It may seem strange to give a rating of 1 to a pizza place and then say they've improved, but that's my experience. I'm basing my ratings mainly on pizza slices. The first 2 times I went was in the 2010s and I had to ask for the slices to be heated TWICE both times I went, and they still weren't hot. The crust was leathery and burnt on the edge but nearly uncooked under the toppings and was too thick. The veggies were burnt on the top edges but uncooked on the bottom. My meat order was sausage and there were only 3 or 4 very small pieces on each slice. The most recent time I went at least the vegetables were cooked and there didn't seem to be any uncooked parts of the crust, but it was still leathery on the bottom and too thick and gummy under the toppings. Also, there was still only a few small pieces of sausage. I asked for it to be heated, but It still wasn't hot enough. I was in a hurry and just left. I should mention that one of the prior times I went I also ordered an Italian mixed sub with oil and vinegar. When I went to eat it the only meat was ham and salami and there was no oil and vinegar or peppers. read more

Ordered a large everything pizza. Dough isn't completely cooked, the pizza is sloppy, greasy, floppy, and I'm a once and done customer. Wouldn't recommend this to any friends or foe. read more

THE BEST diamond in the rough located in Albany! You MUST stop by even if only visiting the area for a short time. They should bottle their marina and pesto sauces for sale. The pizza and freshly baked goods on premises are to die for! EVERYTHING is fresh and fabulous!!! Friendly and family-oriented atmosphere, and it's so affordable that I have no idea how they stay in business. I wish I could give more than five stars! read more

Just got in from Washington state. Took a chance on the neighborhood. The pizza is what I was craving for. I love the crust! read more

Sovrana - Pizza Near Me - Albany, New York

Given that I work across the street, I have eaten at Sovrana about once a week for, oh, eight years. They are my favorite pizza anywhere near this side of town. (Hint for downtown SUNY faculty: they will deliver directly to your classroom.) I was teaching an orientation week workshop a few years back and brought in lunch to scarf right before, a Sovrana's mozzarella sandwich with pesto. One of the students immediately asked me where I had gotten that delicious-looking sandwich. If you go in for lunch on a weekday, there is an excellent chance that they will have some fairly eccentric slices, in addition to the standard toppings. read more

Love Sovrana pizza! It's so cheap and is really good. Last time for the Utica thin crust and loved it! Albany staple for years and worth visiting. Cash only but they have an atm. The pizza rolls are huge and my personal fav is the broccoli read more

The BEST subs in Albany!!! The bread is made daily, the roast beef is always rare! The subs alway has plenty of meat, cheese or fixings. They are so under priced compared to other local " specialty" sub shops. The Eclairs are home made by the owner! I've never even had their pizza cause I can't get away from the subs!!! Worth the trip every single time! read more

When people say this is the best pizza in Albany, they're not kidding. Ordered a large pepperoni and an order of medium wings. The pizza crust is amazing and the wings, though not the traditional buffalo wings you'd expect, were equally delicious. Wish they'd expand their delivery zone a bit more but the pizza is so good I have no problem driving over to pick it up! read more

not what i remember At one time this was a staple for pie in Albany. I wanted to take a walk down memory lane so I ordered a pie and went to pick it up. WOW, the place had went down hill, The slice pie on the counter looked old days old and I was very skeptical. My was not ready so I waited around for another 15 and finally it arrived . When I got home I was really let down. The crust was tough and the sauce was sweet almost nonexistent cheese not good. All around not good, With so many options in Albany no reason to go here. Sometimes a memory is better keep a memory. Stay away. read more

I'm from they city and I've tried at least 10 other pizza places in the Albany area. But Sovrana's is hands down the BEST pizza in the area. From their dough, sauce, cheese, and persistency! Recommend chicken parmigiana pie, chicken Buffalo pie, garlic knots. read more

It's been over a decade since I wolfed down a slice of Sovrana's pizza, but I can still taste it. And I still want it. Bad. When anyone mentions "Albany," or the state capitol is on the news, like Pavlov's dog I think: Sovrana's pizza. Perhaps a road trip is in order. read more

I'm somewhat surprised that I'm the 1st to review this one, it's been around a long time and has won quite a few best of awards, a lot of which are on display throughout the place, so you can check out a little of the history while you are there. As I said in my Lou-Bea's review, to me (and my wife) Sovrana's has the best pizza in Albany. Daniel B. called me out on my lack of a review, and he's right, if I think it's the best Albany pizza, I should probably review it. That gave me a great excuse to order some pizza and wings just to make sure my opinion still holds true. And it does, good as ever! By the way, my wife and her full belly send a big thank you to Daniel B for his comment! So here is the scoop . . . a crust that is somewhere between a thin crust and a Sicilian, I've heard at least a couple times it being compared to focaccia bread and I can see the connection. My wife is a little surprised that I like it so much, since it's a little thick for my normal tastes. A good amount of sauce and not too much cheese tops it off. I think that's all I need to say about the pie, it speaks for itself. The wings could surprise you, and depending on your expectations, it may be good or bad. They only have one kind of wing, no heat factors and no different sauces, just wings, the only think you need to specify is how many you want. If your expecting the traditional buffalo wings, you're probably going to be disappointed. If your looking for a little something different, these could be for you. The sauce is tangy and sweet with a little kick. Got a couple slices left in the fridge and I'm already looking forward to a cold pizza breakfast in the morning. read more

Great people, great pizza. If your in Albany it's a must. Cookies were awesome. Had two slices but one would have been plenty! So filling!

So Daniel, you have to be a little fearless to sample the full Albany. When the neighborhood wasn't so run down, I think lots of people used to come here. But that was another era, obviously. I think it's because the place is so dingy that it looks like the pies are 8 years old. They are actually fresh, though Lou Bea's is still my fave. I've been at Sovrana when they've pulled various fresh pies out of the oven and other people come in and order stuff. Depending on who's working, you may have to persuade them to put your slice in for longer to make it hot, but they will always comply. Once I had an eggplant calzone that was divine. Also, the home made eclairs are really, really good! read more

One of the better tasting pizzas I've had in Albany. Heard about this place from my landlord only to find out I've driven past it many times but never noticed it. The location is not in the best area but the pizza is good. Run by an Italian family that seemed friendly when I picked up the food. Haven't tried anything except for a white pizza and I'm willing to come here again read more

This has been my favorite pizza of all time - it is the opposite of thin crust. It is a big hearty slab of pizza topped with a delicious homemade sauce and a generous layer of mozzarella cheese. I've been having it for 30 years. When I moved to NYC, it was a special treat to drive up and stop in Albany to get the pizza while on ski trips to Mt. Snow, Killington, or Lake Placid. I love this place. read more

I came home yesterday after a really trying day at work and wanted to order dinner from a place I hadn't tried before. Sovrana was added to my list recently (last week, in fact) and something about the way my friend went on and on about her experience and the pizza she ordered convinced me to put this bear the top of my list of new places to try. Because, in my mind if the pizza was good enough to assist my friend in drowning her post-election woes, it would be enough to get me out of my Monday blues. I can't comment on the interior because I ordered for delivery. But, I can say that the man on the phone was quite pleasant and friendly. The food arrived in a timely manner and the driver was also very friendly. Now, for the food: Antipasto Salad was very simple and straight forward, the meats and cheeses were very fresh and in generous amount. The wings were very plump and tasty, too. And the bleu cheese dipping sauce is obviously made in house. Delicious! The eggplant sub was quite something. It was a monster! The sheer heft of it was pretty amazing, the roll was a good honest roll with a nice crust and chewy interior. While I do prefer my eggplant slices thinner and prepared a bit crispier, it's my own preference and I won't fault them for their thicker slices that are delivered enrobed an ample amount of saucy and cheese laden goodness. Now, I must discuss the eclair. The eclair probably deserves its own review. I am so thrilled to find a place who knows that he proper filling for an eclair is NOT vanilla pudding. The creme filling was simply a delight and just as it should be...perfection in a pastry shell capped with chocolate. Had I known the eclair was what it is, I would have skipped ordering the sub and ordered two eclairs for myself and enjoyed them after my antipasto. Sadly for me (or good for my waistline) they only deliver to select zip codes. So, while I can enjoy their gastronomic delights at home in the 12208, I can't make a habit of it at work in the 12207. So, Downtown won't be overtaken by their epic eclairs. read more

What I like about this place, not so much about pizza but about the lady in front. She is like my grandma, very nice, and easy to talk to .. Though their pizza crust is not as thin as I expected in a New York pizza, their homemade dough is really good .. I found the pizza a bit bland that i had to sprinkle some salt on top. Oh and they even had ground garlic powder for you to sprinkle on top of the pizza which is very Italian/Greek? Anyhow, its a very friendly mom and pop pizza with cheap price ($2-$3.5/slice; $10-$16/whole pizza) Dont forget to try their home-made Greek vanilla ice-cream and the eclairs ($2 each)!! I definitely have to come back for the Eclairs. Now cheers :) read more

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Best tasting pizza in the capital region! Truly authentic and the prices are very good! They only take cash which I forget every time so that's been a hinderance for me but as long as you are prepared for that then I don't know why you'd order elsewhere. read more

Food and pizza was great. Had lasagna & stuffed shells with meatballs. Pepperoni pizza was a treat too while waiting for my dinners.

Authentic Italian food here. No sauce from a can. Haven't tried the thin crust pizza but a reg cheese is running 4.8/5.0. Good people better food read more

When I lived in the immediate area of Sovrana, it was my ultimate destination for pizza. However, in recent years, following a move to a different section of the city, I've largely forgotten about the Albany staple. In those years I've struggled mightily in finding a pizza shop that delivers consistently tasty pies and wings at a reasonable price. With my loyalty up for grabs, I decided to return to Sovrana for the first time in over five years. I ordered a large half pepperoni/half cheese pizza and an order of ten mild chicken wings at about 6:15pm on a Friday night in late November. My call was answered promptly and was told the order would take 45 minutes to complete. I found this to be reasonable considering the time of night I ordered. When I arrived 50 minutes later, I found the shop to be empty, but my food was ready to go. I added an eclair on to my order and the total came to just over $20. The price is unbeatable in our local world of pizza. Note that Sorvana does not take credit cards, but there is an ATM in the shop. Upon my first bite, I remembered exactly why Sovrana was one of my very favorite pizza shops in the Capital Region. If you are expecting a thin crust pie with delicately placed toppings, then I suggest you move on from here. The pie at Sovrana is thick, the cheese is plentiful, and the toppings are used quite liberally. While this might sound a bit overwhelming, as it is at other places in the area, Sovrana seems to have found a way to make it work. Sure, you're not walking away after eating this food ready to run a marathon, but should you ever feel light on your toes after eating pizza? I suggest not. I would have preferred a crispier crust, but that was remedied after ten extra minutes in the oven once I got home. The wings were also quite good, and while I have no problem with a little bit of heat, I found the mild wings to have an unexpected kick. You may want to keep that in mind if you have picky eaters in your group. As one final piece of advice, I strongly urge you to try one of the homemade eclairs. They are so decadent, but so worth the caloric assault on your body. Again, what's the point of having a pizza night if you are counting calories? If it's been a few years, it's time to give Sorvana another try. I'm already looking forward to my next visit. read more

Sovrana - Pizza Near Me - Albany, New York

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A solid pizza shop, whose longstanding presence as one of the last merchants left on a hardscrabble stretch of North Lake in Albany is a testament to the quality of pies they put out. The place has been known to SUNY Albany and St. Rose students for years now, and for good reason; it's far superior to the other take-out options near the student neighborhoods. The dough is a touch thicker than other New York style options, but the dough is good quality and cooked to produce the right amount of softness while still providing enough body for the toppings. Sauce is modestly applied and balances nicely with the rest of the toppings. The decor is no frills, but has a couple tables if you'd like to stick around and eat. They also offer slices, but the correct play is just to order full pizzas at their stellar prices. Large cheese pizza starts at $8.50 per pie, with a variety of options (white, gluten free). Save room for one of their eclairs. read more

Not quite New York-style thin crust, not quite deep dish. The bread is doughy and chewy and isn't bad if you like that kind of a slice. The cheese and sauce aren't bad either. But their pizzas are certainly one of those heavy-on-the-greasy varieties. Personally, I just prefer New York-style thin crust like Dino's. Sovrana's isn't bad if you like a breadier kind of pizza. Another gripe of mine, though, is that their hours are hard to define. I can never tell when they're open. I only made it in today, because although the front door was locked and the place looked closed, the owner was around to actually unlock the door and kindly let us in for the first fresh pie of the day. He's Italian, so that lends a bit of a charm to the place. But all I'm saying is that the pizza's really not worth going out of your way for. read more

This pizzeria is the best. Have been going there for the last 30 years. We drive 2 hours north to bring this pizza home. The owners are still as kind and generous as ever. The food is always good. We are going to start shipping the pizza south for those family members that have left the NY area. TMZ has also done a report on this amazing pizzeria restaurant- check them out on you tube. Sovranas TMZ!! We arrived last night at closing time and the owners did not rush us , they were so gracious that we could stay & enjoy slices fresh and hot before getting started on our 2 hr drive home. Check this place out when in the Albany area- everything on the menu is amazing! read more

DO NOT drive by Sovrana, even if you're full. The dough they make by hand is the best I have ever had. Including a little place in Naples that I know :) read more

Good pizza, good sandwiches. Crust is a little chewy sometimes, which makes you notice a slight sweetness in the dough. Cheese coverage could be better, and toppings can be hit or miss, but sandwiches have always been solid. Prices are very reasonable, though the specialty pies are lacking. Delivery arrived when they said they would. read more

Disappointed. The crust was very good. There is very little cheese. And no pesto. Just some sprinkles of Basil

One of the best pizza joints in Albany hands down. It's a really cool shop too family owned and operated. The best is the crust in my opinion, they get it right each time. They also have some sweets as well for whoever craves that occasionally. Would recommend. read more

Amazing thick, cheesy pizza. Awesome subs. Cream puffs to die for. Catering has been great. Love this place.

Always a good slice! A solid old-school sauce, and the heroes are always consistent. There's clearly a reason why Sovrana's has been around for so long! read more

I love Sovrana! If you're looking for a thin crispy little slice of pizza this isn't it. This is a big, thick, chewy slice of pizza! It's pretty delicious if you like a thick slice. Also, the subs are scrumptious! If you can ever get a piece of the covered pizza please do so..you'll be happy. Not the best part of town but worth the trip. I can't speak for their delivery, only pick up. read more

Best pizza in the area! We ordered 3 pizzas all large one was a Utica pie, I highly recommend

I have multiple dietary restrictions due to allergies, and Sovrana far exceeded my expectations in this category. I am unable to eat gluten, but they have both gluten free calzones and pizza crust. They make these items to order in a dedicated section of the kitchen which provides incredible peace of mind. You can tell the pride that they have in their product. read more

Excellent pizza the way I remember from college days. Same employees too! (30 years later). You won't get more than a half dozen options for slices but they are all good. I had sausage (real sausage with fennel seed) kids had pepperoni and cheese, everyone liked it. read more

I'm pretty sure I had this pizza years ago when my cousin lived nearby, and then she moved and I forgot about it. Until I got a new job and discovered it's the go-to pizza place for my office. Quite a happy discovery. The dough is very thick and sometimes they skimp on the cheese, however, the pizza is still delicious. I'd imagine if you only like pizza with a thin crust you won't enjoy it, but I think it's fantastic. I've also had the mozzarella sticks. I'm not sure what Sovrana does to their mozz sticks, but they're the best I've ever had. Consistently. I'm not sure if it's the breading or if someone just has amazing frying skills or what, but they're fantastic. And they come with a generous serving of sauce on the side. I've also gotten the stuffed shells. The order comes with four good sized shells stuffed full of and covered in happiness (aka cheese. Ricotta inside and mozz on top. YUM!). And for dessert I've had the chocolate chip cookies. The cookie part is really good, moist and sugary, but not TOO sugary. They do, however, skimp on the chocolate chips. My coworkers and I were all a bit disappointed in the lack of chips. One last thing that must be mentioned: This place is SUPER cheap. A large pizza and mozz sticks comes out to like $16. One night at work we ordered a large pizza, mozz sticks, stuffed shells and cookies, and the total was $25. Not sure if you can get better - or even similar - prices anywhere else in Albany. The inside of the shop looks a bit run down, but I imagine that's at least partially how they keep their prices down. Super friendly service, always. So why 4 stars then? The delivery is a little lackluster. They say 45 minutes and more than once it's taken over an hour to get here. Look, I don't care if it's going to take more than an hour, I just don't want to be told a time that comes and goes and I'm wondering where my food is. Once I understand, but this seems a bit like the norm. Also only 4 stars because sometimes they are conservative with the ingredients. read more

I really enjoy Sovrana's! It is a "hole in the wall" type of joint but consider the neighborhood it's located in... The slices are good when they're fresh but they do not seem to keep them coming like normal pizza places so your best bet is to just order a pizza. I love that their crust is not too thick or too thin. Sovrana's is definitely a place worth trying. read more

It is what it is. I have known the owner since Christ was was a carpenter. He is always friendly to me and all guests. People, get a grip. It is a hole in the wall pizza place in the heart of the SUNY ghetto. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? I like greasy pizza, I like John ( the owner). A quality slice at a cheap price. It ain't gourmet dinning. read more

Lots of places in Albany can be called a "hole in the wall" without a touch of irony and Sovrana is no exception. Like the neighborhood surrounding it, the place has seen much better days and upon entering you might think you stepped through a time portal and ended up in 1987 but looks are usually deceiving. The pizza is without a doubt the best in Albany. When you get a fresh slice you realize that this is why pizza is so popular; this is what pizza should always be. The hot sandwiches are pretty great too. The fact this is only the fifth review means not many people know about it, which is a shame. If you're reading this and haven't been to Sovrana's correct that mistake as soon as you can. read more

I wish I could give more than 5 starts! Absolutely delicious pizza. I have a gluten allergy, and I can't even begin to describe how wonderful their gluten free pizza was. I felt like I was eating real pizza again! I asked about gluten free garlic knots, and they told me they didn't make them, but when I came to pick up the pizza they crafted some up for me anyway to try. Wonderful customer service, wonderful food. Can't wait to go back! read more