it, all the subpar pizza I ate in that time, when I could've just went to Smiling With Hope. My son also said it was the best pizza he's ever had in his life, highly recommend it! read more

Hands down the best pizza in Reno. I would know. I used to own a NY pizzeria in Northern California. My family still owns one there. I have recently moved here to Reno and have been craving a good pie and this place delivered. Perfect crust. Sauce is perfect and cheese was top of the line. I would give this place 100 stars if I could. They have a new fan and loyal customer outta me now. Thank you Andrew for bringing this town a REAL NY pizza pie to Reno. They also sell by the slice too. read more

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Let me start out by saying the owner and staff at this establishment have gone above and beyond to optimize my experience at this pizzeria. I had a bad first experience and voiced my review here and on yelp. Its took less than 24 hours for the owner to reach out to me with the offer to try again. I graciously accepted becuase i had heard to many wonderful things about this restaurant. Try again they did and they hur a HOME RUN!!! I went back with my boys on Mother's day and the staff were phenomenal! By far the best pizza my boys and i have ever had! Even my little said it was better than McDonalds! Now that might not mean much to the average person, but anyone with littles.... you know what a compliment that is!!! Thank you thank you thank you for rectifying my experience and opinion Smiling with Hope Pizza! You have a customer and said customers family for life! read more

After numerous years in Reno we have found our favorite pizza spot! So tasty! great environment and friendly employees read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - 16 inch NY style with pepperoni and onions - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Decent NY-style pizza joint. The decor is very NY; you'll be in heaven if you're a Bills fan. Nice selection of sports options on three different TVs and some solid 60s rock playing on the sound system. Interior is smallish--about nine tables--but it looks like they can accommodate two or three larger groups. Prices were a bit high and the menu is pretty straightforward, but the pizza is good--very authentic-tasting, well-balanced, not too much cheese or sauce, and the thin crust we tried was nice and crisp and chewy without being too thin. Flavors were a little mild, and it did get a little droopy in the middle (4 veggie topping), but the cheese and toppings stayed on pretty well. Staff is nice without being overly affected (pretty mild mannered); the whole place has an air of cozy/non-fussy authenticity that I really appreciated. We also tried the garlic knots, which looked like they might be too heavy and garlicky, but they ended up being tasty. read more

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Best pizza I've had! The sausage (imo) is the star of the show. The service was great, the man making the pizza was very friendly and welcoming. Came to our table to check and make sure we were doing good. I'd 100% recommend. read more

Excellent food, fantastic service. We love all the board games offered while waiting!

One of the top places in Reno to grab a pizza. Family owned business that produces high quality pizza. The pepperoni pizza is the way to go. They are thin and have a nice crisp to them. The place itself is small, so if you are coming with a big party, it's going to be a tight fit, outside sitting will be the best options. Do yourself a favor and go check out this place. read more

Smiling Hope Pizza is not only the best pizza I have had in Reno, it is genuinely one of the best meals I have had here overall. And that is saying something because I grew up in NYC. I was raised on great pizza, so I do not say that lightly. I love pizza, but Reno is not exactly known for great food, especially when it comes to pizza. That is what makes this place stand out so much. This is not good for Reno pizza. This is just great pizza. I honestly cannot believe there are not multiple Smiling Hope Pizza locations. If they opened one in South Reno, there would never not be a line. South Reno has a lot of pretty underwhelming food options, and this place would absolutely dominate. Every bite felt intentional. The crust is dialed in, the toppings are balanced, and it is obvious they care deeply about quality and execution. I am genuinely bummed it took me six years to find this place, but I am glad I finally did. Huge respect to the team. You are doing something special here and it shows. read more

A must stop for us for NY style pizza with a comfort laid back setting for any occasion while we are in Reno! Loves their chewy crisp thin dough with generous toppings! Unfortunately this time their garlic knots we didn't enjoyed they are smaller and the crust wasn't chewy but rather hard Services are alway 5 stars read more

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So this place had a line amd two types of pizza available. That was interesting but we tried the round pizza with some Toppings and wow the taste was great the crunch was amazing. The place smelled so delicious and it was nice and cozy, warm, and very clean. The staff was so efficient, friendly, and worked with a sense of urgency. read more

Smiling With Hope Pizza - The decor - Pizza Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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