Absolutely outstanding pizza, spun by a master Italian craftsman. Every ingredient is fresh and bursting with flavor. Try the Wiseguy model roasted onions, smoked mozzarella, and fennel sausage. Top-notch salads and desserts, too. Stop in at the wine bar next door while waiting for your table.
I like the owner of (both) Pizzeria and Pane Bianco. He is gracious, courteous, and greets people he recognizes (while waiting in line for coffee at the LUX). But...last night a friend of mine in Arkansas called to tell me she just saw a show that touted Pizzeria Bianco as the "Best Pizza in the Country." Uh uh--not...in fact, Cable Car Pizza in Fayetteville AR has been serving "blonde" pizza for over two decades and I'd have to say the quality is definitely on the exact same level of standards. The same friend then went on to "wax poetic" about other, now gone, pizza places that once served amazing pies in my old college town. That said, again as my friend quipped, "how can anyone possibly make that kind of claim" not having tasted EVERY pizza made in the country? Pizzeria Bianco has great food and an even better atmosphere along with it's sister establishments.
Chris Bianco's pizzeria is like no other pizza place you have settled into. First off, he has maybe ten ingredients at any one time and they are the simply the best veggies, herbs, cheeses you can find on earth. He makes damn near every pizza and appetizer himself. Expect to queue up but fortunately he has a second house next door that serves as a bar. It's an outstanding experience and worth waiting for.
Being that I'm origionally from two of the 5 NYC boroughs, I believe I know a thing or two about pizza. After hearing all the fuss about Pizzeria Bianco, I had to give this a try. One newspaper article (New York Times) rated Bianco "best pizza in America." Although I thing the NY Times is the 3rd best paper in the Big Apple, the article still raised my curiosity to a high level. I was placed on the waiting list and after THREE HOURS, I was finally seated. I ordered my pie and was served about 20 minutes later. After almost three and one half hours later, I was ready for "America's best pizza." What I received was ho hum. The pie was too thin to where it was cracker thin and brittle, taste was decent but was nothing to write home about. This personal size pizza was fourteen bucks. Most pizzerias I know charge a 16 inch regular pie for that price. Not for a 7 inch personal pizza. I had to find out for myself, and what I found was a complete waste of time and money. I rated the service three stars because of the really long wait, but the wait staff was pleasant. As far as I'm concerened, Bianco isn't "America's best pizza." It's not even Phoenix's best pizza.
Review by Pie King
Overall:
This is a grossly overrated, expensive place. Tried three different pizzas. Not woth the wait or the money. Try Red Devil or Pizzafaros for a better pizza.
Review by waassupp
Overall:
Pizza was delectable! Service was attentive, but the wait (we arrived at 7p for an 8p reservation for ten people; was seated at 8:15p and 15 minutes elapsed before server took orders; salads arrived at 8:45p and pizzas came ten minutes later) was lamentable! Yes, I timed it all since we were made to wait over an hour to be seated! Bar Bianco, where we were made to wait, was hot; where were the fans? Atmosphere at both locations (bar and restaurant) was cozy. I read somewhere that the veggies used are organic, which would account for the prices... The Rosa (Red Onion, Parmigiano Reggiano, Rosemary, AZ Pistachios was delicious, and clearly outshone the slice of Wiseguy pizza I had tried. House salad was mediocre, but requested blue cheese crumbles improved it drastically. I'd return, but I don't want to have to wait. I've had equally tasty pizzas elsewhere WITHOUT the wait!
Review by starlightjulian
Overall:
Pizza was delectable! Service was attentive, but the wait (we arrived at 7p for an 8p reservation for ten people; was seated at 8:15p and 15 minutes elapsed before server took orders; salads arrived at 8:45p and pizzas came ten minutes later) was lamentable! Yes, I timed it all since we were made to wait over an hour to be seated! Bar Bianco, where we were made to wait, was hot; where were the fans? Atmosphere at both locations (bar and restaurant) was cozy. I read somewhere that the veggies used are organic, which would account for the prices... The Rosa (Red Onion, Parmigiano Reggiano, Rosemary, AZ Pistachios was delicious, and clearly outshone the slice of Wiseguy pizza I had tried. House salad was mediocre, but requested blue cheese crumbles improved it drastically. I'd return, but I don't want to have to wait. I've had equally tasty pizzas elsewhere WITHOUT the wait!
Review by starlightjulian
Overall:
To the person who had a 8pm reservation. Why do you say it took you an hour to be seated if you got sat at 8:15 for a 8pm reservation? This is a place known for waiting if you do not have a reservation. Did you mean you had a reservation at 7?If you arrived early they will not sit you early.they will also not sit you until your entire party is there. They are very picky about seating here since they are so packed sll the time. I was curious because I tried to get a reservation and they were booked for reservations for two months straight ahead of time. (very silly for pizza)Standard wait at this place is 2 hours or more and now with Oprah mentioning all the time it keeps getting worse. Also, you mentioned the price but this place is priced very reasonable for the quality. Standard pizza places charge more. Also 30 min is how long the pizza takes to cook in the oven.Thanks for clarifying so when I go it might go smoother for us.
Review by Mary Kathleen Spangenberg
Overall:
My husband and I with another couple went into Pizzeria Bianco around 9:30 on a Saturday night. All four of us were extremly excited to try the restaurant, we had heard about it on Oprah. My husband and friend were shocked at how rudely they were treated by the hostess. Basically asked them to leave and step away from the bar area. They asked if we could sit out on the patio, which was empty, and they said we couldn't sit out there either. I called and spoke with Susan the "manager" and got treated even worse. I was blown away. I told her I didn't want anything free just wanted to let her know what was happening in her establishment when we went in. She continued to agrue with me and told me what I was saying was here say. I eventually hung up because I didn't call to argue with her. She called me back twice. The second time I answered and she told me I was calling to complain about her staff being rude, but I was the rude one. AND THE TOPPER.... she asked me if I was raised by wolves???? Repeated it again because I didn't comment, "did you hear me were you raised by wolves?" I couldn't even believe a manger of such a well known establishment treated me the way she did. So, they have a 5-6 hour wait she told me, does that mean they can be rude to anybody that walks in the door???? Since Oprah recommended this establishment, how would Dr.Phil diagnose Susan????
Review by UNHAPPYARIZONA
Overall:
The pizza is great, but service and wait is really bad. It is as close to Naples, Italy pizza I have tasted in the United States. Someone already mentioned before about how the staff can be rude and do not care what the people think or feel. After reading these reviews I have decided to stop eating here. There are a lot of good Pizza places in Phoenix, sure I will miss the pizza, but the three hour wait is crazy. I believe they do this to push people to the wine bar where they charge high prices. Hopefully others will skip this place and they will get a clue on how to treat people and reduce the wait.
Review by John Ross
Overall:
I arrived in Phoenix for a new job on the Friday of a long Memorial Day weekend only to discover a broken stove in my new apartment. On Sat night, alone and with lots of work to do at home, I thought Pizza made sense but made the mistake of calling this place. A snipy woman insisted, "We don't do take out" before explaining if I wanted to come there, order and sit for half an hour while they cooked my pizza (her words not mine), then they would allow me to take it home. Who do they think they are??? The soup nazi of pizza?
Fortunately, I called Cibo next and was treated with warmth, kindness and told, "no problem, that will be ready in 10 minutes." When I arrived, there was a band playing outside and the place was packed and YET the entire staff genuinely seemed to be expecting me and made me feel like they had nothing more important to do than make sure I had what I needed.
Talk about night and day! I don't care how great the pizza supposedly is, I will NEVER give these people one dime of my money because they clearly don't think they need it. Save yourself the snotty attitude and snobbery by going to Cibo's.
Review by Rose
Overall:
Very unhappy with service and they were rude to our kids that were little. It is not family friendly. Very expensive for food that was not filling. Uncomfortable chairs. Not welcoming.