Noting the rather cloying abundance of chain pizza places throughout the region, it’s important to revisit the local establishments, whether for good or for naught, making their own special brand of pizzas; all slightly different, but all containing the original pioneer spirit that made Sacramento “The Capital of the West,” or whatever other catchy phrase the Metro Chamber is trying to think up for us. Let’s focus on a few local joints that might offer respite from the likes of Round Table and Papa John’s.
Wenelli’s Pizza
Corner of Arden and Eastern
Food*** Ambience** Service**
Wenelli’s manages to combine good pizza and completely outmoded decor into a pleasurable eating experience. The beer mirrors and wood paneled walls add a touch of the nostalgic, while the pizza, standard and fresh tasting, hits the spot. You may wish to stay away, however, if you see a little league or young soccer team in the establishment since the confines are, to be generous, cramped.
Giovanni’s
Loehman’s Plaza, South Land Park and Folsom Blvd at 62nd
Food****Ambience**Service**
It’s hard to find a better pizza in town than Giovanni’s. New York style pies are the order of the day, thin crusted and offered with truly Italian toppings like roasted peppers, sausage, meatballs, clams and fresh herbs. Be warned, though, that wait times may be from 45 min to an hour on busy nights. Call ahead, unless you’re “connected.”
Zelda’s
21st and P St
Food* Ambience** Service*
Despite what the majority of the alternative media think, Zelda’s is neither charming nor worth the hassle. I will admit that some people really seem to like Zelda’s super deep dish, 3-inch crust, bland ingredient, heartburn inducing standard pie, but I just can’t climb on board that bandwagon. I find the “cheeky” waitresses to be obnoxious and the cramped quarters and long waits to be comparable to abattoirs. If you like it, then by all means, go there, but if you, like me, think Zelda’s is a bit of a pain in the ass, then speak your mind and be heard.
Honorable mention:
Ciro’s
Citrus Heights and Folsom locations
Food*** Ambience*** Service***
The Sac Rag 
I’ve been to Giovanni’s on Folsom quite a few times. Not to put a damper on the pizza (which is OK) but the staff is horrible. There are always a bunch of slack jawed teenagers waiting to get through with their shift so they can cause trouble. Not to sound like an old woman but the last time I brought friends there I was embarrassed by how horribly we were treated even after tipping quite generously. As someone who waited tables in college, their service sucks.
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The service at the south area establishment is horrible too. They give you a number, but the place is huge, so the brainless teenager assigned to deliver your pie just ends up shouting the number over and over until you flag him down.
Does any local restaurant have a table finding system to rival Taco Loco’s Spanish language tarot card system?
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Amen. Why does Zelda’s have such a good rep? It’s awful. The last time I was there, we had to order our pizza (before being seated), waited an hour for a booth which had gross dusty wall panelling, and had to (tried to) eat the cold pizza with no drinks (server kept forgettng our beverages).
But, most importantly, the pizza is sooooo subpar.
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I will have to add that my experiences with the service at the rather small Loehman’s branch of Giovanni’s has been good, but I know what you mean about the rather Mongo-esque gentleman who wanders the SLP location looking for the right table for the pizza in his hands. He can be rather disconcerting.
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kissmekate, I speak from experience when I say that you have to smuggle your own drinks into Zeldas.
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I hate Zelda’s because of the service and the ambience and the unreliability of the food, but I do like the pizza when it’s good. So we figured out how to make it at home and we will never go to Zelda’s again.
My favorite local pizza is Roma II on Folsom in Rancho Cordova, or the pizza at Trattoria Bohemia on J Street, which seems to be somewhat related to Roma II since the pizzas are very similar and the menus are nearly identical, although there is some fancier stuff at TB.
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Don’t even think about walking into Giovanni’s at 8:30 on a Friday night & getting a pizza. They seem to close at 9, and the employees will make it . On a Friday. With a Kings game on. Crowded? Uh- not the one on Folsom. Pizza? It’s ok. It’s pizza. Maybe I’m at the wrong Giovanni’s? I’ll take a Zeldas (if I can get it) over a Giovanni’s any day. Wenelli’s here I come.
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We live literally across the street from Giovanni’s on Folsom, but refuse to set foot in the place again. We’ve gone three times, and each experience has reminded me that the cavernous building is too loud to have a conversation while we’re waiting for overpriced, mediocre pie. Sad.
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Kaetchen: you live in that cell phone store?
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Actually, the realtor and vet are directly across the street. Maybe said commenter is staying at the kennel? I kid.
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Nope, the house is right across from Giovanni’s. The cell phone store is down half a block. Nanny nanny boo.
We still hate the pizza. My 10 year-old step-son makes better.
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I was joking! I lived on Sandlin Way…across from horrible pizza and even worse beer at Hoppy.
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Admittedly, you have to dodge the occasional gang-banger, since it’s seriously “in the hood,” on the border of Oak Park and Tahoe Park (Stockton splits the two neighborhood for those of you Sactown newbies) but Luigi’s, on Stockton (near Broadway) has been doing their thang since the early 1960’s. Unlike the slackjawed teens described above, you’ll get waited on by an owner, or by a polite young’un. Besides being ice, they bring the pizza to you, and they have some yummy raviolis and pastrami sandwiches. (Don’t ask why they have pastrami; just order it.) Owned by 2 brothers, it’s locally owned and you can taste it in the sauce (homemade,daily. One of the sons just opened up a new mini-Luigi’s, where they serve it by the slice, in the Maars Bldg. on 20th and J.
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