Piola

The Scene – Colorful glass chandeliers hang from the high ceilings and whimsical photographs adorn the walls in this comfortable and casual pizza joint. The airy space, open pizza oven and bold-colored decor create a hip and fun venue for gathering. Restaurant staff is upbeat and helpful. – – The Food – From fresh, hearty salads to pizza and pasta choices, the lengthy menu has something for everyone. For starters, the carpaccio arrives with a layer of thin beef draped over a bed of arugula with shaved Parmesan while the classic bruschetta is also a good choice. Pizzas,…

Read full featured review

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:: Given its close proximity to Union Square and movie theaters, reservations are recommended for busy weekend evenings.
What to Drink:: The bar serves classic Italian and Brazilian style cocktails, including fruity bellinis, lime-infused capriroskas and a wonderfully smooth scroppino al limone.
Look Good:: The wine list is small but offers budget-friendly choices like Rosso della Venezia and a classic Pino Grigio.
What to Eat:: Guests have their choice between thin-crust pizza from the wood oven, pizza without sauce and Neapolitan style pizza with a thicker crust.

Write a Review

User Reviews (19)

ambiance	83.33000183105469% positive	“Fun, hip, eurotrash-lite atmosphere w/ good pizza, very fresh salads, and a full bar.” “The pizza was great, so was the service and the ambience!”
dessert	100.0% positive	“Salads, fish, meat and desserts(TIRAMISU' is unique!” “Dessert was fantastic - vanilla ice cream in a cookie shell with some sort of deliciousness crumbled on top.” “Prices were definitely reasonable, with a dessert cocktail on the house.” “Besides the pizza, they have great salads, drinks, and desserts.”
drinks	88.88999938964844% positive	“Fun, hip, eurotrash-lite atmosphere w/ good pizza, very fresh salads, and a full bar.” “the food was great, drinks a little slow with the bartender not having a barback but the clientele in the restaurant makes you look around.” “Besides the pizza, they have great salads, drinks, and desserts.”
food quality	92.9800033569336% positive	“I've been there about 4 times, and the pizza there is as good as the one I had in Brazil.” “The food is phenomal,the best pizza I've ever had.” “Piola is a great neighborhood spot and the food is excellent.” “Besides the pizza, they have great salads, drinks, and desserts.” “We were also pleasantly surprised by the price, the friendly service given the quality of the food:” “pleasantly surprised: although Piola does not look "Italian" at first glance, I had the most authentic Italian dinner in a long time.” “The pizzas are excellent and affordable and having Piola's 4-cheese gnocci is the most orgasmic experience you can have in public!” “Great pizza, extensive menu” “The reason is so tasty it's because their pizzas are fresh and baked in a wood burning oven, the way it's done in Italy.” “Nice place in the city to have great italian food.” “brought my cousin to Piola last Saturday because I liked the pizza.” “It wasn't bad and the food was good enough that it didn't matter.” “Food was delicious, and more than enough to go around.” “the food was great, drinks a little slow with the bartender not having a barback but the clientele in the restaurant makes you look around.” “always a nice crowd and you can't beat their prices for one of the best pizzas that you'll ever eat!” “When she did, she provided stale bread and long waits for beverages.” “Salads, fish, meat and desserts(TIRAMISU' is unique!” “Fun, hip, eurotrash-lite atmosphere w/ good pizza, very fresh salads, and a full bar.” “The pizza was great, so was the service and the ambience!”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“Great pizza, extensive menu”
return potential	100.0% positive	“would NEVER go back, and will NEVER recommend it.”
service	83.33000183105469% positive	“Despite being informal the service is prompt and attentive, servers are warm and polite and they make you feeling @ home.” “It's a good stop for a group of people.” “have no idea how this place wound up with a rating of 9.2 unless all the reviews were from eight-year-olds, the only people who could possibly enjoy Piola.” “The service is very friendly, a little spacy, but helpful.” “Restaurant was very nice and the staff was as well.” “The pizza was great, so was the service and the ambience!” “The staff is very friendly and helpful.” “We were also pleasantly surprised by the price, the friendly service given the quality of the food:” “the food was great, drinks a little slow with the bartender not having a barback but the clientele in the restaurant makes you look around.” “As with many of my reviews about NYC restaurants, the service was slow and unfriendly.” “Despite all the empty tables, we were seated next to the bachelorette party, which meant the rude waitress had even less of her attention to give us.” “Pizzas are really really REALLY good, and our group had great service despite the typical difficulty we present!” “The staff is aways friendly.” “The servers are always professional, but take a European approach to service where they move slower and aren't very attentive at times.”
value	100.0% positive	“always a nice crowd and you can't beat their prices for one of the best pizzas that you'll ever eat!” “We were also pleasantly surprised by the price, the friendly service given the quality of the food:” “The pizzas are excellent and affordable and having Piola's 4-cheese gnocci is the most orgasmic experience you can have in public!”
wait time	60.0% positive	“When she did, she provided stale bread and long waits for beverages.” “pleasantly surprised: although Piola does not look "Italian" at first glance, I had the most authentic Italian dinner in a long time.” “However, Piola is best enjoyed on a weekend afternoon or a slow night.” “the food was great, drinks a little slow with the bartender not having a barback but the clientele in the restaurant makes you look around.” “As with many of my reviews about NYC restaurants, the service was slow and unfriendly.”

01/16/12

Worst Pizza place on the East Coast-maybe everywhere

by ronap

My family and I went to Piola after a movie outing. We chose this restaurant because we had previously been at their Miami branch which is OK. We were greeted by a bored and uninspired waiter who led us to our table we then proceeded to order with a tinge of fear due to the attitude of the waiter a mixed funghi pizza with special Bufalo mozzarella and a Chieti pizza. When both arrived cut for whatever reason in half i swear I could have been eating the sole of my boots without the extra sidewalk taste of New York City. We immediately called our disgruntled waiter and complained about our poor tasteless fare and asked to order another pizza which had a tinge of salt but still tasted like the above trash.

The bill arrived and we we were charged $50.00 for the worst meal in ages-no alcohol was ordered just water. I commend the execrable attitude of the waiter who should probably apply for work at a women's correction place. This place sucks and I will never return there. It's an insult to any pizza maker in this city.

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

11/15/09

Apparently reservations are a joke!

by SoldGold

I made a reservation for 15 for my boyfriend's birthday party - A WEEK prior to the date. Then I changed it to 20 - THE DAY BEFORE. I called to confirm THE DAY OF the reservation, reminding them of the 15-to-20 change. Guess what? We got there, there was no area for us, the female manager (?) basically told me that they don't take reservations, one male manager (?) tried to split us into three groups - I mean, are you kidding me? We had a great time because we're fun people and got over it, but what a group of losers running the place. I would NEVER go back, and will NEVER recommend it. Even if the food was phenomenal (it was good, I've had better) it's not worth the hassle of condescending idiots running the place.

Pros: yummy food
Cons: they are unprofessional and obnoxious

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

02/17/09

I had a pizza delivered into my lap!!

by ziwi

I brought my cousin to Piola last Saturday because I liked the pizza.

When my hot pizza was brought to the table it slipped off the plate and landed onto my lap!

The hot cheese burned my finger and I had pizza all over my jeans! Awful!

The worst part is that I was actually charged for the pizza that fell into my lap AND the make-up pizza.

All we got were "sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry".....

I couldn't believe we were expected to pay for the make-up pizza after the first one landed on me and burned me!

Go to an Italian restaurant and pizzeria where they actually take care of their customers!

Cons: They don't take care of their customers, even after they made the mistake

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

11/18/08

Pizza, Cocktails, DESSERT!

by lizzyred8

Ordered a salad and 2 pizzas to split. Food was delicious, and more than enough to go around. Dessert was fantastic - vanilla ice cream in a cookie shell with some sort of deliciousness crumbled on top. Prices were definitely reasonable, with a dessert cocktail on the house.

Pros: pizza, salad, coctails, dessert

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

09/26/08

Great pizza, extensive menu

by aerogal619

Chipotle-looking kind of place, with high industrial ceilings, simple tables, and chrome fixtures. The pizza was yummy- I ordered mine with artichokes, of course. I also enjoyed a cold bottle of Peroni Italian birra. Dinner was only $11, not bad. As with many of my reviews about NYC restaurants, the service was slow and unfriendly. It wasn't bad and the food was good enough that it didn't matter. I would say this is a great choice if you want something inexpensive, easy and you?re in the neighborhood.

helpful (0) not helpful (0) comment share

Write a Review

See more Piola reviews

Piola

Years in business

Hours:

Price:

Category:

Payment Methods:

Restaurant Special Features:

General Info:

Cuisine:

What People Are Saying About Piola

Contributor

Contributor

Editor's Tips

01/16/12

Worst Pizza place on the East Coast-maybe everywhere

by ronap

11/15/09

Apparently reservations are a joke!

by SoldGold

02/17/09

I had a pizza delivered into my lap!!

by ziwi

11/18/08

Pizza, Cocktails, DESSERT!

by lizzyred8

09/26/08

Great pizza, extensive menu

by aerogal619

The Details on Piola

Place Categories:

Things To Do Nearby Piola

Lists In Manhattan

Recent Reviews In Manhattan

More Info

Contact

More Navigation

Partner Sites: