Piola Midtown, Houston Reviews

Fabulous little find. 29th of each month is "all you eat gnocchi" night...friendly waiter walks around with large bowl of steaming gnocchi, topped with one of 10 different sauces. Everything from pesto to salmon to typical marinara. And the other dishes are quite good too, especially their pizzas. Love coming here.

Great food, a simple eatery atmosphere. I love their pizzas. The day I went in with my family they had some special going on pastas, but I took a pizza which was pretty close to what you get Nell Bel Paese. Next time around I will try the pasta. Good value for the money.

This is a great place to get thin crust, more authentic Italian pizza. There is a parking garage with valet on the next street which helps with the lack of parking. The bruschette is also fresh.

Very cute and lively neighborhood restaurant with a friendly staff and amazing selection of pizzas. Unique drinks--alcoholic and non alike--the pineapple juice with mint was very refreshing for Houston in August!

This is one of only a few places in Houston that have original Italian pizza! Their pasta is also amazing (you have to try gnocci)! The place is a bit too dark inside for my taste, but seating ouside is ok when the weather is nice.

Piola is one of the few genuinely Italian restaurants in Houston. This restaurant, with it's unpretentious ambiance, is conveniently located on the cusp of trendy Midtown and Downtown. The food is excellent and the ingredients are fresh and moderately priced. We had a large group and jumped at the opportunity to "taste test" several dishes. The mozzarella di buffala was excellent quality and a nice size. The gnocchi (a test of a good chef) were light and soft and the tomato sauce was excellent (simple and fresh with no hint of the heinous dried basil used by other Italian restaurants). The pizzas were good although one of our group did not like the sausage at all. I tried it and didn't like it either but I wouldn't have ordered it. I decided to venture away from the pizza this time and try the pasta. I ordered the fettuccine al ragú and they were excellent. After dinner we ordered 2 desserts for the table; a tiramisú and the profiteroles (a weakness of mine since childhood). The desserts were edible but unexciting. I won't lie, I polished off the profiteroles but I have had better. Overall I love this restaurant and can quite safely say that it is one of the few Italian restaurants in Houston I will even set foot in.

First visit here was a huge success. Menu is deep and interesting. Fresh ingredients. Fast service. Friendly service too! Gorgeous decor. Affordable dinner pricing. Free parking in safe parking garage around the corner (n.e. corner of same block).

The staff the food the service fantastic o. Not just another pizzeria, but the real deal Italian restaurant ,with home made Italian food you can watch your meal made in front of you . Hope Juventus beat Barca, the owner supports Juve! We hope to return in the future.

We have been going there for a couple of years. It is modern fun and casual. They have the lightest pizza and the freshest ingredients. There is quite the array of toppings. They make some cool drinks. I love the spritzer. Their salad are fresh, fun and creative. Every one we take their loves it.

On three occasions in the past 30 days—this frequency should illustrate my opinion—I have had different dishes for lunch. Each one was precisely presented and exceptionally delicious. I have also sampled from the plates of fellow diners and enjoyed all of their food too. Our first waiter memorized the order for our table of six. The next was less cognizant, but she still got everything right and our wait for refills was not onerous. A group of three most recently ate there for lunch, and in addition to our main server’s attention, two other staff cooperated to ensure quick refills and attentiveness. On each visit staff accuracy, friendliness, and speed were above average in quality. The pizzas are ample portions capable of being shared or half taken home for dinner; I am greedy and stuff all but one of the slices into covetous mouth. The first piece is usually taken by a tablemate at the beginning of the meal, and its caloric portion is supplied to me by portions of others’ meals. One of the neat aspects of this restaurant is their highlighting of art work. On each table, in addition to the requisite postcard shaped notice about Ladies’ Night, is a postcard announcing their welcoming art submittals. The restaurant displays the featured artist of the month and the walls are lined with the works. It is a chain, but of the smaller variety, with locations in Italy and one in each of four to five major U.S. cities. I can’t imagine parking, but if you can walk there for lunch, you should do so soon.

This a great place to eat. The pizza is awesome and the lasagna is the best I have ever tasted. Can't wait until my next visit.

Came here after a recommendation from Italian friends. We arrived early, before 6pm, and even though husband was late, we were allocated happy hour prices for pizza ($8 each). The restaurant is not huge but there is outside dining available. It is tiled, colourful with a bar along one wall. It has Italian staff and the feel is of a pizzeria in Italy. The menu has many different pizza options: both with and without a tomato sauce base. There are some pasta and meat dishes along with more salads options. The starters were not very inspiring, though. Husband and daughter had Diavola with pepperoni sausage. Comment was that it was not nearly devellish enough, but tasty after a generous addition of chilli flakes. Son had Carbonara with egg and bacon and cheese and that was polished off and I had Parma with eggplant. This last was good, especially after I added plenty of chilli flakes, too. The dough was thin and crispy with a wood-fired taste. There is an option for a thicker crust, if you want. There are also some desserts, but we did not have room for them, we greatly enjoyed this restaurant and will definitely come here again if we want pizza.

We wait 5 minutes for a table on a Saturday night. Great music and ambient. Prosciuto pizza A+ and de Caipirinha AWSOME.

I am Italian, and have always wanted to find authentic pizza. Love this place! Saw other Italian families there too while we were there. La pizza e' perfetta!! We also enjoyed the desserts - the panna cotta was great. Very pricey though

In northern Italy by piola we mean trattoria but in reality it is a pizzeria, nice, clean and with good service. The pizza is definitely the most 'similar to the real ones I found in Houston, in fact I happened to eat worse pizzas in Italy. If you are in shortage of pizza go there....

Used to be brilliant value but now pricey ($15 for a pizza?). A good way to make sense of the expense is to eat half the pizza and ask for a to-go box (sounds miserable but that's what it is). Fresh ingredients, friendly service, a few delicious vegetarian options, nice ambiance.

The pizza here is so good! I've been on the hunt for authentic italian pizza and so far this is the winner. The gnocchi was very good too! We heard italian being spoken here by other customers-- so it must be good!

Great food with reasonable prices. I come here every time I come to Houston for work. I will be back for sure.

Loved the pizza! It was delicious. Only thing I would say is that the pizza is huge for a single person - 2 people can easily share one pizza!

Really enjoyed my pizza--so happy to find a really good thin crust pizza! Toppings all fresh and delicious too. Excellent salads as well. Fun atmosphere and very good service. I was also very pleased with the portion size, not too much and perfect for 2 people to share one pizza,

This restaurant is in the chic and professional Midtown area. The parking is pretty good as long as you are not going on an evening when the 24 Hour Fitness is full as it shares its parking garage with the gym. A friend and I sat at the bar and were served by a woman (I believe her name was Christy?) . Christy was very nice and welcoming and tended to us very well. The atmosphere is fun and relaxing and different. For an appetizer we ordered the bruschetta...OMG, it was absolutely delicious! I plan on returning just for that if nothing else. It was seasoned perfectly, the tomatoes were incredibly fresh, it was just good. For dinner we shared the Rio De Janiero pizza which was good, but unless you know exactly what the cupertino cheese is and tastes like, I would suggest you go light on it. It was good, but a very rich and definitive flavor. Next time I will order a different pizza but nonetheless I thought it was tasty and I was glad that we picked this place for dinner.

We've been coming here for I don't know how many years now! Favorite place in Midtown! Love the Lisbona pizza, Verde & Co salad, Panna Cotta and the atmosphere!! and for just as long, Sully has been serving us!! She is awesome! Thank you Piola Houston!

We have been here many times and are never disappointed! A great casual, yet funky spot - the food is always wonderful, the restaurant has a terrific drinks selection. The wait staff are friendly, helpful and have never let us down on a wine recommendation! We have have had pasta and pizza entrees, fresh salads and their tiramisu is to die for!

We came here because of the good tripadvisor ratings and we weren't disappointed. The pizza was good, especially the whole wheat crust with the Moderna (yum!), the staff were attentive and friendly and the atmosphere was good even though we were there early on a Friday evening. Reasonable prices for the quality of food. There is an outdoor area but a bit close to the road for us. Local parking was easy.

I've been here twice, once had pasta with business colleagues. Another time I went for dinner date. The food is great. I had pasta Bolognese; the rich hearty ragu sauce reminded me of a similar dish I had in Naples. Wow! I've gone to every promising Italian restaurant I can find in Texas for the past 15 years- and this was up there. Maybe the best Italian style pizza I've had in Texas. Diet-allowing, I will frequent this place as often as I can!

Pizza has crispy or Neapolitan crusts. great sauce and cheese. a bit loud. Loved the salad and homemade dressings.

Being Italian, I always look for an "as close to authentic" restaurant when out with friends & family. I can honestly rate that Piola is that kind of restaurant. There gnocchi's are the bomb and there desserts are just as great! A must try if you want excellent Italian food in Midtown and you get what you pay for!

This is obviously the best place for pizzza in Houston !!! It is delicious, thin-crust with few words it is exactly as it has to be.. the real italian pizza ! Also they make a freshly squeezed juice from pineapple with mentol . It is so refreshing especially during hot days in Houston,...

Fun atmosphere, great service and delicious food. We tried appetizers, pizza and Italian dishes. Everything was fantastic! The avocado smash has basil and come with ciabatta bread, we loved it!

Super nice little restaurant, Service was not the best, but was not terrible either. Food is really good and tasty. I really enjoy going there since the flavors are very different. Location is wonderful, so after your meal, you could walk around downtown - if the weather allows it.

We are hard-pressed to find a great italian eatery in Houston that is delicious and reasonably priced. The food and atmosphere in this casual, Italian cafe is wonderful. This is a great place for kids and loud Italian families! The food is fresh and the thin crust pizzas are delicious. The best, however, is the gnocchi legnano. The gnocchi melt in your mouth. All you can eat gnocchi night is fun and its a great way to try several sauces.

Good crispy thin crust pizza. Staff willing to make substitutions of ingredients, so don't be afraid to ask. Noise level and atmosphere so-so. Interesting soccer art.

This was the last night of our two week trip and we just want some nice pasta and a relaxing dinner. The pasta in Piola was great. I was finished mine before my husband and the server took away my plate. She then asked if I wanted dessert (while my husband was still eating). I said I didn't, she then asked him. He said that he wasn't sure yet so she left the menu. The minute he had finished eating she came back and asked him if he wanted dessert. He told her that he would like a few minutes. She came back a few minutes later to ask if he had decided. He said he wouldn't like any and then she asked if we wanted the check. We had half a bottle of wine left at this stage. It was a bit of a common theme in Texas that you got your check the second you finished eating whether you wanted it or not. But I've never had someone ask you if you want dessert when you're still eating your dinner. We felt rushed out of here and it wasn't even that busy. For that reason, I wouldn't go back if I'm in Houston again. It's a shame that great food is let down by poor service.

Love the pizza here, my favorite place for near traditional Italian pizza: thin crust, limited toppings, quickly served. Simple selection of beer and wine. Nice Poppish interiors.

This is a small restaurant with a bar area and outdoor seating. I liked that when we ordered they brought out the dishes in a reasonable time frame. We ordered the Bruschetta - excellent tomatoes - and were able to enjoy those without having the pizza come right behind the app order. For a party of two we split one appetizer, one pizza, and one dessert. Plenty of food. Wine selection was nice and reasonably priced. Service was good - watchful for water refills and empty plates - but not pushy.

This is, by far, the best pizza in Houston. It was so good I insisted my daughter check restaurants in the Dallas area and the closest is in Ft. Worth. So she will try it when she is in the area. My husband and I devoured our pie -- the crust was spectacular and the cheese was fabulous. You won't go wrong when you're in downtown Houston and gotta have a pizza -- this is where you gotta go!

Simply awesome pizza! Good background music. Nice atmosphere. Definitely recommend the place and will return.

I was there last night with a friend of my and we had a great time, the poace is clean and the food delicious, I can’t say less about the service which was excellent!

Go right now to the corner of Louisiana and Elgin in Houston, Texas. And then go in the door of Piola. You won't be sorry! We happened on this treasure of a restaurant on our recent quick visit to Houston; enjoyed our dinner so much the first night, we changed our plans so we could go again a second night. I love pasta, and in my 60+ years I have to say this was the best pasta I have ever tasted. The texture was perfect. I chose a simple red sauce which I enjoyed immensely. The pizza looked so good, we went back just so we could try it. Excellent! The ambiance is also "just right," - warm, friendly staff, cozy setting, and free valet parking in a garage around the corner. (Don't forget to tip the valet!) I don't understand why there isn't a waiting line outside the door every night.

Visited this place on a Friday night. We were seated quickly, and the service was good. The atmosphere is bright and modern. I loved my Parma pizza. The roasted eggplant topped thin crust pizza was perfect. My friend and her children also enjoyed their choices. I was less impressed by the tiramisu. It was only ok. My friend had the ice cream with Papaya and really enjoyed it.

I recently visited Piola with my family of 4, my kids and wife really enjoyed the atmosphere and food. The staff was warn and courteous. The ingredients were fresh and the food was delicious, my kids are picky eaters and they actually finished all their food and wanted seconds. I would definitely recommend Piola for a weekend or week day night family dinner.

Good choices,Taste is great,Ambience is a typical Pizza place,Service good as well. Only Reason for getting 4/5 is that they are slightly over priced.Would cost about 30bucks on avg. for 2.

I am Italian, and know very well how a pizza should taste and how it should be cooked.... Best pizza ever in Houston!!!!!! Finally I have found THE PLACE where to eat a authentic pizza!! I was going around Houston and getting very disappointed. After finding out of this place, oh well. In there at least once every week for a nice pizza, plus there is a happy hour just for girls!! Amazing!!

Went to lunch here recently with 3 friends and we all enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Our server was also good, she didn't try to rush us and we appreciated that. The pizzas that were ordered were all very tasty. One ordered the polenta and she said it was very good too. I would definitely go back to try a pasta dish. Very extensive menu with great Italian selections.

Delicious pizza for drink Guaraná and desert Nutella and strawberry. Nice environment and good service

Excellent pizza, much better than many ones you get in Italy, with a bunch of options. I came once with my family and then I came back alone with great satisfaction for the food, the easy going atmosphere, the service ..... and the bill: for a pizza margherita and a beer I spent 14.50 $. One of the best Italian restaurant in Houston.

... … to Houston and believe me if a person from Naples says that a pizza is good, it means it is REALLY good! It was my first time in an Italian restaurant abroad and I did not regret! I was quite forced because among the few places that remains open late in the evening, but it was a nice surprise! Nice place, reasonable prices, good beer (missing Moretti rossa? You can find it there !) .The “pizzaioli” were nicer than the waiter who served us , who looked quite tired and not really eager to have other people at 10 pm, but .. no problem, next time (and I will surely go back to eat pizza) I will order a pizza straight to the oven! Thanks guys.

One of our friends recommended Piola so we gave it a try. It's a smaller place, but they were still able to accommodate 8 of us within 10 minutes. They have lots of pizza choices, and from what I heard from the group they were all fresh and tasty. The crust is thin and baked to a crisp delight in their brick oven. A couple of the girls got a calzone, which they said was also very good. Overall, I think I would return when in the area. You can't find pizza like this just anywhere.

Went last night and we were pleasantly surprised . My husband had spaghetti . I had a salad and pizza. Next time I go I'm going to get the gnocchi .

Nice place. Good food, great service, cozy environment, they do have caipirinha with cachaça which is really rare in Houston. I haven't tried it but I've had a great chicken parmegiana. Worth visiting!

This is an eclectic restaurant that is mostly a pizza place but has some Italian meals. All are really good! It’s not your typical American pizza parloir with standard commercial ingredients so go elsewhere if you’re looking for that... If you want fresh and probably organic ingredients with a very creative flair, then come here. The bar has a great mix of beverages too and our waiter, Will, was awesome! We’ll definitely be back soon!

I've been to this place several times, for a simple reason: it is a place located in Houston, TX, where you can certainly find a good and autentic italian pizza (which can bring you some memories of Italy and its food), and as a brazilian, I can say that it is the first time that I find a good place with pizzas as good as the ones I eat in Brazil. They have a pizza called "Rio de Janeiro", with catupiry cheese which is awesome. And another surprise, they have Guaraná!! You can imagine how happy I was after finding the place :) I have tried also the Gnocchi night: several types of sauce with gnocchi for eating as much as you can haha. Very good as well. Apart from pizza and typical italian plates, you can also find very good salads there. That means, food for all tastes. Price is good as well, all pizzas are an average of $15 dollars. The place is crowded sometimes, and the owner is always there I guess. Waiters are attentive. I'll be back there many times, and I recommend this place for everyone who's looking for a good place to eat an awesome pizza in Houston!

Rating: 6.5/10 Price: Slightly inflated Plates consumed: Honolulu Pizza & Chicken Parmigiana Refreshments consumed: Sanpellegrino Aranciata & Pineapple Mint Blend Time: Friday 3:30PM Gastronomic Rating and Description: 3.5/6 The Honolulu Pizza was delectable, but not to the extent that the restaurant advertises it (Famosi Per La Pizza): it was a brick oven cooked, traditional style round thin dough with white cheese and classic Italian passato di pomodoro. The pineapple accompanying the dish was sheer and fresh, serving as a sweet and palatable complement to the pleasing admixture. Overall it was a luscious but unexceptional customary Italian pie. The Chicken Parmigiana was merely acceptable: it was topped with genuine melted Italian white cheese and accompanied by (what tasted like) homemade spaghetti of deprived sapidity. Overall the dish was vastly inferior to the ones presented by budget oriented Italian cookery large chains in the United States (expressly Olive Garden and Carrabba’s). The Sanpellegrino Aranciata contributed to the folkloric scenery presented by the restaurant and possessed a nonpareil savor for a soft drink. The traditional Pineapple Mint Blend was novel, natural, and refreshing: the mint leaves included in the drink augmented its intense fragrance and pleasing flavoring. We were acutely content with the refreshments. Service/Setting Rating and Description: 3/4 The restaurant is located in the heart of Houston midtown and it offers a traditional scenery accentuated by cubista paintings and a rustic scenography. The gloomy illumination proposes a quiet and romantic ambience (especially if you are the only customers in the entire restaurant, as we were) and the ability to dine both indoors and in the external breezy and relaxed section is highly accommodating. The lavatory was hard to find but hygienic. The server was attentive and informed when asked about the distinct menu options and recommendations. The food came out promptly and the drinks were replenished when necessary. Revisit: 29 of each month for unlimited Gnocchi day Recommend: No For more professional written restaurant reviews please visit: www.myrestaurantrating.com

After seeing granddaughter perform at Match Theater, we took 5 g'kids for pizza at Piola. GREAT IDEA. Service was excellent, a wide variety of choices....not just pizza Thin crust was really good and the chicken with spinach pizza was super good

Visited for the first time for my friend's birthday on a Tuesday night. Turns out Tuesdays are also ladies night and wine is $3 a glass! Our server was awesome. Wish I knew how to spell his name. And the restaurant was decorated very nicely. Had a nice vibe to it.

This is a great place to enjoy and have a great meal ,while in downtown Houston , I have been here twice now always a pleasure , Thanks for the great tasty food

Everything about this place is outstanding. The bruschetta had just the right balance of oil and tomato/basil, the pies were perfectly cooked, and I found the service to just fine while not being over attentive(not unlike you find in Italy). I had the Napoletana style with prosciutto and mozzarella and it hit the spot. The bottom had just enough charring to be tasty, but not overcooked. My nephew had the Houston and he said it was very good and it sure looked that way with fresh avocado on top! The prices are quite reasonable for what you are getting. I would definitely recommend this place to friends.

This has been our regular weekend brunch place for the last two years. We always have the same items - a margerita pizza for me, a veg spaghetti for my girlfriend, and mango bellinis for both of us. This place is super awesome. Awesome food, awesome service

Reasonably priced charmingly decorated establishment with wonderful contemporary ambience. Mixed green salad with tomatoes olives and goat cheese was a hit along with a fusilli chicken and broccoli dish that I highly recommend. Clean restrooms! Only issue is that it's a little tight seating-wise.

I wanted a pizza so chose to sit at the bar alone. I was the only customer there in that area. The basketball game is not wht I wish to see so I thought, since there were no other men there, they may agree to change the channel until others arrived. I was very wrong

I have eaten at Paula many times over the years working downtown and I’ve recommended it to family and friends. However, today I was extremely disappointed when I brought my family down there for a special lunch. One of my daughters found a 5 inch long hair in the crust of her pizza. I asked for some additional shaved Parmesan and found an eyelash in the cheese. They did not seem too concerned about it and gave me a bill for the full price. When I asked if they were going to give a discount for the pizza they deducted five dollars but then added automatically a $10 gratuity. I was very disappointed, and did not even receive an apology.

We were looking for fast and delicious and Piola did not let us down. The guacamole was super fresh and delicious! The pizza came Out fast and was thin crust , hot and delicious!! Highly recommend.

I recently visited Piola's with my family, which includes a baby and we had a fantastic time. The atmosphere was great and family friendly. The food was great, the service was excellent. We order a thin crust as part of our dinner, take it from a native New Yorker, it was the best pizza I have tasted in all of Houston. The owner was very nice and even offered dessert on the house. We will definitely keep coming back. We love this place!

We were torn between the pizza and the gnocchi so we split both. Excellent decision. We had the "Como" pizza which was Porcini Mushrooms with prosciutto ham (and lots of it). It was excellent and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality (and quantity) of both the mushrooms and ham. Pizza was crisp and served hot. The gnocchi legnano (a four cheese sauce) was by the far the best gnocchi we have ever had. It is homemade at the restaurant and you can taste how fresh it is. You get a large bowl so sharing worked out great. Service was quick and friendly and it happened to be a lovely night to sit in their outside area. They are open until midnight on weekends so it is great for after a show downtown. Parking in the back garage is free. We will be back.

Went there for late dinner with friends. First hostess we ask for high chair and ignore us, I went to get the chair myself with the baby..she was to busy eating dinner at the bar. Then found hair on the plate they wouldn't bother on replace it or take it out the bill. They discounted only $2.00 from the bill!!!!.. Very bad managed. Took pic of hair. Will never be back, didn't want free food or money back but at least have the sense of replacing it or changing the food. Waitress even ask if we wanted to take it home!..nasty!..service was very disappointed general.

This downtown restaurant is great. We enjoyed the Bruschetta and the Chinotto, along with two different kinds of pizza. Loved the crust. Good food; very fresh and high quality ingredients. Good service too; we'll be back.

While this place may not appeal to pizza lovers that enjoy the ubiquitous Domino's style pizza, Piola should appeal to those who like authentic Italian style pizza. Simple, thin and fresh ingredients are the norm.

The best pizza in Houston!!! if you like the real Italian pizza and you have never try La Piola you have to go! the menu is full of lot of difference kind of pizza (classic, Napoletana, Bianca and whole wheat). the rest the menu antipasti or primi piatti are excellent for the freshness of the ingredient all from Italy. The location is not the best, it is very simple but I think great for family. Believe the words of a real Italian!! Buon appetito

Went here twice in 24 hours, mostly because we had such good food the first night and there was outdoor seating. The skivvy: 1. indoor and outdoor seating; 2. Saturday and Sunday nights we got table without a wait; 3. very good menu: "A"-rated pizza and pasta (at least, a lot better than DC); 4. good wine list, you can get a bottle of white for $22 without the waiter sniffing with disdain; 5. free parking just around the corner;

We have been looking for good pizza for the longest time. A friend of mine told me about this place and we gave it a try. The service is great, the pizza is amazing and have a good prize. Without a doubt this will be our pizza place from now on :)

We are so pleased that someone recommended Piola for dinner. Everything we ordered was delicious, well prepared with quality ingredients and served by an efficient waiter. My wife and I split a Dolce Piccante salad that was very large and filled with plenty of fresh, tasty ingredients. She ordered the Bruschetta as her entre and even with some help from me could not finish it. The Margherita pizza was cooked perfectly. Get a glass of their house wine, it was a good value. We will return during our next trip to Houston

I read reviews about how authentic the food is here and was not disappointed. It was like I was back in Italy. We had the pasta with meat sauce, marguerita pizza. And como pizza. All was fantastic. Good prices too. Highly recommend!

My niece had to have spaghetti after a late Dynamo game so here we are at 2323 hours. The appetizer Valle Dei Templi was good, cheese wasn’t as cold as I like w a lot of moisture but taste was pleasant. My niece had Spaghetti All’Antonio and really enjoyed it. I thought the meatballs were small but tasty. I had the Pappaaerdelle Bolognese. Very content w it. Ana was our server she was on spot, never had to ask for anything she has everything. Very very fast from seating to order to getting it and even boxed used my leftovers.

I've been there once for "eat gnocchi as much you can" kind of day. I honestly don't remember how i much i paid but we tasted all kinds of gnocchi flavors! Most of them were delicious. I will definetely go there again!

This place is a nice place, especially for a couple. They serve unique style pizza compared to what we are used to. We bought two different pizzas because of the size. I liked one and not the other because of the taste of the ham was not what I expected and my husband liked the ham. It was a bit pricey for pizza, but had we stayed the environment was nice. It was filling but we needed a pizza per person. The person at the counter was nice but not much help on what we were ordering.

Looking for a place for a drink and snack for 10 of us at 3 pm and happened upon this place. Will, bartender/server was the only one helping tables as its an off hour. we slammed him with 10 of us and he did great! kept drinks full and food coming. food was very good. Thank you Will for taking car of us.

This is one of our fave places for casual dining. The menus boasts a heart selection of Pizza varieties along with a menu of entree dishes that harken back to the old country. Outdoor dining weather permitting expands the smallish interior. Great for couples and foursomes. Careful when there are small children as it gets a high decibel rating. Decor is artful with original pieces of art from local artists adorning the walls. Full bar complements the menu. We usually get the pizza although I've had the Chicken Parmigiana. Personal size pizzas are generally larger than expected so consider sharing and grab an appetizer. We routinely visit this charming place.

Authentic Italian food, including specialty pizzas and entrees. I had the Chicken Parmigiana, my wife split a pepperoni pizza with my niece, her sister had the spaghetti and meatballs and our nephew had the Ragusa pizza. Everything was delicious. Service was prompt and attentive. Water refilled without asking. Ambiance is hip and urban with unique artwork decorating the walls that are for sale. Clean, upscale with a full bar and happy hour. Ladies night on Tuesday! Priced right and outstanding food, a great combination. Outdoor seating when weather is good. Go and enjoy some authentic Italian food!

atmosphere was great and very good Italian style pizza. We ordered some pizzas (different styles) convenient location, parking location close to the store. Recommended

If you like thin crust authentic Italian Pizza, this is the place. Red and white sauces, fresh ingredients, including among many, gorgonzola cheese, prosciutto, porcini mushrooms. great antipasto plates with Italian meats and cheeses, caprese with real Buffalo Mozzarella and homemade gnocchi. On the 28th of each month they have an all you can eat gnocchi night. They serve the gnocchi with several (about 6 to 8) different sauces and will keep filling your plate until you pop. Good wine list. A great neighborhood restaurant. Valet parking on a tip basis is around the corner behind the restaurant on Elgin St. and the light rail and bus stops are within a block.

My favorite flavor is Rio de Janeiro, is amazing!! Best pizza in the town!! Good service and beautiful place.

Between events at Escape the Room. Excellent food and Stella Artois is available. Great combination. Food is very, very good. Staff was courteous and helpful.

The space is nice, atmosphere is good. Service isn't very fast. Appetizer was terrible and the meat did not have any taste and tasted like it was in the fridge for months. The pizza was good however and overall not to bad. I wouldn't rush back.

Very very very very very disappointed in my encounter. Ordered 15 pizzas delivered for a corporate meeting lunch. Choose Piola bc I was told thier pizzas where incredible. Well, that may be so fresh inside but, delivered was a disaster. We used the Prime Now option as suggested when I called to inquire if they deliver. Moral of the story is that the pizzas where ice cold! And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know it's bc they put them in cardboard pizza boxes with multiple open vents!! So the heat quickly left and we ended up with cold pizza. Luckily it was ok cold but if you are going to offer your pizzas for delivery, source an appropriate togo wear to ensure the consumer gets a quality product! Would never order delivery again.

I've dined here with my family over the years as Piola is a perfect spot on the edge of downtown for a nice dinner. The pizzas have a perfectly thin crust and lots of savory tomato sauce, so we always order 3 or 4. If you have the chance, try out the gnocchi pompei!

What a great pizza and pasta restaurant. The staff is friendly & the food is great. We had a regular pizza, white pizza, everything pizza and 2 pasta dishes. Finished off the meal with tiramsumi, gelato & cream puffs. The décor is nice and very clean. We had a 9y/o, a 12y/o, Mom & Dad with Gramma & Poppa--good for all ages!

Being Italian I always enjoy a real Italian pizza, I go to La PIOLA regulary whenever we want to feel " home". Nice and relaxed atmosphere.

Wife and I were driving through downtown and I opened Tripadvisor app to see what's good and nearby. This place came up. We got the #9 / spicy and it rocked. The leftovers were awesome too. Free parking is right around the corner. The pizza is stupid good.

The food industry in Houston is one of the largest in the country. Still, I haven't found a decent Italian restaurant until I visited Piola. In my opinion, although not great, it is the one of the best in Houston. My first visit to this restaurant chain (Piola has places opened all over the world) was back in the summer (September). My friend and I had pizzas. I chose the Ortomisto (with roasted eggplants and spinach). It was pretty good and I liked the thin crust. I didn't feel too heavy afterwards. As a dessert, we shared the Tiramisu, which was fairly good but not the best I've had. On my second trip, few months later, I opted for a pasta dish (penne cividale). I liked it, especially that it had the right amount of creamy sauce. The penne was al dente. The service in the Houston branch was very good. Waiters were attentive and the food came out quickly. Of note, they also provide take-away option. I'd definitely go back whenever I'm craving Italian food.

South of midtown, trendy, great food & atmosphere, friendly staff, homemade gnocchi. Outstanding & unique salads, brick oven pizza & basic Italian. Sounds like basic Italian but they put together the most savory dishes and for a reasonable cost. Give it a try, you won't be sorry.

The gnocchi is really good. The Rio pizza is great and the service is excellent! Good music in a colorful and casual environment. Our night was great!

We visited Piola Midtown during our vacation to Houston. I ordered the calzone, and my spouse ordered a Caesar salad. We also ordered cheesy bread as an appetizer. The bread and calzone were delicious. We were seated right away on a Thursday night. Our server was friendly, but the restaurant appeared short staffed on servers. In fact, I think he might have been the only one for the restaurant. There appeared to be food runners and a manager that were assisting. Overall, we enjoyed the food and our server.

Great Italian pizza in downtown Houston! Very nice and colorful place and has seating both inside and outside. Very friendly and helpful staff. I highly recommend!

I think this is the tastiest, most fragrant & delicious pizza I've eaten to date. In full disclosure, I haven't been to Italy since 1991 nevertheless. When I see generous Brie cuts melting into already abundant melted and blended cheeses...something happens inside of me. Piola Houston has a great Midtown location, awesome staff and everything that was brought to the table on my visit (a beautiful Burrata with abundant Prosciutto di Parma; al dente Penne with salmon; a plain cheese pizza for a small boy, ice-cold beer) was thoroughly delicious, very well presented, and at completely reasonable prices. There is no way on earth I am not returning to Piola when I have a pizza craving. Arrivederci Piola!!!

I enjoyed a very nice, authentic pizza with colleagues over a business dinner. We sat on a clean, covered patio that was great for people watching. Excellent service. Prices were reasonable.

If you are a houstonian and you are used to eat Domino's (Cici's, Little Ceasar's or whatever fake and unbelievable american pizza concealed as real italian) you might not appreciate this authentic italian pizza. But I have a news for you all: that's how we do pizza in Italy. I'm Italian, I can say that. If you like different kind of pizza (thicker or crispier or overwhelmed with pepperoni, pinapple or disgusting topping with garlic) just be aware that simply it's not Italian. The place is nice and colorful. The prices a bit high. Portions are huge. Pasta is ok but I prefer pizzas. Look out: If you try tiramisu dessert you will be served a solid brick of delicious mascarpone cheese so don't do that if you're trying to loose weight.

I read plenty of reviews on how great the pizza was so I ordered some. The crust seemed over cooked and had a burnt taste to it. My girlfriend got a broccoli and chicken pasta though and it was absolutely delicious, nice setting to it as well.

As an Italian, I really like the pizza made in this very original place in the downtown of Houston. Both my wife and agree that the taste of the dozens of pizzas you can order in this place it's not different from the one of many italian pizzeria in Italy. Nice place as well!

Piola is one of those places you can always go with your friends and will have a great time! The pizzas are the best in town, why is that? Because they are real Italian pizzas and not the Americanized ones. I Always go there, i have never been disappointed!

Great pizza salads are very nice as well. Excellent service not noisy. You can eat in or out. I highly recommend it. Iris a gem

I am Italian and I love pizza. I am used to an high standard on pizza and I do understand that in the USA it's a real challenge to find something similar :) The restaurant is nice and the people working there are pleasant and kindly. I was here a couple of time during my journey in Houston and I tasted pizza and salad. The pizza was a little bit over cooked, the base was hard to cut. On the overall it was satisfactory but not something you will remember as very good.

We went here after hearing about it from friends and were not disappointed. 12" pizzas were terrific and we really, really liked the meatball and garlic knot appetizers. Service was excellent and we will be back soon!

I've traveled to Italy and have Italian roots, the food at Piola's is the real deal, my friends! I was with a group of friends and an assortment of food was ordered. The pasta dishes are good sized portions. I shared the Caprese salad and it melted in my mouth! I also shared a Margarita pizza, which was perfecto! Don't eat so much that you don't have room for the Tiramisu, it is also to die for! The atmosphere is charming, you can sit inside or outside. They have a ladies night special every Tuesday from 7 pm to closing, any wine is $3 per glass. This place really gets it right for authentic Italian at good prices and a great atmosphere.

We had visited 'The Escape Room Texas' 1/2 a block away and we were ready for a quick lunch. Service was good and fast and the pizza was excellent.

I did not pick this place for supper. It was one of my colleague's favorite choice. We waited a bit because it was an all-you-can-eat-Gnocchi day. As I went there without checking any review, I did not want to try any pizza and went for a seared Ahi Tuna on a bed of greens and superbly cooked potatoes.. a bit salty but good. My colleague ordered a Pizza and looked very loaded with plenty of melting cheese (aka greasy!). I'm glad I did not have the pizza... We had an outside seating and was overall a pleasant casual dining place on a hot and humid Houston day.

Love this place!! Great atmosphere and the food is fabulous. We like to go on the 29th of the month for "All You Can Eat" gnocchi. Be sure you are really hungry because there are at LEAST 8 different sauces and each one is YUMMY!! Good food, good wine - and you can feast with friends or family! Mangiare!!

Perfect place for great food and great service. Authentic Italian tastes with excellent service. Lunch is always great!

Amazing pizza! Just like you will get in Italy. Delicious crust and toppings! Arugula salad also amazing. Great atmosphere too! Highly recommend.

Pizza was good. We got three different kinds and they were all good. Very thin crust with a good flavor. Service was very good with waitress very accommodating. Would return when we come back to area.

Great restaurant transplanted from Italy so I had to go here over other Italian restaurants. They had what looked like good pasta options and a vast selection of about 40 pizzas. For a slightly thicker crust, get the regular crust. For a thinner and just as tasty crust, get the whole wheat. Both were excellent. They had a smaller wine list but I have to say the Nero D'avila red wine was really good and was a spot-on suggestion from our waitress. Can't wait to come back here again.

The service standard in Houston is pretty high, and this is no exception. They have ladies' night on Tuesday (all wine $3/glass), which is a nice perk. The pizza menu is outstanding (although they don't particularly like special requests), and the gnocchi is delightful. If you want a mixed drink, maybe save that for the bar.

Enjoyed dinner at Piola the other evening with friends. Our meals of meatballs and spaghetti, gnocchi with red sauce, pasta Bolognese and penne with bacon along with large house salad, pizza and dessert were delicious and well prepared. The cooking is simple, but well executed with very high quality ingredients used in all dishes. The lunch menu features many terrific dinner selections (with small salad) at great prices. Stop by and treat yourself to a taste of Italy in Houston.

If you are looking for real Italian style pizza, look no further. It is so delicious with its cracker like crust and fresh toppings. Best pizza that I have had outside of Italy. Try the buffalo mozzarella, to die for!!! Piola is located in Midtown and has a fun mix of people. You can even meet up with people already fluent or learning Italian once a month. Check it out!!!!

I moved to Houston for Grad school and found that the pizza in Texas is Terrible compared to the east cost. This place remedies this and is the only pizza place I eat at in Houston.

Recommend this restaurant it is a pleasure for the great food and service you can have at this place. Well done pizzas also some Americans adjustments are good too..

love this place for happy hour. not too crowded and the pizza is excellent. I did feel like they could have more bar seating, and the drink prices were very reasonable.

I have to agree with many previous reviews on the quality of pizza in this restaurant. While it may not be at the level of best authentic pizzerias in Italy, but it’s a definite top in Houston. Very good crust and not overloaded toppings. Pastas are tasty as well, which together with friendly service makes it a clear place to visit. I will be back for pizza.

I went with a colleague from my head office and although it was just the two,of us the place was fairly stacked with others from the company! I was told that it was all good but that the pizzas were a speciality so I had a Venetzia with extra jalapeños, and very nice it was too Although this is a chain it had the feel of a local pizzeria and I enjoyed the overall experience - I will definitely be going again

Pools is a nice pizza place, prices are reasonable, and they use great fresh ingredients in their pizzas. The environment is also nice with the possibility to seat outside. The other advantage is that they are open till midnight.

Thin crust and fresh pizza what else can you say. Went here on a Sunday afternoon for the first time. Parked on a side street next to a parking garage and didn’t have to pay . Service and food was great. Will be back.

Piola is less than a mile from where we live so we decided to try it for lunch one day and were very happy that we did. We were in the mood for pizza and asked the waiter for his recommendation. He pointed us toward a pizza with pulled chicken on it (Rio de Janeiro), which I never would have picked on my own, but we decided to try it. The pulled chicken was light and flavorful and blended well with the 2 cheeses. The crust was perfect. We also had the Roka Cabana salad to share, which included arugula, mozzarella, tomatoes and pomegranate dressing...also very good. The total bill came to about $30 which was not bad for a very good meal.

We love Piola! Why? It's almost the only place in Houston where one can get authentic Italian pizza. It's got a great casual, fun vibe and we always have a great meal. The whole family loves it. They also have great gnocchi on the menu at all times. On the 29th of each month, they have all you can eat gnocchi. I'm not usually one for "all you can eat" which usually means lousy food, but at Piola, this means a fun way to try their gnocchi with something like a dozen different sauces. They'll come around with a big bowl one at a time and dole out however much you want. All of that being said, the pizza is still the best part!!

I was a bit reserved about eating here as it looked like another 'here today, gone tomorrow' trendy eating place. My wife and I went at our daughter's insistence. Kids don't always know the difference between flash and substance. It turns out that it was pretty good. No complaints. The food is fresh, quick, and not expensive. I will return.

My husband and I had a marathon this past weekend. Our running club made reservations at Piola for lunch to carb load for our run the next day; and we were pleasantly surprised. The staff was wonderful, super helpful (specially with a big group) took care of all our requests. The restaurants décor was super unique and fun! The food was more than excellent. I ordered the Toscanini Salad which was FABULOUS and my husband ordered the Fusilli Bianco Verde pasta a FANTASTIC choice. We didn't try the desserts but we will try it next time. This was a totally Yummy experience!!

Piola is really close to my place and always a great option for Happy Hour, take out or a lazy night. It means I've been there a lot of times For Happy Hour they offer good deals for drinks at the bar plus free food.. yes... free food. You can have 2 glasses of good wine and food for $10 dollars. Their pizza is great, the dough is awesome and they have all types of flavors you are craving for. The past is also really good, lasagna and gnocchi are good options And the meat, I had Chicken Parmegiana and it's just amazing. The staff is friendly and if they make a mistake they compensate you. I definitely recommend!

Piola is one of my many fav restaurants in Houston. After I lived in Rome any pizza here was disappointing, but not Piola's. Try San Danielle with extra arugula, ummmm! Service is very good and Peroni beer or drinking a Negroni is the best way to recreate an Italian seratta in the US.